Carnivores: Bobcats - Part VI

Where have I seen Bobcats? In addition to the several here at The Azure Gate, I have seen one at Sweetwater Wetlands with daughter Ashley (which I showed you a couple of days ago), in the Coconino Forest near Flagstaff, in Central Oregon near Bend, in the Galiuro Mountains (AZ), and this guy at Whitewater Draw (AZ):

Bobcat

photo taken at Whitewater Draw, Arizona

The Whitewter Draw Bobcat is a photo without much of a story. Christine and I were there with friends to show them the 30,000 Sandhill Cranes milling around when across the wetland was this Bobcat. The Bobcat in the Galiuro Mountains has story without a photo -- not one that I kept anyway. I was sitting on a log in a grove of cottonwoods in the Galiuro Mountains eating a lunch I had brought with me. Something made me turn around, and when I did I saw a Bobcat walking towards me. I had to get up to reach for my camera and as I did the Bobcat took notice and decided to let me photograph his backside. I took a couple of photos, but since he never turned to look back at me, only got that backside. I kept the photos for a while, but seems as though I must have trashed them when purging for file space. I do love the Galiuro Mountains. In addition to the Bobcat, it has provided me photos of: pronghorn, coyote, coatimundi, javelina, hooded skunk, striped skunk, gila monster, antelope and blacktail jackrabbits, white tail deer, mule deer, a myriad of butterflies, and a wide range of birds.

Carnivores: Bobcats - Part V

Our youngest daughter Ashley and her love (Jason) were here in July of 2009. We were all sitting in the office when she said, "There's a Bobcat!" We all went outside (me with my camera) and watched as the Bobcat walked away. I suspected that he would eventually walk up our second driveway and across the street. So, I went around the house the other direction (our first driveway) to wait. It was getting dark and there were a few raindrops, but I was focused and on the hunt too. Sure enough he came and when he saw me just sat amongst the prickly pear cactus. I took 50 or 60 photos while he sat there. I realized that I probably had enough pictures and he probably was waiting for me to leave before getting back to his business. So, I left him there. There have such beautiful large soft-looking paws. Here are a couple of those photos:

Carnivores: Bobcats - Part IV

Back to Bob. One of the first Bobcats we saw here at The Azure Gate was this guy:

Like other occasions, this Bobcat walked by my office, stopping to drink from the water bowl. I immediately grabbed my camera, but had to wait until he moved away from the door before I could go out and get a photo. I was able to get several photos as he went about his business. Didn't seem like he was in much of a hurry, though. He walked across the driveway (above photo) glancing at me as he walked over toward a six foot wall at the edge of our property:

And then with more grace than any animal I have ever seen, jumped over the wall. Actually, jumped doesn't do justice to what I saw.  Flew would be a better term. It just seemed so effortless as if just taking another step. After jumping the wall, he walked along the fence-line taking another look at me before disappearing:

Seeing a Bobcat is very special. Usually the time goes by pretty quick -- a couple of minutes maybe. But the two seconds when he jumped that wall will remain a memory for a lifetime.

Interruption

Christine suggested (we've been married 44 years, so ....) that I interrupt the Bobcat Blog to share a story from yesterday. So, while I am at it there are two other short stories to add. First short story: yesterday Christine and I were sitting outside at the dining table eating lunch when I remarked there were no birds around; no hummingbirds at the feeders, no goldfinches at their feeders, no doves and quail rummaging around on the ground. I wondered why? The answer came quickly. Two Cooper's Hawks had been in the big African Sumac on the other side of the pool. This is a very densely leafed tree so we had not seen them until they flew off -- one towards us and the other perpendicular to that one. I did not have my camera, but here is a photo of a Cooper's Hawk from before:

Cooper's Hawk

photo taken at The Azure Gate

The second story was from last week when we were in the kitchen preparing breakfast and talking with guests. There were at least 20 doves sitting atop the tall (but dead) mesquite tree behind the African Sumac. We remarked that they were waiting for breakfast too. Not five minutes later we noticed three Harris Hawks sitting where the doves were -- guess they were also interested in breakfast. Unlike the bird eating Cooper's Hawk, the Harris Hawk is a small mammal predator, so the hummingbirds and goldfinches were still at their feeders. Again, no camera available but, here a shot from another time:

Harris Hawk

photo taken at The Azure Gate 

Finally, from the day before yesterday: I went to check out Lake Cochise and Waterwater Draw. This time of year it is difficult to guess what might be present. We are between the summer visitors and the winter visitors. But, that doesn't mean no birds. Obviously, those present year round are available. But there are also many migratory birds passing through this time of the year with only very brief stops. However, their migratory routes depend somewhat on the weather, so they could arrive and be gone one week one year, and be two or three weeks later the next. All this to say there wasn't much going on at Lake Cochise: ducks, a few avocets, a few dowitchers, but essentially that was it. However, there is a marshy area called "Twin Lakes" very close to Lake Cochise. Now, "Twin Lakes" is somewhat misleading. They are ponds at best, and not very large ones. Why am I telling you this? Because at one of those "Twin Lakes" was a birder very excited to tell me that a lone Pectoral Sandpiper was there. I don't remember ever seeing a Pectoral Sandpiper before. The Pectoral Sandpiper is a long distance migrant. It summers in the Arctic and winters in South America (New Zealand or Australia). It stops for a couple of days in the Eastern half of the US and Canada. So, it is very rare to Arizona.  But, as you will notice from the photo, rare or not it is (was) in Arizona on October 25, 2010. The tell tale signs are the very densely streaked breast with a relatively abrupt white lower belly and yellowish legs. A very distinctive and unique pattern for sandpipers. 

Carnivores: Bobcats - Part III

In late May of 2001, Christine and I were staying at an Embassy Suites in Tucson, while we were closing on our new home, which is now The Azure Gate B&B. Our youngest daughter Ashley had come down with us to see what we were getting into. We were going to meet there around 9:00 AM, so Ashley and I decided to go for a little hike around Sweetwater Wetlands around 6:30. I was a couple feet in front of her when I heard a "psst....daddy." I turned around to see Ashley with her hand covering her wide-open mouth pointing to the side of the trail just next to me. I looked and was stunned that I had just walked past a Bobcat lying down behind a bush. I immediately took a photo but it really wasn't a good angle. I sat down in front of the Bobcat. But, still not a good angle. So, I laid on my stomach using my elbows as a tripod. Did I get a photo? No! I was too close for the lens I had on the camera. So, I turned over on my back, changed lenses, rolled back on my stomach and finished the film left in the camera. The Bobcat remained undisturbed, so I rolled back on my back and put in a second roll of film. After 36 more photos, I rolled over once again for another roll of film. About halfway through the third roll of film the Bobcat stood up, looked at me, and said, "I think you have enough photos, don't you?" and walked off. We spotted him a couple more times as we were walking. Below are some of those photos:

Carnivores: Bobcats - Part II

One morning about four years ago, our neighbor called to tell us there was a Bobcat in one of her mesquite trees, could I come over a take a photo. She didn't have to twist my arm. Truth be told, I was probably more excited about getting a photo than she was. So I rushed right over, camera in hand. Here is one of the first photos:

He seemed to be quite content, even with us looking at him. But, soon something more interesting caught his eye:

So, down the tree he came, and then off on the hunt. I was able to get a little closer, but as you can see he wasn't the slightest bit interested in me.  He was extremely focused on something more appetizing. 

Bobcat's favorite prey is the rabbit. And, since we have between 25 and 75 on our property on any given day, it might seem like a banquet. But, most predators have a difficult life.  They have to work hard to find, and then catch their prey. Often they fail to do so and must start all over. But, because they have spent much energy chasing something, they must rest before they can start again. I have seen Bobcats (and coyotes) chase after rabbits several times never seeing them actually catch one.  Such was the case this time. Now, of course, they obviously do sometimes get what they go after. And, so as the story goes, it was wonderful watching this Bobcat, both sleeping in a tree and then going on the hunt. 

Carnivores: Bobcats

Baring any interruption for intruding wildlife, I thought I would start a series on Carnivore Stories. First up, Bobcats.

It was a hot summer day in 2004. How hot? 110 degrees hot. Christine went into the living room to make sure everything was straightened (we had guests coming) and looked out the picture window and saw a Bobcat asleep next to two adjoining walls of the house. I took a couple of photos through the window, thinking I am not sure whether I'll get anything better. (This is my usual pattern: take a photo immediately. If you get better photos, great, just toss the bad ones). Then I went outside where I got this photo, and a few others. 

It was a young Bobcat who decided to stretch his legs a bit and walked slowly around some agaves and sat down again. I  went around the other side of the house so I wouldn't disturb him, and came up from another angle where I was able to take several more photos including this one.  

Finally, he decided to explore the grounds a bit more and off he went:

That was the last I saw of him that day. With my heart still pounding a bit, I said thank you, and rushed off to Jones Photo where I was getting my film developed those days.