Wildlife, landscape and weather photography
Ah yes, the younger ones can be quite rambunctious and you better be ready to move when they come running. This ram was in hot pursuit of a ewe and humans in the way or not, he was not to be deterred from his quarry.
Thankfully a big lens ensured I wasn’t really all that close but looking through it, it was definitely a bit startling and I did stop shooting soon after this to ensure I wasn’t about to be plowed down. 😉
Power! That is the word that comes to mind when I look at this picture. Taken yesterday, this bull was absolutely impressive, one of the largest at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge.
Light snow was falling coating the landscape – and the bison – in white and really adding to the scene. I maxed out the zoom on my lens for an extreme closeup and decided I liked a black and white conversion for the image. The detail seen is way cool from the creature’s fur to the glint in the eyes and the rough texture of his horns.
Well, that is no turkey! ? I am still sorely lacking in finding good opportunities with my favorite photo subjects this season but I am at least seeing more activity from them.
This past weekend, this eagle was one of three hanging out within a quarter mile of each other, seeming to signal that our seasonal visitors are finally arriving. This one took flight away from me but, thankfully, circled right back, seeming to want to check me out.
As you can see, its head is a bit ‘dirty’, those dark feathers indicating this one is about four years old and on the cusp of full adulthood.
The deer rut is kicking into gear now and while the big boys get all the attention, these young guys are ensuring they don’t get left out of the fun. This pair of young white-tailed deer bucks were evenly matched as they sparred early one morning. It is best that they fight at their own weight rather than take on one of the bigger, more dominant bucks who are quite aggressive right now and would certainly put these younger ones in their place.
This guy / gal didn’t want to hang around for pictures but in its haste to depart, it gave us a great look at that nearly 5-foot wingspan and its gorgeous rust and white colored plumage.
These massive hawks can be found year-round here in Colorado although they are most often seen during the winter. Usually, you will spot them staking out a prairie dog colony, waiting on some poor, unsuspecting rodent to stick its head out at the wrong moment. They are the largest hawk in North America and quite impressive so it is perhaps fitting that its scientific name is buteo regalis (regal).
Going back to August 2021 for this image for #MooseMonday. It was a gorgeous morning at 11,000 feet, albeit a bit chilly. I was happy to have the warmth of the sun when it popped over the horizon and especially so when it lit up this handsome fellow. My moose season this year was a pretty big disappointment with way too few encounters. Thankfully I have images like this in the archives to tide me over for a while.
I had a pretty decent photo outing yesterday with hits and some misses. Certainly, one of the hits was this pretty lady.
I spotted her as she hunted over a field and while she was a good ways away, she seemed to be working her way toward me. I stopped and waited, hoping she would continue on the same track and, indeed, she did. In doing so, she flew quite close and even seemed to give me a bit of a glance as she did.
These hawks are common across North America, Europe and Asia. Here in Colorado, we most commonly see them in the colder months. It is believed that owl-like ‘dish’ around their face helps to focus sounds toward their ears, allowing them to listen for their prey as they fly low and fast overhead.
Smart guys this group was, escaping while they could before they became Thanksgiving dinner. 😉
It had been a while since I photographed our local rafter of turkeys so I swung through the area last weekend. I found most of them hanging out at the post office, just enjoying a quiet Sunday morning. After a while they decided it was time to move on, allowing me to catch this fun shot of some of them crossing the road.
Bald eagle season is off to a slow start for me thus far so going back to January 8th for this capture. I had an absolutely awesome photo outing that day with a wide variety of critters photographed and some great captures made.
As I was wrapping up my excursion and not far from home I came across a pair of eagles hanging out and while it required a hike, I felt it would be worth it. Thankfully, the pair did not disappoint with the female giving me a fantastic flyby, including this one as she ventured off briefly.
Have a great weekend, everyone!
One for #ThrowbackThursday to July 2021 on our most recent visit to Yellowstone National Park. We are beginning to map out our summer plans for 2024 and that will include a return to this amazing place. That got me thinking about some of the pics from our last trip that I never shared, including this one.
This cutie’s mom was grazing in a meadow, enjoying a mild summer day. We were unaware she had a cub until it scrambled down a tree and ran up to see what mom was doing. While it waited for mom to finish her snack, it stood up, watching us but more so a massive bison bull that was approaching.
The look it gave was so darned cute! It was fascinating to watch the interaction between the species with the bison unphased by the bears and the bears well-aware and wary of the big boy’s presence. Soon, mama decided it was better to retreat and her and the cub headed off into the forest.
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