Re: Natural Sightings Reply #50 – November 20, 2017, 07:51:36 pm If ya would like to learn more then you'd ever want to know about Coyotes this is a project here in Portland that might help you.Portland Urban Coyote Project - Home
Re: Natural Sightings Reply #51 – November 20, 2017, 08:45:17 pm Thanks for posting the link to the above tutorial. It was interesting and informative.The hazing suggestion at the end of the tutorial is consistent with what our local US Fish and Wldlife officer suggested. However, he didn't suggest a can full of pebbles. He suggested shooting them with a pellet gun. Either way, the coyotes learn that people aren't good to be around. The problem is that neither the can of pebbles or the pellet gun will be in your possession when one randomly encounters a coyote.The map of coyote sightings in the greater Portland area was interesting, particularly when you look at 2010, then 2011, 2012, etc. I suspect that the explosive increase in sightings is both a result of increasing population and range as well as an increase in sampling technique and public awareness of the project, resulting in citizens calling in with sightings. It may be that the coyotes were just as abundant in 2010 as they are in 2017.HD
Re: Natural Sightings Reply #52 – November 21, 2017, 08:47:29 am My solution for such critter problems is one of these, along with a large, steel BB. Since I miss most of the time it doesn't harm the animal and even sometimes scares it off as intended! 2 Likes
Re: Natural Sightings Reply #53 – November 21, 2017, 07:29:57 pm Greetings, we have plenty of coyotes to share here in the north end of Seattle. We live in a wooded area and there are several coyote dens in the hills near us. The other day, I saw a very healthy, large coyote walking calmly down the middle of the street about 8 am. People have learned to keep their cats and small dogs inside, especially during coyote pup season or the pets don't come home. We're working on co-existence here, but it's tough.Jean MuirThe Silver Fox, 2015 MB
Re: Natural Sightings Reply #54 – February 12, 2018, 02:29:40 am While common in Yosemite, Bobcats are a bit timid while visitors are in large numbers. I caught this Bobcat roaming across one of the bridges when guest count was low. Just one more reason to visit the Valley in March.Kent 4 Likes
Re: Natural Sightings Reply #55 – February 12, 2018, 09:46:16 am Nice shot, Kent, and timely! We had a new neighbor over to the house for lunch just yesterday and we were discussing some of the wildlife he might see in this area. He mentioned bobcats and "heard that there are lynx's here as well" which got me thinking. What's the difference between those two critters (I did not know)? I found this website which explains the difference between the two. Looks like your photo is a bobcat for sure!How to Tell the Difference Between a Bobcat and a Canada Lynx - Travel For... 1 Likes
Re: Natural Sightings Reply #56 – February 12, 2018, 10:46:21 am Greg,I had forgotten all about the Lynx. Sorry little guys. Thanks for the “lynx’ed” details between the two wild cats. Great video. I have several shots of Bobcats in the Valley wandering about and some pics of an actual catch in the brush behind the Awanhnee Hotel (yes, Awanhee). Pretty exciting to see a Bobcat in action. Just another reason I carry longer glass on my camera.Kent
Re: Natural Sightings Reply #57 – February 12, 2018, 09:15:15 pm Sometimes you just happen to be in the right place at the right time. While in Zion’s Watchman CG July of 2016, I happened to look up and spot this little guy just sitting pretty as you please. Kent 2 Likes
Re: Natural Sightings Reply #58 – February 26, 2018, 02:01:25 pm This little warbler was not happy with us. We parked to close to her nest in Ohio's Maumee Bay State Park. 3 Likes
Re: Natural Sightings Reply #59 – March 01, 2018, 10:23:06 am We took the LD and explored the Chiracahua NM last month. The white nosed coatamundi's were out foraging in the early evenings and were truly endearing. They would forage withing 10 feet of us, chirping and squeaking as they dug little holes and stuffed their noses down the holes in search of tasty bugs. 6 Likes
Re: Natural Sightings Reply #60 – March 01, 2018, 12:44:27 pm Chiracahua National Monument is one of our favorite spots in all of the Southwest. Take the free hiker shuttle from the campground up the mountain and take a beautiful hike back to the campground, and it's all downhill.Rich - Former 2000 MB 1 Likes
Re: Natural Sightings Reply #61 – April 03, 2018, 09:42:26 am Yesterday was a high wind day up here in the Tehachapi Mountains and sometimes when that occurs, the conditions are right for lenticular clouds to form. These particlular clouds in the photos are a variant of those called standing lenticular clouds, according to one of our local weather gurus because they don't move; they just stand there and look cool! These photos were snapped by some of our local photographers and posted on Facebook. 8 Likes
Re: Natural Sightings Reply #62 – April 03, 2018, 10:08:09 am Yes indeed, very cool. Mother Nature never ceases to amaze!
