INCOMING!Well, the anticipation is running high! The five nestlings are scheduled to fledge on or around July 17th. Meanwhile, the mom and pop "tag team" was working hard bulking up the brood. Here the male is exiting after delivering dinner while the female is on the way in with tasty live meal worms headed for a direct hit on the gaping maw of the waiting baby. July 2022 "Cleared For Landing"Like a jet aircraft screaming toward the runway, this juvenile Red-Tailed Hawk has razor-sharp talons (landing gear) extended and ready for touch down. Lake Los Carneros, CA (Santa Barbara county) March 10, 2013 Which One Shall I Pluck Next?A flock of Cedar Waxwings has recently arrived for the annual toyon berry chow down. Seen here at Lake Los Carneros. November 2022 Red-Tailed HawkImmature male. Goleta, CAMarch 2, 2013 Breakfast Is Served! Western BluebirdsMariposa, California USA Breakfast Is Served!This beautiful pair of Western Bluebirds has begun a second nest (the first fledged 4 nestlings out of five) in a nest box on the edge of a quiet meadow in Mariposa, California USA.Here the attentive male is feeding a breakfast of live meal worms to his lovely bride before they commence with the day's "construction."We shall hope for a successful brood and fledging. If it comes to pass the world will be a little richer for it...To view a short video of this lovely duo, copy this link and paste it into your browser's address line. or click the Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jo46zqzYI2M&feature=plcpDate: 05/26/2012 Lookin' For LoveMariposa, California June 2011 Lookin' For Love The poet Alfred Lord Tennyson wrote, "In the spring a young man's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love." With abundant water all over the Sierra Nevada this year, a male bull frog inflates its throat to emit the guttural mating call in this Mariposa pond hoping to find love. To hear the sound of this big bull and his cronies, paste this You Tube Link into your browser: http://www.youtube.com/user/CagaraDigitalMedia#p/a/u/0/-zpajerFI1w Bobcat Mariposa, CAThis handsome bobcat was staring intently at a California Quail by our pond when I crept close for a portrait. Thank you, Bob, you look simply grand! American KestrelAmerican Kestrel(Also Known as "Sparrow Hawk")Goleta, CAAmerican KestrelThis American Kestrel female (also known as a "Sparrow Hawk") poses for a portrait during her morning preen while perched on a dead snag at Lake Los Carneros. Young BobcatLake Los Carneros, Goleta, CAYoung BobcatOne of two bobcat kittens stares vigilantly into the brush where an unsuspecting rabbit lurks.Date: 11/02/2009 Great Horned Owlet (Seven Weeks)Yosemite May 19, 20077:52 p.m. Bull Moose, Jackson Hole Master of the HouseBernardsville, N.J. 1968 Cold Morning in Jackson HoleGrand Teton N.P.Oct. 2007 "Splish Splash" Lake Los CarnerosGoleta, CASept. 26, 2009Male Mallard splashing and bathing in the warm morning sun Waiting for GodotSierra Nevada FoothillsAugust 2007A late summer algae bloom turns the diminished water level and pond mud a crimson shade as this Bull Frog seemingly contemplates the meaning of it all.In places like California, where bullfrogs have been introduced by humans but do not occur naturally, bullfrog populations are sky-rocketing.A lack of natural predators is one reason as are the bullfrogs' higher tolerance for warmer water temperatures, a longer breeding season, and higher rates of tadpole survivorship than in other species of frogs. As a result, bullfrogs are driving some native species of frogs towards extinction through predation on both adults and tadpoles. "Come to Papa" - Bull Elk and CowsJackson Hole, WY / Oct. 2007Come to PapaThis Bull was summoning cows from among his harem during the Fall rut of '07. 