Roommates
The “New Owl” this morning moved tight into its sheltering bundle of dried California poppies, and stood on both legs
Read more
Mammals
Up for Air
It was an almost birdless morning. A few crows, a gull or two, one Snowy Egret, one probable cormorant in
Read more
Hello or Hiccup?
Conflict between brain and gut is a familiar scenario for humans. It also plays a role in human analysis of
Read more
Brave Squirrel
Park Visitor Victoria Párraga whipped out her cell phone and caught video of a Ground Squirrel attacking the tail of
Read more
Doe Next Door
The sharp eye and fast shutter-finger of photographer Phil Rowntree captured this doe jumping a fence in the Sylvia McLaughlin
Read more
Eat Your Salad
The Ground Squirrel’s Latin name — “spermophilus” — says it’s a seed lover. That’s accurate as far as it goes.
Read more
Saturday Park Care
A hard-working crew of volunteers turned out on Saturday morning May 28 to care for the Native Plant Area on
Read more
Heron, Gopher, Dog
As a photographer, I was lucky. The Great Blue Heron stalked slowly westward on the meadow in the southeast corner
Read more
Looking Back (5)
These concluding selections from photographer Emilie Keas’ treasury of park photos show some of the most familiar birds and small
Read more
Squirrel Hiccups
When I first heard this chipping noise I thought it was a bird. Then someone taught me it came from
Read more
Warm Day Bugs
The recent warm spell brought out the bugs big time. That’s great news for blooming plants anxiously awaiting pollination. It’s
Read more
Purple Snack
Sage isn’t just an herb to sprinkle in your salad. It can be the salad, or even the main course,
Read more
Curious Gophers
Gophers spend more than 90 percent of their lives underground. But occasionally they get curious about the world up there
Read more
Grabs the Green
This Ground Squirrel in the Native Plant Area showed a preference for the youngest, freshest, lowest growing green stuff. As
Read more
Silent Seal
Harbor seals are notorious for loud barking and making a nuisance of themselves on shore. Not this one. About the
Read more
Owl and Squirrel
The Second Owl — the one that perches in plain view in the central circle of the Burrowing Owl Sanctuary
Read more
Owls’ First Month
December 2 is the first monthiversary of the two Burrowing Owls now in Cesar Chavez Park. This is quite a
Read more
Water Pusher
Something was moving a lot of water on the shallow eastern shore of the park. Circular bow waves pushed this
Read more
Owl in Action
Wildlife photographer Rick Lewis had the patience and the luck to catch the Second Owl doing something more active than
Read more
Third Otter
Seeing a River Otter here is a rare treat. I saw one in March 2019, and photographer James Kusz saw
Read more
Owls Active
The First Owl, tucked away under its canopy of dried California Poppy, came alert to the sound of a dog
Read more
Red-tail’s Revenge
On October 15 I published a photo by Phil Rowntree showing a Red-tailed Hawk apparently fleeing a Ground Squirrel that
Read more
Out and Down
A park visitor stopped me to ask whether I’d seen the Harbor Seal. I hadn’t, and it had vanished again.
Read more