Category: Critters

Photo by Joe WilcoxApr 16, 20259:35 pm

Two Pandas and a Cat

I am way behind posting and make an executive decision: To share a few photos from our second trip—today—since rejoining San Diego Zoo as annual local members (first visit pics are forthcoming). My wife and I parked around 50 minutes after opening, and already the place was packed with families; by the accents, many were adult tourists and their kids.

Annie loves the red pandas (see second shot); a male lives in the main zoo and the female in the children’s area. On the way to the male, we passed the Giant Panda enclosure, where one could be seen sleeping. You tell me: Is that Yun Chuan or Xin Bao?

Photo by Joe WilcoxApr 11, 20259:45 pm

My Cat Wants to Know: What the Tech?

The things that waste time. April 4, 2025: I pull a SD card from the camera, put it in a reader, and plug into one of the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge USB-C ports. Nothing happens. Windows 11 won’t mount the card. Uh, oh-oh.

Blame always starts with software—or should. I reinstalled the drivers. No change. Rebooted the operating system. No difference. The card’s contacts were clean, so I ruled that out. Somehow, I worried, the storage thang had gone bad. Oh no! I hadn’t backed up the photos recently.

Photo by Joe WilcoxApr 6, 20259:57 pm

Kooky Koalas

When my wife and I entered San Diego Zoo on April 4, 2025—the first time since summer 2000—a staffer approached and offered to suggest a destination. The Australian recommended the Koalas, which were being fed at that moment. So off went Annie and I, as you can see from the Featured Image and companion.

The eucalyptus addicts were indeed chowing down, but they kept (purposefully?) behind poles or trees, making getting good shots to be difficult. I would have walked out with nothing, if not for Nikon Zf and attached NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR lens.

Photo by Joe WilcoxMar 30, 20257:10 pm

Friendly, Not Ferocious

Someone really needs to correct the sign to the left. Instead of beware, it should read be aware—as in look out for the friendly dog, who just happens to appear to be big and dangerous. He (or she) is a teddy bear—or so seems the demeanor anytime I see him (or her).

He (or she) was so perfectly posed and positioned, between the signs, today, I had to stop and pull around Nikon Zf and attached NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR lens. Vitals for the Featured Image: f/11, ISO 200, 1/160 sec, 59mm; 1:02 p.m. PDT.

Photo by Joe WilcoxMar 28, 20257:14 pm

The (Honorary) Cats of University Heights: Tempest

We briefly interrupt the backlog to present a valiant orange seen today. Annie spotted the shorthair on a property at Lincoln and Louisiana, which is inches outside the neighborhood’s official boundary. Hence, the honorary designation.

There was a second tabby, this one grey, and they chased one another about. The other disappeared into shrubs, then the space between buildings to the alley behind. The orange followed, moving with the suddenness of a summer storm—that explains choice of nickname Tempest.

Photo by Joe WilcoxMar 27, 20257:20 pm

Pepto Poses

He is one of the “Cats of University Heights” and beloved in the neighborhood. Pepto often regards me, approaches with a meow, and keeps on moving. He has things to do and no time for attention.

But today, rarely, he asked for some, and I gave generous pets. After we parted, I stopped aways off and watched him chew grass and soak sunlight. He clearly would soon cross the busy street, and I wanted to make sure he could do so safely.

Photo by Joe WilcoxMar 12, 20259:36 pm

The Cats of University Heights: Cowbell

I warned you, held back, and now release the torrent of kitties to clear out the backlog of the photographed but unpublished. So don’t be too surprised if this place feels like a cat colony for a while.

We reach back to Feb. 5, 2024 to present a shorthair seen in the yard of a house near where Lincoln and Vermont streets meet. The Featured Image marks where my wife and I first saw the, ah, security guard putty-tat. In the companion shot, he approaches us, but we never connected. While wanting pats from us, the friendly feline couldn’t cross over the decorative and protective hedge.

Photo by Joe WilcoxMar 11, 202510:01 pm

The Cats of University Heights: Brisk

I don’t recall why some kitties have been ignored. I think that I thought this shorthair might be Cuddles, as they were seen about a block or so apart. But on closer examination, they are distinctly different.

The Featured Image comes from Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra on Nov. 5, 2023. Vitals: f/2.4, ISO 50, 1/1000 sec, 10: 44 a.m. PDT. Nickname: Brisk.

Photo by Joe WilcoxMar 9, 20259:15 pm

The (Honorary) Cats of University Heights: Kello

I detest Daylight Saving Time and the turning of clocks forward one hour in the Spring. Today, PDT resumes, and I would prefer Standard Time all year long. The naturally occurring daylight cycle better aligns with my Circadian rhythm—and yours, too.

That introduction means to prepare you for this fine feline’s nickname: Kello, which is Finnish for clock. I saw the kitty today, while walking with my wife along Texas Street in North Park. Being beyond the neighborhood boundary, Kello joins the esteemed group of honorarians—35 in all.

Photo by Joe WilcoxMar 5, 20259:58 pm

Cute But Cautious

My wife interrupted our walk on Feb. 28, 2025 to point out “cute” birds in a tree ahead of us. I pulled out Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra for a couple of quick captures. The Featured Image is best of six. Vitals: f/3.4, ISO 32, 1/250 sec, (synthetic) 230mm (digital and optical zoom); 4:16 p.m. PST.

I am not a bird watcher, so identification is a bit tricky. My guess, with a little Google Lens assistance, is American Goldfinch. I dunno. Meaningful 10x zoom fully made this moment.

Photo by Joe WilcoxMar 4, 20259:54 pm

Bee Friend

As I waited for my wife to join me on a walk, somebody visited. He was friendly, too, such that moving him from my hoodie sleeve later proved to be difficult. But I eventually helped him to a safe space.

Before that, I pulled out Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and captured the Featured Image. Vitals: f/2.2, ISO 50, 1/3200 sec, 13mm (film equivalent); 10:10 a.m. PST, Jan. 28, 2025.

Photo by Joe WilcoxMar 3, 202510:12 pm

The Cats of University Heights: Sage

The march through the backlog of unpublished putty-tats continues; this one is from June 28, 2023. I have seen the kitty many times since then—yes, recently—but have yet to get a portrait better than this shot. When better is pretty bad, what does that say, huh?

I used Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra to capture the Featured Image. Vitals: f/4.9, ISO 50, 1/800 sec, 230mm (film equivalent); 5:05 p.m. Nicknamed for the partial name of the flowers, Sage likes to sunbathe most afternoons.