Neat Experience This Morning- To Close for a Picture

This morning my hike would take me to a northeast gate hoping to see a coyote on the ice.  Hiking along with light snow falling, I decided to slip into the woods and stand for a bit. My view was overlooking an area with open hardwoods and a stonewall. No breeze at all ,so my scent was little concern, or so I thought! Not too much time had passed, when I hear the crunching of footsteps breaking the iced over oak leaves behind me. First thing I think of it’s a deer. Before I could give it a second thought, their stood a beautiful coyote not 12 to 15 feet away from me. It was looking directly away from me when it caught my scent. The coyote threw its head back, stood on two legs as it worked it nose to my direction.  When landing back on all four feet we were looking directly at each other. The  sharpness of the yellowish brown  eyes and black whiskers where that of a glance before the coyote ran about 40 yards out before turning and looking back then disappearing over the ridge.

No chance for a picture, but what a morning!

Jim

Break In Winters Grip

I Headed out to Gate 5 this morning. A short hike gets you right to the shoreline. The sunrise along with the temps in the low 40’s made for a nice start to the day. Wind was fairly calm. Standing enjoying the sunrise when out of nowhere comes the sound of chattering. A family of four otters were cruising the shoreline looking for their next meal. They were headed north.

I followed them until this tower caught my attention.

After investigating I continued on to the Gate 8 launch area. My trek back would take me bushwhacking most of the way. I was surprised not to see any eagles or maybe hear a winter loon. The main body of the reservoir was open. Guess I will need to head to the north part of the reservoir next weekend hoping to find a coyote wandering around looking for its next meal. Jim