R: Common Raccoon.
Today I actually went to a different part of my backyard. I’ve been spending all my recent time in GGPark in the East to see my owls as much as possible to keep track of the Great Horned Owlets. If they are still indeed around. I did see two Great Horned Owls, possibly three, on Saturday. But I can’t be certain. With them all grown up, and the parents not necessarily THAT close-by anymore, it’s tough to see them all at once to know for certain.
But today I felt the need to be in a different area. It’s been a while since I ventured West. And while I was initially leaning toward the Middle (for Mallard Lake, The Oasis, and Elk Glen Lake), my afternoon naturing required a restroom. And until the Middle of GGPark gets one on the South side, it’ll always have that drawback.
So off I went to the Chain of Lakes!
Started with a visit to the Chain of Lakes Garden. And even though I knew it’d be quiet with the morning rain, I had to start there. Creature of habit.
But first, I stopped to note a newtome flower, the Moss-rose Purslane. Growing outside the restrooms. One single bloom. A fire-hot RED. Hm! How’s it possible I haven’t seen that before?
Also had to stop and admire the gorgeous Red Maple leaves on the ground before heading over to the CoL Garden.
The Garden is definitely smaller in tall plants, but as happens every time it rains, everything that remains looks happy. And the first thing to greet me was a flash of pink, as a Ruby-crowned Kinglet with its ruby crown up bopped around ahead of me. It disappeared, of course. Which gave me pause to notice that Ngaio berries are still out.
The Kinglet then popped back out again briefly, and I did get a photo. But it’s not worth sharing here. IDable in iNat, yes, though!
What did catch my eye otherwise in the Garden was a BUNCH of what looked like Turkey-Tail (though, the underside looked wrong?), a couple petals on various Sweet Scabious blooms, TONS of Common Snowberry with their white berries out, that purple Sage I’ll never ID, and some Borage.
While wandering around, a birder with a camera passed by and asked me if I was birding. “Well, I’m naturing,” I replied friendly-like, like I do. He asked if I’d seen anything good, to which I relayed about the Ruby-crowned Kinglet. He told me he had seen a Golden-crowned Kinglet at North Lake, complimented my Totoro backpack, and we parted ways. A dime for every compliment on that backpack, I tell ya!
That huge tree trunk stump looks like it’s growing EVEN MORE plants out of it now. Nutso.
Over at North Lake, a Red-shouldered Hawk was seen flying then heard crying. Of course. A Townsend’s Warbler hopped all around the leaf-covered ground in front of me, but it never stopped long enough for my poor camera to get it in focus. Dang.
As I rounded the Northwest corner of the lake, I looked for the Black-crowned Night-Herons. As usual. And there were many! Counted five there then caught sight of another when I got to the Duck Beach. SO MANY!
While walking along the North side, I came upon three people standing on the path. Watching TEN Common Raccoons just hanging out off the trail. Two were even on the trail, eating gawd knows what. They were all just SO CASUAL. One was grooming itself on a large tree log. And while I don’t usually care enough to take photos of Raccoons, I couldn’t help it with this one. It ended up looking like a boudoir photo. And I can’t help but laugh when looking at it.
One single Butterfly Bush cone of blooms was out. The contrast of those magenta-y petals against the stone-gray leaves is lovely.
Was on my way to stop at Duck Beach, and I cannot believe THOSE REEDS. Every time I visit North Lake it seems like there are so many dang more reeds in there. I wouldn’t be surprised if the entire dang lake is covered with them someday! They gotta look into that, right?
Two more Raccoons were on the beach. Eating gawd knows what. Aside from the Mallards and American Coots and single Pied-billed Grebe, there was a pair of Ring-necked Ducks cautiously hanging out nearby.
Heard a Belted Kingfisher then saw it fly fast across the lake, heading South!
On my way there, I stopped to watch two Ruby-crowned Kinglets somewhat near each other. One of whom showed me its ruby crown. Twice in one day!
That Red-shouldered Hawk swooped in and into a tree near me. Following me, huh?
Stopped to watch a Great Blue Heron, Black Phoebe, and a couple Fox Sparrows near the waterfall, and that was it. I was done.
Had time to take a look at Middle Lake, so I did. And, it was still pretty quiet over there. One Great Egret was in the distance, perfectly poised and watching the water. HOWEVER, there were actually OTHER BIRDS THERE, TOO. Two Pied-billed Grebes and one American Coot. Hanging near each other on the lake. That was it.
And I realized that not only is Middle Lake now missing trees close to the lake edge (like before the upgrades), it’s also missing taller shrubs and plants for good hiding places. Clearly there’s fish in the lake, since the Egret was there and since I’ve seen a Great Blue Heron there. But not enough hiding spots for the smaller birds. Or even the ones that like to hide in the reeds. Might be a while until more birds call that lake home?
And then I heard A HOOT. Yes, of course, it was all part of the plan to end up in earshot of the Bison Paddock as sunset approached!
To my surprise, the hoot and subsequent high hoot was not coming from that usual tree inside the paddock fencing. It was coming from trees closer to the fence! And there was the male Great Horned Owl. Somewhat visible, but super dark where he was. The female was hooting in a tree over, so high I couldn’t see her. And never found her.
Stood there for a while, just pleased to hear both and at least see one. Chatted with a couple different folks that walked by, explaining where they were and how I knew which was male and female. The usual GHO Docent type stuff.
And then it was time to head out. But how nice to visit the West End. Seeing Fall in progress out there. Noting what’s in bloom. Confirming that Raccoon family is still there. Ruby-crowned Kinglets are definitely here for the Winter. That Belted Kingfisher is around. And the Great Horned Owls of the Bison Paddock are duet-hooting. Yep, all is well out there.
Ahaha that raccoon’s pose!