BigLoad
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Post by BigLoad on Oct 6, 2017 21:06:41 GMT -8
Despite a lifetime of wandering the ground in almost every kind of natural setting, new experiences still await. Last weekend I was walking down the trail with my mind awander when a scene unfolded 10 feet ahead that I couldn't immediately process. A few seconds later I understood. A hawk coming toward me was practically falling out of the sky, wings spread and flapping hard, wobbling oddly left and right. As it reached chest level, I spied something wiggling madly in the failing grip of its talons. Another foot lower, the critter shook itself free, dropped to the ground, and scurried away as the hawk began to rise again. Close call for a squirrel.
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foxalo
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Life is infinitely stranger than anything the mind could invent.---Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
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Post by foxalo on Oct 7, 2017 4:51:49 GMT -8
I find that kind of stuff fascinating. I watched a hawk eat a squirrel on my front lawn many years ago. Yeah, it's a little gross to watch, but neat at the same time.
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desert dweller
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Power to the Peaceful...Hate does not create.
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Post by desert dweller on Oct 7, 2017 9:16:15 GMT -8
I find that kind of stuff fascinating. I watched a hawk eat a squirrel on my front lawn many years ago. Yeah, it's a little gross to watch, but neat at the same time. Not sure what this hawk was eating in my backyard. Probably another bird or mouse. It looks too small for a cat or bunny.
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BigLoad
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Pancakes!
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Post by BigLoad on Oct 7, 2017 19:13:17 GMT -8
Among the weirder critter feeding events I've seen was discovering that squirrels aren't strictly vegetarian. Years ago, a goldfinch collided fatally with the sliding glass door leading to our deck. We left it for a bit, because they're often less dead than they seem and fly off after a bit. When I went back to see if it had revived, I saw instead a squirrel standing on its hind legs, with the goldfinch clasped firmly in its little hands like an oversized acorn. Between chomps, the squirrel spat out little clouds of yellow feathers and the bird was gone in about a minute.
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rebeccad
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Writing like a maniac
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Post by rebeccad on Oct 8, 2017 8:11:44 GMT -8
discovering that squirrels aren't strictly vegetarian. Wow! I had no idea!
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zeke
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Post by zeke on Oct 8, 2017 8:27:33 GMT -8
squirrels aren't strictly vegetarian. He was only eating the seeds inside the bird.
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crawford
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Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.--Edison
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Post by crawford on Oct 10, 2017 9:07:24 GMT -8
discovering that squirrels aren't strictly vegetarian Do you remember what time of year it was. It is not uncommon for nursing squirrels to eat meat. A little out of character for cute little tree rats, but not as uncommon as you might think.
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BigLoad
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Post by BigLoad on Oct 10, 2017 10:20:05 GMT -8
I wish I could remember. I still like to reenact it.
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Post by johntpenca on Oct 28, 2017 20:57:55 GMT -8
Rock creek canyon outside of Bishop CA used to be a regular haunt of mine. One day I was wandering around trying to find a decent approach to the north ridge of Mt. Tom. Totally off trail by about 2 miles. I walked in to a copse of trees and saw a dead and partially eaten deer. So I went to investigate. Then I noticed 2 more dead deer. I poked around for a bit and it suddenly dawned on me I was in a cougars dining room and got the weird feeling I was being watched. Freaked me out. I slowly backed away for a few hundred yards then boogied away as fast as I could.
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desert dweller
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Power to the Peaceful...Hate does not create.
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Post by desert dweller on Oct 29, 2017 12:55:28 GMT -8
I've posted this before. Still looks weird.
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Post by Campfires&Concierges on Oct 30, 2017 18:40:31 GMT -8
I've posted this before. Still looks weird. What is that and how do I avoid it? Saw two weird things on our walk this evening - one was a bird flying by with a rat in its claws...long tail flailing about. And the other was a good size lizard that had nearly hung himself in some weird vines. He really struggled while I figured out how to free him without my dog eating him, and then eventually shook free.
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desert dweller
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Power to the Peaceful...Hate does not create.
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Post by desert dweller on Oct 30, 2017 18:49:11 GMT -8
What is that and how do I avoid it? Actually it's quite nutritious. It's the seedpod of the Screwbean Mesquite.
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Post by tallgrass on Oct 31, 2017 7:12:20 GMT -8
Among the weirder critter feeding events I've seen was discovering that squirrels aren't strictly vegetarian. Years ago, a goldfinch collided fatally with the sliding glass door leading to our deck. We left it for a bit, because they're often less dead than they seem and fly off after a bit. When I went back to see if it had revived, I saw instead a squirrel standing on its hind legs, with the goldfinch clasped firmly in its little hands like an oversized acorn. Between chomps, the squirrel spat out little clouds of yellow feathers and the bird was gone in about a minute. I've probably posted this before; when I was working at a nature center I happen to pause & watch a chipmunk pick up seed underneath our bird feeders. A squirrel was slowing coming across the decking adjacent to the feeders. This squirrel stops on the edge of the deck, wiggles his butt like a cat readying to pounce, then he leaped off the deck and pounced that chipmunk. Quickly dispatching the poor fella with a bite to the neck. Very reminiscent of watching a cheetah on TV. I'm standing there aghast at this scene unfolding in front of me. I kid you not, I swear this squirrel looks up at me (I was on the other side of the window), blood around his mouth, to let me know he's in charge now. He slowly drags the corpse into the brush. We were in a drought year, and after much searching I find out they'll turn to animals to supplement their diet with needed nutrients during lean times.
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BigLoad
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Post by BigLoad on Oct 31, 2017 7:42:22 GMT -8
I kid you not, I swear this squirrel looks up at me (I was on the other side of the window), blood around his mouth, to let me know he's in charge now. He slowly drags the corpse into the brush. That sounds like the beginning of a horror movie. What if they decide to avenge all the roadkills?
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walkswithblackflies
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Post by walkswithblackflies on Oct 31, 2017 10:12:13 GMT -8
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