I actually don't think he realized that his horns were sticking up out of the tall grass...in all the photos that I took, his horns though not always his head, were poking up.
The very hot weather which we are finally having is really bringing the deer down to the water and into the shade of the blue and valley oaks. I have a small deer parade every day followed by an even smaller turkey parade!
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Scat pile with fresh deposits on top!
I would swear that I just wrote a whole description but it seems to have disappeared.
This is a pile of scat that I just noticed this week by walking the opposite direction on a familiar path. I have never seen such an accumulation and am not sure who is doing this. This morning the fresh addition was full of fruit, so maybe it is not the otters as I first thought! Will have to keep an eye on this unusual private privy on the bank of Cache Creek and Copsey Creek!
This is a pile of scat that I just noticed this week by walking the opposite direction on a familiar path. I have never seen such an accumulation and am not sure who is doing this. This morning the fresh addition was full of fruit, so maybe it is not the otters as I first thought! Will have to keep an eye on this unusual private privy on the bank of Cache Creek and Copsey Creek!
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Walking on Arching Oaks
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Thursday, August 5, 2010
Another Tree in the Creek...actually Cache and Copsey Creeks!
Last week, I found two trees that had fallen in the confluence of Cache and Copsey Creeks in Lower Lake, CA. Since they were still attached to my land, I thought it would be prudent to detach them before the winter rains pulled them and a portion of my land right into the water and on it's way to Yolo County!
Because they were both in deep water, I supervised from my kayak, while Stuart climbed out onto the trees and sawed. Abe held onto the trees with a miracle rope, and kept them from floating away. Quite the operation. My main role other than photography and nudging the trees with the kayak, was to haul a long long rope thru the underbrush overhanging the water, and fling it to Stuart while Abe, who was out of sight, held onto the other end. Whew! I was rewarded with a few delicious ripe blackberries.
Because they were both in deep water, I supervised from my kayak, while Stuart climbed out onto the trees and sawed. Abe held onto the trees with a miracle rope, and kept them from floating away. Quite the operation. My main role other than photography and nudging the trees with the kayak, was to haul a long long rope thru the underbrush overhanging the water, and fling it to Stuart while Abe, who was out of sight, held onto the other end. Whew! I was rewarded with a few delicious ripe blackberries.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Red Dragonfly
While this beautiful dragonfly wasn't actually photographed down on Cache Creek, it was in nearby Clearlake so close enough. My yards are full of the red dragonflies, none so obliging as this beauty.
My handyman who lives far from the creek, also has a lot of these, and he notices that they coincide with the hatching of small flying insects. Here I have noticed that there are a lot of insects over the creek, as well as large schools of tiny fish of many different kinds.
Pretty dang interesting down by the creek these days between crawdads and dragonflys.
My handyman who lives far from the creek, also has a lot of these, and he notices that they coincide with the hatching of small flying insects. Here I have noticed that there are a lot of insects over the creek, as well as large schools of tiny fish of many different kinds.
Pretty dang interesting down by the creek these days between crawdads and dragonflys.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Crawdad way down in creek
In the last few days, I have heard people on the other side of Cache Creek talking about Crawdads or Crawfish, Crayfish and so on. Kids, adults, fisherfolk, all exclaiming about Crawwhatevers. I had just seen my first one on the creek recently and so I kept wondering about all the excitement. I thought that since the water had dropped from my beam that I would not be able to see any on my deep side.
Imagine my excitement this morning when I peered over the wall! There was a big fat crawdad hanging off the rungs of the ladder, semi-concealed in some pondweed.
Then I looked over the side where a small boat shelter used to be in a very shallow area and voila! Crawdads galore. They were mostly hanging on the wall, just under the water which is about four or five feet down from the top of the wall.
There was even one on top of a chunk of lyngba algae floating around in the tiny backwater. After I ran for the camera and took some photos, I was amazed to see in the water, along with lots of small fish, tiny crawdads too. Maybe I should post that as well, just for general interests.
Imagine my excitement this morning when I peered over the wall! There was a big fat crawdad hanging off the rungs of the ladder, semi-concealed in some pondweed.
Then I looked over the side where a small boat shelter used to be in a very shallow area and voila! Crawdads galore. They were mostly hanging on the wall, just under the water which is about four or five feet down from the top of the wall.
There was even one on top of a chunk of lyngba algae floating around in the tiny backwater. After I ran for the camera and took some photos, I was amazed to see in the water, along with lots of small fish, tiny crawdads too. Maybe I should post that as well, just for general interests.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Pond turtle coming onto log Copsey Creek
I love this shot of the turtle coming out of the water. Usually they plop in before I can even see them, unless I am exceptionally quiet. But this guy was working hard.
I found an empty shell by the pond. I kept covering it up with grasses so the insects could finish cleaning it out. I wanted to bring it home.
But either some devil, varmit or human moved it beyond my reach, so it is gone. Should have photographed it when I had the chance, or brought it home and let my ants finish the job.
I found an empty shell by the pond. I kept covering it up with grasses so the insects could finish cleaning it out. I wanted to bring it home.
