Close Encounters

Over the last couple of weekends, I made two trips to Point Reyes. On the first, I came across a beautiful great horned owl. After taking some photos I was pleased with, I promptly lost my memory card, and the images are seemingly gone forever. Typically, that would bother me, but after four other incredible wildlife encounters, I felt truly grateful for my experiences.

I spent a lengthy period with the animals on each occasion, watching from a reasonable distance and observing their behavior. Elephant seals tussling on the beach, a hawk scaring turkey vultures away from her kill, and a northern harrier surveying his land calmly from a rocky perch were memorable moments. However, my favorite was the tiny burrowing owl standing over his underground nest. The photographs were worth every second lying in the wet grass.