Counting Fawns

After Breakfast, Shuttled over to the Village, checked mail, bought a new belt, and paddled back through Bobcat Meadow....sat awhile at the Woodpecker Tree...Acorns about...continued to Creek's End...sat awhile under the Leaning Cedars...quiet...Two Pairs of Ravens about...back at the Cabin, White Headed Woodpecker about in the Backyard Cedars....remaining time spent moving the desktop computer...left over shelving made a great computer table...and now the drawing table is freed up for drawing!....broken clouds humid hot...at Lunch: when I reached Ozone Beach, Mama Doe and One Fawn by the Diversion Channel...and not the same Doe and Fawn of yesterday..pic and clip...newer camera is working out for clips...I can leave the 20x behind...but to do clips, I have to use 'live view'' and hold the camera out and up, instead of next to my cheek--makes for shaky clips!--might begin taking the monopod along at Lunch...if I can relocate it!....sat awhile at the Fallen Cedar....quiet, but in the distance out across the Merced and across Coop's Meadow, I could hear Hawk, Cedar, calling, maybe for ten minutes, now and then, as Redshoulders do....stood to looksee, and saw another Mama Doe and One Fawn crossing at Cottonwood Bend...while doing clip, sighted Second Fawn...now...this may be the Doe and Two Fawns I sighted in the morning aways back out in Two Top Pine Meadow....and the Doe and One Fawn at the Diversion Channel I think is the Doe that gave birth behind the Cabin...and the Doe and Fawn I saw yesterday, I think is the Last Chance Doe and Fawn....I think!...Four Fawns all together....Cedar's call is heard on the clip...

Merced Wildlife Refuge

Coming back to the Cabin after Breakfast, sighted Coyote on the Path in the Backyard...far away pics...tried to follow...reached the Creek Bridge, and sat awhile...Mallard flyover...blurry pics... still time, but back to the Cabin-watched TV a bit until work...it's hot and quiet and fatiguing!...sunny hothot blue....at Lunch: sat awhile by the Fallen Cedar...Little Yellow Bird in the Willow...no luck for pic....Song Sparrow call, Raven, Blue Jay, Acorns, Ouzel pair flyby, singing....and Pileated call!..I think...too loud it seemed for Flicker....

Pics up are from visit two Mondays back to Merced Wildlife Refuge....I was the only one there in the afternoon, save for maintenance crew releasing water....just getting ready for the Winter arrival....sighted Rabbit when I first arrived and parked..Kestrel too....a few Birds in the far distance seen from a small Observation Deck...hopped in Silver and drove slow along the RoadPath...pull outs here and there...at the first one, glimpsed a Kangaroo Mouse...would really like to have gotten pic!...now and then could see Hawks, and Long Necked Wading Birds....parked at Bitten Marsh...think that's what it was called...RoadPath makes a loop around the Refuge...sighted Redshoulder Hawk perched...and went Tree to Tree to Tree...but Hawk far away..it's very hard to get close in open fields!...and the lighting is impossible!...anyway..a little further on the Dirt Road was bordered by Cottonwoods,which made an updraft in the Wind, and Two Redtail Hawks were soaring...think they're Redtails...the Dark Morphs I see in the illustrations...One Redtail perched on a Telephone Pole, and was calling...actually left the Dirt Road and went into the Trees for pic...a not to do thing I imagine!....anyway...back at the entrance, sighted Kestrel again perched on Power Pole with Prey...pic, but like nearly all the pics, badly backlit...time to go is on cloudy day, or early morning, and when there is water, and the migration arrives...Refuge is near enough that trips to Merced will include it...this trip was just a quick looksee....sighted Two more Rabbits, and a herd of Ground Squirrels crossing the Dirt Road...