But either some devil, varmit or human moved it beyond my reach, so it is gone. Should have photographed it when I had the chance, or brought it home and let my ants finish the job.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Coming in on a wing and a
I had to finally get a grip on myself and stand very still as the osprey flew off to snatch a branch and then return to the nest. I could actually hear the crack of the limbs being plucked from the tops of old walnut and oak trees. I was finally rewarded with this shot.
I am very glad to be back from India in time to watch the rebuilding again. Last year ended so sadly that I wasn't sure that the pair would return, but in the last week there has really been a flurry of activity around the nest with both birds on it and working at once.
The field around the nest is coming alive with all sorts of yellow wildflowers, especially buttercups and butter & eggs. The miniature blue lupine is just starting it's show and was accompanied this morning by a pair of blue birds, the first I have seen clearly since I got home.
In the pond which is now filled to the brim, just like the creeks, there are at least three Western Pond Turtles, the first I have seen there.
Spring...so great!
I am very glad to be back from India in time to watch the rebuilding again. Last year ended so sadly that I wasn't sure that the pair would return, but in the last week there has really been a flurry of activity around the nest with both birds on it and working at once.
The field around the nest is coming alive with all sorts of yellow wildflowers, especially buttercups and butter & eggs. The miniature blue lupine is just starting it's show and was accompanied this morning by a pair of blue birds, the first I have seen clearly since I got home.
In the pond which is now filled to the brim, just like the creeks, there are at least three Western Pond Turtles, the first I have seen there.
Spring...so great!
Thursday, January 28, 2010
GBH & Deer
The heron stood still for me, and then first one deer, and then this one. This deer seemed very conflicted caught as he was between the camera and the heron. He finally wandered off to join the first deer to cross this path.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Western Pond Turtle escaping the flood?
Last year I had reports of pond turtles making nests on my land near the pond, but I never saw the nests. Today I spotted this Western Pond Turtle moving away from the creek, on a mission. I think it might be too early to make a nest and lay eggs, and I don't even know if this is a male or female turtle. Guess I better read up on Western Pond Turtles .
There are several more photos of today's storm and turtles on my flickr site:
There are several more photos of today's storm and turtles on my flickr site:
Washout, Copsey Creek
The strong rains led to a washout in an totally unexpected place on the bank of Copsey Creek. I think it is a spot where the deer had made a substantial trail down to the willows, and the repeated traffic had made quite a path. So much rain after so long without, did the trick. It is impossible to do anything about it now without aggravating the whole hillside there, and I have no desire to end up in the swiftly flowing Copsey.
But it is a lesson learned...not all erosion is man made by a long shot.
But it is a lesson learned...not all erosion is man made by a long shot.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Underside of golden mushroom
I delayed going back to check the underneath of the golden mushroom and this is what I found. Something had kicked it over...I am guessing a deer perhaps browsing and didn't like it?
In any event, I am not any farther along for knowing that it had gills and was growing out of soil, not rotting wood.
In any event, I am not any farther along for knowing that it had gills and was growing out of soil, not rotting wood.
Merganser Cache Creek
I walked over yesterday just to take a photo of the golden mushroom from a different angle and was thinking that I hadn't seem much new so far this winter. True all the egrets were in the field and that was new and different, but something exciting was missing.
Today I startled this Common Merganser and was able to get a few good shots.
My first photo of a common Merganser. She was very slow and I got a lot of good shots as she swam around the point. When I came back later, she took off leaving the male behind but he was out of range.
This made me so happy I might have to post several photos on flickr.
Today I startled this Common Merganser and was able to get a few good shots.
My first photo of a common Merganser. She was very slow and I got a lot of good shots as she swam around the point. When I came back later, she took off leaving the male behind but he was out of range.
This made me so happy I might have to post several photos on flickr.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Egrets in field
When I first arrived this morning, there were five egrets and one great blue heron in the middle of the field, in the area where the vernal pools will be if it ever really begins to rain enough for run off.
I don't remember egrets feeding in the fields before, maybe they got the idea from the heron.
While some flew off, these three stayed the whole time I was walking around, so there must have been good hunting.
I love this winter scene with the different colored grasses, all dun and dry, the small blue oak with all the leaves gone.
I don't remember egrets feeding in the fields before, maybe they got the idea from the heron.
While some flew off, these three stayed the whole time I was walking around, so there must have been good hunting.
I love this winter scene with the different colored grasses, all dun and dry, the small blue oak with all the leaves gone.
Golden Mushroom
This single mushroom stood out in the field...if the field hadn't been so wet, I might have gotten down to look underneath to see what the gill situation was.
I have never seen anything quite like this and while there were lots of other fungi around, there was nothing like this anywhere else to be seen. It was sprouting from the soil.
I will go back tomorrow for a closer look. AS near as I can tell, it might be some sort of Amanita.
I have never seen anything quite like this and while there were lots of other fungi around, there was nothing like this anywhere else to be seen. It was sprouting from the soil.
I will go back tomorrow for a closer look. AS near as I can tell, it might be some sort of Amanita.
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