Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Sparkin' The Harkin'

That's what true beauty does.

10 comments:

John Lien said...

That's nice. Was that taken on/near your place? (I'm quite fond of landscapes and geography)

USS Ben USN (Ret) said...

Hi John,
Yes, this is sunset a few days ago about a quarter mile from the house. I was walkin' the dogs.
I've seen as many as 7 American bald eagles in this area at one time.

Since we have lived here 23 years, I have also seen a black bear, deer, elk, coyotes, rabbits, possum, squirrels, chipmunks,, and, of course, raccoons along this trail.
Saw a cougar once too, but not on this particular trail.

John Lien said...

That's an impressive list. I think you have seen all the big and small game in the region. (I'm quite fond of wildlife as well as landscapes and geography).

On our property or within a mile or so, I have seen bobcat, bear, gray fox, deer, raccoon, sqirrels, rabbits, possums, chipmunks, skunks, turkeys and eagles. I've heard lots and lots of coyotes up close but haven't seen any yet.

USS Ben USN (Ret) said...

That's an impressive list, John!
Coyotes are pretty good at being unseen.
My Grandpa, back in the 30's and early40's hunted coyotes, cougar, bobcat, and a wolf on a few occasions for the US. govt. to help ranchers when they were losing to much livestock.
He said that coyotes and wolves were the hardest to trap or, more often than not hunt down and shoot because they are so smart.

Coyotes were only harder than wolves because they left less of an imprint.
He had some really great stories to tell, and I always felt like I was there, he told them so well.
Nothing like good stories to get yer imagination goin' . :)

I have yet to see a turkey or grey fox anywhere I have been. Saw a red fox in Oregon once, when I was a boy. Also saw Redd Foxx on the tv. :)

I love landscapes too. I've seen beauty in the desert, mountains, valleys, rivers, lakes, beaches, sub-tropic, tropic, forests, meadows, plains, islands, the sea, etc..
God's masterpieces are all over in the art gallery that never closes.
Truly breathtaking.

mushroom said...

Great stuff. I love the picture. We see bald eagles out here about every year. I had one circle over the house a few months back.

My dad said the same thing about coyotes. He was a fair hand at trapping, but coyotes were a challenge. He did get good at snaring them in later years. He's set his snares around fences where the coyotes would expect to encounter wire -- going under or through. The best places were around his big round hay bales where the coyotes liked to catch mice and short-tail brown rats.

He would catch them alive and give them to one of his friend that had a coyote pen where hound men would run them for fun -- no killing, just races.

USS Ben USN (Ret) said...

Nothin' like Bald Eagles! They are a joy to watch.

That's a great tactic your Dad used.
Funny thing about coyotes, I saw far more coyotes working an extra job as security guard in San Diego than I have ever seen out in the country.

Of course, it is easier to spot them when there isn't any forests or thick brush around.
Lots of easy pickings for coyotes in a city.

robinstarfish said...

That's a fine backyard you got there. Think I'll take a virtual walk down it right now.

USS Ben USN (Ret) said...

Thanks, Don!
It is a blessing, to be sure.

Leslie Godwin said...

Good luck tomorrow with the test! I'll be praying for you and for good results, feeling at peace, etc.
Mrs. G

USS Ben USN (Ret) said...

Thank you, Leslie.
I'm glad the day is finally here and I do feel at peace about it now. :)