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...and Happy New Year! Clickable Action Shot

Cont: On 120510 The pair were perched in the nest upon my arrival. Eventually the male flew off catching a fish in Rose Creek landing it on the flagpole. The female leaves the area, and several minutes later a different male appears on the scene, circling three times around the nest for a looksie. Five minutes later the female lands in the nest and her mate moves the fish across the creek to the rooftop of a neighboring high school. After a series of unheeded, loud vocalizations, the female leaves the nest to join the feast. Mating behavior. Merry Christmas!

On 12/11/10 I made a quick stop at Robb Field and saw that the Osprey nest there seemed somewhat more dense/larger and a second nest was being built on the neighboring pole. As I got ready to leave, two Ospreys swooped in, one with a branch. Where would they land? On the smaller nest. Should be an interesting season. McEvoy Field For several days during ½ hour visits I’ve observed the male fly off the nest every 3-5 minutes to collect eucalyptus branches/smaller twigs and some type of tree moss from various directions, same distance. Easy to get nice shots of the bird leaving and landing in the nest due to mostly clear skies. The female left the nest once to make passes at three trees and only brought back a small twig. Oddly, as I was forced to turn and leave the area for safety reasons (transients), the male lands in the nest with a white T-shirt. Lately, there is a palm frond and plastic shopping bag outside the nest and I’m wondering if the female sorts through it all. I was surprised one day when the male swooped overhead just 25” away from me. Another time he dove down to pick up a fallen branch just 50’ away. This is definitely not a quiet zone with all the soccer games and stadium lights although I noticed the middle light under the nest stays off. Someone surprised me with a calendar and postcards!

Active nesting in Mission Bay...male left, female fielding broken branches on right. Click for video clip: American Kestral catching mouse.

Nov 12 1600 Kestrel at Pirates Cove

While cycling around searching for new cache locations I discovered some new birding areas near Northern Wildlife Preserve (GC2HK2E). Stopped for a quick look through the fence at the D12 site and spotted an American Kestrel, Great Blue Heron, Snowy Egret and Belted Kingfisher within 50' of each other. On one of my visits last week, I got to watch 3 Belted Kingfishers diving for fish in the bay. GWS LLOT!

Misc: Bees in PB Osprey with fish stick. Enjoying rainy days... and beautiful sunsets. Seen while dropping a new GC (GC2HBE6)

American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) Just in time to watch a male in hunting mode near Pirates Cove (GC1FRB8). The light challenging...the prey not. Followed the Kestrel with my bike from its park perch over to the lifeguard station flagpole. Less than five minutes later it swooped down to the ground capturing its prey with a flutter of wings. Here it's carrying the mouse back to its previous perch for consumption.

Doubled back for my camera but the Osprey had flown off. Interrupted my bike ride for a looksie into Rose Creek where I saw 3 of 33 (?) species of Stingrays in a span of 5 minutes. One of my birding goals this past summer was trying to figure out whether or not I was actually seeing Great Blue Heron chicks and later the juveniles in nests at the Hubbs-Sea World Research Center property (across from North Cove (Redux) GC). Although it’s next to the bay, it’s a hot sit and I was relieved when I finally got proof. Click for GBH Wing Practice

Nice Hawk shot. Stopped caching to catch some action... San Diego Bayfair 2010 - The World Series of Powerboat Racing on Mission Bay Click for Little Blue Heron Click for Race

Flashback Years ago in Glamis, I was excited to find the largest Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) in existence Walking near Lesser Known Landmark #5 Rose Creek on Labor Day, I passed an oversized lawn ornament. Startled to see it move ever so slightly, I dropped my backpack over the fence for size comparison. What a specimen…it has reached its 15” max length!

This morning near the Cache on the Bay was the first time I've ever observed a pair of Belted Kingfishers (Megaceryle alcyon). There's usually an Osprey or two sharing the airspace here.

Misc... Pirates Cove a favorite area! Black Mountain Summit

August 15 Best Friends Day Wood Ibis (Mycteria Americana) and Black-necked Stilts (Himantopus mexicanus) foraging in the San Dieguito River. Pair of Hawks near Best Friends Day ~ The City in the Country

Out & About Click for Great Blue Heron Video CLick for Stingray Video

Congratulations Team Gecko on being Topic Starter for the amazing San Diego County Cache Critter section of the Groundspeak Forums. In honor of its upcoming 100,100 Views, I am in the process of knitting/crocheting four blankets for Project Linus. July 11 Tranquility: Readers Make Better...Everything! ( GCQB97)

May 27 Power Cacher’s Power Trail June 9 Hot Heat Hiking GC13CJE July 2-3 PCPT

June 4 Near BAMB: Palm Pilot a local was feeding the squirrel population and I stopped to snap pics of the babies. Near Island Vacation I got several pics of a radical Great Blue Heron fight that began when one landed in an occupied nest. Pics were so bad I only posted one on the GC page.