Creek Fawn

Shuttled over to the Village...Mama Doe resting in the Creek upcreek from the Footbridge...took note of tourists with cameras out, and thought on return to check to see if One Fawn was about too...and was!...downcreek on the other side of the Creek Bridge...pics and clip....forgot mail on Bench, and paddled back to the Village...mail okay, and again Shuttled to Lower Falls...this time Young Buck was under the Bridge...too dark pics...continued out to Creek's End and made the Inside Loop....DownyOrHairy Woodpecker at Cottonwood Bend on opposite Shore....saw DorH Woodpecker too at Breakfast outside the Big Windows...sunny hothotblue, no breeze until later....napped until late afternoon...watched Bones repeats....geared up and paddled out to Two Top Pine Meadow, and sat awhile on the Burnt Log....after short while, sighted Hawk fly from and to the edge of the Burnt Forest....the newer camera has higher iso exposure settings, and tried 3200, which resulted in very noisy/grainy pic...but Hawk looks to be Cedar....thought to try to get closer, but had the digiscope with, I thought, but while putting it together realized I left parts in the Cabin...a common goof!...anyway, Hawk flew further along the Tree Line....picked up and followed...just as I got to Two Top, which has a climbing rope attached which should be removed!, Hawk flew off deep into the Burnt Forest...followed, but no luck....started to take the Diversion Channel back to the Cabin, and startled Mama Doe and One Fawn...set the newer camera to 6400, and pic, while blurry from motion, has okay exposure...this shows promise for Owl pics--Owl sits very still!....talkabout at dinner with friends, catching up on Critter stories....very cool....

trip report: second time looking for the Elkhorn Slough Wildlife Refuge, I found it okay several miles up the turn off at the Coast, and after another turn....Slough reminds me a bit of the Newport Beach Back Bay, but not so developed....stopped in the Nature Center to get oriented...learned of the Barn Owls in the Barn, and was advised to wash my boots in the step in pans filled with cleanser...some kinda plant bug a concern....paddled down the Paths towards the Barn, and sighted two Hawks right away...was kinda anxious to see Hawk!...and voice from behind advised Peregrine Falcon was to my right...far away Hawk pics, but Falcon too far for pic...voice belonged to a docent who was very helpful, and reported digiscoping Condors at the Pinnacles....almost thought to divert thataway, yet again!...found Gopher Snake--docent identified....Barn Owl was home with Babies maybe, but barely discernible through the digiscope that I set on Hay Bales....paddled out to the View Dock...Shore Birds too far away, but lots of them...Buzz Birds too...often could hear Red Shoulder Hawk, and tried to follow...sighted Kestrel, but too far away too!....started back, but still could hear Red Shoulder, and followed sorta inland to a valley like low place, with Home on a Bluff in the distance...and there I saw Red Shoulder, Red Tail, and Buzz Birds..sometimes all together....startled Deer...bounded away too quick for pic...like at Point Lobos, one has to stay on the Paths...made me appreciate hereabout where I often go off trail Tree to Tree, bounding away!...but I found both Point Lobos and Elkhorn Slough to be charming places, and for returns sometime!.....time, and left off with promise to come back for the Winter Bird arrivals...talked with couple about the Hawk migration at Marin and Hawk Hill...'flocks of Kites'...and almost diverted thataway, again!...but time, and back to the Valley....with much delay--my first traffic jam in awhile, from Gilroy to San Luis Rey Reservoir about!--fender benders and roadside brush fires...hmmph...

Moss Landing Birds

Shuttled over to the Village after Breakfast, and back as far as Lower Falls...hopped off, and paddled out Lodgepole Point....pic of Dragonfly caught in the Merced-- Phoebe about, but didn't see Dragonfly...crossed the Creek, and to the Cabin...quiet...Ground Squirrel posing beside the Dirt Road...pic....napped most all afternoon!....sunny hothot blue...paddled out to Owl Log at Sunset...quiet...Ouzel, Robin, Flicker, Raven, about, and Mallard flyby from the Creek around and down the Merced for a splash landing...one Bat overhead in the Near Dark...

trip report: pics up are from Moss Landing Wildlife Refuge...most taken Friday morning, when I left off from the Otters, and walked along the Dirt Road to sight the Birds, which were scattered here and there....more Birds are expected for Winter....I sighted One Otter approaching from the North when I was on the Low Bridge...set up the digi...Otter dove...and disappeared!....looking to the South Bay, I saw Otter aways out...Otter had swam through the Connecting Pipes right under me!.....would have liked to have spent more time sighting the Birds, which I need to id....next trip post up: Elkhorn Slough...White Egret pic an immediate new favorite!...it was a one click, rather than a clickclickclick continuous shoot!...a bit like making a basket from half court!!...Green Plant floating in the Bay is Sea Lettuce....

