Red-tails are about the most common hawks on the plains but they also aren’t usually prone to hang around for pictures. Every now and then I come across one that is willing to pose and such was the case with this juvenile. It had staked out a nice tree to keep watch on a field, undoubtedly waiting for some poor rodent or snake to appear and become breakfast.
A mountain of Mountain Goats
A fun image from back in June when I spent time with the herd on top of Mount Evans, Colorado. As usual, the animals were spending the morning hanging out entertaining the tourists and photographers.
After a time, they then proceeded around the east face of the mountain, bounding higher and across the large rocks. This made for a great photo opportunity to capture a large number of them in a single image, something you usually can’t do. It is a bummer the skies were so hazy but it still made for a neat shot.
Moose bulls go head-to-head
The rut is getting close and even a few weeks ago when this picture was taken, the Moose bulls were establishing a pecking order.
Here, two go head to head leading up to a bit of pushing and shoving. Unfortunately, this was before the sun hit the valley floor so my pics of the action came out blurry due to the necessity of a slow shutter speed. Sigh.
These two big guys were part of a bachelor group of four, but, they were only the middle two in terms of size. There was another with them that was clearly the senior and dominant one of them all. Taken in Arapaho National Forest, Colorado.
Ring around the sunrise
Colorado has had a good number of wildfires this season but nothing as bad as what areas to our west have seen. As fires rage in California, Montana, British Columbia and Alberta, their smoke has been a near constant presence this summer.
This makes for some crazy, gorgeous sunrises and sunsets but of course I would prefer not to have them as a result of the fires. Nevertheless, it does make some good photo ops such as this rising sun taken yesterday morning in Weld County. The ring was caused by the polarizer filter on my lens.
Bald Eagle bathed in the early morning light
Well, my last few photo outings have been pretty much duds. Subjects were non-existent or uncooperative or the resulting pics just sucked. So, I am jumping back to Tax Day for this image.
This is the male of my favorite mated pair of eagles. He had just returned from dropping off some nesting material and stopped and posed not long after sunrise.
Temperatures are cooling here in Colorado (finally) and while I am not anxious for the end of summer, it does mean the seasonal Eagles will be returning soon and that makes me happy.
Pronghorn battle on the plains
This was a fun little bit of action that I had never witnessed with this particular type of creature before. Driving along I spotted five Pronghorn bucks out in a field north of Denver International Airport.
Normally, stopping would send them running but they were more interested in each other. Four of them were engaged in some back and forth battles, locking horns and pushing each other around.
I presume this is all leading up to the annual rut as they start to establish a pecking order for mating season. Fun stuff to see!
Mass of Yellow-headed Blackbirds take over the trees
I’m not normally into taking pictures of ‘little birds’ but sometimes you just can’t ignore them. Such was the case this past weekend when I came across a massive gathering of these cool dudes. Hundreds of them, literally, had assembled in a few trees in Longmont, Colorado. They were very noisy, making a heck of a racket. Most likely the gathering was a precursor to their winter migration to the southwestern United States and Mexico.
Video: All phases of the Great American Solar Eclipse
Going back again to this event on the one year anniversary of the solar eclipse. This was a video I put together of my images of each stage. It is fascinating to me to watch it as it progresses, reaches totality and then comes to an end.
One year ago today: The Great American Eclipse
I still get goosebumps when I think back to this extraordinary celestial event.
My brother and I had the date marked on our calendars for years and when the time came, our planning could not have panned out better. I spent weeks leading up to the event researching how to photograph a solar eclipse and practiced every chance I got. We chose a spot in southeastern Wyoming near the town of Lingle, away from major population centers and a spot that would likely have clear skies.
When the time came, well, it was just awesome. Period. For those that were able to get under the path of totality, it was something you will remember for the rest of your life.
I was so impressed by it, I already have the date of April 8, 2024 circled on my calendar for when the next total solar eclipse happens in North America and I will be doing my best to be there.
This image is a collage of the various stages of the event from the start when the first sliver of the moon started to block the sun to the diamond ring just before totality, totality, and then the finishing stages.
Images taken with my CanonUSA 7D Mark II and SIGMA 150-600 Sports.
Young Osprey keeping an eye on me
This juvenile was hanging out on a pole adjacent to the nest, soaking in the morning sun. Dad and mom were nearby and keeping an eye on things but, unlike their offspring, they weren’t interested in me. The juveniles are really cool with their white-edged plumage and orange eyes.
Osprey can be found across much of North and South America, only staying year-round in Florida and the Baja California area. Winters are spent in South America and along the Gulf Coast while they summer in the northern third of North America.
These beautiful raptors are known for their amazing dives into the water as they try to snag their prey. They are larger than most hawks and striking in their appearance with dark brown and white plumage and bright yellow eyes.