Long distance photo. It could have been seen from land at Eagle Point at the time we took photos (from a boat). But it dove and we could not re-find it for the next 30 to 40 minutes. May have moved a bit further north or further out in the lake?
This was a first documented Tahoe basin record. There have been a number of others since, and early spring seems to be the best time for northbound vagrants to wander in
Continuing bird found by Jeff M. on 4/25/24
Video on iNat: https://youtu.be/3pP0IDCoSk4
Pin is where the bird was hanging out in a willow. We were standing at a distance watching it, on the trail at the overlook of the "lagoon area" halfway down to the lake from the trailhead
Seen sitting on the ground during a snow storm
Saw the bobcat catch a rodent (probably a vole—see second photo), and another small animal (probably another rodent).
Experimenting with a friend's cheapo slide scanner. Not great, but neither were these photos.
Regardless, this is the Tahoe basin's only record for the species to date.
Posted on behalf of Geoff Quine. Surely the same animal seen on the 5th (see Associated Observation). We spent many hours scouring the area for scat of fur for genetic testing, but no luck. Tons of coyote tracks in the area, and one came by the camera a few times this very night.
Just outside the hydrologic Tahoe Basin. P&S shots during White-tailed Jackrabbit work
Falcon chasing Turkey Vulture
Video with it calling and in flight
https://youtu.be/Tc3hWHPSE48
crossing street from lawn to a pond with willows along edges
Saw two together along here while driving by this morning and went back this afternoon for photos
Loads of latrines visible on the far (south and west) side of the river along here
Far off shore, got these shots before it dove and disappeared. Dusky chinstrap, dark back, white belly and under wing. A Pacific loon was seen in this area around the same time, as well as reports of a Common Loon (which I did not see in this area).
Rounded tail, larger head makes me lean towards Cooper's. Also has something interesting going on with its beak.
Light pattern, lighter tail feathers compared to immature Herring and California gulls recently observed.
Drama. These guys all normally get along pretty well, but here a squirrel decided to start something and nearly got kicked in the head as reward. Moments later they were back to munching sunflower seeds side-by-side again.
First spotted nectaring on a Bull Thistle, and then turned up in the nets a few hours later. Lots since, but this was the first documented Tahoe Basin record.
Ribes viscosissimum var. hallii, growing in the conifer understory south of the east side of the upper Angora Lake, and evidently very popular with these flies that it was covered with.
Typical of the plants of coastal ranges, it was notably distinct from more inland plants with its glabrous ovaries and reddish tinged hypanthia (as opposed to strongly glandular ovaries and green hypanthia in inland plants). In the past, this form was referred to under var. hallii, but this variety is no longer accepted by most botanists; I wonder if it ought not to be revived.
WP 0-8.
This bird covered a lot of territory during the 45 minutes I was trying to get looks and photos, from near the boardwalk bench where Jared found it yesterday, all the way upstream to singing from high in a large fir on the south side of 89. I had to squeeze this in very early in the morning, so it was dark and my photos are all rubbish, but I've lightened the exposure so you can at least confirm the ID. Hopefully it sticks around for better lighting/photos this weekend!
On the drive out to South Shingle Road, I spotted this Jackrabbit alongside of the Private road. It posed nicely for some photos before hopping slowly away.
My wife said that it was actually a "Jillrabbit" because it had such long eyelashes ..........
The year they nested in the Upper Truckee Marsh, and possibly the only year a female has been recorded in the Tahoe basin (as of 2020)
Creosote scrub in Greenwater Valley, near southeast end of Greenwater Valley Road, Death Valley National Park, Inyo County, California, elev. approx. 2100 feet.