Popping By The Pole Yard

Posted on March 20, 2013 by foresterartist

We never know who might just pop by the Pole Yard. While driving through the yard the other day this rooster pheasant was strutting down the road. Unconcerned, he took his sweet time. I stopped, not wanting to run over His Excellency, and took some pictures to record this auspicious occasion. He finally moved out of the road, but seemed somewhat perturbed by the inconvenience.

pheasant, poles, nature, wildlife, photography

His Excellency on parade.

He finally allows us to pass.

Even I have to admit, he is a handsome fellow.

Teka and Blitz were busy plotting against His Excellency!

Osprey Remodel

Posted on March 8, 2013 by foresterartist

osprey, nest, wildlife, birds, nature, photography, birding

The osprey returns to the nest with a stick.

They began rebuilding their nest the day she arrived and the two osprey were back together. This is what they typically do after the winter storms take there toll on the nest. This particular nest is only one year old and must have weathered the winter fairly well. They spiffed it up the first day and that was that. They moved in.

The building materials arrive.

Doing some touch up to the nest.

Off for more sticks.

Just a bit of work and this nest is good to go.

The picture below is how the nest looking in 2011. Usually, they add a new layer to the nest every year. Not so much this year. In 2011 the nest had been built up much more and was on the opposite side of the tower. Normally, the nest gets taller and taller until a severe Winter storm blows the top of it off. I’ve seen the nest over 6 feet tall. Last year the nest survived some very bad storms. Late in the season the nest was gone after a moderate storm. I checked under the nest for debris, but found very little. I found out later that the local power company employees climbed the tower and removed the nest.

This was the nest in 2011.

When they osprey returned and found no nest they immediately started rebuilding. Although, as often happens with men and women they had a bit of a disagreement. They each began building nest on opposite sides of the tower. As typically happens when there is a disagreement, she got her way and the nest ended up in it’s current location.

The is nothing more relaxing then a cozy nest.

Osprey Love

Posted on March 4, 2013 by foresterartist

osprey, pair, nesting, nest, photograpy, nature, birds, wildlife

Last week he was still patiently waiting for his mate.

On Friday our lovelorn male osprey was still waiting alone when I left work.

Late this morning she arrived. She came one week after he arrived.

This morning when I arrived there was only one bird in the nest. When I went back outside about mid-morning and she had arrived. The two of them sat close together for quite some time and every now and then, one would call out. I took some pictures then put my camera away into my truck.

Blitz grazes during a break.

I let the girls out of the truck for a short break. The girls ran to the far side of the parking lot to a field they like, and I walked after them. By the time I had almost reached them, I looked back at the osprey. They were now locked in mating embrace. Immediately, I turned and ran for my camera in the truck, but their interlude only lasted about ten seconds. I didn’t make it. A missed opportunity for sure over a rookie mistake. The male immediately flew away and didn’t return until the afternoon.

He keeps watching her and she keeps looking away. Playing coy.

osprey, nest, tower, photography, nature, wildlife, birding, birds

She is warming up before the big moment.

He is enthralled with her.

She’s a beauty.

Back together again.

Osprey Vigil

Posted on March 1, 2013 by foresterartist

Waiting……

In his vigil, he sits on the tower waiting for his mate to return. He looks so lonely. He won’t work on the nest until she returns. Occasionally he leaves and comes back with a fish. Then, he sits and waits. He’s been here for five days waiting.

She is late….

On top of the tower with only an empty nest.

Eagle Week!

Posted on February 28, 2013 by foresterartist

Bald Eagle

I bet you didn’t know it’s Eagle Week. The fact is that I didn’t either. It just turns out that it was for me anyhow. Here is how it came to be. One morning early in the week, I was driving by the boat ramp along the river when I spotted this huge bird. It was a juvenile bald eagle and it was scanning the river for breakfast. I took some pictures and went on my way.

A juvenile Bald Eagle. It is starting to white up on the face and tail.

The next day, while driving through the foothills West of the valley, I came around the corner and lo and behold another huge bird. This time it was a golden eagle. I don’t see the golden eagles nearly as often. So I stopped and took some pictures.

golden eagle, eagle, photography, nature, wildlife

The Golden Eagle

Advance ahead to yesterday, I was up in far Northeastern California. I was passing through the Ash Creek Wildlife Area when I came upon this beauty, a mature bald eagle. I immediately stopped in the middle of the highway, since there is no place to pull off, to take some pictures. Fortunatly, it is a lonely road and I could see for miles in both directions.

Bald Eagle, eagle, photography, nature, wildlife

The Bald Eagle.

Sitting high on the power pole it had a commanding view of its hunting grounds.

Up close and personal, and giving me the stink eye.

This eagle wasn’t here by accident. It was here for the enormous congregation of prey. The wildlife area was absolutely brimming with waterfowl.

waterfowl, geese, duck, photography, nature, wildlife

Waterfowl congregating in huge numbers in the marsh.

