Technically this was taken on Monday but… Two sibling kits battle it out while two others keep watch. All eight of them at this den are small but that little black one is WAY smaller than its siblings – probably 2/3 the size. It tried its best to hang with its bigger brothers and sisters but had a pretty hard time. I couldn’t help but cheer on the runt and am hoping like heck it does okay!
A double dose of cuteness as Red Fox kits pose for their portrait
Oh my! Just look at those little faces! Already having two dogs, we have no interest in any other pets but my wife said that we could definitely take one of these home. Haha! Of course we can’t and wouldn’t but they are so irresistible and adorable.
I revisited this den earlier this week after a couple of previous attempts where I came up empty handed. This time I had much better luck as I was greeted by these two and six of their siblings. All eight were bounding around and playing in a display that had me grinning ear to ear.
At one point, these two ventured apart from the crowd, investigating this new world around them. It was then that I snapped this picture of them.
American Avocets hanging out in the shallows
You might have saw a couple of these in the background of the picture I posted this morning. Here are a couple better looks at them. These birds spend summers here in Colorado for their breeding season. I love their unusual plumage and they are kind of fun to watch as they dip their bills in the water grabbing food. Apparently they can be quite aggressive toward predators and have been known to strike Harriers and Ravens. Go figure!
Great Egret makes a stopover in Colorado
A first for me seeing one of these in person as they only migrate through the Centennial State. I happened across this one hanging out in a suburban pond, I reckon resting its wings before it continues on its journey. Not a great picture due to harsh, mid-day light but it was fun to see and document one.
They are commonly found in winters along the Pacific coast and Mexico while some stay year-round in the southeastern United States. The Great Egret is actually the symbol for the National Audubon Society, an organization founded originally to protect birds that were being killed with impunity for their feathers. That hunting actually drove the Great Egret to near extinction in the late 19th century.
Some days you just feel like beating your head against a wall – or a tree stump
It is Tatanka Tuesday but this is how I felt Monday. Just one of those days! 😉 Thankfully for this massive Bison bull, it wasn’t frustration but simply an itch that had it scratching its head this past weekend.
This particular guy is the biggest at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge and is easily distinguished from others by that huge coif of hair he has on his head. I’ve never seen another bison with that cool of a hairdo.
Burrowing Owl stays focused on the camera
On my tour of the plains yesterday I was sure I would see my ‘first of the season’ of these cool little guys but I came up empty despite checking 10 different usual hot spots. I have no doubt though that they are out there and those spots will soon have their summer residents. This image was taken almost exactly one year ago on April 9, 2017.
During the summer Burrowing Owls can be found across much of the western United States. At more southern latitudes closer to Mexico and in Florida they stay in place year round. Unlike most owls, Burrowing Owls are diurnal (versus nocturnal) so it is quite common to find them out and about during the day.
Burrowing Owls are considered a threatened species here in the Colorado. Their numbers appear to be on the decline as humans take over and destroy their habitat. Many folks think nothing of wiping out Prairie Dog colonies, a keystone species itself, but don’t think of the cascading effects of that on all of the other creatures down the line, including these little guys.
Red-winged Blackbird bully Red-tailed Hawk
A fun little bit of action here. The Blackbirds had staked out a marshy area as their own and when the hawk decided to patrol overhead, the littler birds were not shy about chasing off the raptor. It was cool to watch as the Blackbirds chased and dived at the hawk.
I’ve seen small birds be aggressive in defending their homes against raptors, Kingbirds and Crows are infamous for this, but this was the first time I have seen Red-winged Blackbirds do it.
Beautiful Bald Eagle poised to launch into the weekend
I suspect many of us are similarly posed, at least in our minds, as we get ready to enjoy some much-needed time off. TGIF, right? 😉
This pic was taken about a month ago at my local nest. The female had hopped out briefly to stretch her wings and here is jumping right back to her egg warming duty.
Sadly, the eggs here appear to have failed though as they should have hatched by now and there has been no activity. 🙁 The adults are still hanging out in the area though so there is a slight chance they try again yet this season.
Well hello, foxy lady!
A tip from a friend led me to a spot where there was a fox den with a lot of new kits. I spent seven hours (literally) waiting for an appearance, staring at a hole in the ground. Finally, mom made a very brief appearance, coming out of nowhere. She checked the den, did a bit of digging, then headed off into the distance again.
Unfortunately, I never did see the little ones which leads me to believe she moved them to another den the night before. Darn! Nevertheless, I at least got to see her and she was indeed quite beautiful.
Nubby the White-tailed Deer buck
I don’t know that this guy really appreciated the nickname I gave him. 😉 It was however cool to see this buck with his antlers starting to grow out, yet another sign of spring. No doubt those antlers will be far more impressive later this summer when fully grown.
White-tailed Deer are North America’s smallest deer. They are very fleet-footed capable of speeds up to 30mph and able to leap as high as 10 feet and as far as 30 feet in a single bound.