Bobcat on my trailcam (video!)

[piedmontfields]

Wow, very exciting updates :-0 The owl footage is a real treat--they are so beautiful. BTW, I would not have believed that I had bald eagles actually killing and eating my chickens (during migration) if I had not seen it myself. This was years ago in NC.

Pretty awesome cat footage too! Is that in your pasture?

[SnowHorse]

Wow, very exciting updates :-0 The owl footage is a real treat--they are so beautiful. BTW, I would not have believed that I had bald eagles actually killing and eating my chickens (during migration) if I had not seen it myself. This was years ago in NC.

Pretty awesome cat footage too! Is that in your pasture?

Yeah, I LOVE the owls, I wish I'd see them more often!
One night a few weeks ago I was in the yard setting up my camera for a Milky Way time lapse, and some Barred owls started chatting to each other at the edge of the woods. It went on and on, and finally I pulled out my phone to record it. Sadly, while the owls were loud and clear, there was a cricket right next to me, and the phone only picked up the high pitched sound of the cricket, and almost nothing of the owls. What a disappointment!



Koolkat's cougar pics are stunning - I hope she's got some more by now to show to us!!

[Koolkat]

Great owl footage, SnowHorse, they are such cool birds. In the early years here, we had great horned owls and barn owls, but neither have been around for the last 10 years or so. The barred owls may be crowding them out or too much development/clearing pastureland. Ditto the tiny western screech owl, although we almost never saw them, we would hear their distinctive bouncing ball call often in the evening. We do still hear the saw whets in the evening.

The cougar showed up on 3 different evenings over the course of ~6 weeks, we haven't seen him since late April.

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The next generation:

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And the first capture of a weasel! We see them very infrequently, so glad to know they're still around:

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[SnowHorse]

Koolkat --

that cougar is soooo awesome. Maybe you get more sightings again some time. Do you guys ever put your camera on video mode (if it has one)?


I've been seeing Chuck-will's-widow(s) at night near one of the cameras; it's really cool how they fly around and catch bugs. One night a coyote was walking by the perch where the bird was sitting, and the bird took off flying and scared the coyote who couldn't figure out the heck that was - it was comical!

On another night the coyote passed by the perch, and as the bird flew around, the coyote was watching it go around.


Nothing major, but cool little things you can catch on video

[Koolkat]

Hello Snowhorse - We do have the video option, and use it now again, but DH prefers the photos. I'm a bit of the same mode, although I think your videos are remarkable, you capture their day to day much better. I can tell you though, DH's screensaver montage is awesome!

I know what you mean about the "little things", they are fascinating/fun, too. Yesterday in the front pasture (no cams), a doe and her tiny spotted fawn were hanging out. Suddenly the fawn started zooming around the pasture (while mom grazed) with tiny tail straight up in the air, leaping and cavorting. Just like the foals use to do! It was precious and so funny. Made our day.

Josette - a belated response to your question - we hike a lot (multiple days/week) and don't even consider the possibility of mountain lions. They are such a rare event. There was a tragedy (not too far from here) a few years ago where a cyclist was killed, but it's not a worry, much more likely to killed driving to trailhead. We saw this sign at a trailhead last week, put a !!! on adventure! Didn't see any sign, though. Maybe next time!

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[SnowHorse]

Koolkat - that fawn must have been adorable!

We've had two mamas with their fawns come near one of the cameras a few days in a row, and it's so sweet just to see them walk by. I worry for them, though, with the huge amount of coyotes that we have around, and that travel the same trail they do


I finally got around to clearing my trailcam backlog - for anyone who likes to watch, here are the links:

December 2019 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIW3yVhXEO8


January 2020 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZdR90fNHOU


February - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RPDO2xcu_k



Continuing in the next post as this only lets you post three URLs at once...

[SnowHorse]

More...

March - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vl0vJlU8yEQ (this one has the owls I posted earlier)


April - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0L7dLoS1uo


May - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwQ8brLFKkI

[SnowHorse]

And the rest...


June - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z48wVOkwxoA


And, a Chuck-Will's-Widow special, this night bird is super cool https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdByT6PTMbY



The variety is pretty nice, although we don't get exotic stuff like cougars and bears

[Canyon]

SnowHorse - those are great videos! Thanks for sharing all of your critters with us.

[khall]

I love seeing the wildlife! That is one of my favorite things about living on the farm, all the creatures that visit (usually!)

My DS did have an up close visit with a huge timber rattler (14 rattles!) while weed eating last month. It was between his feet and the head of the weed eater. Have to say that particular visitor did not survive his visit to our farm.

We've had some other creatures that are much more pleasant and welcome. We have had a pair of great horned owls on our farm for years now. They have decided to hunt each evening in our front trees that are in front of our house. We see them almost every evening flying around, sometimes with a squirrel clutched in their talons. i've also found their leftovers a couple of times. Rabbit skeletons picked clean. Have not seen their chicks yet this year or heard them so don't know if they were successful breeding. We also have a pair of red tail hawks that have taken up residence around our farm. We hear them and see them quite frequently. They like hunting in our hay fields.

One evening while turning out horses I looked up and between me and the barn was a small deer. She (I think it was a she) came walking down the lane towards me as I stood very still. She came within 40 ft or so then calmly turned off heading along the front of our house to the woods to browse. She never got worried even though she clearly saw me. We've had a small heard over the winter we saw regularly but she was by herself.

Never know what you might see out here though never had a cougar thank goodness! Or a bear.

[SnowHorse]

Yeah, I agree, living out in a rural area is awesome with all the wildlife around


Here's the newest compilation - July 2020 -


https://youtu.be/CpXRg8fzQF0

[SnowHorse]

August 2020 trailcam compilation!


https://youtu.be/bitFLsAKuQg

[Canyon]

You had quite an interesting parade of critters in August! I especially enjoyed the glimpse of the tanager couple.

How did you happen to have the X of branches by the water pan? So many animals use it as a perch!

[Snork]

The baby coyote is a frequent visitor!

[SnowHorse]

Canyon - I actually set the tree branches there back when I figured that the Chuck-Will's-Widows might use it for a perch. If you didn't see the video of them, scroll back up a little, the link is there. They're super neat!

And the Tanagers - I knew we should have them around here, but I've never seen one around the house, or anywhere else than my bird book, for that matter. So, the couple showing up was a treat!


Snork - yeah, the first time I saw him he was with two other coyotes, following them closely, but after that every time I've seen him he's been alone. I think he might be coming to the barn at night to see if he can find any eggs the chickens may have laid at some random places.

[Silverado]

Thanks for posting!! And thanks for letting us know what trail camera you are using, we have tried in the past to use a trail camera sadly hunters destroyed the camera within a week of our son putting it up in our woods. Our farm borders a National Forest and hunters come down illegally and hunt on our property. The camera was put in the middle of our woods, not on the edge so we know someone came well into the property. Despite that, we are tempted to put up another camera to check out the wildlife that comes through our woods.

[SnowHorse]

Silverado - you will LOVE seeing all the critters!

It's sad that people can't respect other people's property and 1) stay off land they're not supposed to get onto and 2) leave other people's cameras the **** alone!

Just post pics/ video when you get some

[SnowHorse]

September compilation!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdI_ig3d1Ek

[Koolkat]

SnowHorse - You're watering hole is quite the hit! Nice footage. Are all your coyotes as reddish as the young one? Ours are decidedly gray.

Just a couple of pics I thought you might enjoy, a slice of life!

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[SnowHorse]

Koolkat - the older coyotes are not as red as the baby, but they do have distinct reddish / yellow areas on them, mainly legs and neck.

Your elk (?) just didn't leap high enough, poor thing!

[Koolkat]

We catch awkward moments in nature now and again. That's not the first elk that hasn't quite cleared the jump, but they always seem to do alright. In general, we leave the gate open on that side of the pasture (no horses up there), they chose to jump for whatever reason. On the other side of the pasture, we have taken down the top rail where they like to cross.

