Hunting » DFW Urban Wildlife

Bobcat – Mouthful

Feb 152012

I almost didn’t recognize what was special about the photographs in this observation.

These pictures were taken by a Scouting Camera that I had set up in a new location. Over the course of a week, the camera recorded quality pictures of many different types of wildlife. But, on this night a heavy fog had rolled in and the quality of the pictures suffered as a result.

What we have in these images is a Bobcat, that much is clear. In fact, this was the only Bobcat the camera recorded over the entire week. But, the details are obscured by the fog. I was disappointed and very nearly deleted these images.

Then I took another look. Flipping between the two pictures, I noticed that the Bobcat moved slightly. This movement helped reveal another aspect of the photograph—it showed that the Bobcat was carrying some kind of prey animal in its mouth.

It’s not clear what type of animal the Bobcat is carrying, but it is relatively large and has dark fur.

A third picture of an Eastern Cottontail is included so that you can get some idea of the size of the prey animal the bobcat is carrying.

County	-	Denton
City	-	Lewisville
Date	-	Feb 6, 2012
Time of Day	-	Night
Temperature	-	Cold (less than 50°F/10°C)
Weather	-	Foggy
Habitat	-	Commercial-Industrial/Warehouse
Type of Behavior	-	Hunting
Gender	-	Uncertain
Maturity	-	Adult
Observer	-	Chris Jackson
Main Article	-	Bobcat	Observation Location

Least Sandpiper – Spillway

Birds, Least Sandpiper No Responses »

Feb 112012

This Least Sandpiper was photographed on the White Rock Lake spillway in Dallas, Texas. The bird was hunting in the thin layer of mud that covers the spillway’s concrete base.

County	-	Dallas
City	-	Dallas
Date	-	Nov 4, 2007
Time of Day	-	Afternoon
Temperature	-	Warm (70-89°F/21-32°C)
Weather	-	Clear
Habitat	-	Recreation-Park
Type of Behavior	-	Hunting
Gender	-	Uncertain
Maturity	-	Adult
Observer	-	Chris Jackson
Main Article	-	Least Sandpiper	Observation Location

Gadwall – Bath Time

Birds, Gadwall 1 Response »

Feb 062012

This video is of a female Gadwall splashing and bathing. There is a second Gadwall off camera doing likewise. The second duck can be heard but not seen. That is a Great Egret hunting in the background.

County	-	Denton
City	-	Carrollton
Date	-	Feb 3, 2012
Time of Day	-	Afternoon
Temperature	-	Warm (70-89°F/21-32°C)
Weather	-	Overcast
Habitat	-	Water-Creek
Type of Behavior	-	Bathing
Gender	-	Mixed
Maturity	-	Adult
Observer	-	Chris Jackson
Main Article	-	Gadwall	Observation Location

Great Egret – Hunting the Reeds

Birds, Great Egret No Responses »

Jan 292012

This Great Egret was observed hunting on the dry side of our local Beaver dam. This bird appears to be showing some early signs of breeding plumage development.

County	-	Denton
City	-	Carrollton
Date	-	Jan 21, 2012
Time of Day	-	Midmorning
Temperature	-	Cold (less than 50°F/10°C)
Weather	-	Clear
Habitat	-	Water-Creek
Type of Behavior	-	Hunting
Gender	-	Uncertain
Maturity	-	Adult
Observer	-	Chris Jackson
Main Article	-	Great Egret	Observation Location

Red-tailed Hawk – Squirrel Hunter

Birds, Red-tailed Hawk 1 Response »

Dec 042011

I observed this Red-tailed Hawk on my way into work one morning. I spotted the action on the lawn of a church near the intersection of Jupiter Lane and Collins Boulevard.

I arrived on the scene just after the hawk had captured and killed a Fox Squirrel. The hawk was looking around nervously and seemed uncomfortable. It’s possible the bird felt vulnerable in its exposed location.

I expected the hawk to bolt at any moment, so I took as many pictures as I could from as close as I felt I could reasonably approach. Sure enough, after just a few moments, the hawk lifted off with its prize in hand and flew away into the woods behind the church.

County	-	Dallas
City	-	Richardson
Date	-	Dec 1, 2011
Time of Day	-	Morning
Temperature	-	Cool (50-69°F/10-21°C)
Weather	-	Clear
Habitat	-	Community-Church/School/Civic
Type of Behavior	-	Hunting
Gender	-	Uncertain
Maturity	-	Adult
Observer	-	Chris Jackson
Main Article	-	Red-tailed Hawk	Observation Location

Red-tailed Hawk – Good Customer

Birds, Red-tailed Hawk No Responses »

Nov 242011

This observation took place just before 6:00 pm on the corner of Josey Lane and Rosemeade Parkway. This is a very busy intersection. Hundreds of cars pass through every hour during peak use. There are high traffic strip mall shopping centers on the northeast, northwest, and southwest corners and busy professional buildings on northeast and southeast corners. Wooded single-family homes surround the commercial areas of the intersection. The weather was cool and cloudy.

We were eating dinner at a local restaurant on the northwest side of the intersection. Through the window I observed a large Red-tailed Hawk on the ground in a median area of the strip mall’s parking lot. The Hawk obviously had just made a kill, but the tall Asian Jasmine he was standing in made it impossible to tell what it was he had caught. I left the restaurant to get a better look, and was able to approach to within 20-25 feet/7-8m. The hawk was very comfortable with us being this close. In fact, at least one SUV passed between us and the hawk (less than 10ft/3m away) without frightening him away. My kids got a little excited about being so close, and their excitement finally caused the hawk to fly away.

When he rose into the air he carried his prey with him, and we were finally able to see that it was a common Rock Dove that he had captured (several of these pigeons roost on top of the strip mall every night). The pigeon was heavy for the hawk and he was only able to gain 4 or 5 feet (1.5 meters) of altitude. He flew through the parking lot of a 7-Eleven and across Rosemeade before landing under a tree in the parking lot of a gas station on the SW corner of the intersection. There he continued his meal.

County	-	Denton
City	-	Carrollton
Date	-	February 17, 2005
Time of Day	-	Dusk
Temperature	-	Cool (50-69°F/10-21°C)
Weather	-	Cloudy
Habitat	-	Commercial-Retail
Type of Behavior	-	Hunting
Gender	-	Uncertain
Maturity	-	Adult
Observer	-	Chris Jackson
Main Article	-	Red-tailed Hawk	Observation Location