The Hunter

This Marin bobcat known as DeNiro or Trailcat is a joy to watch hunt.  This is the same bobcat I recently watched catch and eat two birds.

On this day, I watched a few hunting attempts, but I particularly enjoyed this one, as DeNiro
circled and then went in with a rough and tumble pounce.  I'll let the photos tell the story.

The Bobcat and the Bird

Sometime last year, I ran into a wildlife biologist on one of my hikes.  I peppered him with lots of questions about bobcats.  One of the interesting things he told me was that bobcats are good birders.  Interesting.  I had only seen bobcats catch gophers and knew they also liked rabbits and even deer on occasion.

Recently, though, I watched a bobcat catch and eat two songbirds.  I watched this cat pounce into tall grass and emerge with a catch.  As I was taking photos, I noticed feathers hanging out of the cat's mouth.  Feathers!








The bobcat enjoyed this meal for a while before setting off back down the trail.




A short while later, the cat pounced into the grass again.




This pounce was quite high and soft.  The cat almost seemed to float in the air.  I still need to work on my technique for pounce shots, but I thought this shot was fun, with just the bobcat's face in the corner.




I was not able to get any shots of the bobcat eating the second bird it caught, as he enjoyed his meal in the deep grass.  But I was able to watch him eat the bird with my binoculars.  And this sparrow also kept a close eye on the action.

River Otter Delights Visitors to Jewel Lake

A couple of years ago, I heard about a family of river otters that was making an unusual visit to Jewel Lake in Tilden Regional Park. I was lucky enough to see the otter family twice during their brief visit. I did not have a zoom lens at the time, but I had fun watching them.

Late in 2011, a kindhearted woman noticing my camera setup informed me that she had just been watching an otter in the lake. I was not lucky enough to see the otter that day. But I have had a few lucky days since then.




It is a real treat to watch the otter swim around the lake, gliding in and out of the water.  On this day, the otter seemed to be doing spins in the water.



It's also quite enjoyable to watch this otter fish, as s/he seems to be a voracious eater, catching fish small and large.



The otter seems to enjoy crayfish quite a bit.




And the otter often looks like s/he is enjoying being the top predator at the lake.

Golden Hour Bobcat

The other day, while exploring the Marin Headlands, I saw two bobcats together.  I was scanning a grassy, bushy area, when I saw a bobcat run into some bushes.  As I tried to get a look at the bobcat in the bushes, another bobcat ran into the bushes coming from a different direction.  I have no idea if these were cats interested in fighting or mating.

A few minutes later, one of the cats emerged with what seemed to be a bunny in its mouth.  I was too far away for good photos and was just watching through my binoculars.  But I thought this could be a good moment to try to get a bit closer.  As I was following an animal path, the other bobcat emerged from the bushes headed in my general direction.  I thought I might get lucky, but the cat got wind of me and took off at a fast clip.  I waited around for a while and explored the general area.  But no more bobcat sightings.

The next day, I was back in the Headlands looking for another cat I had recently seen.  No luck there, but on my way back, towards sunset, I noticed this bobcat sleeping not very far from the trail.




The cat blended in well, so I imagine multiple people had hiked right by and missed her/him.  I am pretty sure this cat was one of the two from the previous day, as it was quite close to the area where I had seen the cats.

The bobcat moved a little when it saw me, but did settle back down into a crouching/sitting position.  I sat down, too, and we just watched each other for a while.




Then, it started to walk towards me briefly, watching me intently the whole time.




Eventually, the cat, started to head down the hillside, while keeping a close watch on me until it was safely out of sight.




I am pretty certain that I have not seen this bobcat before.  Hopefully, I will see her(?) again.

Happy 2012: My Favorite Photos from 2011

2011 was a great year for me and my wildlife encounters.  Inspired by some of my friends in photography and Jim Goldstein's Annual Blog Project, I have chosen my favorite photos from the year.

First-Time Owl Sightings
I enjoyed some wonderful owl encounters this year, including first sightings of three owl species.  But my favorite was definitely this cute Northern Saw-Whet Owl.

A close second was spotting a Northern Spotted Owl right near a trail in Point Reyes.  And the owl was kind enough to fly directly over me to a better branch for a few nice shots before it was too dark.




I was also fortunate to have multiple encounters with Great Horned Owlets, including this one, who I discovered nestled in tall grasses near the trees where its nest and mother were.  The poor owlet seemes a little stressed, so I did not stay long.  But no worries; a few days later, this owl was safe and high in a tree.




I also had my first (and second and at least third) sighting of a Short-Eared Owl.  My attempts to catch their masterful flight do not rise to favorite of the year.  Hopefully, in 2012!


Lucky Encounters with Multiple Bobcats
As my blog name may indicate, I am quite fond of owls and cats, especially bobcats.  After years of looking, I spotted my first bobcat in Berkeley (where I live) late in 2010.  I was happy to have a brief but well-lit encounter with this same cat early in 2011.





Perhaps my favorite day with a bobcat in 2011 was an afternoon I spent with this older, majestic cat as he patrolled his territory.




Curious Gray Fox Kits
I also enjoyed good luck with gray foxes this year.  I had seen gray foxes before but had never had the chance to get a photo.  The Spotted Owl (above) gave me my first chance with a gray fox in Point Reyes.  Even more fun was getting to watch a family of fox kits, including this cute kit who walked right up to me.





Eastern Sierra Discoveries 
In 2011, I also ranged a little further from the Bay Area in search of adventure (and wildlife).  My favorite outings were in the Eastern Sierra, where I enjoyed a unique sunset at Mono Lake.




One of my goals for my mountain adventures was to see a Yellow-Bellied Marmot.  I had never seen one, and they seemed so gregarious.  My wish was fulfilled, and I enjoyed multiple fun sightings of marmots in and around the rocks.




My other big goal was to see (and hopefully photograph) a pika.  I worried that my chances for this sighting were slim, but I spent lots of time hiking in the High Sierra and scanning rock piles.  And I was rewarded with a few fun afternoons of observing these cute and industrious critters.




Happiness at Home
My final favorite photo of the year is not of a wild cat but my sweet domestic cat, who brought me lots of joy in 2011.




Happy New Year!