Backyard Wildlife

[Gyrfalcon22]

Notice the throat hackles on that boy!

I thought I heard the voice of Syd Glasso echoing the same thoughts

Dang, John - that looks too big for the Old Man of the Shorelines to swallow!

Indeed, Jim. I watched the heron stalking something and expected a little stickleback or maybe a field mouse, or like the shots @Cabezon had of a vole being taken. I thought for a second he had a Muskrat !

 

[RichS]

Not quite my backyard, but my favorite local hike and about 10 miles away. Yes, NukeLDO retirement is treating me well.

 

[Mark Melton]

Rough-skinned newt (Taricha granulosa)
These show up every year around Mill Creek (tributary to the Russian River).

 

[Greg Armstrong]

Rough-skinned newt (Taricha granulosa)
These show up every year around Mill Creek (tributary to the Russian River).

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I always look forward to seeing Rough Skinned Newts. I’ve saved the lives of a bunch of them off the road leading into our old neighborhood over the years we lived there.
Don’t ever eat one though or you might die, they’re as poisonous as they are cool looking!

 

[Mark Melton]

Greg, I always take them off the road, the poor guys are defenseless on it.
Heres an article on their toxicity: https://ca.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/tdc02.sci.life.evo.toxicnewts/toxic-newts/

 

[Kilchis]

Disclosure - this is from my extended backyard, like 12 miles down the road.

When my son was 13 his Eagle Scout project was construction and distribution of 36 wood duck nesting boxes. Half of them went to the Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge, most of the others to the BLM. Chris is 37 now, so time and weather have had their way with the boxes over the years. Today I did a short walk at Ankeny and was pleased to see that the remaining visible box is still providing shelter. Odd duck, though.

 

[Mark Melton]

California Giant Salamander {Dicamptodon ensatus). These photos were taken about 100 yards from where I used to live.


Habitat


Habitat


Adult about 9 in.


Adult shedding skin about 10 in.


Head shot of above salamander.


Juvenile about 3-4 in.

 

[Greg Armstrong]

These are last years offspring. Mom is just out of the picture to the right.

I've seen them three times this morning running across our deck - I think Mom is ready and anxious to be an "empty nester".

 

[troutstalker]

Hitchhicker...I'm glad that I saw him before I took off.

 

[Mark Melton]

Alligator lizard (Elgeria coerulea coerulea)











Juveniles


Juveniles


Juvenile

 

[Kilchis]

“This is bad. This is very very bad.”
Squints Palledorous

 

[MELinOre]

“This is bad. This is very very bad.”
Squints Palledorous


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A new friend for your Maine Coon kitty?

 

[Kilchis]

A new friend for your Maine Coon kitty?

We shelter an abandoned kitty, Bonnie, who must live outside because our 15-year old house cat is an absolute ass. Since the skunk showed up we no longer leave munchies out. Feeding has changed to on-demand brief meals.

 

[Buzzy]

California quail - poor quality zoomed cell phone photo - only 20 or so quail in and around the makeshift feeder. A little snow, a lot of wind and about 5F windchill makes for lots of hungry birds

 

[Billy]

Rough-skinned newt (Taricha granulosa)
These show up every year around Mill Creek (tributary to the Russian River).

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You just gave me some bass fly ideas

 

[Greg Armstrong]

This thread’s been a little slow lately so…

 

[RCF]

 

[Mark Melton]

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Do you know what kind of salamander it is?

 

[SculpinSwinger]

 

[RCF]

Do you know what kind of salamander it is?

Absolutely no clue.. I have lived here for 24 years and never have seen a salamander in the entire time..