Wildlife
Great Blue Heron
Decided to go out after work and look for wildlife in the estuary that near by. Found this Great Blue Heron stalking the waters for a meal.
Urban Seals
This photo was taken last July when I was up early and wandering around the Point Bonita Lighthouse in the Marin Headlands. I didn’t see these guys when I was walking towards the old lighthouse but on my return to the parking lot, I spied these guys resting on the beach below. Urban photography is usual not my thing but I thought that this mix of nature and graffiti was pretty cool. 
Osprey – Pandion haliaetus
I was backpacking and the resident osprey flew overhead. It was probably looking for it’s next meal.
Anyone Home?
Wandering around the tide pool, I saw this calcified seashell. It looked like a black turban snail had taken up residence but I don’t think anyone was home when I inspected it closer.
Goose Barnacles
Pollicipes polymerus is found in the north eastern Pacific Ocean, its range extending from southern Alaska to Baja California. It occurs on rocky coasts in the intertidal zone and favors exposed areas where there is much wave action. It tends to occur in closely associated groups and is often abundant.
Dinner is Served
Great Heron with dinner. I lucked out on this shot. The Heron was wadding through the tide pool and suddenly lunged (I thought it tripped) and in its beak – dinner.
Great Heron
One afternoon last week, I spent the afternoon at the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve (just outside of Half Moon Bay, CA). This Great Heron was standing in the tide pool searching/hunting for dinner.
Gruesome Find
Traveling home one afternoon, I spotted a bunch of turkey vultures on the side of the road. I pulled over to see what they fighting over, and this was my gruesome find.
Desert Tarantula
Thirty species are found in the Southwest, but the one most often seen is Aphonopelma chalcodes, commonly known as the desert tarantula. The tawny females have a leg span of about 5 inches. Males are slightly smaller, darker and more slender, and are often seen trudging determinedly across the desert on summer evenings.
Attention
Beware of bats! Photo from my trip to Crater of the Moon, Idaho August 2013.
Snapshots by Kats 