Bobcat Surprise at DVinfo.net

Don DesJardin · July 24th, 2009, 09:08 PM

I was out shooting some birds early morning last week at an Elderberry bush loaded with ripe berries, and during a slow moment while looking around I spotted movement on a hill side about 250+ yards away. Not quite sure exactly what kind of critter it was, I pulled the camera over, locked on to it at wide angle, then zoomed in at the full 400mm, and saw one of the best looking bobcat I had seen in this area. Shot with an XL H1 with a Nikon 80-400mm lens, and given the piece of junk head I'm working with, it was a struggle to get decent pan and tilt movement out of it, besides telling myself to just calm down and don't get a death grip on the control arm. I guess getting something that's not totally perfect is better than getting nothing at all. I have uploaded the clip to Exposure Room and can be seen at:

BOBCAT By Don DesJardin On ExposureRoom

Bobcats in this area must be doing well, because this was the fifth one I have seen since spring, but this is the first I have been able to get a camera on.

Mick Jenner · July 25th, 2009, 12:51 AM

Hi Don,

As you say not perfect but definately acceptable, the oportunity presented its self and you captured it. I enjoyed watching the clip

Regards

Mick

J. Stephen McDonald · August 2nd, 2009, 03:01 AM

Don, where was this shot? This cat is a lynx of some sort, probably a Canada Lynx. They are much larger than Bobcats, with longer tufted ears and no body spots, except for the black streaks on their underparts. It's possible it may be an escapee from captivity. There are other species of lynx in the World, that may be held in zoos or private collections, such as the African Caracal, or Siberian Lynx. I don't think any occur naturally in So. California, although a few Canada Lynx have been detected in Oregon by remote-triggered cameras. Maybe you've documented a new extension of their range? Good catch, whatever its history is.

Brendan Marnell · August 2nd, 2009, 08:47 AM

Shucks! Would have been my first bobcat. But so what, it's my first American lynx and a joy to watch, thank you Don.

Don DesJardin · August 2nd, 2009, 02:06 PM

Stephen,
Yes, it's a Bobcat, and has been verified by the local USF&W office here. Just do a Google search and look at images, and you'll see the difference. The nearest Lynx to Southern California would be 1,000+ miles north in Oregon or Northern Colorado , if they are even there anymore. Glad you liked it. Also Brendan, how has the new camera worked out for you.....Don

Brendan Marnell · August 4th, 2009, 02:51 AM

Sony V1E on a tripod produces finest detail I have seen ... I will be testing it handheld for birdflight in September ... neater than XM2 and half the weight of XL2 but there's a lot more to be learned, as usual, about filtering, white balance, zebra lines, shutter speeds etc etc. Specifically for birdflight I'll have to compile 1 or 2 useful settings (one for cloudy Ireland, other for the sunny Med) and stick to them.

July 24th, 2009, 09:08 PM	#1
Don DesJardin Major Player Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Ventura, California, USA Posts: 255	Bobcat Surprise I was out shooting some birds early morning last week at an Elderberry bush loaded with ripe berries, and during a slow moment while looking around I spotted movement on a hill side about 250+ yards away. Not quite sure exactly what kind of critter it was, I pulled the camera over, locked on to it at wide angle, then zoomed in at the full 400mm, and saw one of the best looking bobcat I had seen in this area. Shot with an XL H1 with a Nikon 80-400mm lens, and given the piece of junk head I'm working with, it was a struggle to get decent pan and tilt movement out of it, besides telling myself to just calm down and don't get a death grip on the control arm. I guess getting something that's not totally perfect is better than getting nothing at all. I have uploaded the clip to Exposure Room and can be seen at: BOBCAT By Don DesJardin On ExposureRoom Bobcats in this area must be doing well, because this was the fifth one I have seen since spring, but this is the first I have been able to get a camera on. __________________ Don DesJardin

August 2nd, 2009, 03:01 AM	#3
J. Stephen McDonald Major Player Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Eugene, Oregon Posts: 909	A Lynx, Not a Bobcat Don, where was this shot? This cat is a lynx of some sort, probably a Canada Lynx. They are much larger than Bobcats, with longer tufted ears and no body spots, except for the black streaks on their underparts. It's possible it may be an escapee from captivity. There are other species of lynx in the World, that may be held in zoos or private collections, such as the African Caracal, or Siberian Lynx. I don't think any occur naturally in So. California, although a few Canada Lynx have been detected in Oregon by remote-triggered cameras. Maybe you've documented a new extension of their range? Good catch, whatever its history is. __________________ Steve McDonald https://onedrive.com/?cid=229807ce52dd4fe0 http://www.flickr.com/photos/22121562@N00/ http://www.vimeo.com/user458315/videos

August 2nd, 2009, 02:06 PM	#5
Don DesJardin Major Player Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Ventura, California, USA Posts: 255	Stephen, Yes, it's a Bobcat, and has been verified by the local USF&W office here. Just do a Google search and look at images, and you'll see the difference. The nearest Lynx to Southern California would be 1,000+ miles north in Oregon or Northern Colorado , if they are even there anymore. Glad you liked it. Also Brendan, how has the new camera worked out for you.....Don __________________ Don DesJardin

July 25th, 2009, 12:51 AM	#2
Mick Jenner Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: West Sussex England Posts: 843	Hi Don, As you say not perfect but definately acceptable, the oportunity presented its self and you captured it. I enjoyed watching the clip Regards Mick

August 2nd, 2009, 08:47 AM	#4
Brendan Marnell Major Player Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 938	Shucks! Would have been my first bobcat. But so what, it's my first American lynx and a joy to watch, thank you Don.

August 4th, 2009, 02:51 AM	#6
Brendan Marnell Major Player Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 938	Sony V1E on a tripod produces finest detail I have seen ... I will be testing it handheld for birdflight in September ... neater than XM2 and half the weight of XL2 but there's a lot more to be learned, as usual, about filtering, white balance, zebra lines, shutter speeds etc etc. Specifically for birdflight I'll have to compile 1 or 2 useful settings (one for cloudy Ireland, other for the sunny Med) and stick to them.