San Diego County Cache Critters

[+Let's Look Over Thayer]

A chipmunk on the roof of a fallen down house in the ghost town of Ironton, Colorado. The cache is Colorado Boy (GCGW2W)

 

[+Let's Look Over Thayer]

Spotted this Marmot as we were leaving Animas Forks (nearby caches were Rocket Boys, Animas Forks and Frisco Mill Building)

 

[+FlagMan]

Spotted this Marmot as we were leaving Animas Forks (nearby caches were Rocket Boys, Animas Forks and Frisco Mill Building)

 

They look just like little bears!!

[+Duncan!]

Spotted this Marmot as we were leaving Animas Forks (nearby caches were Rocket Boys, Animas Forks and Frisco Mill Building)

 

They look just like little bears!!

 

Nice Marmot!

[+Let's Look Over Thayer]

Another chipmunk...

 

[+Let's Look Over Thayer]

Duplicate post. Tried to remove it last night, but the same lack of response that lead to the duplicate post also prevented its removal.

Edited August 10, 2010 by Let's Look Over Thayer

[+SD Rowdies]

Another chipmunk...

 

Must be twins ... sure look alike.

[+travelita]

Out & About

 

 

Click for Great Blue Heron Video

 

CLick for Stingray Video

 

[+travelita]

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

 

[+travelita]

Misc...

 

Pirates Cove a favorite area!

 

 

 

Black Mountain Summit

 

[+travelita]

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.

 

 

[+travelita]

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!

 

 

 

[+BadSquirrel]

Not a particularly good photo, but we all found this guy in GC2D9VH (Your Next Procedure...)

 

A bit of a wakeup call...we weren't looking for this kind of fauna.

 

[+Let's Look Over Thayer]

Not a particularly good photo, but we all found this guy in GC2D9VH (Your Next Procedure...)

 

A bit of a wakeup call...we weren't looking for this kind of fauna.

 

Blimey! This guy looks a little lost...

[+jahoadi and john]

Mr. Hawk sitting on the scaffolding near hour house asking me when all this loud construction is gonna be done ( near Sit Awhile) House in the backgroud is a foreclosure..fixer with amazing views. Not bad picture considering I took it through a dirty window.

 

Edited September 19, 2010 by jahoadi and john

[+travelita]

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

 

 

 

[+travelita]

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

[+Let's Look Over Thayer]

Wolf Spider and Worm -- The cache was Necropolis of Britannia Manor III -- GC2B034

 

 

It was dark but we kept seeing little pin-pricks of bright green light reflected from the ground. Upon investigation, we discovered that the source of this reflected light was wolf spiders. You can sort of see the flash reflecting off the eyes of this one. Later, we researched this and discovered that "spotlighting" is a common way to locate wolf spiders.

 

The worm is upper-right...I didn't see it there when I took the picture.

[+travelita]

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.

 

 

Edited October 13, 2010 by travelita

[+Let's Look Over Thayer]

This beast was guarding Is THIS a Sumac? (GC2GM8Q)

 

[+Let's Look Over Thayer]

To Beeth or Not To Beeth

That is the Question

Whether 'tis nobler in the mind

To suffer the Stings and Arrows

Of angry Apoidea

Or to take Arms against a sea of micros

And by opposing, end them?

 

A swarm of bees on a cactus about 10 feet from The Bronze Nut (GC2D6RE)

 

Edited October 24, 2010 by Let's Look Over Thayer

[+SD Rowdies]

To Beeth or Not To Beeth

That is the Question

Whether 'tis nobler in the mind

To suffer the Stings and Arrows

Of angry Apoidea

Or to take Arms against a sea of micros

And by opposing, end them?

 

A swarm of bees on a cactus about 10 feet from The Bronze Nut (GC2D6RE)

 

Exthcuse me ...

 

To Beeth or Not To Beeth

 

That ith the Quethtion

Whether 'tith nobler in the mind

To thuffer the thtingth and Arrowth

Of angry Apoidea

Or to take Armth againtht a thea of microth

And by oppothing, end them?

 

Jameth, you miththed a thtupendouth chanthe

to become a thatithfied bee keeper. Thcoop

the thwarm into your thwag bag next time.

 

Beeth are your friendth,

Harmon

[+SKILLET]

To Beeth or Not To Beeth

That is the Question

Whether 'tis nobler in the mind

To suffer the Stings and Arrows

Of angry Apoidea

Or to take Arms against a sea of micros

And by opposing, end them?

 

A swarm of bees on a cactus about 10 feet from The Bronze Nut (GC2D6RE)

 

Exthcuse me ...

