Falcons

Pic and clips from yesterday....except Cottonwood...that clip is from this evening's walk...didn't go far...just to the Woods where I sat for a long while watching Cottonwood...and this after following Aspen from Tree to Tree....some very cool clips...for sometime...made a short walk earlier along the Creek after going to the Village for errands...this in midday heat...quiet...slept most of the rest of the day!....oh!....heard Hawk again across the Creek while at the Swath..same place as before...and just one loud call in the fading light...unusual to hear Hawk so late...call like Red Shoulder's....but no luck locating...will have to study the Deer House Oaks...sunny hot blue....about the Falcons: we saw them from four of the Points...Dewey, Taft, one I forget(Stanford)..and lastly, Gilbert(Crocker)....at all, they were airborne, except the last, where we located the calls and spotted one Falcon on the Snag....I took pics and clips with the 20x, but way distant.... Falcon looked content to pose, so I unpacked the mini scope digi, and the backpacking tripod, and set it up...was able to get some clips and pics...we were standing almost at the end of the Point, and the Snag Tree, across a gap...it could be seen from a closer vantage back from the Point....I didn't want to disturb Falcon..we thought it might be a Fledgling waiting for Mama Falcon, so I asked my friend to stay behind while I tried to get closer (been my experience that more than two footsteps, makes more than too much noise!)...I was able to get closer, and got the pic...and almost the clips...I say almost, as I was slow to sight in the digi...and the first Falcon flew off...got that somewhat!...but was disappointed...then I looked up from the camera view screen, and saw the second Falcon further out on the limb...it had landed out of range of the view screen...I often have a kinda tunnel vision doing the clips...looking only at the screen!...anyway, I tried to sight again...and got the second Falcon's lift off too!!...somewhat!....the tripod has a small ball head...and it works okay, but I'm not used to it yet...sighting the digi, and any camera really, takes time and practice, so that ones hands and fingers know what to do...like playing a new song on the piano....and it's not easy!.....wish I had taken the big scope, but that would have required the big tripod..and a big weight on a long day's hike!...but, now I have in mind to take the Bus up to Glacier...hike to the Points...and come down in the late evening on the Four Mile Trail...maybe find a Grey!... I dont know how many Falcons there are...like I posted...over the course of the day, I saw myself six, and my friend saw a seventh, but there may well be only two...two was all we ever saw together....dont have to think long for a name for Falcon....Horus.

About Egyptian birds:
http://www.biomapegypt.org/biodiversity/WildLife/Birds_12.html

and this one too...though a bit hyperbolic!
http://www.hummingbirdworld.com/chiricahua/peregrine.htm

Morning Falcon

Out and about early...wanted to get to Two Top Pine Meadow before the morning sunlight...but soon as I started along the Path, heard Hawk calling at Creek's End...went to check...but just the one call...I did see Big Wings in the Deer House Oaks yesterday...got my boots and socks wet wading the Creek to go looksee...this was just after Owls view...kept along the Merced, and did make it to Two Top, and stood out in the Meadow near Beaver Bend...waiting for the Falcons' calls...but quiet....took some Flower and Grasses and scenic pics...light is great in the morning...photogs ask me where to go for Sunrise in the Valley....tell them now, Two Top, not to see the Sun, but to see the Light!...anyway...I crossed the Road disconsolate, and started back along the Rocky Slope....and then behind me, heard the calls...back I went to Falcon Point and set up at the base of the Talus Slope...and waitedwaited....before long the Two Falcons came, way up high on the Rim...clip...and when the 20x unfocused, I took pics with the new camera....tiny blurry...but Falcons!....happy to see Falcon, I picked up, their calls fading down the Valley, and was on the Trail aside the Rocky Slope...and heard the familiar scolding of Blue Jay...and caught the tiniest glimpse of Bobcat...then a longer one...and finally got ahead and situated for just a short clip...but kinda neat!...Bobcat has a predictable route along the Slope...question is when!?...that's sorta true of all the Critters...almost saw Bobcat some more, but continued on the Trail, and in kind of a hurry for a seven thirty appointment to go up to Glacier and hike the Pohono Trail... was an hour late, and after Breakfast, my gracious neighbors, one, my hiking friend, to hike the Trail with me too, used two cars to arrange the hike....way this works: park one car at Tunnel View, and the second for Transport to Glacier Point...or some arrangement like this!...we actually stepped off at Sentinel Parking lot...so it was like an eleven mile hike...saw lots of Flowers, best time of year we think for Flowers on this Trail...two Bears..clips... heard a third...Butterflies, Ants (special request for the ant clip...put it up tomorrow)...lots of scenics, as the Trail jogs out to each of the Points along the way...and between us, we saw seven Falcons!....didn't do to well getting pics and clips of Falcon...for tomorrow, what I have...didn't help that I sat on the 3x, and discombobulated it a bit...it was in my back pocket...convenient for the Flower pics...sigh...oh...and a Frog in one the Creeks, but too slow for pic....it was very hot, and I was very tired!...all week the sleep debt has been huge....but I made it okay without any nausea...my usual worry on hot uphill hikes..but there wasn't much uphill...but there is some!!...and I wouldn't do this Trail the opposite way...Trail ends up at Tunnel View, where, what with the traffic noises, makes for a jarring contrast to the quiet air over the Valley as experienced from the Rims....well, almost quiet...the twowheelers were potatopotatoing....the Falcons were a real treat, and much thanks to my hiking friend for locating one perched in an old snag...pics are blurry, pics are tiny, but they're Falcons!...and for tomorrow!...sunny hot blue...a fine day of two Walkabouts!...highest highlight was seeing two of the Falcons go into their dives...I was too slow for pics...oh...the mosquitoesmosquitoeing....

