Peter Cottontail for breakfast. 😉 I don’t normally shoot video but this was a good opportunity. This eagle had caught the rabbit and was taking his time eating it and there are only so many pictures of that you can take before it gets repetitive. 😉 I switched to video for a bit, allowing you to see the action as he dined. Twice you will see a Red-tailed Hawk buzz the eagle (once behind, then once in the foreground). It clearly was hoping to join the dinner table.
Cedar Waxwing dines on a Russian olive
Here’s a fun capture of a pretty common bird. Despite there not really being a shortage of them, I had never seen one in person until this past weekend. I was actually stalking a much larger bird when I saw a group of these little guys flitting around a Russian olive tree. While not an usual find, I was pretty happy to have spotted them and gotten some nice pics.
In reading about these birds, I learned that because they dine primarily on fruit, they can become intoxicated (and even die) when they choose to eat over-ripened berries that have started to ferment and produce alcohol.
Close-up of an aged giant
When I came across this big fellow last September, it was clear he was the senior member of the Moose hanging out in Roosevelt National Forest. You could see the scars of past battles on his face and his sheer size and massive antlers told the story of a bull that had seen many years.
Here he looks at peace as he grazes on willows soon after sunrise. However, they can become agitated and aggressive very quickly so extreme caution must be utilized and a respectable distance maintained when viewing them.
Moose live on average 15 to 20 years so I certainly hope I have a chance to photograph this big guy once conditions allow it in Colorado’s high country.
Male Northern Harrier on patrol
Taken back in January on a very cold afternoon. This handsome guy was hunting the roadside, looking for a meal and was kind enough to give me a number of nice captures. The male Northern Harrier is nicknamed the Gray Ghost, due to its color and its knack for staying hidden.
You’ll find Harriers 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.
Woody works on woodpecking
Woody works on woodpecking. I don’t normally focus too much on smaller birds but this little one was working so hard I figured I had to capture the action. Taken on a cold day last week with light snow falling, this Downy Woodpecker wasn’t letting the weather conditions bother it one bit. He worked its way around this tree doing its best to find a meal.
Bringing home the grass
Yes, we are in Colorado, but no, not THAT kind of grass. 😉 This male Bald Eagle is quite meticulous about keeping up the home and making sure his bride is happy. This was his second load of nesting material for the day, just a day in the life I reckon.
Bald Eagle makes a very close flyby
A prime example of how it is impossible to predict wildlife. This pretty lady caught me by total surprise. I was observing her and her mate when she launched at an angle away from me but then inexplicably turned right at me flying 20 feet over my head. Thankfully, my camera managed to keep up although I was a bit surprised as normally they would not choose to come so close. I have no doubt that she and her hubby were having a good laugh back at the nest that evening about the photographer she startled. 😀
Hoo are you?
I have not had much luck yet this season finding Great Horned Owls so when my friend mentioned he had spotted owls recently at an old nest site I had to stop by and see if I could find them. Thankfully I did, not that it was easy.
These guys are so darned good at hiding it was only on my third pass along the stand of trees that I found it. This particular nest was claimed by the weather last year so I am not sure where their humble abode is now but it was fun to find them again.
Great Horned Owls are common across all of North America and are the type of owl often depicted in storybooks. During the day they are usually sleeping but at night they come alive and hunt with amazing accuracy in the dark.
Focused on the landing!
Boy, it has been such a pleasure having so many of these little hawks around this winter – far more than usual. This particular Rough-legged Hawk provided me with so many awesome captures in recent months, including this one as it came in for a landing. It had chosen an area right along a busy road north of Denver International Airport as its winter grounds and clearly did not mind the traffic – or me with my camera.
Elk bull calls out his challenger
One for Wapiiti Wednesday! Taken back in September at the height of the annual Elk rut. This was the start of one of the most amazing 15 minutes I have ever spent with these creatures. Two bulls, each with their own harem, were at opposite ends of a meadow.
Their close proximity to each other had them uneasy and one simply could not resist challenging the other. Bugling from opposite sides, the combatants slowly worked their way toward a meeting in the middle. Here, one of the two, sounds a warning that he was ready for battle – and indeed he was. They would soon engage in an epic clash unlike any I had ever witnessed. You can see the entire sequence here.