 

To Beeth or Not To Beeth

 

That ith the Quethtion

Whether 'tith nobler in the mind

To thuffer the thtingth and Arrowth

Of angry Apoidea

Or to take Armth againtht a thea of microth

And by oppothing, end them?

 

Jameth, you miththed a thtupendouth chanthe

to become a thatithfied bee keeper. Thcoop

the thwarm into your thwag bag next time.

 

Beeth are your friendth,

Harmon

What did he say????

[+travelita]

Misc:

 

Bees in PB

 

Osprey with fish stick.

 

 

Enjoying rainy days...

 

and beautiful sunsets.

 

Seen while dropping a new GC (GC2HBE6)

 

 

 

[+travelita]

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!

[+Let's Look Over Thayer]

GWS[/i] LLOT!

Thanks, travelita. Keep those wonderful photos coming...

[+travelita]

Nov 12 1600 Kestrel at Pirates Cove

 

[+travelita]

Active nesting in Mission Bay...male left, female fielding broken branches on right.

 

 

 

Click for video clip: American Kestral catching mouse.

Edited December 2, 2010 by travelita

[+Let's Look Over Thayer]

WOW! Beautiful shot!

[+Let's Look Over Thayer]

Alligator Lizard on the trail near Nice View!. I thought it was the backend of a snake at first...

 

 

[+travelita]

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!

[+travelita]

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!

[+Team Gecko]

Monday, 13 December 2010

The Robb Field pair have been actively courting and mating for several weeks. For what is apparently the third year running, they are starting out their season working together building a protonest on light pole A6 to the east of their primary nest. This particular morning was clear and warm, one of the few we've enjoyed this fall.

 

Three days prior I had an opportunity to observe the female through binoculars as she scanned the river channel then dove and caught a very nice mullet. She is far and away the more efficient hunter of the pair.

 

Here are a few shots taken on and around the new and probably temporary nest.

 

Happy holidays everyone.

-Gecko Dad

P.S. Very nice photographs, Travelita. It will be fun to watch at least two families develop this year.

 

Love birds on the protonest atop light post A6

 

Female on left, male on right

 

Female departure

 

Male on nest

 

Frontal view

 

Male adjustment

 

Male hovers with twigs

 

Landing and delivery

[+SD Rowdies]

Near "Harmon's Belated Birthday Paw-tay" ...

 

Snake in repose

 

Little-finger size basking in the sun and not at all

concerned about me and my boots. Never moved

a muscle while I closed in with my camera.

 

Morning-after hanger perhaps?

 

Harmon

SD Rowdies

Edited December 28, 2010 by SD Rowdies

[+travelita]

...and Happy New Year!

 

 

Clickable Action Shot

[+Team Gecko]

Sunday, 1/2/2010

Male Osprey hovering while hunting over San Diego River channel. Morning lighting.

 

 

 

Here he is emerging from the water shortly after diving and missing his intended prey. The action was so close to me - between 20 and 30 yards - that I could not track his dive quickly enough with my telephoto. What a sight, though.

 

 

Later on I visited Travelita's pair on the far side of Mission Bay.

 

 

This pair's behavior suggests they are less mature than the Robb Field expert pair. It would be fantastic if both nests are productive this year.

-GD

Edited January 5, 2011 by Team Gecko

[+Tex&Capie]

 

We were looking for a cache known to be extremely well camouflaged and in the process of leaving no stone unturned, we found this little guy, Batrachoseps major.

[+Team Gecko]

 

We were looking for a cache known to be extremely well camouflaged and in the process of leaving no stone unturned, we found this little guy, Batrachoseps major.

Awesome cache critter. This little guy gets the "cutest ever" award.

-GD

[+Team Gecko]

Thursday, 3 Feb 2011

I try to stop by daily to check in on the Robb Field Osprey pair. I'm pretty sure the female has laid her eggs in their new nest near the San Diego River Channel and the TFTC’s SDCET Top 40 TB series of caches. Today I was fortunate to photograph some nice flight sequences and observe a shift in pattern wherein at least one bird stays on the nest.

 

As I was returning to my car, I saw what initially looked like an oversized Kestral approaching from overhead. What a pleasant and unexpected surprise to see the cheek markings and unmistakable underbody plumage of a Peregrine Falcon.

-GD

 

Distinctive underbody

 

Cruising by

 

Lovely lady (and mom again)

 

Proud papa

[+SD Rowdies]

Thursday, 3 Feb 2011

I try to stop by daily to check in on the Robb Field Osprey pair. I'm pretty sure the female has laid her eggs in their new nest near the San Diego River Channel and the TFTC’s SDCET Top 40 TB series of caches. Today I was fortunate to photograph some nice flight sequences and observe a shift in pattern wherein at least one bird stays on the nest.

