Jim Coda Nature Photography

September 6, 2011May 27, 2018Tule Elk

Bull Tule Elk During the Rut

Photo of bull tule elk. — Bull Tule Elk, Point Reyes National Seashore

The rut is in full swing at Point Reyes. This bull had a harem of six or seven cows and a few yearlings and calves near Pierce Point Ranch. He got into one big fight with another bull of about equal size. He prevailed, but these bull elk sure work hard to pass on their genes. I saw a bull limping due to some problem with his left foreleg or shoulder. It reminded me of a limping bull on the D Ranch near Drake’s Beach. He also had something wrong with his left leg or shoulder.

May 22, 2011Uncategorized

A Coyote Survives with Injury

A coyote hunts on the Tomales Peninsula. — Coyote, Point Reyes National Seashore

I’ve seen this coyote a number of times. He’s easy to identify because he has a slight limp due to some injury to his right foreleg. I first saw him around Pierce Point Ranch months ago. Later I saw him on the mid-peninsula. Lately, I’ve been seeing him at the south end. He seems to have found a home there. On the other hand, maybe he’s been a long-time resident there and I only first noticed him and his limping gait at Pierce Point. Maybe he was just traveling then in search of better territory or a mate or both. I wondered then whether the limp would affect his ability to survive. I watched him “mousing” at Pierce Point and the limp didn’t affect his ability to jump (and land) in hunting rodents. In fact, he was very successful. It seems to only affect his ability to run fast. Good news for the rabbits. He looks healthy to me. He’s making it.

May 21, 2011Uncategorized

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.

April 26, 2011Uncategorized

Tule Elk Bulls Sparring with their Hooves, Point Reyes National Seashore

Photo of two tule elk bulls fighting with their hooves. — Tule Elk Boxing, Point Reyes National Seashore

These two bulls were sparring with their hooves because their antlers obviously aren’t ready for fighting. This photo was taken yesterday near Pierce Point Ranch just as the sun was setting. Chrysler was there shooting commercials for several of its cars and trucks. It occupied the Pierce Point Ranch parking lot, the McClure’s Beach parking lot, and the east side of the road leading to the ranch. It looked like a movie set. They may be out there today as well.

This photo was underexposed about one and a half stops because the mode dial on my Canon 7D got moved inadvertently from AV to manual. This happens too easily and frequently. Canon now offers to fix this problem for a fee. I don’t know why Canon hasn’t always made the prosumer cameras so that the mode dial can’t be changed inadvertently. You shouldn’t have to send in your camera to prevent this from happening.

February 16, 2011Uncategorized

Injured Coyote

I saw this coyote last Thursday in the Pierce Point area of Point Reyes National Seashore. Saturday he was a bit south of there. Yesterday he was at the south end of the Tomales Point Peninsula. I know it’s the same coyote because there is something wrong with his right foreleg at what would be the “wrist” for a human. It doesn’t seem to handicap him at a walking pace, but when he runs it’s obvious and slows him down. It doesn’t handicap him in feeding though from what I can see. I watched him hunt rodents last Thursday and he was having no trouble catching them. When I saw him yesterday he was feeding on something larger than a rodent.

He should have stayed around Pierce Point Ranch a little longer. Yesterday I saw a fairly fresh elk carcass there. Some turkey vultures had found it, but it didn’t look like any other scavengers had fed on it.

It also looks like there is some fur missing on this coyote’s back.

November 24, 2010Uncategorized

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.