Wildlife, landscape and weather photography
I haven’t done a Fox Friday in a while so here you go. 😉
Taken back in May, this red fox den in the Colorado high country provided tons of entertainment, especially the kits. On this morning, the young ones were bundles of energy, running around chasing each other and play fighting.
With five of them, it was hard to keep up with the action and know which ones to follow. It won’t be long now and, with any luck, I will again be photographing fox dens with little ones. I can’t wait!
These guys are fast-movers and not ones to normally let you get a flight shot. Thankfully, this one cooperated a bit recently giving me a few shots as it flew by at Mach 1. 😉
Prairie falcons are quite common on the plains this time of year. I usually see them perched on utility poles, ready to attack some poor, unsuspecting rodent or little bird.
I’ve watched them dive into groups of horned larks and meadowlarks with amazing speed and agility, snatching their victim right out of the air. Way cool to see!
Going back to July of 2019 for this image and our trip to this most amazing place and these incredible creatures.
This bear was quite the accomplished fisherman, handily pulling fish after fish out of the river. Here, it looks for another one while still having the remnants of the previous catch on its snout.
It does indeed appear the bear is making eye contact with me / you, however it was quite focused on the school of salmon that lie between it and I (thankfully – haha).
Oh how I yearn for the day when I can return to Alaska and experience the sights, sounds and wildlife of our 49th state again.
Perhaps only a face a mother could love? 😉
On New Year’s Day, a quick trip to the grocery store turned into a photo op for me. I take my camera with me just about everywhere and on this day, I was heading to the grocery store so I threw my bag in my truck.
After shopping, I took a detour through an area that has a nice open space and there I found the resident rafter of #turkeys hanging out in the neighborhood. They were very active, hanging out on an office building patio, walking on the sidewalks, giving some great poses, all with a suburban backdrop.
This particular tom was perhaps recovering a bit from too much partying bringing in the new year as he was quite tired.
Absolutely insane detail with my Canon EOSR5 camera and RF 100-500 lens. Taken in the Eastlake area of Thornton, Colorado.
I dunno, there is something about female hooded mergansers that just really reminds me of the title character in that 1935 horror flick. That crest on the top of the head really looks like the hairdo of Elsa Lanchester in the film. Yeah, I know, I am a little weird sometimes. They are, though, beautiful birds and lots of fun to watch.
Taken at sunrise on New Year’s Eve. The bison herd at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge was to the east with the rising sun behind them. Normally that doesn’t make for good pictures but on this morning, it worked out perfectly.
The cold weather allowed the bison’s steamy breath to be quite visible as their dark frames and the trees were silhouetted against the orange sunrise. Just a really cool scene and I am liking this capture quite a bit.
For the past two months, we have been hearing at least two great horned owls calling to each other near our house. Usually we begin to hear them right after sunset while I am out grilling up dinner (yes, we are some of those crazy Coloradoans that barbeque in the freezing cold and snow – haha).
I had looked many times and stood out there in the dark but had not seen them – until this week. Now, three nights in a row I have spotted one of them in a neighbor’s tree, calling out to its potential mate.
As you can see, this was after sunset but the shadowy form kind of makes for cool images. Now is the time of year when these guys start pairing up, setting the stage for the spring babies. I drove around last night, hoping to find a nest but didn’t have any luck but will keep trying.
A fantastic look at this beautiful raptor taken on Christmas Day and a fitting image for Freedom Friday.
The rest of my family was in no rush to open gifts and instead opted to sleep in. I, of course, rarely do that and instead headed to a nearby open space to see if I could find any photo-worthy subjects.
Santa brought me a number of bald eagles that morning, including this gorgeous adult. I captured this image as part of a sequence of it launching and heading off to fish. It does a great job showcasing that massive 6+ foot wingspan and the beautiful plumage of these birds.
“Tony! Tony! Get over here NOW!” My friend sounded more like my mother as he excitedly called me to where he was standing watching a creek on New Year’s Day.
As I ran over, I saw what the excitement was about and I couldn’t blame him. This little mink was out in the open and posing, occasionally moving around to check out its surroundings.
These little guys are quite common in Colorado however they are also rarely seen. The entire encounter lasted less than five minutes but it was an absolute thrill and the first time I have seen a mink in person. So darned cute and a great way to start the new year.
What to do when you are standing around in 15 degree weather, shivering, waiting for hours for an elusive creature to appear? Point your camera down!
As we get further into the depths of winter, lakes, ponds, creeks and some rivers are icing over. As I noticed this past weekend, it creates some pretty cool shapes and crystals along the water. You really need to view these full screen and study them a bit to fully appreciate the crazy detail.
Best of all, it provided a distraction from the miserable cold and the fact I was waiting for hours for an animal that never appeared. 😉
