San Diego County Cache Critters

[+TrailGators]

Huey and Dewey are now about 5 days old now!

They are squirming around quite a bit and they are getting fuzzy.

[+Team Gecko]

Saturday, 7/1/2006

I enjoyed quite a birding adventure on a run up to No Hinty on McGinty mid-morning on this toasty Saturday. It has been a few years since I was last up on top and I was pleased to have the mountain to myself today. Of course, high humidity and temperatures in the mid-90s do tend to thin out potential visitors. As I approached the summit rocks, a huge flock of swallows lifted off and swarmed overhead. Their under wing coloration, square tails, and buff throats suggested Northern Rough-winged Swallows (Stelgidoteryx serripennis) but the terrain isn't quite right for a species that prefers sand banks. Any birders out there care to offer a second opinion?

-GD

 

Swallow swarms

 

As I was running back down the trail, I came upon a pair of Red-tailed Hawks ridge soaring at almost eye level. I got so captivated watching them circle, drop, flap, circle again that I ended up stuck to that spot for a half hour. Here are some of their maneuvers.

 

Over-the-shoulder view

 

Soaring to a backdrop of thunderheads

 

The occasional flap

 

Spectacular overflight

 

During the time I was taking in the Buteo show, a female Anna's Hummingbird alighted nearby for a few moments, too.

[+Let's Look Over Thayer]

As usual, another great set of photos! Thanks for sharing.

 

I especially like this one. I love the translucent effect of the feathers.

[+Miragee]

On our Mt. Miguel hike today, we saw Jahoadi's pet horned lizard who comes out to see her everytime she hikes up the trail.

 

[+TrailGators]

Huey and Dewey are now about 9 days old now! Huey was squirming so much this morning he fell out of the nest and he fell about 4 feet to the cement. We didn't see it happen but when we came out to check on them, we saw him laying on the cement. I thought he was dead for sure! Anyhow, I held a piece of pine bark mulch nxt to him and he grabbed it right away with his feet. I carefully lifted him and put him back into the nest. The good news is that he looks OK now and the Mom is still feeding them every couple of hours! They are so big that Mom can't fit into the nest so she hangs out in a nearby bush!

Huey is on the left and Dewey is on the right.

Took this a few minutes before Mom came to feed them.

[+Team Gecko]

Monday, 7/3/2006

Saw this extremely effectively camouflaged Small-scaled Lizard (Urosaurus microscutalatus) during a toasty summertime hike to Journey to Domelands.

-GD

 

[+Team Gecko]

Huey and Dewey are now about 9 days old now! Huey was squirming so much this morning he fell out of the nest and he fell about 4 feet to the cement. We didn't see it happen but when we came out to check on them, we saw him laying on the cement. I thought he was dead for sure! Anyhow, I held a piece of pine bark mulch nxt to him and he grabbed it right away with his feet. I carefully lifted him and put him back into the nest. The good news is that he looks OK now and the Mom is still feeding them every couple of hours! They are so big that Mom can't fit into the nest so she hangs out in a nearby bush!

 

Took this a few minutes before Mom came to feed them.

Sounds like a full-time parenting job going on at the Gators. So much responsibility ...

-GD

[+Team Gecko]

Monday, 7/3/2006

After hiking up Marsh Wash to visit TweenerPak1 near the very much closed Aqua Caliente County Park, I returned to enjoy lunch in the shade of some huge tamarisks near the park store. While I was eating, a Roadrunner ambled up and flapped up to one of the lower branches and started making "crackling" sounds similar to those made by grasshoppers. Not sure what its message was since I seemed to be the only other living creature out and about on this hot, muggy day. Of course, I did not have my camera with me until after lunch and my new friend worked his way nearly to the top of the tamarisk - still chattering away.

-GD

 

Roadrunner territory - at the top

 

Crackle, crackle

[+TrailGators]

Huey and Dewey are now about 9 days old now! Huey was squirming so much this morning he fell out of the nest and he fell about 4 feet to the cement. We didn't see it happen but when we came out to check on them, we saw him laying on the cement. I thought he was dead for sure! Anyhow, I held a piece of pine bark mulch nxt to him and he grabbed it right away with his feet. I carefully lifted him and put him back into the nest. The good news is that he looks OK now and the Mom is still feeding them every couple of hours! They are so big that Mom can't fit into the nest so she hangs out in a nearby bush!

