Tag: badger

Coyote

Coyote, Point Reyes National Seashore

This is a photo of a coyote in new green grass.

Coyote Standing in New, Green Grass

I was out at Point Reyes yesterday.  It was a fairly good day wildlife photography-wise.  I was able to photograph this coyote, a badger, a bobcat, some elk and some hawks.  The coyotes look good right now with their new winter fur.

I prefer the winter and spring for photography at Point Reyes because the grass is green.  Unfortunately, cattle ranching has converted the grasses from the native, perennial grasses that stayed green throughout the year to non-native, annual grasses that die each year when the winter/spring rains end and we go into our dry Mediterranean summer and fall when the place looks like a waste land.

Badger

American Badger

This is a close-up side view photo of a badger with its tail up.

Where did that gopher go?

This badger was digging at both ends of a gopher tunnel.  While he was digging at one end, the gopher escaped from the other end.  The badger didn’t see it, but somehow sensed it had left and did a little circle around the diggings and picked up the scent and got the gopher.  I was impressed.

It reminded me of a badger in Yellowstone at the picnic area near Yellowstone Bridge that entered a fox den and spent a day or two eating the food cache the fox parents had created.  When the badger entered the den, the fox kits escaped from a back entrance.  After a day or so eating the food cache, the badger left the den.  When it left it began smelling the ground, picked up a scent trail,  and made a bee line to the entrance of a nearby second den where the fox kits had gone.  It entered that second den, which we later learned didn’t have a second entrance/exit.  Unfortunately, the kits were trapped.  The badger spent the next day or two in that den and killed and ate all the kits.  It was a sad tale that unfolded over several days to a lot of photographers and viewers.  When I witness something like this I have to remind myself that this is an example of the balance of nature.  It’s worked very well until we humans came along.  Unfortunately, we’re making a mess of it.

African Lion, Badger, Bobcat, Cheetah, Coyote, Favorite Images, Leopard, Lion, Point Reyes National Seashore, Serengeti National Park, Wildebeests

Some of My Favorite Images from 2018

Back in late 2007 a photographer by the name of Jim Goldstein invited other photographers to do blogs showing their 10 best photographs of that year and to send him a link to their blogs which he would then add to a list of the blogs of all who were participating.  It was a great service to all who appreciated good photography.  It gave me a handy list of photographers (mostly nature photographers) so I could easily look at what they were doing and how my work compared to theirs.  I participated a couple of times, but somehow forgot about it.  I saw a notice about it recently and decided to participate again.

2018 for me was highlighted by a trip to Tanzania hosted by the African Wildlife Foundation (Craig Sholley) and Nature’s Best Photography (Jeff Vanuga).  They hired Thomson Safaris to deliver all the necessary services such as camps, food, drivers etc.  All three were superb.  I also made my regular trips to Point Reyes National Seashore, which is a short drive from my home.

Jim Goldstein used to ask that you list your 10 “best” photos.  The limit of 10 was not strictly followed by most and Jim seems to have de-emphasized it nowadays.  Picking what you think are your “best” photos is not easy.  So, below is a list of “some” of my “favorite” photos of 2018 in no particular order.

Finally, Jim’s list of links won’t be out until about the second week in January and when it comes out I’ll insert a link here.  here it is:  https://www.jmg-galleries.com/blog/2019/01/08/photos-2018-jmggalleries-blog-readers/

For now, you can go to his blog touting the 2018 round and linking to all the previous rounds all the way back to 2007 by clicking here.  Thanks Jim!

A healthy-looking coyote moves through a ranch pasture.

Coyote, Point Reyes National Seashore

A leopard stares from under the overhanging leaves of a palm tree.

Leopard, Serengeti National Park

This is a photo of a bobcat sharpening its claws.

Bobcat with Damaged Eye, Point Reyes National Seashore

Wildebeests become trapped on the steep north bank of the Mara River

Wildebeest Crossing Mara River, Serengeti National Park

cheetahs, cheetah, photo, image, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Two Cheetahs Rest, Serengeti National Park

Mother elephants keep their calves protected inside the herd.

Mother Elephants and Calves, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Male bobcat.

Bobcat, Point Reyes National Seashore

Bobcat hunting at Point Reyes National Seashore.

Bobcat, Point Reyes National Seashore

Male Lion, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Male African Lion, Serengeti National Park

Coyote, Point Reyes National Seashore

Coyote, Point Reyes National Seashore

A group of elephants faces the camera at sunset in Tarangire National Park.

Elephants, Tarangire National Park

A coyote stares at the camera.

Coyote, Point Reyes National Seashore

A male lion walks through the Serengeti and stares at the camera.

Male Lion, Serengeti National Park

A coyote looks over its shoulder.

Coyote, Point Reyes National Seashore

A badger stands next to a hole it is digging looking for gophers.

Badger, Point Reyes National Seashore

Badger

Badger Cubs, Yellowstone National Park

Two badger cubs play-fight.
“I’m toughest. No you’re not.”

I spent  lot of time photographing these badger cubs and their mom in the spring of 2014.  I kept waiting for all three of them to show their faces to the camera and do something interesting.  This photo is the best I got.

I think these little guys were enjoying their little fight.  It’s more than just fun though. When their mom sends them into that big world away from her and the den site they’ll need to be able to defend themselves.   When I’ve observed a mother predator with only one offspring, the mother always take the place of a sibling and play-fights with the little one to teach it that life-saving skill of defending itself.

Black-tailed Deer

Blacktail Doe and Fawns, Point Reyes National Seashore

Look for fawns throughout the Seashore.
It’s Fawn Time!

Now is a great time to be at Point Reyes.  There are lots of elk calves to see and some deer fawns as well.  I mentioned in an earlier post that I think the heavy winter rains helped increase elk births. I think the same can be said for deer and most other critters.

One thing that I am always amazed at is how fast people drive in the Seashore as they rush to get to some particular location to start enjoying nature.  If they would slow down and scan the fields they would see all kinds of nature’s creations, such as coyotes, bobcats, badgers, elk, deer etc.  Plus, less wildlife would be killed by vehicles.   As Glenn Frey used to sing, “take it easy.”