Re: Natural Sightings Reply #63 – April 03, 2018, 11:32:11 am Wow!!! Those are worthy of putting on walls
Re: Natural Sightings Reply #64 – May 01, 2018, 01:03:43 pm Caught these two gals snooping around the backyard this morning. 1 Likes
Re: Natural Sightings Reply #65 – May 09, 2018, 01:40:06 pm Still doing post processing, but some early returns from side trip to the Viera Wetlands in Florida, D600 & D500. A nice side trip if you enjoy birding (or gator sighting). The park is small. There are observation platforms and if you happen to be lugging a ton of camera gear you can drive most of it. I spent about four hours there but I hit every road once and many three or four times looking for a shot eerrrr pictures of birds. 4 Likes
Re: Natural Sightings Reply #66 – May 10, 2018, 07:56:51 pm Another critter in the backyard. Gray fox. 1 Likes
Re: Natural Sightings Reply #67 – May 10, 2018, 08:31:42 pm I know not the best pictures taken with a phone lol. This big guy swooped right over our heads and landed on branch right next to us. At Dash Point State Park in Washington just a few days ago. 3 Likes
Re: Natural Sightings Reply #68 – May 11, 2018, 10:37:10 am Quote from: Duro - May 10, 2018, 08:31:42 pmI know not the best pictures taken with a phone lol. This big guy swooped right over our heads and landed on branch right next to us. At Dash Point State Park in Washington just a few days ago.I hear you, Lynn. Many of my photos are taken with an older iphone or ipad, thus the lousy quality!Nice owl. We have them up here where we live and love to open the windows at night to listen to them hootin' and hollerin' all night! 2 Likes
Re: Natural Sightings Reply #69 – May 11, 2018, 10:59:05 am Cell phone cameras are often the “quickest draw”. I’ve been carrying a cell phone with me since 2006. Didn’t care for them too much, but they have become a ubiquitous part of many of our lives.While I do have some very nice camera gear, it’s not practical to carry everywhere I go. The iphone in my pocket rarely gets left behind. With its built in zoom capabilities, that coyote twenty feet away can get a lot closer really fast. Add to the mix the built in editing software and you have a formidable tool that can also summon 911 when that bear your shooting decides you’d be a really nice snack.Here is a pic I took at Serrano CG on Big Bear Lake. One image is before the edit and the other after a minute of tweaks.Cell phone shots are a big improvemt over my little instamatic camera I had as a kid.Just shoot it...Kent 4 Likes
Re: Natural Sightings Reply #70 – May 15, 2018, 11:40:51 am Quote from: Duro - May 10, 2018, 08:31:42 pmI know not the best pictures taken with a phone lol. This big guy swooped right over our heads and landed on branch right next to us. At Dash Point State Park in Washington just a few days ago.Speaking of owls, thought you might enjoy this article. And I have to fess up that this feature in our local newspaper inspired the title of this thread, Natural Sightings:Natural Sightings: The earliest raptors to nest | Lifestyle | tehachapinews.com 2 Likes
Re: Natural Sightings Reply #71 – May 19, 2018, 07:32:27 pm My wife took this shot with her phone this afternoon of a small herd of elk lounging around our valley. 3 Likes
Re: Natural Sightings Reply #72 – May 20, 2018, 10:00:47 am A picture from Ft. DeSoto Park in Tierra Verde (south of St. Pete, Florida) and a friend Marie made at Sebastian Inlet State Park in Melbourne, Florida. We've been scouring the area for wildlife in the Blue Ridge Mountains, but not much happening at this point. Last day in Boone. Tomorrow we're headed north with one night stops in Staunton, VA and Kurtztown, PA before landing for a week at Liberty Harbor RV in Jersey City, NJ, across from Manhattan. Now, I know some of you Westerners have been poking fun at our "mountains" out East, and I must admit, yours are more majestic and a lot bigger, but there are no bigger skyscrapers in the States than the ones we have in NYC. We're sandwiching the Big Apple in between stays in our "lowly" Blue Ridge Mountains and the beautiful beaches of Cape Cod, where I grew up. I'm sure there will be plenty of wildlife in the city, but none suitable for posting here. 4 Likes
Re: Natural Sightings Reply #73 – May 20, 2018, 11:27:13 am Your pelican photo of a homely bird and a pretty girl made me recall a memorable situation, years ago.We were running a dive charter for a group of SCUBA divers and Cyndy saw a pelican behind the boat, badly entangled with fishing lines and hooks in its gular pouch, tangled around its legs and throughout its wings. She begged me to "save" the poor thing. Since we were dating and I wanted to make a good impression, I slid into the water on the other side of the boat, swam underwater to beneath the pelican and grabbed it by its big rubber feet. Cyndy said it got the most surprised look at that moment! I brought the biting, flapping, and very unhappy bird on deck, used a pair of dikes to remove all of the hooks and line, and generally cleaned up the bird. Do you know that pelicans have a sharp little tooth at the end of their top beak and when they bite, it makes nasty little cuts in your skin? I do. When I released it, the pelican further repaid us by crapping about a quart of green poop on the deck and I soon discovered that I was covered with bird lice.Diving back into the water and scrubbing did nothing to remove the lice; after all, that is what pelicans do all day long. Only after a very hot shower with lots of shampoo was Cyndy able to comb most of the lice out of my hair, moustashe, eyebrows, and pick them off my skin.The things a guy will do to impress a girl... I don't handle pelicans any longer. I feel itchy just thinking about that day.Thanks again for the photos and the trip report! Harold 1 Likes
Re: Natural Sightings Reply #74 – May 20, 2018, 12:20:33 pm Quote from: Blueox25 - May 20, 2018, 11:27:13 amYour pelican photo of a homely bird and a pretty girl made me recall a memorable situation, years ago.HaroldChalk up another one for the "No Good Deed Goes Unpunished" File 2 Likes