 

Took this a few minutes before Mom came to feed them.

Sounds like a full-time parenting job going on at the Gators. So much responsibility ...

-GD

Well Huey ended up falling out of the nest two more times. I came out this morning and he was on the ground again and this time ants were getting ready to eat him. We are pretty convinced that the mother has rejected him for some reason. He now has a big bump around his neck (might be broken?) but he is still squirming around. My wife tried to feed him sugar water with an eyedropper, but he won't open his mouth. Anyhow, he's now spending his final hours on top of a cottonball on a table in the shade of our patio.

 

The good news is that Dewey is doing well!

Edited July 5, 2006 by TrailGators

[+Miragee]

Oh . . . that is so sad . . .

 

Maybe those tiny birds only have the energy to raise one young in' . . .

 

Or . . . I wonder if mom knew he had some unseen thing wrong with him that would keep him from thriving?

[+TrailGators]

I wonder if mom knew he had some unseen thing wrong with him that would keep him from thriving?

That is my guess. I guess I sort of got attached to them after watching them everyday for the last two weeks....

[+splashman]

I wonder if mom knew he had some unseen thing wrong with him that would keep him from thriving?

That is my guess. I guess I sort of got attached to them after watching them everyday for the last two weeks....

 

You might give drexotic a call or e-mail. He knows about wild things and maybe can help!!!

He knew the answers to my questions about squirrels, etc.

Now, you have gotten all of us attached to them!

Splashette

[+TrailGators]

I wonder if mom knew he had some unseen thing wrong with him that would keep him from thriving?

That is my guess. I guess I sort of got attached to them after watching them everyday for the last two weeks....

 

You might give drexotic a call or e-mail. He knows about wild things and maybe can help!!!

He knew the answers to my questions about squirrels, etc.

Now, you have gotten all of us attached to them!

Splashette

Update: Huey is dead and Dewey flew off last night. So ends the Hummer saga. Edited July 6, 2006 by TrailGators

[+TrailGators]

Epilogue: We thought Dewey flew away but my wife just found him dead on the ground covered in ants. R.I.P.

Edited July 7, 2006 by TrailGators

[+Team Gecko]

Friday, 7/7/2006

With the sad passing of Huey and Dewey, I thought I might lighten up the Cache Critter Forum with a story of a flying lizard - no kidding.

 

I did not have my camera out so no photos on this one. I doubt I could have captured the event any way since everything happened so fast.

 

After climbing Carrizo Mountain northeast of Ocotillo this morning, I went for an exploratory loop hike up one of the side canyons of middle Painted Gorge. After climbing to a ridgeline and looping around to gain some perspective on the complexity of this drainage, I discovered and started to descend an obscure single track that looked like it would eventually get me back down to the main gorge. A few minutes along the way, a fairly large Side-blotched Lizard dashed lickity split across the trail just a few steps in front of me. Next thing I know, it is flying through the air, legs still going furiously, and is perhaps as much as 8 feet above the ground. That's because the other side of the path dropped off very steeply toward the gorge. This animal olympian landed about 15 feet out from it's launch point. Looking over the edge I expected to see a seriously stunned lizard at the end of this trajectory, but no, it barely missed a stride and just kept on running down the hill.

 

To put this into perspective, at 6 inches long including tail, that's about 30 times its body length. This would be like a human leaping 180 feet and coming to a running landing after falling 96 feet vertically!

-GD

[+TrailGators]

Friday, 7/7/2006

With the sad passing of Huey and Dewey, I thought I might lighten up the Cache Critter Forum with a story of a flying lizard - no kidding.

 

I did not have my camera out so no photos on this one. I doubt I could have captured the event any way since everything happened so fast.

