What to do when the bison get so close to you that you are unable to capture a face portrait, let alone a full body shot? Zoom in further and get an extreme closeup! This massive bull came right up close to my truck allowing me to get this image and in fact, you can see the truck in the reflection in its eye. Amusingly enough, after it passed I was focused on others in the herd and this big guy would start licking my truck and scraping his horns against it! Kind of fun!
Two-week old Bison calf experiences first snow, arctic outbreak
What a welcome to the world this little guy / gal received. Soon after being born, Colorado was hit with a blast of cold weather that sent temperatures plunging to record-setting levels and a healthy shot of snow. Early in the morning this past Sunday the temperature was a bone-chilling cold 10 degrees below zero when I came across the Bison herd.
The little one seemed to be handling it well but you sure would think it was wishing it could return to the warmth of its mother’s womb! Here it is seen working through the brush, following the herd as it moves to a new grazing spot. I managed a number of nice, close-ups of it and of the adults as well.
Elk bull sounds off for one of his ladies
From one of my favorite wildlife events – the annual Elk rut in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. With the changing of the seasons, fall also brings on mating season for these high country residents. For weeks the males work themselves into a frenzy, gathering up all the females they can into harems and then fighting to control their ladies and earn the right to mate with them. With hormones raging, the bulls bugle to call the females and to ward off any potential challengers.
On this morning back in September, this bull had gathered a harem of about 15 cows. A second bull in the area though was threatening and this first bull was doing his best to ensure he left them alone.
Curious little Bighorn
So darned cute! This young one was as interested in me as I was in it last month in Waterton Canyon southwest of Denver. This image gives you a good look at the kind of terrain these awesome animals call home. It is amazing how adept they are at navigating the rocks and cliffs, even at a young age.
The Bighorn Sheep is the Centennial State’s official animal and to me that is quite fitting. Just like the terrain and many of its people, these animals are very rugged, strong and tough. The animal is found in many places in the state’s high country.
Diseases from European livestock and overhunting had caused the animal’s population to drop precipitously by the early 1900s. Thankfully conservation efforts have been successful in helping the sheep rebound since then.
It’s 5:00 and it is Friday! Time to make some noise!
Had a lot of fun visiting with this pair of eagles yesterday. Quite animated and entertaining. Here they seem to be showing off for the camera. 😉 Have a great weekend, everyone!
Bald Eagle focuses on the landing
I took a day off yesterday and of course used the opportunity to head out and take some pictures. The first few hours were pretty bleak with few captures on my camera’s card but then things changed quickly. In southern Weld County, Colorado I came across not one but two pairs of Bald Eagles within a quarter mile of each other.
One pair was pretty skittish so I left them alone but the other seemed to love all the attention I was giving them. They gave me some nice shots of them posing, eating, and of course flying.
Here, the male comes in for a landing on the utility pole they were hanging out on. It is a pretty impressive view showcasing those massive wings, the determined and aggressive look, and of course those powerful talons. I hope you have a great Freedom Friday and fantastic weekend!
Bull Moose sheds its velvet
Here’s one for #TBT going back to August 31, 2014. As the rut approached, the #Moose bulls were getting more aggressive and working hard to shed their velvet. This was something I had never seen before and while gross, it was also pretty darned cool. The blood comes from the blood vessel system that forms the skin covering and grows the antlers. Taken in the Indian Peaks Wilderness area of Colorado.
Northern Harrier on patrol over the plains
I happened across this pretty lady as she flew fast and low over some fields, undoubtedly looking for a meal. She did dive to the ground at one point but came up empty handed.
These pics show why it is so hard to get a quality picture of these raptors. They typically fly very low to the ground and cameras have a hard time focusing on them as the gear struggles to pick them out from the ground. Every now and then though I can get things right and capture some decent shots.
You’ll find these hawks across much of North America, Europe and Asia depending on the season. Here we call them Northern Harriers but in other spots on the globe they are known as Hen Harriers, Harrier Hawks or Marsh Hawks.
American Kestrel enjoys lunch on the Great Plains
I happened to spot this guy just as he landed on a utility wire with his meal. Much to my pleasure, he didn’t mind me taking pictures while he ate. A great time for me and the Kestrel but probably not so much so for the mouse. 😉
These birds are the smallest falcon in North America averaging about 8 inches long. Don’t let their size fool you though. They are as much of an effective predator and just as vicious as any raptor.
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Big. Bad. Bison. Bull.
Black and white image of a Bison bull as he walked through some fresh snow for Tatanka Tuesday. I happened across this guy on Sunday and he ended up so close, a full body capture was impossible. I took advantage of his proximity by zooming in close and capturing that very cool face.
These massive animals were hunted to the brink of extinction in the 1700s and 1800s with as few as 750 reported by 1890. Their numbers have since rebounded with about 500,000 now living on public and private lands. Native Americans call them Tatanka, a Lakota word that translated means “bull buffalo.”