wildlife

Jun

2022

Backyard Bobcats

Yesterday I walked past a window in my house and out of the corner of my eye I caught sight of a small bobcat sleeping in the garden. We’re in the hottest part of summer and this kitty had found a shady, cool spot to hang out on a 100º plus day. I grabbed my iphone to catch some video and snapshots. I was only a couple of feet away on the other side of the windowpane, but the bobcat had no idea I was there.

I consider myself to be extraordinarily fortunate to live in a riparian area that creates a wildlife corridor for Arizona’s desert creatures. Bobcats are frequent visitors. I often see them strolling along our driveway, or lapping water out of the fountain, completely relaxed in what they surely consider their own private estate. Presumably, they offer some semblance of rodent control as well!

Below are a few shots I’ve captured of our resident felines over the years. Usually I don’t have my ‘big’ camera with me when I happen to spot one, but occasionally I luck out. I just thought I’d share my enjoyment of these beautiful creatures while my recent encounter was fresh in my mind.

Click photo to play slideshow.

Jun

2013

Coyote Visitors

A pack of three coyotes came visiting the other day in casual search of a meal. It was broad daylight, almost noon. We watched through the window as a lot of digging and pouncing took place, eventually rewarded with the capture of a round tailed ground squirrel as a late-morning snack. I’m not too sorry about the rodent – coyotes have to eat, after all. The ground squirrels are cute but we have whole cities of them on our property, riddled with burrows and upheavals of dirt.

Nikon D4, AF-S 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR @ 400mm, ISO 400 f/11 @ 1/750 sec, 0 EV

Eventually one of the threesome wandered over to the stone fountain just outside our bedroom window. I photographed him/her through the glass until the coyote finally went on its way, stopping en route to pick up this huge frog, some kind of leopard frog, that he must have snagged during an earlier fishing expedition and set aside for dessert. I’ll miss the very loud raucous croaking of that frog keeping us awake at night, but I’m sure another will move in shortly.