 

After climbing Carrizo Mountain northeast of Ocotillo this morning, I went for an exploratory loop hike up one of the side canyons of middle Painted Gorge. After climbing to a ridgeline and looping around to gain some perspective on the complexity of this drainage, I discovered and started to descend an obscure single track that looked like it would eventually get me back down to the main gorge. A few minutes along the way, a fairly large Side-blotched Lizard dashed lickity split across the trail just a few steps in front of me. Next thing I know, it is flying through the air, legs still going furiously, and is perhaps as much as 8 feet above the ground. That's because the other side of the path dropped off very steeply toward the gorge. This animal olympian landed about 15 feet out from it's launch point. Looking over the edge I expected to see a seriously stunned lizard at the end of this trajectory, but no, it barely missed a stride and just kept on running down the hill.

 

To put this into perspective, at 6 inches long including tail, that's about 30 times its body length. This would be like a human leaping 180 feet and coming to a running landing after falling 96 feet vertically!

-GD

Interesting story Don! It is amazing how strong animals are pound for pound. Huey was about 0.75" long and fell 48." That's like one of us falling out of a 35 story building! The amazing part is that he did it 3 times! He was one tough cookie too!

[+Miragee]

Great story!

 

Last night on our hike back in the dark, we saw what looked like a little blinking LED light on the trail in front of us. It turned out to be a spider with long skinny legs. I didn't take a picture.

 

By . . . that . . . time . . . who . . . could . . . think . . . of . . . photography . . .

[+GoBolts!]

Sumrall and I saw a pair of cantaloupes on the 2nd.

 

More pics in our log for One Degree of Separation: Nugget

 

Sorry...we did not do this forum justice...our photos/camera sucks compared to the rest of you all.

[+Let's Look Over Thayer]

It was a hot day on Cowles Mtn and all the vertebrates (the sensible ones anyway) were hiding in the shade somewhere. But there were plenty of Apis Melliflora hunting for pollen.

[+Team Gecko]

Friday, 7/7/2006

On top of Carrizo Mountain shortly after sitting down on a rock near this cache and the summit register, this Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) cruised up to check me out. It circled, and circled, and circled, getting a bit lower each time, finally getting within 50 feet overhead - so close it was tricky to keep my camera trained on it as it circled my position. I suppose the situation could have become pretty exciting - and probably worthy of a Harmon story - if it had landed next to me. However, I finally stood up to help it decide a Gecko wasn't going to be that great a meal after all.

-Gecko Dad

 

Close

 

... and closer

[+The Dillon Gang]

Something for Gecko Dad. Found this in Mesquite, Nevada while caching today.

 

[+The Dillon Gang]

Another Cache Critter? Found near EZ-Inn cache in Jean, Nevada.

 

[+SD Rowdies]

Probably worthy of a Harmon story - if it had landed next to me. However, I finally stood up to help it decide a Gecko wasn't going to be that great a meal after all.

-Gecko Dad

Why Gecko Dad, how you talk.

 

[+Team Gecko]

Saturday, 7/8/2006

What to do while waiting for a tire repair in Poway? Head for a hike. Saw this pollen-laden bumblebee doing thistle dances near All Aboard! II.

-GD

 

Check out the alien eye and that proboscis!

 

Outta here ...

[+Team Gecko]

Sunday, 7/16/2006

I saw hardly any critters on my 11-mile run in the MTRP Spring Canyon area. Perhaps the 102 degree temperature had something to do with that. Mad Dogs and Englishmen! - and heat tolerant Geckos. The critter highlight of my outing was a White-tailed Kite (Elanus leucurus) that was hanging out above"DELIVERANCE" at the far northern end of the canyon. Kites are medium-sized hawks whose signature behavior is hovering over open areas, then plummeting to the ground to catch their main fare - rodents.

-GD

 

The buff-colored throat indicates this is probably a first year juvenile

 

Another view

[+Team Gecko]

Saturday, 7/16/2006

102 degrees. Honey bees casting tall shadows at high noon near Jutht Whithtle Ohtay?.

-GD

 

[+Let's Look Over Thayer]

102 degrees. Honey bees casting tall shadows at high noon near Jutht Whithtle Ohtay?.

Didn't need the text for this one -- I knew right where this picture was taken as soon as I saw it...

