Trapping season is here again.

Tami and Isabel came over this morning at 5 AM their time so that we could go shopping for a new Kestrel for her. This area does not hold a lot of Kestrels generally, and trying to trap one in a family group is a bit of trial and error. Apparently there is much more error than anything else. Tami missed being around to train the babies that were at the ranch due to other requirements on other parts of the ranch. Perhaps they were a bit early than the others that we are seeing, but for whatever reason they have left the area.

We have found three groups of young birds in the Arock area. We actually had a nice female on the trap this morning when a Black bird decided to butt in and ran her off without her getting caught. Then when we made another set, a young male Redtail came swooping in and was caught in seconds. He managed to break the noose since it was made out of 8 lb test monofiliment. Probably a good thing for Tami. I have been checking to see if she might want to change her mind and take a young Redtail rather than a Kestrel. Not sure if she could have turned down that much temptation.

We decided that we were a bit too early for this group as they were landing all around the trap catching the numerous Grasshoppers all over the side of the road. We haven't resorted to filling the trap with Grasshoppers yet. It may come to that however. Too bad there isn't a bait shop around.

We decided to check another area that should have a family group, and had stopped to look at some obvious adults sitting on the wires over the road. The area is at the base of a small steep hill that the road goes around. There is a hunting lodge there with a clump of trees. I could see a cat in the road, that didn't look just right. Tami and I were trying to decide if it was a house cat, when a small kitten came out with her. At that point it became obvious that it was a Bob Cat mother and her babies. Three to be exact. As we drove closer the mother went to the left and the babies of course across the road to the right. I was lamenting the fact that I had left my camera at home, when Tami finally remembered that she had hers with her. We sat in the car trying to get a decent picture of the young ones. Not at all easy with the lighting available and all the weeds.

 Tami snapped a bunch of pictures of the young ones, and then we moved on down the road looking for some more Kestrels. When we came back the young ones had moved across the road. Mom was with them this time and hiding in the weeds to guard them.

Tami got out of the car this time to see if she could get a better shot. Mom crouched down and was giving that scary low growl common to all cats that are really pissed. I of course reassured Tami that I would go for help immediately if the Mom attacked her. She looks really cranky don't you think?

After coming back home, I took Puddy out to see if she wanted to eat. She was 830 Grams. She flew a few times to the fist, but when I got back to about 10 feet, she veered off and wouldn't come back to the fist. Oh well, some day she will decide that she only eats with me.