H Dock Otter

Shuttled over to the Village to check mail...took snack, late Breakfast, along--orange juice and muffin....on way back, hopped off at Lower Falls, and paddled over to the Deer House to sit awhile at the Picnic Benches, which have reappeared....sighted Praying Mantis...pics...and Little Bird in the Azaleas, but messed up exposure.....a quiet sit awhile....sunny hot blue...at Lunch: sat awhile at the Fallen Cedar...quiet...Song Sparrow, Flicker call, Raven, Mallard flyover, and Antlered Buck taking a drink from the Merced, and crossing at Cottonwood Bend....pics of Mantis and Buck for sometime...

trip report: Friday morning I went back to Moss Landing to see the Otters...and walked back along the Dirt Road from the Picnic Bench to sight the Birds...Bird pics together for sometime....left off, and much debated about where to go...North to Marin to see Hawk Migration...South to Pinnacles to see Condors...but mostly felt homesick for the Valley....thought to eat first, and remembered some restaurants on the Harbor Road...thereabout, sighted Otter sleeping near a Sailboat Dock...parked Silver at the Snack Shack...think that was it--next to the Whole Enchilada...I think..anyway, grabbed the gear, and crossed the Road to the Docks, and had a splendid time taking Otter pics....local visited, and reported Otter lives thereabout pretty much, and comes up on the Docks to sun and sleep...'much bigger looking out of the water!'.....left off, and had a calamari sandwich at the Shack...very good, but not sure what it is...some kinda fish....the day before, I tried to find Elkhorn Slough Wildlife Refuge, with no luck, but thought to try again after lunch....tomorrow, Elkhorn Slough, and some of the Morning Birds at Moss Landing...

Strix nebulosa yosemitensis

View From Sentinel Dome

Out and about early to shuttle my niece and grandnephew up to Glacier Point....we all hiked up Sentinel Dome...first time I've been thereabout....Juncos about...scenic and souvenir pics and clips....I returned for work time....sunny hot blueblue...at Lunch: quiet...one or two Song Sparrows about the Fallen Cedar...Acorns call....Otters still for sometime..sleep debt--just too sleepy tonight!....report there may be only two to three Peregrine Falcon pairs about the Valley....

Link of the Day: BBC clips of Falcon and Goshawk--bird's eye viewviews!

no pics today

Morning taken up with errand to Town...long drive thereandback and last errand to corral Silver, I think...'title will be mailed within forty five days'...an incredulous look from me...'maybe soon, a couple weeks'....anyway, have rolledabout over two thousand miles since the eighth, I think I'll take a rest from the Roads awhile!....too sleepy tonight to work on 'More Otters postup...on the Road in early morning, saw Three Hawks in the Foothills....one Hawk on fence post close to the Road...could have stopped, no traffic for miles in either direction, but the errand was pressing...hmmp....another Hawk flew to a Telephone Pole, and the last Hawk was in flight....may have seen more, at distance hard to distinguish Ravens from Hawks....saw lots of Ravens, and the always present Buzz Birds over Mariposa.....sat awhile on return at Creek's End...reallyreally quiet...sunny hot blue with light breeze.....at Lunch: sat awhile on Ozone Boulder, and reallyreally quiet...One Blue Jay for company...Acorns by the Path...report of Baby Rattlesnake, and larger Rattlesnake at the Base of El Cap....and talkabout the 'new' Rattlesnakes that dont have Rattles...brb...well, here's the question with dubious answer--idea likely an urban legend....notion is that people are killing any snake that rattles, and snakes born without rattles have a little bit of better odds to survive....which is to say the rattlesnake are adjusting to the perils of people...a little bit like Deer learning to look both ways, and use the crosswalk crossing the Road....report in keeping with this notion: Coyote yesterday in Siberia caught a Squirrel in the middle of the Road...Coyote began to consume the Squirrel, but heard, or sensed, a car coming from behind...Coyote looked over its shoulder, stopped chewing, and ran off into the Woods with its catch, which took just a few big bites to swallow!....and I'm certain, that in time, Does will have their Fawns in close proximity to the Buildings, like the Last Chance Doe and Fawn....there's a little bit of an advantage...the old 'advantage' looks to be having Fawns in the Thick Meadow Grasses....must be a name for Critters adapting to our environs.....

