I suppose I could have gone shopping but then if I had done that, I would have missed having sushi with this pretty lady. 😉
Bald Eagle makes an early morning launch
This female is from a mated pair in the area of Longmont, Colorado that I have been visiting recently. Last Saturday, soon after the sun rose, they weren’t too inclined to hang out and pose but she did give me a nice series as she took flight. This image does a nice job showcasing her impressive 6 foot wingspan and gives a good look at those deadly talons.
Bald Eagles are believed to have a grasp capable of exerting an astonishing 400psi. By comparison, the average human’s hand comes in around 20psi. Needless to say, when an eagle latches on to a rabbit, prairie dog or fish, the prey isn’t very likely to get away.
I’ll be avoiding the BlackFriday crowds and instead opting to try to spend some time with some of these majestic creatures today. That should be much more fun and much less stressful! 😉 For those of you in Colorado, all Colorado State Parks are offering free admission today so maybe take advantage of that and do your shopping online, perhaps at http://tony-hake.pixels.com/.
Tom the Turkey says, “Happy Thanksgiving!”
Tony says the same as well. 😉 Their faces won’t win any beauty contests but these guys sure can be pretty when they puff up and strut their stuff as this image taken back in May shows.
Little buddies
There are quite a few of the little ones among the herd at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal and when you come across them, you can’t help but take pictures – they are so darned cute!
It used to be we called these buffalo but that actually was incorrect. While they are part of the same family that includes the European and African buffalo, the Bison is its own, distinct species. It is believed they were called buffalo by early North American explorers due to their resemblance to the Old World species.
Even Hawks have to scratch when they get an itch
Watching a raptor do this is pretty darned amusing and I really don’t know how they don’t rip themselves open with those talons! This gorgeous Ferruginous Hawk was posing on a utility pole when the need to scratch became greater than its desire to keep an eye on me.
Ferruginous Hawks are the largest buteos in North America and from a distance, their size and profile may have them mistaken for eagles. While they can be found here in Colorado year-round, they are most common during the winter months.
“Why yes, darling, I am quite pretty.”
“Why yes, darling, I am quite pretty.” 😉 Female White-tailed Deer appearing to be very proud at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge. Photo excursions to the Arsenal can sometimes be hit or miss but you can almost always count on finding plenty of deer to take pictures of.
Female Northern Harrier enforces the No Passing Zone
Driving along north of Denver International Airport this past Sunday my son and I come across a hawk perched on top of the sign. I was unable to tell what kind it was so we pull over and I point my camera at it to get a better look. Just as I lift my camera up, my son yells, “Incoming! Here comes another!”
Quickly I squeezed off a couple of captures as a female Northern Harrier takes a swipe at the first hawk, chasing it off. None of the pictures came out great but this one isn’t too bad and is a fun and unique capture.
Oh, and that first hawk? It was a Rough-legged Hawk, a raptor that spends summers in the Arctic, winters in the lower 48.
Osprey takes to the skies
This capture was taken back in June but somehow I failed to share it at the time. We have been going to this spot on Colorado’s Great Plains multiple times each summer for the past 15+ years and I had never seen an Osprey there. Well, much to my surprise and pleasure this handsome fellow decided to break that streak. We spent a few days watching and photographing it as it took advantage of the ample fishing opportunities and the pleasant late spring weather.
Moose bull takes a big whiff of the fresh air
It’s been a little while since I have done a Moose Monday so here you go. This big boy was hanging out in the rarified high-altitude air of Colorado’s Indian Peaks Wilderness Area back in August. He along with four other bulls and a cow were all grazing in the willows and enjoying a brisk late summer morning. Something seemed to get the attention of this bull’s nose and he raised it up using the flehmen response to get a big sampling of whatever he was smelling.
The intense focus of a raptor
While raptors like this Red-tailed Hawk are certainly gorgeous, they are also ferocious predators. With the right look, they can look quite pretty but at the same time be downright intimidating as this pretty lady appears in this capture.
Karma is a captive bird, used for falconry and education. A few weeks ago I and my son got the opportunity to spend a lot of time photographing her and some other raptors up close and personal.
Found across all of North America, Red-tailed Hawks are probably the most common hawk you will see. They are oftentimes perched on poles in rural areas but have adapted well to suburban and urban settings as well.