Wildlife encounters

Sometimes I think I know something, sometimes I don't.
Sharp-shinned Hawk.

 

Yes, chinned then skinned.

 

Good sized kitty cat this morning just above the turn about a third of the way of the way up little mustard / f.u hill. Was about 15-20 feet below me in the grass just wandering along.

Very cool to see first time I've seen one in the wild.

 

Bobcat or its larger cousin?

 

Most definitely its (much) larger cousin. We were pretty much walking side by side for a little bit so I got a real good look at it.

 

STT right?

 

There's only one FU hill I know of....

At least in Orange County. Yep, it's on STT.

 

We called it Puke Hill for many years.. lots of names but yeah

 

like @Runs with Scissors said on STT, strava says its Little Mustard, @mtnbikej and others call it f.u hill.
Its the climb on STT after you used to pass the old pipe gate that got removed last time they ran the dozers up there.

 

Yeah just checking...

Before Strava.. there were official trails... And everything else we had our own names for

I call at least 3 different places bastard hill!

 

FU Hill is appropriate. Visually easy, but reality says ... nope.

 

Interesting

https://www.whiskeyriff.com/2023/02...-as-people-warn-him-from-the-chairlift-above/

 

And just when that guy had the slope to himself.

And, that ursine is a cousin to our grizzlies, not a punk ass black bear.

 

If it hangs out any longer I may have to post in the "what's cooking" thread. . .

 

Mmmmm, Wild Turkey 101.

 

We usually make a 120 proof fruit infused sipping juice that's ready around Christmas.
Remind me around that time.

 

This guy got a lion attacking a deer in Alpine https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/lo...jl3rRKXmA&mibextid=ykz3hl#lg5bz4vg9eqyee08u7g

 

. . .

 

Watch out! He’s a killer

 

Interesting little critter.

 

Buckeye butterfly! Don't see those as often as I did when I was a kid.

 

Yep, that goes for most wildlife. Seems many are on the fast track to extinction or reduced population due to human activity and building. Slowly but surly we are taking away their homes, hunting and/or poisoning them directly or indirectly. My heart breaks when I think abut it or see road kill.....now to wipe off the tear running down my cheek.....

 

These buggers are everywhere

 

Top of the food chain baby!

 

I love documentaries and this was a good one about Mtn lions in FL: https://pathofthepanther.com/. It’s on Disney+

 

He's bigger than the new puppy.

 

A beautiful Cooper's Hawk.

 

That's wild. Never heard of it happening with squirrels. They would also probably bite/scratch the crap out of you if you tried to separate them.

 

Gross and, awesome. I've never been able to see even an image of an actual rat king. As much as I hate rats and mice there's a weird fascination for me. I don't mind squirrels, although, I might think twice and grab a BB gun if I saw this in my olive tree.

 

Does this count? A first for me. The truck might have finally earned a nickname - the batmobile. lol