Top Shots of 2015
To say I took a lot of pictures last year would be an understatement. Whittling all of those images down to a manageable number to showcase was tough but here are 39 that are my personal favorites from 2015. Subject matter ranges from wildlife to urban scenes to extreme weather. As I was going through these, I was smiling and thinking about the stories behind the photos and how privileged I am to have witnessed such amazing scenes and creatures. Which ones do you like best? Feel free to share and comment.
Young Red Tailed Hawk. Commerce City, Colorado.
Downtown Denver at sunrise.
Bald Eagle in flight. Fort Collins, Colorado.
Juvenile Bald Eagle. Fort Collins, Colorado.
Coyote pair. Cherry Creek State Park, Colorado.
Female Great Horned Owl in fight. Commerce City, Colorado.
Bald Eagle makes some noise. Longmont, Colorado.
Osprey landing. Longmont, Colorado.
Burrowing Owl. Adams County, Colorado.
U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. Aurora, Colorado.
Rainbow on the plains. Colby, Kansas.
Supercell thunderstorm. Lamar, Colorado.
Lightning illuminated thunderstorm. Southeastern, Colorado.
Marmot in the sun. Rocky Mountain National Park.
Bighorn Sheep ram. Rocky Mountain National Park.
Female Black Bear. Waterton Canyon, Colorado.
Black Bear cub. Waterton Canyon, Colorado.
Mountain Goats. Mount Evans, Colorado.
Mad moose. Brainard Lake, Colorado.
The Milky Way. Brainard Lake, Colorado.
Bugling bull Elk. Rocky Mountain National Park.
A squirrel's view of fall foliage. Rocky Mountain National Park.
Bison and Denver. Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge.
River reflections. Thornton, Colorado.
Columns of justice. Denver, Colorado.
Bald Eagle and the Rocky Mountains. Longmont, Colorado.
Dueling bucks. Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge.
Female Northern Harrier. Adams County, Colorado.
Snowy Owl. Adams County, Colorado.
Ferruginous Hawk. Adams County, Colorado.
Male American Kestrel. Adams County, Colorado.
Bald Eagle and Prairie Dog. Adams County, Colorado.
Dark Morph Ferruginous Hawk. Adams County, Colorado.
Talking Bald Eagles. Thornton, Colorado.
Bald Eagle head on. Thornton, Colorado.
Prairie Falcon launch. Adams County, Colorado.
Bald Eagle portrait. Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, Colorado.
Denver City and County Building.
Male Northern Harrier. Adams County, Colorado.
Burrowing Owls called the PoPo on me
Burrowing Owls called the PoPo on me. Nah, not really but the two made for a very interesting morning.
I stopped to check out one of the reported burrowing owl spots just northeast of Denver International Airport. Found the pair and was having a good time taking pictures of them from my truck. I noticed an SUV with the City of Denver logo on the doors drive by a few times checking me out and figured he didn’t like me being where I was at. Note however that I was NOT in any of the restricted stopping areas that are out there – I was well outside them.
After 15 minutes or so clouds move in so I decide to move on and head back west. Sure enough, here comes a Denver Police Department SUV that promptly flips a u-turn behind me and pulls me over. Very nice guy. He explains that airport security was getting nervous because I was taking pics near airport facilities. I tell him I was checking out owls and even show him my captures from the morning. He then asks for my ID and goes back to his car to check it out.
Next thing I know two more cop cars show up (they were likely called in advance before they knew I wasn’t a terrorist and instead just a dumb photographer). They all walk up and we begin chit-chatting, showed them my pictures and one even pointed out where he had seen some eagles recently. They reiterate that the fact I was close to the airport got their attention but they also admit that I was in a perfectly legal spot parked alongside a public road so did nothing wrong.
It was a pleasant encounter for sure although I have to say this is the first time my photographic activity has caused such a stir from law enforcement. LOL! Anyway, I thought you might enjoy the story and picture.
- On the net: ACLU – Know Your Rights: Photographers
Three Denver Police vehicles respond after I roused suspicions taking pictures of Burrowing Owls near Denver International Airport. (© Tony’s Takes)
Tony’s Takes Flickr Photostream
To say I take a lot of pictures would be an understatement. I generally try not to overwhelm readers of this website or my various social media pages by posting too many pictures of the same subject. While I may love two dozen pictures of the same thing, I suspect some people don’t. 😉
This page has my entire Flickr Photostream embedded and shows almost every picture I take for those that want to see more of my images. At the bottom are links to go forward / back through pages of pictures.
