Tony's Takes Photography

Wildlife, landscape and weather photography

Bison and tree enjoy some alone time on the Colorado plains

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A bison bull lies on the snow-covered plains. (© Tony’s Takes)
A bison bull lies on the snow-covered plains. (© Tony’s Takes)

The vast open spaces we enjoy here in the American west are tough for those in more populous areas to understand.

With just a short trip outside the metropolitan lights of Denver, you can find yourself surrounded by nothing but openness. No sounds but an occasional plane overhead and clear horizons every direction with only a power pole or two to be seen.

It is one of the things I value most about living here and why I never contemplate leaving. Sharing time in these areas with iconic wildlife after a recent fall snow is invigorating and something to be treasured.

Colorado’s Tower of Babel

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The Tower of Babel in the Garden of the Gods is illuminated by the rising sun. (© Tony’s Takes)
The Tower of Babel in the Garden of the Gods is illuminated by the rising sun. (© Tony’s Takes)

The Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado is a pretty amazing place. The rock formations stand tall and seem to be out of place with their proximity putting them closer to the city than next to Pikes Peak and the Rocky Mountains.

The most imposing formation on the north end of the park is called the Tower of Babel and standing beneath it, you can’t help but be intimidated. Its 300 foot face certainly towers above you as you stand beneath.

These were taken soon after sunrise this past July. The golden light of the early morning summer sun coupled with those amazingly deep, blue Colorado skies made for a couple of nice captures.

The Tower of Babel in the Garden of the Gods is illuminated by the rising sun. (© Tony’s Takes)
The Tower of Babel in the Garden of the Gods is illuminated by the rising sun. (© Tony’s Takes)

“Celebrity” mule deer buck sniffs the air

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A massive mule deer buck uses the flemen response to smell nearby does. (© Tony’s Takes)
A massive mule deer buck uses the flemen response to smell nearby does. (© Tony’s Takes)

This big boy has become quite popular of late at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge.

His massive rack with a cool drop tine make him stand out among the other big boys. Photographers have taken notice with many clamoring for a good look at him.

He has gotten wary of all the attention and is now keeping his distance more than in the past. I captured this shot of him last weekend as he demonstrated the flehmen response, undoubtedly trying to get a better whiff of the nearby does.

A massive mule deer buck uses the flemen response to smell nearby does. (© Tony’s Takes)
A massive mule deer buck uses the flemen response to smell nearby does. (© Tony’s Takes)

Head on bald eagle focuses on the photographer for Freedom Friday

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A male bald eagle flies head on and straight overhead in Jefferson County, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)
A male bald eagle flies head on and straight overhead in Jefferson County, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

Oh how I wish there were blue skies behind this handsome fellow but I love this look enough to where I have to share anyway.

Taken in Jefferson County, Colorado a couple of weeks ago, I was observing a pair of bald eagles that seem to be trying to establish a new nest. My friend spotted them about a quarter mile from the nest site so we went to check them out.

No sooner than did we arrive and the female headed for the nest then the male followed suit. When he flew by, he came directly overhead, not 20 feet above. It was nothing short of awesome having such a close flyover. Clearly he was well aware of me and was checking me out from above.

Head on with a Harris’s hawk

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A Harris's hawk (captive) flies head on in Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)
A Harris’s hawk (captive) flies head on in Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

That is some seriously intense focus in this raptor’s eyes, eh?

The yellow around the eyes and the yellow gape really coupled with that intense stare draw attention to its face. Throw in those red-ish and dark browns of the plumage and this is one beautiful bird.

This captive hawk was one of two I had the opportunity to photograph at a raptor photo shoot with Nature’s Educators back in October.

This type of hawk rarely comes to northern Colorado so it was a great opportunity to see something I wouldn’t be able to otherwise.

“And stay away!”

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An elk bull bugles toward his harem in the Moraine Park area of Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)
An elk bull bugles toward his harem in the Moraine Park area of Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

Having just chased off a competitor, this elk bull ensured that the interloper and any others knew the harem below was his.

Taken at the end of September at the height of the elk rut. I heard the bugling from my campsite so grabbed my camera and raced over the hill. As I crested it, I see two, big bulls coming up the hill right toward me. The lead guy was clearly fleeing, not wanting to challenge this massive specimen.

I quickly maneuvered my way around the hill, keeping a safe distance from them but trying to stay in position to get pics. With the situation stabilized, the big guy turned back to his harem at the bottom of the hill and let loose with a very loud bellow undoubtedly heard across the entire valley.

Bison bull grazes under an iridescent sky

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A bison bull grazes underneath an iridescent cloud. (© Tony’s Takes)
A bison bull grazes underneath an iridescent cloud. (© Tony’s Takes)

One for #TatankaTuesday taken this past weekend.

As seems to be the rule lately, temperatures were cold and conditions less than hospitable. Of course bison are well-built to handle winter conditions and this big buy was lazily pushing aside the snow to get to his breakfast.

Above him, an iridescent cloud, caused by ice crystals reflecting the sunlight. The rainbow colors were much more vivid when I first spotted it but by the time I put myself in position and stopped, they were fading. Nevertheless, there was enough of a hint to make it a cool capture.

A foggy, frozen, frosty road

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Fog and frost along a backroad of the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge. (© Tony’s Takes)
Fog and frost along a backroad of the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge. (© Tony’s Takes)

The weather in the Denver area over the holiday weekend was a bit touch and go. Friday in particular was a challenge when it comes to photography.

A persistent fog that at times was ridiculously thick made it tough to get quality captures. It did however make for some cool scenes.

Frost had coated all the trees overnight and lingering snow from the snowstorm three days prior left everything quite white. Throw in fog creating a seemingly endless road in the distance and this, to me, is a pretty cool capture – figuratively and literally. 😉

Dark morph ferruginous hawk waits for warmer weather

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A dark morph ferruginous hawk stakes out a roost on a pole in Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)
A dark morph ferruginous hawk stakes out a roost on a pole in Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

The first of these of the season that I have seen and it was not inclined to put on a show.

Perhaps it was the cold coupled with the slight breeze that made the conditions comfortable, but this cool raptor wasn’t going to let any pesky humans bother it. From its perch atop a utility pole, it sat firm, watching the traffic go by and staying put.

Ferruginous hawks are one of my favorite hawks and the dark morph variety is somewhat rare and exceptionally beautiful. In flight, the underside of their wings are bright white making for a cool contrast from the dark brown of the rest of its plumage.

A dark morph ferruginous hawk stakes out a roost on a pole in Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)
A dark morph ferruginous hawk stakes out a roost on a pole in Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

Big buck in the frosty landscape

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A mule deer buck keeps watch from among frost-covered foliage. (© Tony’s Takes)
A mule deer buck keeps watch from among frost-covered foliage. (© Tony’s Takes)

Not ideal weather conditions yesterday here on the Colorado Front Range. Fog settled in overnight and persisted for the entire morning preventing pics of anything that was farther than 20 yards away.

Thankfully, the deer were plentiful and as always, willing to pose for pictures. This massive mule deer buck was keeping watch over a doe while in some frost-covered grass. He was impressive and the wintry conditions made for a nice scene.