Jim Coda Nature Photography

July 15, 2018November 19, 2018Hawk, Peregrine Falcon

Peregrine Falcon, Point Reyes National Seashore

Female Peregrine takes wing with its prey.

As I was leaving Point Reyes a few days ago I noticed this female peregrine perched on a fence post with her recent kill. I pulled over and photographed her as she alternatively plucked feathers and fed. After several minutes she decided it was time to go. She flew right over me, but I had too long a lens to photograph her once she left the post. Point Reyes is a good place for seeing not only elk and other mammals, but also various birds, including birds of prey.

March 6, 2014May 1, 2018Badger, Bobcat, Coyote, Other Bird

A Day at Point Reyes National Seashore

I was out at Point Reyes two days ago. It was a very good day. I saw and photographed multiple bobcats and coyotes.

Photo of a bobcat stalking its prey. — Bobcat Stalking Prey

This bobcat was hunting gophers. Bobcats use their paws to catch gophers in their burrows. Their mouths are not designed to fit into the narrow space of a gopher burrow. Their paws are also fairly large in relation to the size of a gopher burrow. Based on my observations, I would say their batting average is fairly low.

Photo of a coyote at Point Reyes. — Coyote, Point Reyes National Seashore

Coyotes use their mouths to catch rodents in their burrows. They don’t have sharp, retractable claws and don’t seem disadvantaged in that regard. That long slender snout seems built for the task. Based on my observations, they have a much higher batting average than bobcats in catching rodents in the top of their burrows. This coyote was with its mate and another individual.

While I’m always happy to get the opportunity to photograph bobcats and coyotes, what made the day really special was seeing and photographing a peregrine falcon and a badger. I don’t get many opportunities to photograph either of them.

Photo of a peregrine falcon on a post. — Scanning the Area

I don’t know if this is a female or an immature or both. Its markings were not as nice as the peregrine I posted here. However, I’m always happy to photograph a peregrine.

Photo of a badger at Point Reyes. — Badger Wakes Up from Siesta

Badgers are very nocturnal so it’s always a treat to spot one. The recent rains have created damp, dark soil which stands out when a badger digs up areas where there are good populations of gophers. I also love the rich greens of the grasses at this time of year. Everything has been brown this winter until we got some decent rains in the past few weeks. For those that don’t know, California is suffering from the worst drought in history.

January 1, 2012May 26, 2018Badger, Bobcat, Coyote, Hawk, Other Mammal, Owl, Tule Elk

Best Photos of 2011

I learned about Jim Goldstein’s blog project some time in 2011. To learn more about it click here. Basically, you do a blog about your best 10 or so photos of the year and Jim will link your blog to his list of blogs that participate. I recently looked at some of the 2010 participants’ “Best 10” blogs. It’s a great way to find good nature photographers you weren’t aware of.

I photographed a lot at Point Reyes National Seashore in 2011 so I decided to use Point Reyes wildlife photos that were in my blog in 2011. I want to say at the outset that I never really photographed much at Point Reyes before 2011 and I was very surprised at how good wildlife photo opportunities are there. I’m a big fan of Yellowstone, but Point Reyes is almost the equal of it and in some ways it’s better. For example, I’ve never seen a single bobcat in Yellowstone and hardly ever fail to see one at Point Reyes.

So, without further ado, here are some of my favorite Point Reyes wildlife photos that were in my blog in 2011.

Photo of long-tailed weasel peering out of a burrow. — Long-tailed Weasel, Point Reyes National Seashore

Long-tailed weasels are one of my favorite animal subjects at Point Reyes. Unfortunately, they are hard to find. I saw four last year in Point Reyes, but this guy is the only one I was fortunate enough to get close photos of.

Photo of a bobcat daydreaming. — A Bobcat Daydreams, Point Reyes National Seashore

Bobcats are a lot easier to find, especially in the winter. This male lived on one of the ranches along Pierce Point Road. I saw him a lot last winter, but he disappeared in the early spring. I’m not sure what happened to him, but I think a pack of coyotes got him. I saw them pass through the open area he used to hang out on. I think he could have held his own with one coyote, but I doubt he could do so with two or more. There were no trees or other means of escape anywhere near where I used to see him. I photographed him a lot and miss him.

Photo of a coyote looking back at sunset. — Coyote at Sunset

Point Reyes has a healthy population of coyotes. Like the bobcats, they are easiest to find in the winter when they spend more time out during daylight.

Photo of a badger after it awakens from a sunbath. — American Badger, Point Reyes National Seashore

Point Reyes has a good population of badgers, but they are somewhat hard to find because they are such nocturnal critters. In 2011 I photographed two single adults plus two females in the spring with two cubs each. This is one of the single adults. I found this individual a couple of weeks ago.

Photo of a 7-point bull bugling during the rut. — Tule Elk Bugles During Rut; Point Reyes National Seashore

Of all the wildlife Point Reyes has I think the species people think of first is the tule elk. They are fairly easy to find and photograph at Point Reyes. Needless to say, this photo was taken during the rut. With his angry-looking eyes and wide-open mouth he looks pretty fierce. Every time I see how big his mouth is I picture four canine teeth in there and wonder what life would be like if elk had canines.

Photo of peregrine falcon eating its prey. — Peregrine Falcon Holding Its Prey

Point Reyes has some resident peregrine falcons. They are often seen from Chimney Rock to the Point Reyes Lighthouse. This one decided to dine in ranch country.

Photo of a male california quail. — Overseeing His Covey

California quail are quite common in the Seashore. When things are slow they can save the day. I think the peregrine above was feeding on a quail.

Photo of an osprey perched on a dock. — Osprey; Tomales Bay, California

There are several ospreys that live and nest in and around the Seashore. This one decided to perch on a dock in Inverness which is just over the ridge from the Seashore.

Red-tailed Hawk, Point Reyes National Seashore

Photo of a red-tailed hawk. — Red-tailed Hawk, Point Reyes National Seashore

Red-tailed hawks are common at Point Reyes, especially in the winter. They are probably the raptor seen most often in the Seashore.

Photo of a great horned owl sitting in a barn window. — Great Horned Owl in Barn Window

Great horned owls are also common, although you don’t see them as often as their numbers would suggest because of their nocturnal ways. Find any good sized clump of trees, though, and odds are good that you will find one or more great horned owls in there. Pound for pound they are about the most deadly bird in North America. While they normally prey on mammals and birds smaller than them, they have been know to prey on such things as house cats, canada geese and even bald eagles. Field Guide to Owls of California and the West, Hans Peeters, at 191.

There are a lot of other wildlife species at Point Reyes , many of which I blogged about, but it’s time to stop. If you’d like to see some more images from Point Reyes or elsewhere you can continue viewing my blog or you can visit my website, www.jimcoda.com.

Happy New Year to All, and thank you Jim Goldstein.

October 12, 2011May 26, 2018Hawk

Peregrine Falcon, Point Reyes National Seashore

I went out to Point Reyes yesterday for the first time since I left for Yellowstone in early September. I’m still trying to get some good images of elk during the rut. Thanks to heavy fog around Pierce Point, I didn’t have much luck in that regard. I was lucky, though, to spot this peregrine feeding on some prey while perched on a fence post.

April 23, 2011Uncategorized

Red-winged Blackbird

I like and enjoy seeing all wild birds. Okay, I’ll admit that I like some more than others. Take today’s photo for example. It’s not a bald eagle. It’s not a peregrine falcon. It’s not a great gray owl. It’s a red-winged blackbird. Still, I was happy to have the opportunity it gave me to photograph it and to try to create an attractive image.