Young Buck

Shuttled over to the Village after Breakfast...more errands....and back through Bobcat Meadow and the Creek to the Cabin to finish today's errand efforts!!...Young Buck in the Backyard...Deer often rest in this particular place....pic...paddled back to the Creek and sat awhile until work time...quiet...Blue Jay, Raven,,,Little Birds earlier at Creek's End, but way high in the Ponderosa...sunny warm blue....at Lunch: paddled out to Ozone Beach, visiting niece and grand nephew in tow!...Mama Doe and One Fawn by the Fallen Cedar...Ouzel near Cottonwood Bend, as far as the Lunchtime walkoutandback went...and close flyby by Kingfisher 'laughing' on way downriver....someday I'll get the hoped for Kingfisher pic!...time..and back to work...report of another Mama Doe and One Fawn in Siberia...Two Coyotes about there too...

trip report, Thursday evening: at Point Lobos, I only had two hours of Light left...one has to leave one half hour after Sunset...paddled past Whalers Cove up the Bluff...photog with friend thereabout reported seeing Two Killer Whales...we all looked and looked, but no luck...picked up, and paddled aways out the Northside Trail...startled one Deer, and one Rabbit on return at the Bluff...Trails are all bordered by Iron Cables threaded through short Iron Poles...as if the Poison Oak and thick growth ain't enough to keep one to the Trails!....only a brief look at a place with much to see...Egret was below in one of the Coves....Cormorants, Pelicans, Seagulls about....and the Flora much different then hereabout...more visits a must for sometimes....oh!...I saw Kingfisher on the Bluff at Last Light, and earlier heard King Fisher at Moss Landing by the Otters...more Otter pics and clips tomorrow!

Clark' Nutcracker Call (play clip)

Turkey Vulture

Morning taken up with errands, back and forth to the Village, once by Shuttle, once on foot through Bobcat Meadow and the Creek...so preoccupied with the errands, didn't note much!.....sunny warm blue and breezy....at Lunch: sat awhile at the Fallen Cedar...Mama Doe and One Fawn upriver by Cottonwood Bend...pic and clip...Robin, Song Sparrow, Acorns, Raven, Blue Jay, Ouzel, Blackbirds, about....


trip report, Thursday afternoon: After visiting the Aquarium, I made the turn to the 17 Mile Drive...didn't expect the Toll Booth, and was in traffic, and so trapped..Ten Bucks!...hmmph....and I managed to get lost, and popped out back where I started, so didnt see the whole Drive...but did pull over at the Lone Cedar...pic...and thereabout to the right, sighted Turkey Vulture out in the Kelp perched on a Seal Carcass....pics and clips...one clip caught briefly a Second Vulture...missed when both were on the Seal...friend who drives Tour Bus was in same place, and saw same Seal, two weeks ago!...'to the right?'...yes, in the kelp'....

Point Lobos report tomorrow...and I need to fit in the trip to Merced Wildlife Refuge, which was just yesterday...there's a backlog, and things are going to get out of order....all for sometime!

link to Clark's Nutcracker (a request!)

Field Hawk

Day taken up with trip to Town...back late, and too sleepy to post...for tomorrow...

Monterey Otters

On the way to Breakfast, Grey Squirrel posing on Bench...pic...a very plump Grey Squirrel!....paddled back to the Creek on the way to Village on errands....Kingfisher about...Kingfisher was about last night at Creek's End too....after errands, returned to Creek's End and saw Kingfisher fly up to Heron Point Pines...walked out on the Gravel Shingle, waited a bit, and Kingfisher returned, and flew overhead, and up the Creek...had the camera ready, but didn't move, hoping Kingfisher would land and perch...I think I went through this same decision once before!!..and both times missed flight pics...sat awhile on Owl Log, and then to Lunch, and then to Cabin and long nap!...oh...friend on bike was on Path near the Deer House...friend was familiar with Moss Landing and Otters there, having kayaked thereabout...one can rent Kayaks, and paddle from the Little Bay out to Elkhorn Slough....friend reported too that Otters of late have been getting sick, maybe from runoff pollutants....sunny hot blueblue...paddled back to Creek's End at Last Light...quiet...Three Mallards, Two Ouzels, Song Sparrow, Robins, Flicker call, about....took digiclip of Three Mallards browsing on Shore, Last Light left Half Dome, and picked up.......at Dinner at Last Chance, during talkabout with another friend, mostly my vacation report!, they reported having lived in the Towns around Moss Landing for twelve years, and often saw Otters while swimming--once while body surfing, Otter was on the same wave!...very cool...oh!...report of low flyover by Peregrine Falcon out in Two Top Pine Meadow last Friday....