Creek Owls

Rafters were at Creek's End, looking up into the Trees....on the opposite shore, I tried to be low key, and they spoke first..'Did you see the Owls!'...they'd seen them both, and pointed to the Trees where they saw them fly to...I imagine they startled them...I thanked them...and looked about...finding one, then the other, which took some doing!!...both Young Owls snoozing, one on each side of the Creek by the Great Turf and the Tiki Temple....one gave me a momentary look...and I had the new camera in manual mode, with a low exposure....and pic came out okay!....Owls' backs are to me in all the rest....and the clips, for sometime, very restful!...the Trees swaying, and the Leaves twirling...later at work, during my lunch break, I found Mama Doe and her Two Fawns....pic...and clips for sometime...all with the 3x...souvenirs....sunny hot blue....Mama Doe was about in the Little Forest where she gave birth..and dont know but she looks like the Doe that was Bear watching...which would explain that, if the Fawns were in the heavy grasses thereabout!

Walkabout

A day without a walkabout...is a day without a walkabout!....paddled out to the Woods after Breakfast...sat awhile in a shady spot...thought to relocate...and spotted Aspen and Cottonwood...actually they saw me first...I woke them up...took a quick longdistance pic ...and retreated the way I came, to let them return to sleep....rafters at Creek's End...so went upstream to the Swath...Tanager about...pics....but pics all pretty soft...Tanager is proving tough to get a good sharp photo !!...sat awhile on the RipRap...and finally picked up and back to the Cabin...and work...sunny hot blue with high herring bone clouds...kinda like confectioners sugar....pics up from yesterday, Bear, Flickers and Sandpiper...had Bear's walkabout to upload..but it's too long...for sometime a short section or two...was very happy to see the two....ear tuft feathers are coming in...

Backyard Bear

I went down to the River's edge near Half Stump...lots of Brush...to see what the Ravens were making a ruckus about on the opposite shore...and found the Kayak Paddles...what to do??...I gathered them up and took them along!...Owl Woods was quiet...and so was Two Top Pine Meadow when I got there...but I thought to sit and watch the sun rise spread light on the Rims, and down to the Meadow...maybe I might hear Hawk....a Young Buck came to the Path...I was holding the Paddles and tried to get the 2ox out...and the Buck was really startled and scared by Paddles waving about...the Deer seldom look startled!...something to think on, I thought, and put the Deer's reaction to the Paddles in a ThoughtHobby...which I have a few!...then I thought to take a self portrait with the Paddles...Two Top for background...and it came out pretty neat!...and just as I finished the pic, I heard Hawk...way on the other side of the Meadow again...I dropped the Paddles to the ground beside Path...someone with a Kayak is welcome to them!...and off I went at a kinda slow trot...fast as I could without losing gear!....and Hawk's call towed me all the way to Beaver Bend again...Sandpiper clip and pic in the early sun on the way..for sometime...Hawk's call was deep in the Forest on the opposite bank...I think Hawk may roost there by Sentinel Beach...and I slowed and was stumped...but then I heard the call up on Rocky Point...oh!...I got a neat call clip there., and nearly a pic..for sometime...and I thought that would be the post up tonight....just a glimpse of Hawk flying...paddled back through Camp 4...and thereabout, got clips and pics of Two Flickers together...very neat...and I thought that would be the post up!..but for sometime...continued on, and as I reached the Grinding Stone near Lower Falls, I heard wood breaking..that sound Bear makes looking for termites...and I got the camera out just in case...and Bear appeared!...and walked out into the Mini Meadow...clip for sometime...Japanese tourists got all excited...I almost got clip of Bear crossing the Road at Creek Bridge...right by the Speed Kills Bears sign...which would have been cool...but I lost sight...I gave my attention to trying to stop the Tourists from crowding around Bear...but didn't need to..the Tour Guide was bellowing loudly something in Japanese, and they all pulled back!...I'm half asleep through all this, by the way...having gone out at five thirty!...I crossed the Road to the Cabin...and thought to go back to the Creek on just the chance Bear would be there...and before going very far...in fact right behind the Neighborhood, I found Bear...clips and pics...and lots of them, as Bear meandered about right behind the Rooms for a good while...and for sometime, is an observation of Bear that has to do with the Paddles and the Deer....but let me get to the clip up!...up aways on the Path, I tried to stay ahead of Bear, and happened on Deer watching Bear...Deer do this when Bear is about...they watch just like tourists!...and this one left off...and then turned around, went back, and watched some more!...anyway, just that I find charming and the stuff of a post!...the rest of the clip is routine Bear in Appletree!...a few tourists from the Rooms gathered and got some good views of Bear...and fortunately, Bear had gone out into the Woods, instead of climbing into a Tour Bus...which at one time in the Bearabout, was like just thirty yards away..oh...I'll do another post and relate this better!...had Breakfast and went to sleep...and to sleep now too in a minute or two, and all the way to worktime tomorrow!...the lure of maybe hearing maybe Owls or Hawks at five thirty in the morning has sorta taken hold!....sunny hot blue....and just a couple mosquito bites!!...oh...Bear number 99...or 66...I have to check...but I think I have clip of this Bear from long time ago...thought it was Fir Bear...46...or 49!

