Jim Coda Nature Photography

March 8, 2011Uncategorized

Coyote At Sunset

Photo of a coyote stopping in a rancher's field at sunset. — Coyote, Point Reyes National Seashore

I photographed this coyote at sunset. For landscape photography, sunrise and sunset are the best of times. You go to the place you want to photograph and wait for that yellow, orange and/or red light. Sunrise and sunset are great times to photograph wildlife as well. Unfortunately, a wild animal is not always in front of you at sunrise or sunset. So, when you have an interesting animal to photograph at those times you are fortunate. That’s all it takes for me to consider the day a success.

February 22, 2011Uncategorized

Bobcats Are Special

A bobcat looks for its next meal. — Bobcat, Point Reyes National Seashore

I enjoy seeing and photographing all wildlife, but some species are more special than others to me. Bobcats are one of those species, along with wolves, bears and eagles. I’ll never get tired of photographing them.

February 14, 2011Uncategorized

Burrowing Owl, Point Reyes National Seashore

A burrowing owl stands atop a badger digging and scans its territory. — Burrowing Owl, Point Reyes National Seashore

I went out to Point Reyes recently looking for badgers and anything else worth photographing. I didn’t see any badgers. However, one benefit in looking for badgers is that you sometimes find burrowing owls using the badger holes or burrows. Most of the time when I spot a burrowing owl the only part of it I see is its head and yellow eyes staring at me. This owl was kind enough to do more than peek out the front door.

A burrowing owl stands atop a badger digging. — Burrowing Owl, Point Reyes National Seashore

I sometimes wonder what happens if burrowing owls go into holes that have badgers or weasels in them. I know I won’t stick my hand down one of those holes.

February 13, 2011Uncategorized

Bobcat Hunting Gophers

A bobcat stops in a field. — Bobcat, Point Reyes National Seashore

This bobcat was hunting gophers. Gophers are plentiful at Point Reyes, at least in the agricultural areas. They are an important food source for coyotes, bobcats, badgers and other predators at the Seashore. If this bobcat could talk he would probably say there is no such thing as too many gophers.

February 10, 2011Uncategorized

Badger, Point Reyes National Seashore, Marin County, California

A badger takes a rest on top of his diggings. — Badger, Point Reyes National Seashore

I’ve been spending a fair amount of time photographing at Point Reyes the last six months or so and hadn’t seen a badger until the other day when I spotted this one taking a rest on its diggings. For much of that period I wasn’t really focusing on looking for badgers, but after having a fair amount of success with my main interests, coyotes and bobcats, I decided recently to concentrate on looking for badgers. I was pleasantly surprised at how soon I spotted this badger. When I was in areas that had obvious badger activity I made sure I focused my attention on any signs of fresh badger diggings and on nothing else. Having said that, I’m sure luck was still the biggest part of the equation.

A badger gets up after its rest. — Badger, Point Reyes National Seashore

Some cows were grazing their way into its path and it decided to head underground to avoid getting stepped on. But for the cows I would probably have only gotten shots of the badger at rest. Unfortunately, it didn’t come up again before it got too dark to photograph. I came by the next morning at sunrise, but it wasn’t visible. It may have moved on, but I think it was underground. There were so many gophers making themselves visible while the badger was taking its rest that I doubt it needed to move on by the morning to find more food.

February 9, 2011Uncategorized

Two Bull Elk Fight

Two Tule elk bulls get ready to fight. — Two Bull Tule Elk, Point Reyes National Seashore

January 28, 20011. Two bull elk face each other before a post-rut sparring session.

Two bull elk fight. — Two Bulls Fight for Dominance; Point Reyes National Seashore

They went at it for quite a while. There was a winner and I think they’ll each remember that. There won’t be much more fighting now because the bulls are dropping their antlers. However, come the next rut these two will probably go at it again.

February 8, 2011Uncategorized

Ear-Tagged Elk

This cow elk has been ear-tagged. — Tule Elk, Point Reyes National Seashore

Here is an ear-tagged cow elk. She is one of almost 500 elk at the Tule Elk Preserve at Tomales Point. There is an identifying number on her right ear tag. The other tag was inserted in the opposite direction. I don’t know for sure why that was done, but I’m assuming it has the same identifying number and was inserted that way so the identifying number would be visible from the rear of the animal. This herd has not increased in size for some time and therefore seems to be self-regulating. The other herd, the Limantour Herd, numbers about 100 animals.