We've only had one regular bear this year which is quite rare. And have yet to see any in the flesh, which has not happened in 20 years. They don't hibernate until late Nov so that could change. The one bear has been around since cubhood, he has a particular behavior that is all his own. All the other bears learn to navigate the first and second rail of the fence, they glide right through it. Not this guy.

Meet Squirm.

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[SnowHorse]

Haha, Squirm must have learned as a wee cub that the proper way of going through the fence was UNDER it, and he's not about to change his ways now that he's grown up

Maybe he's thinking, while squeezing through: "This used to be so much easier, I wonder why?"

[khall]

Elk and bear oh my! Way cool.

[SnowHorse]

So, I hadn't seen the bobcat since May - that's 5 months - and I was worried something had happened to him. Then, in October, he showed up on a few nights - must have been doing his range patrol

Here is the October compilation - it's longer than usual because there were LOTS of critters. Right now, November has been slow, and although I added TWO new cameras, I probably won't have much to show for it when it's time to make a new video.


https://youtu.be/kgpB0KpAPIY




Also, if someone likes jumping spiders - OR has arachnophobia, I have some videos of these absolutely adorable little jumpers that might help to ease your fear

Links to two of them -


Feeding my wee little friend - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEY-y5XyiGs


The handsomest little devil, Phidippus mystaceus jumping spider grooming himself -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMoCB1ZAlPs

[Canyon]

Thank you - that was a fun compilation! Interesting reaction from the coyote coming near the water pan after the bobcat had marked that area. I miss cardinals and blue jays, both are so pretty! I grew up in Connecticut and remember disliking jays because they were such bullies at the bird feeders, but they really are beautiful birds. Here we may get a few pinon and Stellar's jays coming to the feeder if the winter is really severe and the snow drives them down off the surrounding mountains.

The videos of the spider are fascinating. Those eyes! Do you put out the tubes specifically to provide shelters for them? I have lots of spiders in my gardens and am happy to have them there. I do draw the line if they come into the house, and I kill any black widows that I see.

[SnowHorse]

Great observation about the coyote! I actually didn't even think about it, and had to go back to check
If I'm not mistaken, that was the young "baby coyote" that has been coming around, so if he was alone he was smart to be careful!


And yeah, Blue Jays are pretty, but especially at this time of the year they are SO loud! All you hear is them screeching at each other, LOL!


Yes, I did put the tubes out for the jumpers - they seem to really like them. They usually make their "nests" where they take shelter and also molt so that they're open at both ends so they can escape if something comes after them. The tubes allow for this with two open ends

I'm totally fascinated by these little cuties, and I have photographed about 30 different jumper species. I only have video of a few different species, though. None of them are huge, but there is a lot of variance in size between different species. Interesting little critters!

[SnowHorse]

The newest one, November 2020 --

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sh5uPx3oFM4

If you watch it on youtube, it has time stamps for animal IDs.

[acheyarcher]

love the shadow of the squirrel running up the tree after bouncing off the cam

[SnowHorse]

acheyarcher - yeah,when I first saw the original clip I was wondering what was making the camera to move so much, and had to wait till the end to see it. I thought it was pretty cute seeing the squirrel just from the shadow

[SnowHorse]

Newest compilation -

December 2020 --

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szrpzpVjetA


Also, a "time warp" walk to check the trail cams, in snow (we don't get snow every year)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YexQQV78N8U


And, puppers playing in snow -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gp4I5lfiNnM

[acheyarcher]

love your videos. Liked watching the birds figuring out the frozen water tray.

do you follow Parliament of Owls on You Tube? HIs Bobcat vs Rattlesnake was epic capture

[SnowHorse]

do you follow Parliament of Owls on You Tube? HIs Bobcat vs Rattlesnake was epic capture

No, I don't follow them, but I DID see that particular video - it was awesome!!