 

It's funny. I never had any problems with any of the caches near bee hives in MTRP, but a couple of weeks back, I accidently happened upon a hive in Rancho Bernardo. My first clue was the buzzing sound 10 feet away coming from a rotting stump, The second clue was the sharp pain on my eyebrow followed by the buzzing sound around my head. It's not something I'd like to repeat anytime soon.

[+Team Gecko]

Saturday, 7/22/2006

Not many critters stirring on my explorator hike up to hide Bell Bluff - Alpine's Mini-El Capitan on the hottest day on record across much of San Diego County. There were a few, though, even at 112 degrees.

-GD

 

Velvet Ant (Dasymutilla)

 

Mule deer buck

 

Turkey Vulture

 

Red-tailed Hawk

[+Team Gecko]

Saturday, 7/29/2006

Enjoyed a day of cooler temperatures in the northern section of Cleveland National Forest with Ruscal. We hiked 10 miles round trip up to Sitton Peak in the San Mateo Wilderness, not realizing there was a cache to log there. There were so many great lizard photo-ops that I posted a note to the cache page so I could share them. We saw four horned lizards along different parts of our route, including the summit, and some remarkably banded scaly lizards that I believe are Western Fence Lizards (Sceloporus) with a local color variation unlike any I have seen before. Checkout the mini-mite Coast Horned Lizard.

-Gecko Dad

 

A scaly encounter

 

Big Coastie

 

Check out the banding on this guy at the summit

 

Lounging around

 

Mini-mite

 

Posing for a portrait

[+Let's Look Over Thayer]

A couple of shots of a Red-Tail earlier today...

 

[+Snake & Rooster]

 

 

 

Can you find the stealth critter on the way to Monserate Mystique??

[+TrailGators]

Can you find the stealth critter on the way to Monserate Mystique??

Amazing how well he blends in!

[+SD Rowdies]

Can you find the stealth critter on the way to Monserate Mystique??

Amazing how well he blends in!

Excellent!

[+Snake & Rooster]

Saturday, 7/29/2006

Enjoyed a day of cooler temperatures in the northern section of Cleveland National Forest with Ruscal. We hiked 10 miles round trip up to Sitton Peak in the San Mateo Wilderness, not realizing there was a cache to log there. There were so many great lizard photo-ops that I posted a note to the cache page so I could share them. We saw four horned lizards along different parts of our route, including the summit, and some remarkably banded scaly lizards that I believe are Western Fence Lizards (Sceloporus) with a local color variation unlike any I have seen before. Checkout the mini-mite Coast Horned Lizard.

-Gecko Dad

 

 

You missed another one on the trail at Four Corners as well. Your picture was taken less than 100 feet from a small cache hidden there.

[+Team Gecko]

Saturday, 7/29/2006

Enjoyed a day of cooler temperatures in the northern section of Cleveland National Forest with Ruscal. We hiked 10 miles round trip up to Sitton Peak in the San Mateo Wilderness, not realizing there was a cache to log there. There were so many great lizard photo-ops that I posted a note to the cache page so I could share them. We saw four horned lizards along different parts of our route, including the summit, and some remarkably banded scaly lizards that I believe are Western Fence Lizards (Sceloporus) with a local color variation unlike any I have seen before. Checkout the mini-mite Coast Horned Lizard.

-Gecko Dad

 

 

You missed another one on the trail at Four Corners as well. Your picture was taken less than 100 feet from a small cache hidden there.

 

Guess I'll just have to go back sometime. Always looking for excuses to be on the trail. Might see a few more of these Giant Horned Lizards that are cleverly disguised as ... sand!

-GD

 

[+Team Gecko]

 

 

 

Can you find the stealth critter on the way to Monserate Mystique??

 

Looks similar to a camo container I recall TR Violin placing in MTRP a few years ago.

-GD

[+Snake & Rooster]

Saturday, 7/29/2006

 

Guess I'll just have to go back sometime. Always looking for excuses to be on the trail. Might see a few more of these Giant Horned Lizards that are cleverly disguised as ... sand!

-GD

 

 

 

Amazing camo! We've seen many of these this year--more than any year I can remember. I'm not sure why that should be. They seem less shy about having their pictures taken too. We got very close to one on El Cajon Mountain recently. Beautiful shot!

