February 2024 Wildlife photos


Deer leaping across Adobe Creek at twilight.  We regularly have seen deer at this creek crossing area.  Until...

Leaping deer


... February 6, when an adult deer carcass appeared on a big rock in the creek.  We don't know what killed it.  Mountain lions wouldn't normally leave their kill in the open.
The previous days saw heavy rains and the creek in full flood. 

At any rate, we studied the photos on the following days to see who would go after the carcass.
A turkey vulture was first, managing to find the meal and navigate into the heavily wooded area.  Then other vultures joined in.

Turkey vulture with deer carcassTurkey vulture lands on dead deerTwo turkey vultures

Turkey vultures
More vultures


The last photo above was taken on February 12. 

We were surprised there were no mammalian scavengers.  The only non-vulture was this corvid (Raven, I believe, judging by the size). Raven at deer carcass


For reference, here is a photo from my phone camera of the carcass as I approached Camera #1 on February 13, 2024.
The angle is slightly different, and it looks like what remains after seven days is mostly skin and bone.  Also abundant, white vulture droppings on the rocks.
We'll see what happens to the carcass going forward. The expected heavy rains might wash it away.

Deer carcass from phone camera



Camera #2 in the middle of the Lafferty property yielded many nocturnal skunk photos for a second month in a row.

Skunk at night


Also opossums at night.

Opossum at night


And bobcat.

Bobcat at night



Same camera, in daylight.  Grey squirrel.

Grey squirrel



A covey of quail.  First we've seen.

Covey of quail


This bird was eating bugs on the log.  Female Northern Flicker? 

Northern flicker


 

Deer on an upper meadow.

Deer on upper meadow



Another opossum on an upper meadow. I am told an individual opossum can eat 5000 ticks in a single season, so they are my favorite animal right now.
(Tick season is in full swing on Sonoma Mountain.)

Opossum in grass


No feral pigs were photographed in this early February 2024 period, but we're seeing increased hog sign (tracks and scat) on the upper trails.


Open LaffertyHome   Wildlife Camera Project