Autumn is my favorite time for hiking.
Today came close to being absolutely heavenly! Magnificent weather. Muted yet soft leaf color giving the hills an amber-rust overall appearance. Just enough gentle gusts of wind to send waves of colorful leaves across my path.
At the Azalea Cascades path in Desoto State Park the brittle brigades paraded across the boardwalk before me. I caught a white oak leaf in flight, then a chestnut oak leaf and later a red maple leaf and picked up a sweet gum leaf... Read Full Story
California Condor Chick Fledges in San Benito County!
At about 6 months of age this Condor Chick has reached almost the same size as the adult condors but with a lot less muscle and power. It still lingers near the nest and must be cared for by the adoptive adult parents. These giant birds normally have long lives so it is quite reasonable to see a long 6 month stretch before the single hatchling takes its first flight.
All of the activities of these Condors have been observed by wildl... Read Full Story
Do all Falcons Have Feathers? Apparently not.
And it seemed for a while that THIS young Falcon was still able to fly. Much to everyone’s concern! The Nation Watched and Followed the Balloon Boy named Falcon.
Today it seems this Falcon never left the ground. Instead of fledging he hid in the attic.
I trust Falcons with feathers more.
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YES. Ursus arctos horribilis chasing a huge Cervus elaphus ACROSS a lake.
Observed with my compact Bushnell binoculars.
AWESOME. Yellowstone National Park Lifetime Moment!
Who even knew that Bull Elks and Grizzly Bears could swim so well?
Let me tell you. The Bull Elk outswam that hungry Grizz and ended up grazing on the far side of the lake. Observed in a stunning moment at Riddle Lake late one September afternoon.
Imagine just sitting there eating your lunch on a log and watching this REA... Read Full Story
September 24, 2009 by admin · Leave a CommentFiled under: BirdWatching
How truly extraordinary and thrilling it must have been for the first “twitcher” who sighted the Tufted Puffin so entirely out of its range.
Yes, so far out of its range that it was not even in their bird guides!
Typically seen in the Pacific Northwest, what was the Tufted Puffin doing across the Atlantic Ocean in Great Britain and Scotland? Flying and eating and sleeping ... Read Full Story
What does a Falcon think? I wonder.
Food, Shelter, Water, TERRITORY.
Seem to be important themes. I thought of them when I saw this video.
I must get a camera. And then of course be in the right place at the right time with my binoculars and digital video camera.
It made me think of the Red Tail Hawk and Eagle chase I saw last fall.
Honestly there is SO much happening in the natural world around us it is hard to imagine a DULL day! Read Full Story
You know as well as I do that the most expensive piece of equipment a birdwatcher is likely to purchase will be binoculars. Since good birding binoculars can cost anywhere from $100 -1500+ in US dollars, it makes good sense to know a little about what you are looking for before you buy.
This is one of the topics in my K.I.S.S. Method of Better Birding ECourse which you can sign up for at this site. And I discuss it in more detail as part of those online lessons. The course is free online, tho... Read Full Story
July 10, 2009 by admin · Leave a CommentFiled under: bird guides
I was starting to write about what bird guides I think are the best a short while ago. I thought, perhaps I should see what other people have written. And the very first thing I discovered was such a surprise – - I have not felt so ignorant in many years.
I knew this would be a case of opinions and without knowing what the methods of evaluating the bird guide books it would be har... Read Full Story
