A Tule Elk bull gets in some final grazing at sunset. Elk bulls keep their antlers longer than other deer species, holding onto them from the end of the rut in October until March.
-
Christmas Elk
Merry Christmas from Point Reyes! We don’t have any native reindeer in California, so our very own Tule Elk will have to do their best impression.
One reindeer trick elk will have a tough time pulling off: unique among deer species, female reindeer are capable of growing antlers. Male reindeer grow antlers every year, while the prevalence and frequency of antlers on females varies by reindeer subspecies.
-
Spooky Owl
This owl might have been more appropriate for the halloween season, but it’s ready now so it’s being posted now. I typically gravitate towards warmer images, but I’ve been trying to avoid stagnating with the same look over and over again. The dead flowers in the foreground created a bit of a spooky ambiance, and I tried to lean into that with my edit.
-
Feisty Gopher
From herons to snakes to bobcats, pretty much every predator in Point Reyes feeds on gophers. The gophers don’t make it easy though, with a vicious bite and sharp claws (the predators still usually win).
-
Rock Wren
This was my first time seeing this bird. I first spotted it in some grasses. As soon as it hopped up onto its perch, I knew who I was dealing with. Wren. On a rock. Rock Wren. Sometimes the American Ornithological Society gets it right. (We can discuss Ring-Necked Duck at a later time.)
What a beautiful little bird. The speckling on its breast and on its back is just too precious. And that little zebra-striped tail!
-
Looming Coyote
A Coyote looking down at me from the top of a hill. @riffle_shots tells me this is the patriarch of the park’s family unit.
-
Varied Thrush
I was not expecting to see a Varied Thrush perching out in the open on a cypress tree branch! My first time with one of these beauties.
