Sometimes a bush is a bobcat

When I head out looking for wildlife, I am constantly scanning the terrain all around me for any sign of wildlife. Movement is the best tip-off that there could be something exciting about. But often I find myself excitedly grabbing my binoculars to get a closer look at...a bush or a clump of grass or a rock. In the places I frequent, I have some established bushes and rocks that I now know are not animals. As much as that bush might look like a bobcat, many close inspections have proved otherwise.

But, sometimes, those different-looking specks in the distance turn out to be interesting animals. I was out wandering in Sunol Regional Park, when I saw some bluebirds. I spent some time trying to get a nice shot of a bluebird.



And when this bluebird flew off, I looked far into the distance and spotted a bush, no a bobcat! I did not get very close to this cat, who was actively hunting and marking its terrain.

Although I would have loved a closer look at this pretty bobcat, I still had a fun time watching the cat inspect some gopher holes, saunter along the hillside, and eventually disappear over the top.

The only critter I managed to get close to on this day was this ground squirrel who was right beside the trail and initially unflustered by my presence.