Animal Sightings

We have been taking some extended local hikes, lately, and have had our share of fun animal sightings.  We have tried out a few new hikes that are within an hour of home.  Also included are a few backyard shots.

In late June, we had a rare visitor to our yard - a Nuttall's Woodpecker.

We have had a family of Hooded Orioles close to our yard.  They frequently visit our flowers and hummingbird feeder.  This is a plainer female.

Tuesday, we hiked a new trail near San Marcos. We saw two Tiger Whiptails having a territory dispute, and this one appeared to be purposefully leaving his scent in the dirt.

Yesterday, we hiked a fine local trail out of Escondido.  It followed the edge of agricultural San Pasqual Valley.  It was clean, and we hardly saw a soul.

 Gail spotted this California Kingsnake - a real beauty that was about four feet long.

 It was in the grass on the trails edge and I walked right by it.  Dunh!

 A new bird for us, the Brown-crested Flycatcher. Several were darting out for butterflies and other insects.

 A few feet away, Gail spotted a nest.  On closer inspection, she saw a Mourning Dove sitting on it, still as a stone.

Nearby, was this colorful dove.

 I saw a Kestrel fly off to a distant tree.

 A Meadowlark waiting for bugs in a meadow.

 This morning we were hiking in our neighborhood Calavera Hills Preserve and came upon this Southern Pacific Rattlesnake.

He got a little upset with me as I crept in, and sped into the bushes, rattle buzzing.

We also saw three California Gnatcatchers, which are on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife list of threatened and endangered species,  another first for us.