June 25 Near Quail Cache (GCME13) Leopard Lizard “Reaches lengths of about 10 inches. Leopards inhabit generally level, open desert terrains where vegetation doesn’t inhibit running. Eating mostly insects, Leopards readily jump into the air to catch low-flying prey. Adult females are typically larger than males, and develop bright orange spots when breeding.” Ref: Portraits of Nature by Roy Purcell “Unusual for lizards, or any reptile for that matter, Leopard Lizards can emit a shrill squeal if threatened.” Ref: 50 Common Reptiles & Amphibians of the Southwest by J & R Hanson. This one allowed me to observe it for 5 minutes until I moved in too close - approx. 7’. White-tailed Antelope Ground Squirrel

Cactus Wren Wondering why numerous holes were in window screens at my digs, I look up catching the culprit in action. The prior day I had a first sighting in the front yard after searching unsuccessfully for it during my desert hikes.”It is particularly attracted to cholla cactus where it builds a nest, globular in shape with an opening in the side, for egg laying and for winter roosting. It is one of a very few species of North American birds that builds nests for roosting.” Ref: Portraits of Nature by Roy Purcell

June 14-15 Whiptail Lizard near GC13CJE “…very active and fast predators. They use their tongues to smell with, searching out insects, spiders, scorpions, and some small lizards for food. Whiptails are unusual in that five out of eight Sonoran Desert species are parthenogenic, meaning the populations consist entirely of females who reproduce by cloning themselves. The offspring are all daughters who are genetically identical to their mothers.” Ref: Desert Lizards by James W. Cornett Coolest spot in town and no GC. Great Grackle “Formerly a species of the Gulf Coast, it has expanded its range northward and is now found in southern Nevada. It is largely found in urban settings, but also inhabits a few agricultural areas found in this part of the state." Portraits of Nature by Roy Purcell Red Robin White-tailed Antelope Ground Squirrel Are active year round, running with bushy tails arched over their backs providing both shade and flashes of white to warn of predator in area. As I hiked a trail in JTNP, I saw countless white blurs flashing around me. Couldn’t figure out what they were until I paused and they ventured from their burrows. Spotted a few darker-coated ones while searching for GC’s in the Heartburn Series. wikipedia Cactus Mouse GC1M5G2 Camera ready, I snapped at a blur running for cover expecting another Antelope Squirrel but discovered a Cactus Mouse, commonly found in rocky outcroppings with cactus and yucca stands. Unlike most mice, the Cactus Mouse will climb shrubs to feed upon sees and fruits. Ref: Portraits of Nature illustrating artwork of the living desert by Roy Purcell

June 11 Couple miles past Canyon Trail (GC13CJE) Walking along the valley trail and about 40’ away I came around a bush spotting a Mule Deer doe and fawn. The doe began posturing vigorously, lurching forward and raising a leg in the air as if to charge me. She was so intimidating I stepped backwards behind a bush without even realizing it. As I moved forward for pics, a second fawn emerged from the undergrowth. A thrilling moment! This one could hardly walk with its spindly legs as it stumbled towards the doe. Interesting to watch the doe handle the transition from maintaining her protective stance between us and the fawns, to getting them uphill to safety. Both fawns were so awkward they could barely climb. Delayed plans for finding virtual Terracaches in Joshua Tree National Park due to the heat and having done Earthcaches in the past chose to try shorter hikes in the park. Black-throated Sparrow Black-chinned Hummingbird Antelope Ground Squirrel

June 11 Spotted Zebra-tailed Lizard a couple of miles past the Canyon Trail (GC13CJE) in Big Morongo Canyon Preserve. Eyes in the back of its head. Fastest desert reptile clocked at speeds up to 35 mph, raising the forepart of its body off the ground to use it back legs for running with zebra–tail curled high in the air for counterbalance. It stayed near a creosote bush until I ventured too close and it slowly moved away. It was nearly impossible to see while flattened against the sand until I noticed a streak of yellow. Uses a sit and wait hunting method. Approached by predators, roadrunners and whipsnakes, it curls its tail over its back wagging it back and forth before sprinting away. Abundant possibly due to its adaptability to food source, it has a broad range and is second only to the Side-blotched Lizard in the Southwest. The Zebra-tailed Lizard preys upon beetles and winged termites in the Sonoran Desert and grasshoppers in the Great Basin. It prefers its body temp around 102 degrees and with some tolerating temps up to 112. 3 ½ inches long. Ref: Desert Lizards by James W. Cornett Bluebird Gambels Quail

Passing on an unusual critter story I heard from a local... Authorities caught a 170 pound rattlesnake, 15’ long with enough venom to kill 40 men that could devour a 2-yr old child found in a Southern State neighborhood. Took pics of their cell phone pics and thought I share ‘em in case you haven’t seen them yet.

June 9 Near Heartburn Series (GC1M5G2) I inadvertently flushed a pair of Burrowing Owls into the air more than once. Cool to see one on the ground so expertly camouflaged against the desert floor. Burrowing Owls using Desert Tortoise hole. Burrowing Owl in flight. Digger Bee with Mt. San Jacinto in the background. On the way out of the Series I was fortunate to catch a Barn Owl perched in a bush. Mad scrambles while tracking the Burrowing Owls resulted in the discovery of earthenware pottery shards. Hi Desert Museum