Tags
Boise ID, coyotes, hiking, Outdoor recreation, owls, predators, rock chuck, Tablerock
The hills were alive with the chirping of rock chucks. Getting a jump on the crowds and the heat, I was taking my morning constitutional on the mile and half trail to the top of Tablerock. Rising about 700 feet above the city, Tablerock is an iconic landmark, sprouting antennae, cell towers, and an offensive illuminated cross (a topic for later). The trail has become a highway for hikers, trail runners, dog walkers, and cyclists, which describes quite precisely everything I seek to avoid. But it’s within biking distance of my home and hiking to the top and back is a lot cheaper than a gym membership and, if I get my ass out early enough, it’s a lot more pleasant than a gym.
One morning last week, the upper section of the trail was a cacophony of chirps and squeaks and anguished wailing. About half way up, I watched a raptor soar across my line of vision and land on a nearby power pole.

Look carefully under the crossbar the owl is perched on . . .
So much for my workout. I had to stop and watch the drama being played out. It dawned on me that the rock chuck ruckus had something to do with what this fellow was clutching in his/her mighty talons. To my surprise, the owl swooped off the power pole and glided to the base of a large bush about 900 feet away. Seconds later the bird returned to its perch on the pole.

Breakfast served!
My eye had also registered movement in the bushes south of the owl nest. The movement turned out to be more cause for concern if you’re of the furry, close-to-the-ground body type.

A coltish coyote was cavorting below the rocks
I continued up the last steep sections of the climb, passing nervously catatonic rock chucks along the way. I pondered whose parent or child just disappeared.

These looked like youngsters. I hoped owly breakfast was not their mom or dad!
This particular morning I extended my jaunt to explore the quarry hidden behind the iconic face of Tablerock. Much of Boise’s historic architecture and landscaping has been blasted from this quarry. It’s a pile of sandstone that just keeps on giving.

Man-caused fault line
This early in the morning, though, the quarry is quiet and the critters in this area were far more relaxed than the harried rock chucks.
It was a good day to avoid the clutches of a Great Horned Owl.
Wow what drama to watch! Love the photos!
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Thanks, Lynn. It made trudging up the hill a lot more interesting!
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Yes I can imagine and a story for us!
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You caught a lot of action today at this place and I found it very interesting thanks to your keen observance.
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Happy to share the fun with you, Jane!
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What a lovely way to get exercise. Your story was wonderful as are your photo’s. Thanks for sharing.
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Thank YOU Pamela, for leaving a calling card! It’s always a pleasure to discover new readers and make new connections. Thank you very much.
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I love making new connections.
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I so enjoyed this walk with you and all those critters! I’m fascinated by owls, what a beauty you’ve captured here. We have seen a few coyote around here too and often hear packs of them howling at night, which is rather eerie. You’ve inspired me to start getting my ass out of bed earlier in the morning 🙂
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It’s sometimes a struggle to leave a comfy bed with kitty curled up in the curl of my tummy. But the effort has its rewards. Aren’t coyotes funny? They make me think of a pack of adolescent boys!
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Some very lovely pics of the wildlife on Tablerock, Linda. Thx for sharing. And I always learn something from you! I’d never heard of rock chucks before. We do have woodchucks in Manitoba where I live. But they look a little different than the rock chucks. Wonderful world we live in, with so many varied creatures to admire.
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Ha, ha, I bet you have more wood there in Manitoba! Here, we have a lot of rock. You might have heard of these referred to as Marmots. The two are very similar. I think there’s some finite difference between the species, but I’m unclear as to what that difference is.
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It’s phantastic how many animals you watched! What a great nature. Have a lovely day! 🙂
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Danke Schoen, meine Fruendin!
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Wow its like a zoo out there! Great pictures, as usual!! Love the coyote!
He looks like he’s about to get into some mischief.
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Oh he was fun to watch! Like a little clown, hopping all over the place, and gazing back at the poor chirping, worried rock chucks!
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Your posts always offer a complete diconnect from my own world, and wow, i was captivated by the story, even if it was about the survival of the fittest! it was also nice to see your world, a contrast to the nature here, but great photo ops… i realized that i miss seeing rabbits! wow… i have said that the agoutis look a bit like rabbits without floppy ears.. maybe i’ll draw an agouti with rabbit ears for a laugh?
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It is true! We live in such opposite landscapes. This is what I love about the blogging community! It provides the most wonderful opportunities to see other ways of life, to become familiar, at least a little bit, with other cultures and naturescapes. I will be looking for that rabbit-eared agouti! Be well. Stay safe.
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Im always amazed at how nature adapts to “man-made”
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Me too! Incredibly, we have a large population of Great Blue Herons roosting along the Boise river. Years ago, when the river was a trash site instead of an amenity, my father-in-law used to fish there. He never recalled seeing herons or even the bald eagles who also frequent the area. But now, the river and banks have been cleaned up, housing has been built (way too close, I used to think, to the heron rookeries) but they have come to the area and thrive despite the human noise and interference. It amazes me.
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