'Poloponies'Date: 01/22/2007 Young Buck - No.0001 Close Encounter BobcatMariposa, CASeptember 19, 2009One of our resident bobcats spies a bird just above its head. Bobcat - Yosemite Nat'l. ParkJanuary 2008 Red-Shouldered Hawk Yosemite Nat'l. ParkJanuary 2008 Great Horned Owl YosemiteGreat Horned OwlYosemiteApril 28, 2007 "I Think Maybe I'll Eat You!""I Think Maybe I'll Eat You!"Mariposa, CASeptember 19, 2009After I violated the cat's 'comfort zone' by moving within 12 feet, it rose up on all fours with ears back - classic aggressive posture. I backed off quickly and found it now staring at me with palpable disdain. Note: While it is unusual for a bobcat to attack a human (Google 'Bobcat Attack' for incidents) it has been known to happen. Thus, be vigilant when approaching any wildlife and always leave the beast an "escape route." Young Test Pilot (Seven Weeks)Yosemite May 20, 2007 Red-Shouldered Hawk YosemiteRed-Shouldered HawkYosemite Nat'l. ParkJanuary 2008 Owlet Learns to Hunt (Eleven Wks.)Yosemite June 24, 2007See NEWS Update Great Horned Owl & OwletYosemite May 21, 20077:08 p.m. Bobcat - No.0001 Mallard - No. 0001 Special Delivery! YosemiteYosemite May 19, 20078:03 p.m. Owlet Feeding on Gopher YosemiteYosemite May 19, 20078:04 p.m. Great Horned Owlet (Six Weeks)Yosemite May 12, 20076:20 p.m. Great Horned Owlet (Six Weeks)Yosemite May 11, 2007"Hey, Ma - here I come!" Great Horned Owl YosemiteYosemite May 11, 2007Watching Over Baby Great Horned OwlYosemite April 28, 2007 Great Horned Owl YosemiteYosemite National ParkFeb. 24, 2007 Bull Elk YellowstoneYellowstone N.P. 10-10-06Natural Camouflage Pond Frog No.0180 Tigress! Vigilant Buck No. 1980 Monarch- No.0001
![<span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Like a jet aircraft screaming toward the runway, this juvenile Red-Tailed Hawk has razor-sharp talons (landing gear) extended and ready for touch down.<br /> Lake Los Carneros, CA (Santa Barbara county) March 10, 2013</span></span>](https://magicallightphotography.com/sites/default/files/styles/juicebox_medium/public/photos/Wildlife/DSC4283%20Cleared%20For%20Landing%20web.jpg?itok=V1GBwurN ""Cleared For Landing"")
![Goleta, CA<br />Sept. 26, 2009<br />Male Mallard splashing and bathing in the warm morning sun](https://magicallightphotography.com/sites/default/files/styles/juicebox_medium/public/photos/Wildlife/DSC0309%20Bath%20Time.jpg?itok=3jlMsOM0 ""Splish Splash" Lake Los Carneros")
![Jackson Hole, WY / Oct. 2007Come to Papa<br />This Bull was summoning cows from among his harem during the Fall rut of '07.](https://magicallightphotography.com/sites/default/files/styles/juicebox_medium/public/photos/Wildlife/DSC0163-Come-To-Papa-MLP-Web.jpg?itok=VZwnb4oR ""Come to Papa" - Bull Elk and Cows")
!["I Think Maybe I'll Eat You!"<br />Mariposa, CA<br />September 19, 2009After I violated the cat's 'comfort zone' by moving within 12 feet, it rose up on all fours with ears back - classic aggressive posture. I backed off quickly and found it now staring at me with palpable disdain. Note: While it is unusual for a bobcat to attack a human (Google 'Bobcat Attack' for incidents) it has been known to happen. Thus, be vigilant when approaching any wildlife and always leave the beast an "escape route."](https://magicallightphotography.com/sites/default/files/styles/juicebox_medium/public/photos/Wildlife/DSC0212%20I%20Might%20Eat%20You.jpg?itok=ouHnAhWh ""I Think Maybe I'll Eat You!"")