trip report, Thursday midday: I parked Silver in the Large Parking Lot, and paddled along Fisherman's Wharf, and Cannery Row, to the Aquarium....lots to see, and too much to report!...stopped at Ed Rickket's backyard...Mama Seagull and Two Fledglings on Old Pillar...clip up...everywhere I could, I walked out to the nearest end of the Docks to the Ocean to sight Otters out in the Kelp....even at the Aquarium, I watched Otters out in the Kelp from my Table in the Cafeteria...clip and pic up is with digiscope...Otters were farfar way...except for Mama Otter and Baby Otter in the Aquarium!....pics and clips...Aquarium is very cool!....the section for viewing the Ocean Underwater was closed for work of some sort--so will have to make return trip!....tourists day before reported Point Lobos as a must see, so left off from the Aquarium with a couple hours of Light left....Point Lobos report tomorrow!

link: Otter and Kayak

link: Otter with Video Cam!

Morning Otters

Last Hikers Bus of the Season this morning....hopped on....picked up danish and orange juice at Crane Flat Stop...breakfast sandwich at the Grill....and paddled out to sit awhile at Sept 1915 Bridge, and skygaze....cool, breezy, and the Magnificent Blue Sky quiet a long while...moved over to the Culvert on Lodgepole Lane, and after more than an hour, sighted Redtail Hawk...farfarfar away pics....lost sight....I moved out along the Dry Rivulet, and sat on its Bank... and after another hour or so, Peregrine Falcon flew over head....far away pics...missed some when Falcon was right over head....Sun was right over head too!...Sky clouding over in the West, and watched a long while where Falcon last seen....Redtail reappeared by the Bridge...picked up, and followed, but no luck....time...and walked through the Dry Meadows from the Bridge to the Store....One Junco by the Bridge, White Crowned Sparrow by the Culvert, pair of Bluebirds, Nutcracker call, Ravens, Blackbirds, Flicker call, Picket Pins, One Doe with One Buck...oh, from the Lane sighted once again Redtail being chased by Ravens--didn't know this until reviewing pics....a fine Tuolumne afternoon--cool breezy blue, with the clouds too...

back to the trip--Thursday morning: Hotel served a serve yourself breakfast--chose cheerios, biscuits and gravy, milk and orange juice...thought was to go to the Monterey Aquarium, and being close where I was at Marina, decided to keep the Hotel Room for another Night...geared up, put the long lens on the newer camera, and rolled back to Moss Landing....and the Otters were right where I had seen them the evening before!...local resident walking about reported Otters always there, and sometimes haul out on the Little Beach (see last night's link)....I'd always thought Otters just lived in Kelp Forests, which they do, but new to many since the Otter population has grown a bit, is that Sea Otters will live in Bays and such too.... took clips and pics with all the cameras...hd clips with the newer camera--these clips too big to upload to the blog...clip up is with newer camera set to 640, and mpeg1 for the upload....Otters have really made a home of the one area below the Picnic Bench...a Cable Strand through Iron Posts keeps hikers back, and on the Dirt Road...so couldn't go down to the Bay Shore....Otters are very wary...Kayakers got too close, and the Otter Raft moved as one slowly away....sometimes the Raft was closely bunched, other times, more spread out...took pics and clips until the Sun dispelled the morning low overcast, and Breeze began to make Waves...and I wanted to be off to the Aquarium....said goodbye for then to the Moss Landing Otters, and rolled off expectant to see their cousins at Monterey...more tomorrow.....it's Otter Week!