I heard my neighbor scream and the guy next door ran over to see what she was screaming about. I watched him look down, scream and then he took off running back home... I walked over and saw this poor thing curled up with no where to go so I picked it up and put it in my bushes.
Those look tasty also...did you know that ducks can't get salmonella, that's why you can eat them on the raw end of the scale.
To paraphrase that bit from Monty Pythons Life of Brian... When it comes to Aliso, the deer go without saying... But, also saw this furry fella today, about 6 or 7 inches across... Luckily for me, he didn't lunge at me facehugger style, and we both survived the encounter
albino peacock at my front door. took about 3 massive dumps on the door mat. Yards from Santiago oaks
sorry i don't know how to flip this picture over. i was working on my patio when this crazy loud flapping noise flew over my head. Quickly looked up and it was this big ass hawk(or maybe golden eagle?!) it flew a couple feet over my head with a rattlesnake wrapped in its talon. the snake had a rattle and was missing its head. I saw stuff dripping from the "flight" as i ran and screamed like a beeyoch!! there was blood drops littered all over my concrete. I followed it to my neighbors tennis court and if you look carefully there is the snake still dangling from the talon, as he sits perched on the light pole. This was the male bird/hawk that had been feeding the nest in the eucalyptus tree behind my yard. They had a pair of birds hatch in there and have since flown away. I would always see the male fly over the ridge to Santiago oaks. I have seen them all hovering together at the oaks. I still hear them around often in the afternoons or mornings.
Actually hopped over this guy on my CX bike at the last second, inner canyon fire road at El Moro. Even when I went back, he didn't care that I was there or rattle. Beach bum rattler if I ever saw one.
It was like a zoo yesterday afternoon at Oaks. Tarantulas, rattlesnakes, a deer, rabbits, etc. The snake was one of the more harry encounters I've had. I was booming down Yucca like a madman when I saw this "stick" lying across the trail. Not realizing it was a snake caused me to keep rolling an extra second before realizing what it was and slamming on my brakes. Truth be told, in the uncoiled position, I would have been fine just bunny hopping him (probably), but I ended up coming VERY close to him when stopping... thank god no endo. I would have done a back flop onto Mr. Bitey. After I stopped, I thought he was dead (note the tire tracks and the slight depression behind his head. He was perfectly still for 2-3 minutes, not appearing to breath or tongue-sniff the air. I even tossed some light gravel, hitting his torso, without reaction. I was convinced he was dead, got back on my bike to ride by in front of him, when he suddenly seemed to wake back up, coil, scan the area, and scurry off into the bush to the right. As for this tarantula, I feel like I've seen the same guy at least 3 times now in the same place, half way up chutes.
One of two spotted at Sullivan Saturday. This one just hung out for a while, appartently just curious.