Saturday, 10.31.09, The Look

Saturday morning I went out for sunrise to see if the pelicans were at CM Marsh. It was very foggy and did not see the pelicans nor any egrets. The marsh water level was raised again. Very high. So now there is not much in the way of roosting areas for the pelicans. I'll check on the way to work one morning to see if there are any pelicans and what the water level is. Anyway I decided to head home and walk Lamar and do some much needed errands. All the while daydreaming about bobcats.

So late afternoon I headed up to Mt. Tam. I have bobcats on the brain and only wish I could photograph them like I have been with the pelicans and egrets. I wish I could have the time to compose and try different angles etc etc. And I was lucky to see a bobcat shortly after arriving. After 15 minutes or so I sat down and watched the bobcat walk away, it did not run it merely turned and sauntered off into the shadows of trees. It began stalking something in the shadows. And as excited as I was to see the bobcat I just stayed put and watched from a far. I did not want to "stalk" it for pictures while it was making its living - to hunt to survive. I mean on the one hand I REALLY did want to follow it and continue photographing but when I saw that it was beginning to hunt I just didn't want to do anything that would interrupt its hunting. I felt like the bobcat gave me what I was seeking which was to see a bobcat today. I felt like it gave me a look that said ..."hey, don't be greedy, I gave you several minutes to observe me and photograph me...I must hunt to live and I must go hunt now." And my interpretation of that look is why I sat down instead of following it.

The bobcat looked healthy and was quite beautiful as it turned and walked away.

Sunday, 10.25.09

Drove up to Mt. Tam early morning. While waiting for the W. Ridgecrest gate to be open I watched this coyote hunting. It got something good which I could not see because it laid down and was chewing for quite a while in the tall grass. I love this glimpse of the coyote in the grass really shows how well camouflaged they are for the grasslands. 

The ranger opened the gate around 8:30a. So I moved on to look for bobcats. No bobcat sightings but saw lots of Black-tailed bucks through out the morning and early afternoon in search of females. This buck came over the hill and startled a burrowing owl in the grass.

I headed for home since it was mid day with bright high sun with no clouds...time for the breakfast that I forgot to have hours ago!

Saturday, 10.24.09

Saturday morning I drove up to Mt. Tam and as I was approaching Rock Springs, two bucks blocked the road and were in a fight. I parked on the shoulder right of their battle. I got out and fired off a few frames. The sound and energy was potent and fierce. Antlers, bodies and hooves scraping against the pavement, legs splayed and mouths open and eyes intense. I actually thought they might be stuck and their antlers locked together. But the victor ended up giving a final burst and thrust and pushed the other off the road. Both ran up the hill in opposite directions. I jumped back in my truck and parked at Rock Springs which was right around the bend. As I got out of my truck I saw one of the bucks pursuing a female. The female kept walking away from the male but the male persisted and mounted her 3 separate times. After the third time the buck laid down in the grass but only for a moment because as the female walked and grazed too far, the buck was up again and lapping the air with his tongue for her scent. The female moved into the forested area and I moved onto the Bolinas ridge looking for bobcats. No sightings this morning. But I did see a healthy looking coyote hunting on the big hill across from McKenna Gulch. It bolted as soon as it saw me and disappeared in the trees. 

Seeing the bucks engaged in battle in the middle of the road really impressed upon me the primal force of nature. Regardless of the roads and the human structures, it's mating season and the deer are on the move and seeking each other out. These bucks did not even flinch from their battle when I pulled up in the truck. And they fought for 10 minutes while I was there. I am so curious how long they were locking antlers before I arrived.

The Black-tailed bucks do not defend and deposit their scents in scapes called Leks as some other deer species use. Instead the bucks wander around looking for does in estrus. The bucks use their antlers to help them spar for dominance and mating rights. Breeding occurs in October through February depending on the latitude. Peak activity is during November to early December. Does are in heat for approximately 36 hours every 22 to 28 days for up to three cycles. Most does do not breed until their second year and most males not until their third year or later. Gestation is about seven months, with most births occurring April-May through late June.

Bobcat!

 














Sunday I went out in the early morning to photograph egrets and the white pelicans. I still need to go through what I shot of the egrets and pelicans...but when it came to the afternoon outing I could not wait to get home and process my images of a bobcat sighting!
I went out late afternoon with a hankering to see bobcats and lo and behold I was very fortunate to spot one. It was early evening and the light was very low level and flat and the fog was coming over the Bolinas ridge on Mt. Tam. But in an effort to beat the fog before it obscured all visibility I set my ISO to the highest setting and got a couple of frames of the bobcat listening for prey.

I spotted the bobcat after I saw two coyotes trotting over a hill and crossing the road to the west side of the Bolinas ridge and disappearing into the trees and fog. I walked over to where I first saw the coyotes and looked down the hill and spotted the bobcat. I inched a little closer and watched the bobcat listening for prey. I spent about 20 minutes watching the bobcat before it slipped over a ridge out of view. What a beauty! It warms my heart seeing the bobcat. It's been several months since I have seen one since I have been focused on the egrets and white pelicans in the Corte Madera marsh all summer and early fall. I look forward to see more bobcats up on the ridge very soon! They are the embodiment of the local wild for me...wildness in our midst!

October 10th, 2009

On Saturday I drove out to the Drakes Beach area in Point Reyes National Seashore. And there were hawks everywhere in the skies and on fence posts by the road. Unfortunately the skies were white with very low flat lighting. I saw lots of Red-tailed hawks and a few Red-shouldered hawks and two Ferruginous hawks. I also drove out to Tomales but the light was even flatter and very dull but I watched some Brown pelicans diving near the roadside before I headed back home.