American Avocet
Great Egret
Great Blue Heron
American Avocet
American Avocet
American Avocet
Bison bull butting heads with a stump
Great Horned Owl mama weathering the wind
Swainson's Hawk hanging on
Bison graze in the shadows of the Rocky Mountains
Ferruginous Hawk staking out the plains
Wind blown Osprey
Mule Deer doe makes faces at the photographer
Posing Mule Deer doe
Grazing Bison bull
Big Bison bull with a lot of hair
Bison bull uses a stump as a scratching post
Osprey bringing a big stick to its nest
Wind blown Osprey
Wind blown Osprey
Female Osprey paying close attention
Sleepy female Osprey
Female Osprey does her duty
Female Osprey does her duty
Female Osprey does her duty
Female Osprey does her duty
Female Osprey keeping watch
Sleepy female Osprey
Female Osprey keeping watch
Red Fox vixen striking a pose
Red Fox vixen hanging out at one of her dens
Red Fox vixen hanging out at one of her dens
Red Fox vixen hanging out at one of her dens
Red Fox vixen playing peekaboo
Red Fox vixen hanging out at one of her dens
Red Fox vixen hanging out at one of her dens
Red Fox vixen hanging out at one of her dens
Red Fox vixen hanging out at one of her dens
Red Fox vixen hanging out at one of her dens
Red Fox vixen hanging out at one of her dens
Red Fox vixen checking on one of her dens
Red Fox vixen hanging out at one of her dens
Red Fox vixen hanging out at one of her dens
Red Fox vixen hanging out at one of her dens
Red Fox vixen hanging out at one of her dens
Red Fox vixen hanging out at one of her dens
Red-winged Blackbirds attack Red-tailed Hawk
Red-winged Blackbirds attack Red-tailed Hawk
Red-winged Blackbirds attack Red-tailed Hawk
Red-winged Blackbirds attack Red-tailed Hawk
Red-winged Blackbirds attack Red-tailed Hawk
Red-winged Blackbirds attack Red-tailed Hawk
Red-winged Blackbirds attack Red-tailed Hawk
Red-winged Blackbirds attack Red-tailed Hawk
Red-winged Blackbirds attack Red-tailed Hawk
Red-winged Blackbirds attack Red-tailed Hawk
Red-winged Blackbirds attack Red-tailed Hawk
Red-winged Blackbirds attack Red-tailed Hawk
Red-winged Blackbirds attack Red-tailed Hawk
Red-winged Blackbirds attack Red-tailed Hawk
Red-winged Blackbirds attack Red-tailed Hawk
Great Horned Owl owlets check out the photographer
Great Horned Owl owlets check out the photographer
Great Horned Owl owlets check out the photographer
Sleeping Great Horned Owl family
Mama keeps watch while owlets rest
Mama keeps watch while owlets rest
Great Horned Owl owlets snuggle up to mom
Great Horned Owl owlets snuggle up to mom
Male American Kestrel with its breakfast
American White Pelican flyover
Wood Duck drake hanging out in the trees
Osprey keeping close watch
Bald Eagles at their nest
Great Blue Heron flyover
September 11, 2001: We Will Never Forget
Our patriotism pulled us through those trying times in 2001 and it shouldn’t take another attack to galvanize us in solidarity. Today let us stand together to remember the victims of that horrible day. Let us stand together and pay tribute to the lives of the thousands of men and women that have carried the battle forth since then and paid the ultimate sacrifice. Let us stand together and honor the hundreds of thousands who wear our nation’s uniforms protecting us. Let us never forget so that we and our children will never experience another day like 9/11. NEVER FORGET! God Bless America!
Never Forget: September 11, 2001. (© Tony’s Takes)
Wayward Fairlane
I went for a walk as usual today and didn’t really get anything particularly great scenery or wildlife wise. I did however find this old 1958 Ford Fairlane half buried in the bottom of what used to be a riverbed. With some softening and saturation of the colors I think it looks kind of cool.
Wayward Fairlane. (© Tony’s Takes)