I recently posted about the trip I took last week to Pinyon Wells in Joshua Tree National Park with the Bird and Mammal Department of the San Diego Natural History Museum. I fell short of fully describing the animals we encountered. I wasn’t able to document with my camera, all the creatures we met out there, but I caught quite a few through my lenses.
When I wasn’t busy with small mammals or processing my digital harvest, I worked to collect bird images. I didn’t chase the birds so much as picked off those that came by the camp. There were several migrating warblers I missed; a Townsend’s, a Wilson’s, and a Black-Throated Gray. The birds I captured seemed to be residents of this area.
Grasshopper Mouse(Onychomys torridus) |
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Description: Known as the 'Lion of the Desert' this animal is carnivorous and a fierce predator of insects, scorpians and centipedes. Pinyon Wells, Joshua Tree National Park. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2016:10:10 10:36 |
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Location:
Pinyon Wells |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 105 mm, f/11.0, 1/320 |
File Name: GrasshopperMouse_D3X9235 |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
White-Crowned Sparrow(Zonotrichia leucophrys) |
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Description: Birds *AND* mammals were the subject of the SDNHM study during this expedition. Though rodents occupied my primary focus, I did not neglect the common birds at this site. Pinyon Wells, Joshua Tree National Park. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2016:10:13 8:35 |
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Location:
Pinyon Wells |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3200 |
File Name: WhiteCrownedSparrow_D728372 |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Verdin(Auriparus flaviceps) |
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Description: Birds *AND* mammals were the subject of the SDNHM study during this expedition. Though rodents occupied my primary focus, I did not neglect the common birds at this site. Pinyon Wells, Joshua Tree National Park. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2016:10:12 11:15 |
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Location:
Pinyon Wells |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: Verdin_D728128 |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Verdin(Auriparus flaviceps) |
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Description: Birds *AND* mammals were the subject of the SDNHM study during this expedition. Though rodents occupied my primary focus, I did not neglect the common birds at this site. Pinyon Wells, Joshua Tree National Park. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2016:10:12 11:15 |
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Location:
Pinyon Wells |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/5000 |
File Name: Verdin_D728125 |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Say's Phoebe(Sayornis saya) |
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Description: Birds *AND* mammals were the subject of the SDNHM study during this expedition. Though rodents occupied my primary focus, I did not neglect the common birds at this site. Pinyon Wells, Joshua Tree National Park. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2016:10:12 8:54 |
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Location:
Pinyon Wells |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: SaysPhoebe_D728105 |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
San Diego Pocket Mouse(Chaetodipus fallax) |
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Description: Presence of this animal so far out on the park was a bit surprising. Pinyon Wells, Joshua Tree National Park. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2016:10:13 8:13 |
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Location:
Pinyon Wells |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 105 mm, f/7.1, 1/400 |
File Name: SanDiegoPocketMouse_D3X9950 |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Rock Wren(Salpinctes obsoletus) |
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Description: Birds *AND* mammals were the subject of the SDNHM study during this expedition. Though rodents occupied my primary focus, I did not neglect the common birds at this site. Pinyon Wells, Joshua Tree National Park. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2016:10:12 17:03 |
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Location:
Pinyon Wells |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3200 |
File Name: RockWren_D728263 |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Rock Wren(Salpinctes obsoletus) |
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Description: Birds *AND* mammals were the subject of the SDNHM study during this expedition. Though rodents occupied my primary focus, I did not neglect the common birds at this site. Pinyon Wells, Joshua Tree National Park. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2016:10:12 16:40 |
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Location:
Pinyon Wells |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: RockWren_D728157 |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
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Description: Even without catching these animals, there presence was obvious by the numerous burrows we found. Shown here near Pencil Cholla (Cylindropuntia ramosissima), the smallest burrows are most likely those of the San Diego Pocket Mouse (Chaetodipus fallax). Pinyon Wells, Joshua Tree National Park. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2016:10:12 7:59 |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 58 mm, f/8.0, 1/40 |
File Name: MerriamsKangarooRat-Burrows_D3X9840 |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Merriam's Kangaroo Rat(Dipodomys merriami) |
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Description: The most common animal caught in this region was this animal. Pinyon Wells, Joshua Tree National Park. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2016:10:10 8:31 |
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Location:
Pinyon Wells |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 105 mm, f/8.0, 1/640 |
File Name: MerriamsKangarooRat_D3X8935 |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
House Finch(Carpodacus mexicanus) |
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Description: Birds *AND* mammals were the subject of the SDNHM study during this expedition. Though rodents occupied my primary focus, I did not neglect the common birds at this site. Pinyon Wells, Joshua Tree National Park. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2016:10:13 8:50 |