 

And Don, if you are heading back to the Santa Ana's for a hike, you might want to check out Old Sugarloaf by Dr. Bob. Only 4 visitors (3 visits) in over 3 years. The hike is beautiful and their are several caches you can pick up on the way.

Edited August 1, 2006 by Snake & Rooster

[+Let's Look Over Thayer]

Amazing camo!

That is amazing cammo! The detail is fantastic but I really wonder how this can be helpful to the animal. I can only think that there must be some biological advantage in being picked up and deposited into a soda machine...

 

(Seriously, though, that really is amazing cammo!)

[+Team Geogeeks]

Amazing camo!

That is amazing cammo! The detail is fantastic but I really wonder how this can be helpful to the animal. I can only think that there must be some biological advantage in being picked up and deposited into a soda machine...

 

(Seriously, though, that really is amazing cammo!)

 

So...how many times have we accidently stepped on these guys? Would we even see it move based on the camo?

[+Team Gecko]

Saturday, 7/29/2006

Sevenspotted Ladybird Beetles (Coccinella spetempunctata) aka Lady Beetles or Lady Bugs. "Spotted" in large numbers on top of Santiago Peak next to Talking Mountain. This species comes from Europe and was introduced as a pest control species, primarily to perform their specialty of consuming aphids. Curiously, they have acclimated so well they have been formally designated the State Insect for Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Ohio. In the fall shortly before starting their winter hibernation, I have seen them congregate in such large numbers that they appear as carpets of red.

-GD

 

One per blossom

 

Cliffhanger

 

Welcome to the Ladybird Ball

[+Miragee]

Amazing pictures!

 

 

Found this cute little frog after walking to the other end of the tunnel from where "Cave of Ghost Waters" is hidden.

 

[+RocketMan]

Here are some critters from our Wyoming trip (I know they aren't SD critters, but I figured if Don can post some vacation critters I can also)

 

Humming Bird near Pinedale

 

Wild Mustangs near Rock Springs

 

Elk in Yellowstone

 

Two Elk Resting in Yellowstone

 

Eagle Perched near Jackson (We saw many eagle)

 

Eagle Flying

 

Moose in Grand Teton

 

Fawn in Grand Teton

 

Buffalo in Grand Teton

 

Buck east of Grand Teton

[+Team Gecko]

Here are some critters from our Wyoming trip (I know they aren't SD critters, but I figured if Don can post some vacation critters I can also)

 

Thanks for sharing, Rocket Man. The photo of the eagle in flight is exceptional.

-GD

[+Team Gecko]

Saturday, 7/29/2006

While cleaning up a folder of photos taken on the hike to Sitton Peak, I came on this mug shot of the large Coast Horned Lizard we saw about mid-trek. I thought it would be fun to compare the muted and worn features of this senior citizen with the pristine "sharpness" of the newbie's.

-GD

 

Old timer

 

Freshly hatched

[+Let's Look Over Thayer]

There's not many caches to be had on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. We only logged two Virtuals there but we did see lots of animals in the process...

 

Mule Deer

 

Turkey Vulture

 

Another Turkey Vulture

 

Turkey Vultures on the Rocks

 

Squirrel

 

Red Grasshopper

 

Mule Deer and Fawns

 

Hiding Squirrel

[+redstareg]

I never seem to be able to grab my camera in time

 

First I missed the mountain lion in Hollenbeck Canyon last month and then this afternoon while in the area of #5 Creekside Cache I come around the corner to have a deer not more than 10 feet from me - I'm still not sure who was scared more

[+SD Rowdies]

 

Toad with Ladyfinger.

[+Let's Look Over Thayer]

Forster's Tern -- Obviously the tide is up or we could walk to Mont-Saint-Michel

[+Snake & Rooster]

 

 

Seen on the way to "IHO: Slartibartfast". We have no idea what type of spider this is, but it had a web that was a good 12 inches across.

Edited August 18, 2006 by Snake & Rooster

[+SD Rowdies]

Seen on the way to "IHO: Slartibartfast". We have no idea what type of spider this is, but it had a web that was a good 12 inches across.

 

You know, as Snake & Rooster you should just post your own photos on this critter thread.

Edited August 18, 2006 by SD Rowdies