Marmot Road

Pic and clip from up in Tuolumne Tuesday..along Soda Springs Road...I think it was called....Shuttle pulled up after Breakfast, hopped on and over to the Post Office...thought to walk back, but return Shuttle pulled up, and hopped on...it's like that sometime...I just go where the 'wind' takes me....back at the Cabin, the entry door was papered over...masking...the painters were spray painting the neighborhood...I had the 20x along, so started out on a walkabout...at Creek's End discovered Hairy Woodpecker's Nest Hole Tree had been opened up by Bear overnight... like the Chapel Bridge Post!...contents gone of course..hmph...related this to friend at work, and they said, 'tragic'...and it is...it reminds me somehow of the old Greek tragedies....it just broke my heart!...Mama Woodpecker was up in Heron Pine, chattering away..disconsolate I'm sure...and I think it was Bear...no footprints or smashed down grasses...but there are what look like two small claw scratches on the Tree...for awhile suspected Owl...had my Sherlock Holmes hat on...but couldn't figure it out for certain...walked out the Channel..a slow walk, hoping to see Owls...didn't want to think about vandals...Woods all quiet...at Swinging Bridge, made a right out into Two Top Pine Meadow...flower pics along the way...stirred up a couple sunbathers out in the middle...the tall grasses fortunately concealing...back through Camp 4 and to the Cabin...a quiet walk, but pretty and scenic...sunny hot blue with a breeze that wouldn't be quiet long enough to take the flower pics!...Raccoon tonight at Last Chance...didn't see Raccoon my own self...saw tourists outside the windows watching....Coyote howling while uploading clip...a concern, as the Fawns are about...and at the beginning of the walk took clip and pic of pregnant Doe browsing in the Backyard...water in Two Top..at the Slough too..almost dried up...I haven't seen anything like the Mallard and Mergansers I saw last year...just the one Merganser with Meganserlings..and the Two Mallards with Ducklings...and just that one time!..I think one reason for this is the grasses grew up in what was open water last year...and that water was open from the control burn...and it attracted the water fowl...a conjecture!!

Baby Ground Squirrel

Shuttled over to the Post Office...hopped off at Lower Falls on the way back...went out in the Delta and sat awhile...here and there...quiet....had time, so crossed the Road and walked along the Creek...and at the Swath Pole Tree, happened on the White Headed Woodpecker....clip..oh!...the Squirrel clip was by the Post Office..the Babies were pulling down the Grass stems...wanted clip of that...hard to see in one up...rafters at Creek's End...and there are like little patrols of Tourists about...out in the Delta...and too in Owl Woods..which was quiet...'cept for work on the Tiki Temples....holes being drilled in the cement walls for small pipes...that's the noise in the background while Woodpecker's working on the Pole Tree hole!...report of Mama Doe and New Two by Last Chance...Coyote howling last night close outside the Cabin...at work, talkabout about the possibility of Ravens being a kind of new population hereabout...not many reports of Ravens in the old reports....sunny hot blue with animating breeze...this to say, out in the Delta the Tree Leaves rustle in the mysterious Valley wind...

Blog of the Day

http://caulludriga.blogspot.com/

(has Oso pic...)