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Location:
Pinyon Wells |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: HouseFinch_D728434 |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Bewick's Wren(Thryomanes bewickii) |
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Description: Birds *AND* mammals were the subject of the SDNHM study during this expedition. Though rodents occupied my primary focus, I did not neglect the common birds at this site. Pinyon Wells, Joshua Tree National Park. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2016:10:12 7:41 |
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Location:
Pinyon Wells |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: BewicksWren_D728005 |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Grasshopper Mouse(Onychomys torridus) |
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Description: Known as the "Lion of the Desert" this animal is carnivorous and a fierce predator of insects, scorpians and centipedes. Pinyon Wells, Joshua Tree National Park. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2016:10:10 10:30 |
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Location:
Pinyon Wells |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 105 mm, f/10.0, 1/640 |
File Name: GrasshopperMouse_D3X9190 |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Desert Woodrat(Neotoma lepida) |
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Description: The species in the woodrat group are large by comparison with all the smaller cousins I've photographed. Pinyon Wells, Joshua Tree National Park. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2016:10:10 11:45 |
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Location:
Pinyon Wells |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 105 mm, f/11.0, 1/250 |
File Name: DesertWoodrat_D3X9451 |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Desert Woodrat(Neotoma lepida) |
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Description: The species in the woodrat group are large by comparison with all the smaller cousins I've photographed. Pinyon Wells, Joshua Tree National Park. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2016:10:10 11:43 |
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Location:
Pinyon Wells |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 105 mm, f/11.0, 1/250 |
File Name: DesertWoodrat_D3X9421 |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Canyon Mouse(Peromyscus crinitus) |
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Description: The Cactus Mouse and the Canyon Mouse are closely related. The end of the Canyon Mouse's tail has long bristles, where the Cactus Mouse has short bristles at the tip. Pinyon Wells, Joshua Tree National Park. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2016:10:10 11:36 |
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Location:
Pinyon Wells |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 105 mm, f/11.0, 1/400 |
File Name: CanyonMouse_D3X9370 |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cactus Wren(Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) |
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Description: Birds *AND* mammals were the subject of the SDNHM study during this expedition. Though rodents occupied my primary focus, I did not neglect the common birds at this site. Pinyon Wells, Joshua Tree National Park. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2016:10:11 16:46 |
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Location:
Pinyon Wells |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: CactusWren_D727978 |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cactus Mouse(Peromyscus eremicus) |
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Description: The Cactus Mouse and the Canyon Mouse are closely related. The end of the Canyon Mouse's tail has long bristles, where the Cactus Mouse has short bristles at the tip. Pinyon Wells, Joshua Tree National Park. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2016:10:11 8:15 |
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Location:
Pinyon Wells |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 105 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: CactusMouse_D727776 |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cactus Mouse(Peromyscus eremicus) |
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Description: The Cactus Mouse and the Canyon Mouse are closely related. The end of the Canyon Mouse's tail has long bristles, where the Cactus Mouse has short bristles at the tip. Pinyon Wells, Joshua Tree National Park. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2016:10:10 8:59 |
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Location:
Pinyon Wells |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 105 mm, f/11.0, 1/200 |
File Name: CactusMouse_D3X9017 |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Black-Throated Sparrow(Amphispiza bilineata) |
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Description: Birds *AND* mammals were the subject of the SDNHM study during this expedition. Though rodents occupied my primary focus, I did not neglect the common birds at this site. Pinyon Wells, Joshua Tree National Park. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2016:10:13 8:47 |
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Location:
Pinyon Wells |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3200 |
File Name: BlackThroatedSparrow_D728419 |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Black-Tailed Gnatcatcher(Polioptila melanura) |
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Description: Birds *AND* mammals were the subject of the SDNHM study during this expedition. Though rodents occupied my primary focus, I did not neglect the common birds at this site. Pinyon Wells, Joshua Tree National Park. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2016:10:12 17:20 |
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Location:
Pinyon Wells |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: BlackTailedGnatcatcher_D728321 |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Bewick's Wren(Thryomanes bewickii) |
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Description: Birds *AND* mammals were the subject of the SDNHM study during this expedition. Though rodents occupied my primary focus, I did not neglect the common birds at this site. Pinyon Wells, Joshua Tree National Park. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2016:10:12 7:42 |
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Location:
Pinyon Wells |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: BewicksWren_D728041 |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
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