Out for a morning photo drive not far from my camping spot, I happened across these pretty ladies as they grazed their way across the valley. I shot a number of pics of them in the golden light of sunrise but this was the only one that I got with all of them looking at me at the same time. Taken west of Grand Lake, Colorado.
Female Great Horned Owl makes the most of limited camouflage
Jumping back to April when I visited this pretty lady’s nest before the leaves and opened up. It is in a very public area above a popular trail that parallels a busy suburban street. The usual people and vehicle traffic doesn’t normally bother her but on this day, road crews digging up the pavement across the street had her pretty agitated. While she glanced at me for this pic, her dominant focus was on the intruders nearby and the threat she perceived from them.
Stealth Moose
I am running behind in posting pics of these massive creatures that I have taken recently so here’s a bonus one for Moose Monday. See my earlier post for a clearer shot. This guy thought he was being sneaky. Apparently the best tasting foliage was right next to the road where I was watching him and three other bulls. With the steep drop off from the road, I couldn’t get a clear shot of him as he eased his way up, grazing along the way. Kind of makes for a fun pic.
Bull Moose pays close attention to the photographer
An absolutely fun morning recently as we camped in Arapaho National Forest. The rest of my crew was more interested in sleeping in than wildlife watching so I headed off alone, going further into the forest.
I had oftentimes seen Moose in this area and this time was no different. Four bulls – three fully grown, one juvenile – were grazing next to a creek. Three of the four didn’t pay me any attention as I stood by my truck and snapped pictures.
One, however, was quite curious about me, routinely pausing his eating to look right at me and monitor me. Here, he had raised his head and gave me a nice look right into the eyes. In the end, I spent an hour-and-a-half with the group, just me and them, and it made for a very special day.
Little one lounging in the alpine tundra
Adorable, cute, darling… All of those are applicable adjectives to apply to Mountain Goat kids, including this one.
Following a bit of a wild rumpus with other young ones in the herd, this kid decided it was time for a break. While mom grazed on the foliage nearby, it opted to just lay down and relax. That didn’t mean it wasn’t paying attention and it seemed as interested in watching me as I was in watching it.
Happiness is finding some old friends unexpectedly
Returning from a less than great photo drive on a dreary day two weekends ago, I spot two Bald Eagles in an area in which I normally only see eagles in the winter. I of course had to stop and investigate and much to my surprise, I knew them!
This is a mated pair from a nearby nest and I know this because the male (right) has distinctive dark spots on its head. You all have actually seen pictures of them many times in the past.
Unfortunately, this year, the nest failed early on so there were no offspring. I suspect that was the result of a couple of folks intruding on their nesting area too often and too close as I had witnessed more than once this spring. That is unfortunate as during mating season, they are particularly sensitive and it doesn’t take much to throw them off and ruin any chance of another generation of eagles.
I gave a couple gentle hints to the offenders this year but next year I won’t be so kind and likely will involve the authorities. It is fine to watch them and, depending on the situation, watch relatively closely but there are limits.
Mule Deer fawn plays hide and seek in the grass
What a cutie, eh? I happened across it a couple weeks ago as it hid in some tall grass. Mom was out in the open about 30 feet away but had stashed her two little ones out of view – for the most part. Every now and then, curiosity would get the best of this one and it would peek its head up to look around and see who was there. I managed to snag a few images when it did, making for a cute capture.
Bighorn Sheep ram poses for (a belated) Colorado Day
August 1st is celebrated here as “Colorado Day,” the anniversary on which we officially became a state. President Ulysses S Grant issued a proclamation on August 1, 1876, “declaring the State admitted into the Union on an equal footing with the original States.” And with that, 100 years after the birth of the nation, the Centennial State joined the union.
The Bighorn Sheep is Colorado’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.
A watchful bull for Moose Monday
This past weekend I headed up to Roosevelt National Forest in Colorado looking for these cool creatures. Unfortunately there was only one and the light was at a premium. He didn’t want to wait for the sun to fully rise before heading off into the forest but was kind enough to give me some pretty nice captures.
This is just before he left the willing and disappeared into the trees. These guys are a lot of fun and thankfully, getting more and more abundant here in the Centennial State. Soon the rut will begin and you will want to keep your distance, even more so than usual.
Beautiful Coyote poses for pics in the high country
I was on my way back from a trip to near timberline yesterday, somewhat disappointed in my captures that I had gotten thus far. This pretty lady changed my luck. She ran across the road in front of me and I naturally expected her to continue on into the forest. Instead, she stopped about 20 feet away and stood and posed. Then, much to my surprise, she actually laid down, giving me another batch of shots. Taken in Roosevelt National Forest.