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Semipalmated Plover
I often confuse these Semipalmated Plovers with Snowy Plovers on first glance. Unlike snowies, these little fellows have orange on their bill, orange legs, and a full band across their chest. Also unlike snowies, they don’t breed locally. There’s only a brief period in early Spring when we can catch them in their breeding plumage
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Tule Elk Sunset Scene
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.
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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
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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
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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).
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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.