 

As I was returning to my car, I saw what initially looked like an oversized Kestral approaching from overhead. What a pleasant and unexpected surprise to see the cheek markings and unmistakable underbody plumage of a Peregrine Falcon.

-GD

 

Distinctive underbody

 

Cruising by

 

Lovely lady (and mom again)

 

Proud papa

Excellent, Don, just fabulous.

[+Team Gecko]

Friday, 4 Feb 2011

An encore performance by this little speedster cruising a couple of circuits over the mudflats late this afternoon. I stopped by after work to check on the Osprey pair but little was happening in that direction so I headed the other direction and was rewarded with this performance. The entire show lasted less than a minute but in that time he/she covered a lot of terrain before heading off to the east. The flight sequence appeared to be a hunt and may have been one of the reasons the rest of the avian neighborhood was in quite a dither.

 

This is a young bird in juvenile plumage.

-GD

 

Low and fast

 

Low drag coefficient

 

Turning on a dime - image 1

 

Turning on a dime - image 2

 

Turning on a dime - image 3

[+Let's Look Over Thayer]

Spotted my first Pacific Diamondback of the year out near Ivan Drago (GC2N1AW). Actually, I darn near stepped on him. A bit of a wake up call, that...

 

 

Then, on the way back, I spotted this guy (I was paying attention to where I was stepping...!)

 

 

[+SD Rowdies]

Spotted my first Pacific Diamondback of the year out near Ivan Drago (GC2N1AW). Actually, I darn near stepped on him. A bit of a wake up call, that...

 

 

Then, on the way back, I spotted this guy (I was paying attention to where I was stepping...!)

 

 

How come you got to have all the fun that day?

Only thing I got to see was you.

[+Team Gecko]

Thursday, 10 Feb 2011

While walking on the path between our campsite in Borrego Palm Canyon and the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park visitor center, this huge flock of American White Pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) was spotted a couple of thousand feet above us. There appeared to be two subgroups and they separated and rejoined while gaining altitude for a crossing of the crest near Hellhole Flat. I visually estimated there might be 500 or more of these huge birds. With wingspans that can reach 9 feet or more and weights of 16 pounds, they are among the largest birds in North America. Closer inspection of my photos revealed a larger count, perhaps 650-700 individuals.

 

The next to last image shows a remarkable bird-like formation within a subset of the group.

-GD

 

Massing for passage

 

This way and that way

 

Bow Tie

 

Getting their bearing

 

Superbird

 

Up, up, and away

[+SD Rowdies]

Thursday, 10 Feb 2011

While walking on the path between our campsite in Borrego Palm Canyon and the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park visitor center, this huge flock of American White Pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) was spotted a couple of thousand feet above us. There appeared to be two subgroups and they separated and rejoined while gaining altitude for a crossing of the crest near Hellhole Flat. I visually estimated there might be 500 or more of these huge birds. With wingspans that can reach 9 feet or more and weights of 16 pounds, they are among the largest birds in North America. Closer inspection of my photos revealed a larger count, perhaps 650-700 individuals.

 

The next to last image shows a remarkable bird-like formation within a subset of the group.

-GD

 

Massing for passage

 

This way and that way

 

Bow Tie

 

Getting their bearing

 

Superbird

 

Up, up, and away

Don,

 

Fabulous! That time of year once again.

 

I'll bet the Canadian Geese are honking

away over on the southeastern shores of

Salton Sea as well.

 

Harmon

SD Rowdies

[+FlagMan]

 

Saw this guy wedged into the crack of a rock. Still alive, and I'm wondering if he was using the crack to shed his skin or something. Did not look particularly comfortable to me!!

[+secretnavy]

Not as wild or dangerous as some of the other critters here, but I figured they had to have done something to get locked up, or maybe they where just guarding the cache. (GCQJMH)

Edited February 22, 2011 by secretnavy

[+Let's Look Over Thayer]

Seems like the ol' Cache Critters thread needs a bit of a bump...

 

So here are some cache critters that seem to have become attached to Stone Field (GC2MF2C)

 

[+Let's Look Over Thayer]

Spotted this guy on my way to CT 12: Is this a sumac? #51 (GC2KV7R) Can you spot him?

 

[+SD Rowdies]

Spotted this guy on my way to CT 12: Is this a sumac? #51 (GC2KV7R) Can you spot him?

 

How strange ...

 

 

I once saw that same critter near that CT12 hide only

it was sun-bathing on the main trail when I spotted it.

 

Some say that we evolved from toads. Makes sense

to me 'cause back when I was a boy most everybody

I knew was, dare I say, with-horns in one way or

another.

 

Deep-fried they taste like chicken only more crunchy.

 

Harmon

SD Rowdies

Edited April 30, 2011 by SD Rowdies