The Creatures of the El Big Valley
Some of them, anyway. I still haven't seen a moose. And no, stuffed animals or an elk slung over a 4 wheeler certainly do not count.
Culture Shock Level is presently: fuzzy and hoofed
It's nice to live somewhere with so many wild animals other than just the SF regulars such as seagulls, steller jays, sewer rats and 20-something hipsters. It all adds to the charm of this surreal, little big town.
Here are a few recent bird photos from my visit to the Blue Plateau Wildlife Sanctuary. It's about 1 hr north of El Big. If there wasn't a large mountain pass between us, I'd volunteer for them.This is the amazing pygmy owl. It's body and head are about the size of a baseball.
I couldn't get enough of the birds. I must've taken a hundred photos of this one. It's all head, really.( Click on this pic to get a life size image)
Besides it's diminutive size, it has a calm, lacsidazical nature and hilarious slow blinking eyes...
This eagle is blind in one eye. Unfortunately it will never be released back into the wild.
We saw many hawks, but this one is my favorite— the photogenic Kressel hawk. Note the blue racing stripes around the crown.
Show off!
I haven't seen so many butterflies until my move to El Big.... and spiders, and ants, and cougar tracks...
and the gregarious marmut...
and lots of sheep!
And we have a few donkeys, like these two that are huddling together for warmth under the protective evergreens. (Three cheers for Nancy! Pass the wine, please!) Anyway...
Lots of horses, of course. We have wild horses in the surrounding mountains. I haven't seen them yet. The town graphic artist has offered to take us out sometime. He has connections.
El Big creatures can't be mentioned without noting the approximate 50 odd deer that reside in town. Occasionally I see them hanging out in people's yards along the crest of the hills. We haven't seen them in our yard yet, but we know they pass through in the middle of the night due to the magical disapearance of some tender chrysanthemum blossoms.
The El Big area is famous for it's progressive organic farming. It's not all wheat. The area proudly provides Angus beef, lamb, chicken, cherries, pears, and gorgeous blankets of verdent spearmint fields. This picture was taken last winter on a drive out to the colder, southern desert side of the valley. The black Angus cattle against the white snow covered hills are a stunning sight.
(Click on image to enlarge)
Poser cows...
"Gourmet Pets"?! This local pet store logo catches my eye. Oh, why yes, we do have domesticated animals too... and they're delicious sauteed with fresh shiitakes, paired with a delicate Syrah. Bon appetit!
NEXT WEEK: SUMMER AND FALL HILIGHTS IN THE VALLEY and BEYOND!
