Continuing #FoxFriday. A very fun pic that I really like. This red fox vixen was napping on the shady side of the log. When she woke, she came around, peeking out and casting a perfect profile shadow of her head.
Red fox vixen soaks in the evening sun
Is she not just astoundingly beautiful? I have shared bunches of pics of this pretty lady’s kits but not many of her at all so I think it is time to give her some attention.
With four kits to raise in a bustling suburban park north of Denver, Colorado, she stays very busy and is virtually always on alert. In the evening when the kits come out to play, she enjoys a bit of downtime, keeping an eye on them but also seeming to take the time to just relax a bit.
I’ve gotten many pics of her as she just hung out but I like this one as the golden light of the setting sun really lit up her red fur and she looked toward the setting orb in the sky.
Close encounter of the smelly kind
Well, not really, as this skunk never did actually spray anything – thankfully! It was however a ton of fun happening across it as I have only ever seen a handful of them and have never gotten any decent captures of one.
This particular one was initially about 40 yards out in a field this past weekend and, much to my surprise and delight, kept coming closer. Eventually, it ended up only about 20 feet away from me where this picture was taken.
While they have an excellent sense of smell and hearing, they have poor eyesight so it could be it didn’t even realize I was there. The grass was very wet with heavy dew so it was quite drenched and not looking as fluffy as they normally do but I am happy to have been there to get the pics.
Taken at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge near Denver, Colorado.
Slithering snake in the grass
One of those times when you really need to be watching where you are walking.
Out along the South Platte River this past Sunday, I am walking along the river’s edge, watching for wildlife at eye level and above when something closer to the ground appears. As I put my foot down, something out of the corner of my eye gets my attention and looking down I see this handsome bullsnake six inches from my foot.
I was a bit startled but looking at its eyes, I was reassured that it wasn’t its far more dangerous cousin, the rattlesnake. It was quite patient with me as I moved around, getting pics of it from its spot in the grass.
It was a pretty big one, I am guessing it would have been about four feet long stretched out. Perhaps I need to pay a bit more attention to where I step. 😉
Juvenile bald eagle looking all grown up
My goodness how big you have gotten, little one!
You all have seen this beautiful eagle from the time it first popped its head above the nest rim more than a month ago. Look at how big it is now!
I spent this morning checking on its progress and as always, am amazed at how fast they grow. The light wasn’t very good at all initially but I did get some captures of it flapping from the nest to a branch then it having a bit of a snack. Later on, Dad (I think) paid a visit and hung out with his offspring.
As you can see in the side-by-side shot, the juvenile is about the same size as the adult now. It will only be a few more weeks before the young one fledges and takes flight.
Osprey showcases her impressive wingspan
These impressive raptors are technically part of the hawk family but they are much larger than most of their family members. With a wingspan pushing close to 6 feet across, they truly are impressive. Then of course you have that plumage which is absolutely gorgeous.
This particular female was returning from a flight in northern Colorado when I caught her in all her glory as she landed. Unfortunately it appears this nest was not successful this year as she or her mate should have been sitting on the nest. Instead, they spent their time sitting on the stand and flying around.
A triple threat of cuteness
I dare you to not say, “Awwww!” when looking at this. One of the few times I have been able to get all three kits in one shot and they were kind enough to give me a nice pose.
Video: Suburban fox kits at play
How is this for a cute, fun scene to put a smile on your face as we head into the long weekend?
The weather has been pretty cruddy here lately so I hadn’t been able to check in on this fox family much. I stopped by Wednesday afternoon and was happy to find three kits out playing around.
After snapping a ton of pics, I shot this video of two of the three roughhousing. It was so much fun watching them! I’ll share some of the pics later today but for now, enjoy this clip.
High flying pelican
Kind of a fun shot of an American white pelican in flight. Below and beyond are Mount Meeker and Longs Peak.
This was taken last week and as you can tell, there was a lot of snow up in the Colorado high country. This week has seen even more. That has delayed the traditional Memorial Day weekend opening of Trail Ridge Road through Rocky Mountain National Park until some point beyond.
Prairie dog keeps watch while her pups explore their new world
It isn’t often I take pics of these little guys although they are quite common and a little bit cute.
Right now, like many mammals, they are busily raising their spring babies which add an additional dose of cuteness. While I am oftentimes dismissive of these creatures and many people think nothing about wiping out their colonies in the name of “progress,” they play a significant role in the ecosystem.
As a keystone species, many other animals are dependent on the prairie dog. Most notably, raptors and many meat-eating mammals require them for food and burrowing owls depend on them for their summer homes.