One afternoon in September, 2016, I stopped by the Idyllwild Nature Center, which is my favorite spot in the Southern California mountains to photograph birds.
This particular afternoon was quite slow, bird-wise, and the woods were nearly silent. I was thinking of leaving. Suddenly, the trees came alive with agitated calls from squirrels, which until then, I hadn't really noticed. I wondered why they were so excited. Looking around, I saw what caused the disturbance: a bobcat wandering nonchalantly through the area!
Just as the cat entered a ray of late-afternoon sunlight, it turned to survey the area, and to glance at me, before proceeding on its way.
I was a thrill to see it so close, and equally thrilling to get a decent photo.
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