tree year project 2011, #6

Columbian black-tailed deer
Odocoileus hemionus columbianus

This poor deer was grazing underneath the coast Douglas-fir tree, so I am including it in this year's Tree Year Project. Despite the total lack of photographic merit in the 2nd and 3rd photos above, I wanted to show this buck's torn ears. Indeed, his right ear is nearly torn in half with the outer edge flopping about, and the left has a decent sized notch in it. I'm assuming this is fairly common, as Jim Coda featured a torn-eared buck in a recent post. Those annual antlers must be a pain! I'm wondering if this is the same buck I saw back on October 28, 2010, especially considering I haven't seen another buck around home in 5 years.

http://thetreeyear.wordpress.com/tree-year-posts/life-on-the-tree/mammals/

habitat ~ 04/09/11 ~ Garrapata Canyon

Garrapata Canyon

April 9, 2011

I don't have much to publicly say about this beautiful place, except that it's private property. It hasn't been functioning as a trout farm in at least 30-40 years. The depressions shown in the third pic above were once trout hatcheries. All the piping and valves are still there, rusted, but still there. Considering this is private property and I was a guest, I'll lead blog visitors to the publicly available nearby Garrapata State Park here and here.

habitat ~ 04/09/11 ~ Highway 1

Highway 1 at Palo Colorado Road
April 9, 2011

posted 04/21/11 - Here's one piece of local news: the Hwy 1 closure 12 miles south of Carmel, before Rocky Creek/Bixby Bridge, is now open as of 8:00 PM last night according to fellow blogger bigsurkate. I mentioned the closure in a previous post, but this KSBW video provides better information of the highway collapse on March 16, 2011. When I took the picture above, I was already down in the area for a meeting when I decided to see what the closure looked like. It was surprising to see so many people eager to walk the closed portion of the highway. Normally, this treat only happens during the Big Sur International Marathon. Speaking of which, I think the BSIM planners will change their out and back course with a loop through Point Lobos, even though Hwy 1 is now open north of Alder Creek (i.e., you still cannot drive all the way through Big Sur to get to San Simeon and Cambria). Have I mentioned it's been an unusual year?

habitat ~ 04/08/11 ~ Garland Ranch Regional Park

Garland Ranch Regional Park

April 8, 2011

posted 04/20/11 - As is my custom on Nature ID, I'm posting a final habitat entry to mark the end of this day's hike of IDs. These photos are a bit dark. Have I mentioned it snowed on us during this hike? Snow in April, or anytime, is extremely unusual around these parts. It's been an unusually wacky spring in 2011. There are other IDs I'd like to show from Garland, but I'm behind on my blog posts; I have several newer photos and places in the queue that are already more than a week old.

The last pic above is looking down on Laureles Grade and Bernardus Lodge. It's so fancy and spendy at the lodge that I've only ever been there once for a work meeting. It was very nice, but I think I would have liked it better had I been for pleasure (especially the spa), rather than business.