Coyotes at Millerton Lake

Coyotes at Millerton Lake

Dale Matson

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My primary reason for this trip to Millerton Lake was to try and find eagles to photograph. After about an hour on the Fresno County side of the lake, I drove across the river and entered on the Madera side of the lake. 

I visited my usual spots and parked at “Eagles Nest” picnic area. There is a spot where I can see Golden Eagle activity from there with binoculars. However, this was a no-show deal.

As I was about to exit, I took one more look at a couple of trees frequented by bald eagles. Empty handed again.

As I made a U-turn, I spotted three coyotes right in front of my truck. I was able to take some photos out of the driver’s window. They seemed to be more interested in smells than my truck. Then they headed down toward the lake. I got some more photos and allowed them to wander off further toward the lake. Two of them actually laid down. 

It was the best opportunity I have ever had to photograph the coyotes who are normally skittish and scamper off as soon as they see a human. 

    I had a running friend Kathy, who referred to coyotes as "God's dogs". Well Put, since they don't belong to anyone else.

Eastside Sierra Landscape Winter 2022

Eastside Sierra Landscape

Dale Matson

Mt. Whitney Center

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Sharon and I visit the eastside of the Sierra for backpacking, viewing the endangered Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep and for the Fall colors. It is a great drive through Yosemite from Fresno and less fun going around Bakersfield when Highway 120 is closed through Yosemite in the winter.

Bishop is where we usually stay overnight when we aren’t backpacking. The scenery immediately North and South is terrific and with the more recent snow made the mountains even more beautiful….and don’t forget White Mountain Peak to the East also.

While we were looking for sheep in the canyons, we also got lots of landscape photos, so I thought I’d share some from the area.

Mt. Langley

Lone Pine Peak

Mt. Basin Left

Mt. Tom 

Shack In Front Of Wheeler Ridge

Four Gable Peak

White Mountain Peak

Mt. Williamson

Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep January 2022

Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep January 2022

Dale Matson

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The sheep were up high in spite of the snow. Although I used a tripod and my 200-600mm lens with a 1.4 TC and cropped, the sheep are still small in the photos. I also used my new Sony A1 camera and was pleased with the focusing under the circumstances. There is always the anticipatory excitement as we leave Fresno and go around Bakersfield to eventually head North toward Bishop. And…. then the inevitable long exhausting return the following day.

We began looking south of Whitney Portal Road with no sightings.

It is not a good sign when you need 12X binoculars to find the sheep. Yet, we were appreciative to eventually find them. We scouted three separate canyons including Silver Canyon East of Bishop where we saw no evidence of sheep. We were able to find sheep in two canyons South of Aberdeen but the canyon to the North, the sheep were way too far up canyon to get any decent photos. I would never have even seen them with binoculars but Sharon has very sharp eyes.

We were blessed to see both sheep and mule deer feeding alongside of each other. There were about 34 SNBS and about 25 deer together. 

After the massive December snows, the Sierra Nevada was absolutely beautiful. We are hoping that the mountain lions are not forcing the sheep to stay high and to get a chance in the future to get some closer photographs.

There is a 6 minute video here: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKKLxSLjkyM&t=135s