The first of April saw what might be the last significant rain of the season, leading to a lovely Spring.
You lost, buddy?
Following last month's redtail hawk adventure, we had an even more unusual
avian visitor. Great Blue Herons are frequently seen
in the Petaluma valley, river, and marshes, but it is very surprising to
see one at 1500' elevation, fishing in a relatively small creek
in a heavily wooded area on three separate days. Three still shots
and an aggregate video, in which the heron can be seen catching
and swallowing a fingerling fish at the 20-23 second mark.
A wet raccoon searching for aquatic prey in the creek bed.
The hillside forest trail continues to be frequented by bobcats. Photo and short video.
Deer are plentiful on the upper mountain as usual. This young buck shows
the first signs of emergent antlers.
A doe followed by two yearling fawns.
Feral hogs are back on the upper mountain. Two photos (including what might be the big boar we've called "Tusky Boi" in the past) and a twilight video.
No mountain lions have been photographed here since September 2024.
