ipomopsis's Favorites

This was a project that trapped and released flying squirrels. Ordinarily, you wouldn't see them out flying around during the day.

This squirrel was released, climbed a tree and flew twice, landed on the ground, dug up a truffle and ate most of it, then climbed a tree again and ate the rest.

Quite a show!

Multiple small pines with needles in bundles of two. My main reason for posting this picture, though, is to show what I think is the same location--and same big, downed tree--as that seen in a photo of E. R. Hall and his survey team (Mammals of Nevada), taken in July 1941. I have included that picture, which matches up well with the site description in journal entries and in the landscape seen in the background.

The location "3 miles south of Mt. Rose, 8500 ft" is the generic location entry used by Hall's team in their field notes for their collections in this area. The specific locations of the actual collections of mammals must be inferred from the field notes, which often have limited information on precise locations. It was the standard practice of Hall and his co-workers to camp at one spot (usually a flat meadow near a road) and then emanate out in various directions to hunt and trap.

Watched this thing fly around in one spot then suddenly jumped into the plants and pulled out this cricket and flew right off!
See this observation for the prey.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/116212562

Going through the archives...

Initially I assumed this was a juvenile Red-breasted Sapsucker (and still lean toward that ID), but now I'm not so sure with that pronounced white eyebrow/supercilium.

Did I totally drop the ball on this (and it's a Red-naped Sapsucker), or is that just wishful thinking on my part?

Thanks for your help!

Trying to get familiar with the "serrated" leaves of P. monticola. I imagined it to be quite evident and very different from the spaced out very tiny spurs I find on these leaves.
Location verified on satellite view.

Beautiful Northern Rubber Boa found as he/she was nestled at the base of an Antelope Bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata), partially underground, in the more zeric zone of the typical lower elevation Tahoe open montane forest.

Have seen several through the years in the Sierras, at, near, or travelling under the cover of night (and when humidity is higher than hot days) towards water environments... This Rubber Boa was observed about 300 meters from a now dry ephemeral stream, and much further from any permanent wet habitat. Most adults I've seen (during the day) are usually partially under downed trees and/or next to a stream or bog, and above 6,200', yet have seen two youngsters (one back in June, the other a couple or so years ago, and both entered here as observations) below 6,200'. The adults can be a spectrum of colors above from brownish to olive (like this one) to bright green (most I've seen), a light colored underside.

Always a great experience to see one of the only two boas native to North America... the other being the Rosy Boa at home in the southwestern US & northwestern Mexico, while Rubber Boas are found in the western US and southern British Columbia (the northern most boa). Was great to share the experience with others before returning this docile snake to Nature.

Location generalized and now obscured to protect from collectors.

This curious little weasel was checking me out as I was observing a steep talus slope from above. On the spot, thought I was watching a Short-tailed Weasel, about 10" body length, 4" tail and looked to have a white underside (was so close, didn't think to use binoculars), yet after looking at the photos noticed the yellowish underside of Long-tailed Weasels. Maybe a female or young adult Long-tailed? Was thinking a male Short-tailed Weasel at first.

He/she was weaving in and out of the rocks of the talus slope, while Chipmunks (unknown species and several observations/photos) were scurrying about. Yellow-bellied Marmots also occupy the talus slope and may share 2 observations, different days, in the future.
General area South of Hope Valley and North of Lost Lakes area.

Saw this beautiful light colored female Black Bear, a bear who is one of the established locals (and knows my scent and presence are not a threat), on the last leg of a very long hike... to visit some places now under lock and key due to last year's Tamarack Fire.

I was about out of water and decided to take a shortcut down a seldom travelled drainage. Took a few photos of shrubs regenerating, then saw her... She was slowly making her way up the burned, dry, and shadeless drainage. Twice she stopped to rest and cool down...
Yes, fire is a natural process, I've worked as a fire rehab specialist, Federal Inspector of contractors resending burns, and a few stints as a Wildland Firefighter... Wildfires are more numerous, intense and larger (on average) as each year passes... Look at this bear struggling with the heat in a huge area that no longer has needed shade or ample food sources through spring, summer, and fall. I documented some of the major foods they were seeking this spring into early summer... Quite a change from what has easily sustained them in the past - before this huge fire and the neighboring even larger Caldor Fire (also last year). The reemerging shrubs are not in a mature fruit producing stage and many usual forbs are lacking or nonexistent. Pine seed/nut production is very low and spotty in trees half-scorched or are in isolated unburned islands...

It's very hard times for bears of this area, very limited foods are now wilted by the above average (constant trend) heat of summer, and insects in snags and downed logs (most burned), and under rocks, are all gone or barely present. Small unburned islands and the fires' edges are extremely important now. Keep in mind that established territories, both seasonal and year long are severely changed and available foods are sought by concentrations of bears.

Things are different in the mountains and elsewhere, and we play the biggest role in these changes.