Michael B. Brown wrote:

> Okay, okay. As long as we're comparing the size of our mammals, I'll share
> my most exciting recent sighting. While Audubon Birdathoning in the Yakima
> River canyon south of Ellensburg about 2 1/2 weeks ago, I spotted a Bighorn
> Sheep, right next to the highway! I was definitely not expecting that!

OK, I'm back and town, and humored by your puny little mammal sitings.
:)

Why, at least thirty people, including a university class, got to enjoy
watching
not one, but two, bobcat next to Oregon 205 at Roaring Springs in the
Catlow
Valley about two weeks ago.

It was kind of strange as they appeared to both be adults, and bobcat
are very
solitary as far as I know, except during mating season which isn't now.
They
interacted briefly, not really violently, but with one really good slap
upside
the head at the end, which led the slapped one to depart. The other
hung out
for another ten minutes or so, poking around crevices in the rimrock,
many with
whitewash. Looked like it may've been looking for wood rat.

Too far away for good photos (couple hundred feet) but fine for viewing
via the
multitude of spotting scopes that sprouted on the highway's shoulder.

Both seemed totally unconcerned with the gallery of viewers below.

--
- Don Baccus, Portland OR <donb at rational.com>
Nature photos, on-line guides, and other goodies at
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