Bobcats

This and the next 16:  two Bobcats in our yard this morning

Just as Becca and I were leaving the house this morning I opened the door to discover two Bobcats (Lynx rufus) who weren't immediately spooked by our presence.  Thinking they would quickly depart I took several photos of them through our screened security door.  Stepping back inside the house I set my daypack down and made Becca stay inside while I carefully ventured out, camera in hand.  When the Bobcats tolerated my cautious movement in their direction I took the opportunity to snap over 30 photos of them.  I know next to nothing about Bobcat behavior, but these two appeared to be engaged in a quiet standoff of sorts, the kind our dear departed domestic felines, Chappy and George, often involved themselves in:  warily immobile in lieu of a potential attack from the other.  I spoke to these two Bobcats while I slowly moved up the driveway, asking them what they were doing while gauging their reaction to me.  I got within twenty feet before the one who was standing made a beeline around our wooden fence; but I soon noticed him on the other side peeking underneath the barrier at his companion.  I got to spend about ten minutes with them until they departed, disturbed by the sound of the garage door opening at our nearest neighbor's house.  We've seen Bobcats on our property in the past, and have even taken inferior photos of them, but this was my first chance to take properly focused images of this pair of beautiful creatures.

Somebody's watching you

It's me

Check the color of the ear backs

Behind Tortugas Mountain

Gambel's Quail

Gambel's Quail

Hypervigilant

Vista across the vast northern Chihuahuan Desert

Time to make a right turn

Steep southeastern flank of Tortugas Mountain

I'll lead the way around the mountain

Curving west

Big yucca

Follow me

Line of Torrey Yuccas on the mountain flank

Organ Mountains in the distance

Closeup of that blooming yucca and the rest

Sun through yucca flower stalk

Ocotillo shadow

Becca beside the round rock house

View up the backside of the mountain (that should be back side, right?)

Ocotillo flowers and yuccas

Flank of Tortugas and the Organ Mountains

Quite a jumble

That mound of Strawberry Hedgehog Cactus is 2 1/2' high by 3 1/2' wide

Yuccas or aliens dressed as yuccas?

Big Torrey Yucca behind the mountain

Straight shot west

The distant Organ Mountains