Tag: california

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California Quail in Strong Backlight; Point Reyes National Seashore

Photo of a male california quail.
Overseeing His Covey

I liked the lichen-covered post this guy hopped up on at the Pierce Point Ranch parking lot.  I didn’t like the fact that I had to shoot into the sun though.  That made for some tough backlighting.

I don’t know why male California quail always like to be perched on something above the ground while the rest of the covey remains on the ground.  I’ve never seen a female on a post.  Maybe the males do it to protect the females and young.  That way they’re in a position to see anything dangerous approaching and can let out a warning call in time to save the others.  Maybe they like being in a high place because it’s safest for them.  I’d like to think it’s the former.

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Bull Elk at Sunset

Photo of bull tule elk at sunset.
Tule Elk in Velvet, Point Reyes National Seashore

This bull was standing at about a 45 degree angle to the sun before it set.  This made for some strong sidelight and backlight.  He’s still wearing some of his winter coat.  He looks very healthy, but I think he’ll have to undergo a big growth-spurt to have a chance to breed this fall.

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Cow Elk Being Groomed by Starlings; Point Reyes National Seashore

Photo of starlings grooming a cow elk.
Free Grooming

This cow is being cleaned of parasites by some starlings.  She’s also ear-tagged.  She has a yellow tag in her right ear that is numbered “85” and a silver tag in her left ear that is numbered “8527.”  I don’t know why the tags were put on her, but she may have been tagged when the Park Service was experimenting with birth control in the late 90s.  If so, she’s quite old.  All I do know for sure is that I see her a lot and she sees me a lot.  When I’m upwind of her that nose gets a real workout.

It’s hard to tell from this little jpeg, but it appears that the starling on the cow’s head is missing toes on its right foot.

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Another Elk Dustup

Photo of two young bull tule elk fighting.
Another Tule Elk Fight, Point Reyes National Seashore

The times I’ve seen these sparring sessions they only last a few seconds.  I saw a video once where two deer threw rapid punches for quite a while.  Maybe I’ll witness one of those with the elk.  What I like about this particular moment is the expression on the young bull’s face.  I wonder what he’s thinking?  Maybe it’s “You’re next buster.”

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Columbia Blacktail Fawn with Unusual Coat

Two Columbia blacktail fawns explore their world.
Columbia Blacktail Fawns, Point Reyes National Seashore

I went looking for some more fawns to photograph yesterday.   I found these two.  One has a dark saddle.  It is most noticeable when viewed from behind.

Photo of Columbia Blacktail fawn with unusual coat.
Blacktail Fawn with Unusual Coat, Point Reyes National Seashore

I don’t know if this is very unusual or not, but it looks unusual to me.

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Great Horned Owl Waits for Darkness

Photo of great horned owl perched in tree.
Great Horned Owl, Point Reyes National Seashore

This owl was in a tree next to the road to Point Reyes Lighthouse.  Point Reyes National Seashore has a healthy population of great horned owls.   The ranching portion of Point Reyes is mainly made up of grazing lands.  These lands have a fairly high population of gophers and other rodents.  They are also punctuated by stands of mature trees.  Find a stand of mature trees and you’ll find a pair of great horned owls.

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Red-winged Blackbird Exposes Himself

A red-winged blackbird calls from a fence post.
Red-winged Blackbird, Point Reyes National Seashore

This red-winged blackbird doesn’t have the yellow median coverts most red-wings have.  The medians are black.  It is called “bicolored” and exists in much of California.  What I find interesting here is that he is exposing a beautiful yellow-orange color to the base of the lesser coverts.