It wasn’t until I started to leave that I realized that there was a pair of eagles. The second eagle was sitting on the very next power pole.

bald eagle, eagle, pair, photography, nature, wildlife

Bald Eagle number two. It think this one was a young bird. Note the dark smudge on its face.

So you see, it was Eagle Week. Who knew?

Be Very Careful After Dark

Posted on February 27, 2013 by foresterartist

You want to know what happens at my house after dark. Check out Mary’s post, The Backdoor Artist, and you will see!

Sneaking Bliss

Early in the night, just after dark, a raccoon visited the turkey vulture nest tree. It climbed up the backside and over the top. Paused a moment at the cavity opening, then was on its way. I worried when I first saw the intruder, a nest raider for sure. I wondered if the vulture eggs would be safe down inside the tree cavity? Will this night bandit be back?
Related Posts
Turkey Vulture Rendezvous
Spying on the Vulture Nest
Vulture Turf Wars
They’re Back
Wings of Autumn

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Here Come The Osprey!

Posted on February 25, 2013 by foresterartist

The almond orchards are blooming in the valley and the buttercups started blooming yesterday in our yard. Today, the long anticipated harbinger of Spring arrived when the first osprey was in the nest at the electrical tower by the mill. We are still watching for its mate to show. Spring is unofficially here!

osprey, nest, nature, wildlife, photography

The first osprey has returned to the nest.

This one looks a little cranky.

I wasn’t planning another post today, but I’ve been waiting for the ospreys. https://theforesterartist.com/2013/02/15/the-birds-of-spring/ Welcome back!

The Birds of Spring

Posted on February 15, 2013 by foresterartist

Our weather has been reaching the 70’s during the last week. The grass is growing and buds are beginning to swell. Around the Mill Site there is another sign of Spring. Pairing off and searching for nest sites, the birds are all around.

A killdeer scouting for a gravelly nesting site.

wildlife, photography, goldeneye, waterfowl, ducks

Goldeneye couple on the river.

wildlife, photography, cormorants, divers, waterfowl

The cororants relaxing.

wildlife, photography, mallards, ducks, drake, hen, waterfowl

A pair of mallard soon to be nesting.

wildlife, photography, goose, geese, Canada Geese, honkers, waterfowl

A beautiful pair of Canada geese.

Teka stares forlornly at a beautiful pair of Canada geese.

The empty osprey nest waits for it’s builders to return. They should be here in the next couple of weeks. Truly a sign of Spring’s impending return.

Coyotes Attack! Oh, nevermind.

Posted on January 26, 2013 by foresterartist

The deer herd feeding in the hay field.

Something caught my attention, while cruising around the North end of the log decks. Lots of animals were running in the hay field. The mill property has a couple hundred acres of hay fields and ponds on the North end of the log yard. Each afternoon a large herd of deer comes into the fields to graze. This morning, they were already in the field and running all over the place. This is odd behavior for the deer because they weren’t leaving. They usually wander randomly around the field feeding. If anyone gets too close they just leave the field for the cover of the nearby Valley Oaks. This time they were running helter skelter around the field, but not leaving. I was about a quarter mile away and could not discern what was going on. I pulled out my camera and zoomed in on the action. Then I saw the three coyotes. This is what happened next.

Enjoying the sunny morning, the deer placidly graze. They seem unconcerned about anything going on around them.

Moving in on the deer herd, this coyote was intent on having venison for breafast.

The coyotes non-chalantly move closer and closer to the herd.

The big buck spots the sneaky coyotes.

buck, doe, deer, black-tail deer, prey, predator

Two does and the big buck aren’t going to tolerate the coyotes stalking the herd.

Coyote, doe, deer, buck, stalking, hunting, feeding

This brave doe takes the lead in dealing with the interlopers.

The two does surround the lead coyote. The coyote was not expecting this.

coyote, deer, doe, predator, prey, fight back, retreat

The second coyote decides not to stick around. No loyalty amoung coyotes.

The coyote is having second thoughts and a venison meal.

Deciding it isn’t worth it the coyotes back off.

No venison today for this coyote.

Perhaps a nice field mouse would be good instead.

With the threat dealt with, the herd goes back to a leisurely breakfast.

Otter At The Mill

Posted on January 22, 2013 by foresterartist

Otter, photography, wildlife, sawmill, swimming

This handsome otter was swimming around our log pond at the mill in search of an afternoon snack.

This otter and the rest of his clan are regulars around the mill site. The pond where I took these pictures is smack in the middle of the entire complex. They visit the log ponds, canals, and the river depending on what is on the menu. We have a floating platform that suspends a water intake into the pond, but the otters seem to think it was put there for their personal sun basking pleasures. One of my crew members insists that it is their private restroom, while he complains about all the “otter poop!” Those are my words, not his.