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This is a katydid killler/hunter, also known as a mud dauber. Every year for the past 7-8 years they have made their home in my driveway basin. Not aggressive in the least unless you get too close to their mud tubes where the male is the gate keeper. Every year I say I'm going to pop the grate at the end of the season to take some pics of the tubes they build, and then life gets in the way, and I forget. And for those who have never seen one, that is a katydid in her clutches.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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The other day we had a young cottontail in the back yard, and we often get a Barred Owl in the early morning before sunup. We once had a Great Blue Heron, but unfortunately it ate several of the fish in the pond. Mostly we just have squirrels, bluejays and crows.
Amazingly being in the middle of the city I have raccoons, possums, owls, squirrels, lizards, snakes, geese, ducks regularly throughout the year in the neighborhood. Every year or two we get the passing coyote that wanders in. Still waiting for a mountain lion which have been regularly spotted a few miles to the east of us.
Being situated near the Delta and having three river watersheds going thru the city makes excellent corridors for wildlife.
Heck wild turkeys have been spotted running down the sidewalk and middle of the road at the north end of the city.
We are talking a city of about 300k in the middle of California's central valley.
We have visitors such as raccoon,lots of skunks,many wild rabbits,chipmunk,squirrels,for some odd reason 2 Canadian Canada geese sit on our roof sometimes chatting away,a variety of birds like Blue Jays,Robins,Cardinal and little green praying mantis.
Amazingly being in the middle of the city I have raccoons, possums, owls, squirrels, lizards, snakes, geese, ducks regularly throughout the year in the neighborhood. Every year or two we get the passing coyote that wanders in. Still waiting for a mountain lion which have been regularly spotted a few miles to the east of us.
Being situated near the Delta and having three river watersheds going thru the city makes excellent corridors for wildlife.
Heck wild turkeys have been spotted running down the sidewalk and middle of the road at the north end of the city.
We are talking a city of about 300k in the middle of California's central valley.
I'd bet you have hawks, and falcons also. Most people never look up, but if you did you'd be quite amazed what lurks in the big city.
We have visitors such as raccoon,lots of skunks,many wild rabbits,chipmunk,squirrels,for some odd reason 2 Canadian Canada geese sit on our roof sometimes chatting away,a variety of birds like Blue Jays,Robins,Cardinal and little green praying mantis.
I live surrounded by horse farms. Two days ago the wife opens the grill to fire it up. and out jumps a rat! Had to heat it up a little more than usual before putting anything that I'm gonna eat on it.
Here's a Coopers hawk scoping out my winter bird feeder. It got one wood pecker, and a morning dove that I know of. Talk about an explosion of feathers.
I'd bet you have hawks, and falcons also. Most people never look up, but if you did you'd be quite amazed what lurks in the big city.
Oh yeah, Red Tail and Swainsons hawks, peregrine falcons(love the damn european rock pigeons), turkey vultures to name a few birds of prey.
We also have our share of owls around here. I've see burrowing owls when I take the dog for a walk along the Calaveras river about a half mile from my house. We also have barn owls that I catch glimpses of at night patrolling the sky's above my house. I have one that like to perch at the top of my maganolia grandifolia in the back yard during its nightly hunting forays. Here is a program out at the Port of Stockton that's a few miles to the south of me. Oh yeah and bats.
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