Tule Elk, Point Reyes National Seashore

Photo of a bull tule elk exhibiting the flehmen response.
Tule Elk near sunset, Point Reyes National Seashore; Love Is in the Air

This 7-point bull is exhibiting the Flehmen Response with its head and upper lip raised.  Certain species of mammals do this to increase their ability to detect and evaluate scent.  It’s a common sight during the mating season, but it can occur any time of the year.  This photo was taken in mid December, well past the end of the rut.

American Crow, Point Reyes National Seashore

American Crow Sits on Post
American Crow, Point Reyes National Seashore

Crows aren’t the most beautiful or colorful birds.  The same holds true for ravens.  However,they are both blessed with one attribute that would seem to be more important in the wild — intelligence.   Studies have shown crows and ravens to be among the most intelligent of all birds.  What I like about this photo is the effect from the eye’s nictitating membrane.

Acorn Woodpecker, Marin County, California

Photo of an acorn woodpecker peering out of its nest cavity.
A male acorn woodpecker looks out of its nest.

This acorn woodpecker and its mate nested in this tree cavity next to my friend Jeff’s garage in Inverness this past spring.  Jeff kept an eye on the nest, but never saw any young.  That’s the way it goes sometimes.

They are colorful birds.  Their habit of storing acorn nuts in the holes they create in trees, fences and anything else made of wood can make them unpopular when they decide to store their nuts in the wood siding of a house.

My Jackrabbit Friend

Profile photo of jackrabbit
Black-tail Jackrabbit, Marin County, California

A couple of months ago I spent some time photographing birds in our garden.  It didn’t take long before I noticed that a jackrabbit spent a lot of time there.   I had never noticed it before, but when you spend hours in one spot, without moving, you start to see things that you wouldn’t see otherwise.   I think it was a young jackrabbit because it loved to run back and forth across the garden, apparently full of pent-up energy.  I remember acting like that myself on occasion, but that was a long time ago.    My furry friend seemed very healthy.  It had no ticks in its ears as rabbits often do.  I haven’t spent any time in the garden photographing lately.  I hope my little friend is still there.

Tule Elk, Point Reyes National Seashore

A cow elk grazes near Pierce Point.
Tule Elk, Point Reyes National Seashore

This cow elk was spotted feeding near the former Pierce Point Ranch which is located on the Tomales Point Peninsula.  The Tomales Point Peninsula is where elk were re-introduced to the Seashore in about 1975.  They are restricted by a fence that was erected just before the re-introduction.  It runs across the peninsula from Tomales Bay to the ocean. The fence was installed to keep the elk out of the ranches on the Seashore.