I came across this lynx vs. coyote video today - pretty impressive, as well:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzBpQ9B ... e=youtu.be



It amazes me how people manage to have their trail cameras in just the right spots to capture videos like those! I'd never have the luck! LOL!

[blob]

wow, Koolkat, only seeing squirm now. I love him!

Bears are my favorite animals, I think they're just so wonderful. Hoping we get the opportunity to see more of him!

[acheyarcher]

It amazes me how people manage to have their trail cameras in just the right spots to capture videos like those! I'd never have the luck! LOL!

I think Parliament of Owls has spend a lot of time exploring a huge area off trail and looking for signs indicating the animal presence. The placement of his camera ( and there are many) are well thought out in anticipation of the animals habit and their avoidance of humans.

Your camera at the water pan has established a habitual behavior place. It is my favorite. Water is a vital magnet and I am surprised PoO does not feature water in his cameras, perhaps the area simply does not have a private water feature.

[SnowHorse]

Yeah, I don't have a huge area available, so I've gotta have my cameras right here at the house.

The water does bring more of the wildlife in, especially when it's dry / hot, like it was in summer when I first set that lid out there.

But that said - for some reason this spot has always had more wildlife going through than the other areas I've tried. It's really my prime spot.

I do like the "scenery" in the gully better though, with the moss on the rocks, and all that pretty stuff, but apart from that one spot at the waterfall it doesn't get much traffic that I've found, it's more sporadic.

[Moutaineer]

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[demi]

[SnowHorse]

That Bernie pic is epic




Newest, January 2021 compilation is online finally -- with LOTS of bobcat clips, I got lucky!!!

https://youtu.be/L1t1mR1T5mE

Enjoy!

[khall]

Too funny!!

[SnowHorse]

Newest one!

February compilation -

https://youtu.be/9lGHdBsKltM

[acheyarcher]

NIce. Do you know what prey the Coyote had? Was that a skunk? It was so dark and non-descript

[SnowHorse]

No, I don't know what it was. Skunk is a possibility as it was black and white (or looked like it?), but from what I saw, it seemed more like a piece of hide, so it could have been from a cow, too. Your guess is as good as mine, I'm sure

[Canyon]

I noticed a few coyotes with ouchy paws. Do they need shoes?

[SnowHorse]

More like the neighbors need to stop setting traps for them
Traps are the worst because you can't predict what animal is going to get in it.
The one with the partially missing front paw hobbled by one of the cameras with a trap on her paw, dragging it and the chains behind. A few days later she showed up with part of the paw missing, no doubt she had to chew it off. I did not include the trap clip in the January compilation, I thought it was too horrible
It appears that female is often accompanied by another coyote, or even two, so I think she's being protected by the pack. I just feel sorry for her and any injured one. It's sad that people have to be so cruel.

[SnowHorse]

Finally got these done

March compilation -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qiupO1vy24


April compilation -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKNqdUQhn5Y


and a bonus from last year with a leucistic Hummingbird --- https://youtu.be/cRIKX0NIQ_8

[acheyarcher]

Your special hummer will be interesting to follow. IF she nests and stays around, it could be an interesting study

[SnowHorse]

The footage of the Hummer was from last year, I only spotted her towards the end of summer, and I don't know if she was around the whole time, or if she was just passing through.

I'm going to be on lookout, however, hoping she will show up again!

[acheyarcher]

indeed, they have pretty strong nesting fidelity. But you are right she might have been passing through. She might show up in the late season, if so.

[Chisamba]

that bobcat is as big as a coyote. also because I sometimes forget which continent I'm on, that tree and spiral branches beside the stream looks like a Kudu.

[SnowHorse]

acheyarcher - I sure hope I see that Hummer again, but it remains to be seen!


chisamba - yes, that bobkitty is pretty darn big. I would love to see him "live" one day again - but so far, outside of ONE time, I only ever see him on the trail cams. Such a beauty!

It's also awesome how some visuals just stick with you, like how you "see" the Kudu because the shape is so deep rooted in your mind and the branches create it for you.