CALIFORNIA WILDLIFE FEBRUARY 2026  

California Towhee in Oakley CA

              More wildlife views from Alameda County and Contra Costa County. Winter and fall have become a favorite time of year. Nothing beats a crystal-clear cold morning in a favorite wilderness area.  There is a variety of wild animals easily viewed in our incredible state. It requires one to take a cruise and get away from the city madness to a wildlife setting of your choice. It doesn’t have to be a long ride; it can be anywhere. A hiking trail along a creek, A city or regional park, A remote road away from the city, or a National Park. California is the most biodiverse state in the United States ranking first in the number of native and endemic species. We are fortunate to live in a great state.

This time around, I have had some luck with larger mammals while still chasing raptors and other birds. These photos are all recent, with additional information in the text of the individual pictures. 

Female American Kestrel in Eastern CC County    

 
Bobcat on Los Vaqueros property near Camino Diablo

   

Great Horn owl (And Talons) Eastern CC County Delta Island 

Beaver I followed  walking, as the beaver swam finally taking a break along side Taylor Slough

Red Tailed hawk turning in flight showing off under feathers, CA Delta Eastern CC County

Western Coyote North end of Los Vaqueros reservoir property

Bobcat on Mines Rd in Alameda Foothills

Female Kestrel performing the field mouse dive Eastern CC County (frame one)

Female Kestrel on the Dive (Frame 2) 

Bobcat Los Vaqueros property near Camino Diablo, same cat as earlier in post...

Cedar Waxwing in Oakley Park... Thanks!

Comments

  1. LV HarperFebruary 1, 2026 at 12:22 PM

    Lighting on the Towhee is beautiful, and I love the beaver! You don't see those often. The bobcat looks about as sassy as a housecat I know. Very regal looking owl, looks like he's straight out of Game of Thrones.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Image
                                                 CALIFORNIA WILDLIFE AUGUST 2025  Allens hummingbird Oakley Early in Eastern CC County perhaps the cooler weather this year       Hope all is well! Sharing some recent photographs and good news in regards to local Coyote populations. The last couple of years I have noticed a significant reduction of coyote numbers in the open plain’s areas of Contra Costa County and surrounding areas. I have traveled these areas consistently for many years, and I am impressed with recent observations.                There has been a change this year. Pups a plenty, I ‘d say. And confirmed also from a acquaintance I’ve known for years who works five days a week at a local watershed park. He starts early in the morning, and stays late in the afternoon or ...
Read more
Image
                               CALIFORNIA WILDLIFE JUNE 2025    Photographs of California pipevine swallowtail butterflies near the North end of San Pablo Reservoir. These butterflies are common in the spring and summer of Western CC County in the slightly cooler and damp regions of Tilden-Briones-Wildcat Cyn areas. I have been always intrigued with the blue-black color variations of this species, though sometimes hard to relate in photographs. These butterflies can be found in many other Bay Area areas, yet this area is by far the best area I have found for this species.   Also, in the Oakley area the white tail kites have fledged three new youngsters in the Oakley area near my home. Sharing some photos of this family. These bird’s ability to support sometimes three or four youngsters is amazing to me. One year, as mentioned before, there were five from one nest. I was only able to get of...
Read more