😉 This Burrowing Owl owlet north of Denver International Airport was quite the character. While its siblings pretty much ignored me, it was very interested in the guy with the camera. Feel free to share and bring a smile to someone else’s face. Have a great weekend!
Bald Eagle ready to launch
Keeping close watch on its prospective prey, a Bald Eagle readies itself for a dive toward its unsuspecting victim. Down below, a prairie dog was blissfully grazing in a field, totally unaware of the fate that was about to befall it.
In a stunning scene that lasted less than five seconds after this picture was taken, the eagle leapt into the air and plummeted to the ground. With its talons extended in front, it snatched the rodent, too to the air again and headed off to enjoy its well-earned meal.
Taken at Cherry Creek State Park, Colorado.
Big-eyed Great Horned Owl
This great looking guy wasn’t quite sure what to make of the goof with the camera. He would go from looks of indifference, to sleeping to this “who the heck are you!” look. Very entertaining to watch and those eyes, as always, are amazing.
Image taken in Thornton, Colorado.
Osprey enjoys sushi for breakfast
It’s been a while since I have posted a pic of these cool raptors. This image was taken last month in Longmont, Colorado at one of the many nest locations in and around the city.
Since I was there last, the pair has successfully hatched three little ones. I’ll definitely need to head up there soon to check them out.
If you’re interested, this particular nest actually has a live webcam on it. Check it out here.
Adult Burrowing Owl in flight
I have struggled to get decent images of these fast-moving, erratic fliers but last week at least had some luck. Not as close as I would like and the houses in the background are distracting but I am pretty pleased with the images. These little guys are so much fun to watch – just can’t get enough of them!
“Whoa! Watch where you shoot that stuff!”
I guess if you are a bird, this is a lesson in how to be very careful where you choose to stand. 😉
This particular tree was a haven for these cool looking birds as up to a half dozen of them would take turns resting and sunning themselves on a hot day on the Colorado plains.
These birds are common in the area during the summer. During the winter they head to the warmer climes of the Gulf Coast and the adjacent states. You can learn more about these Cormorants here.
Little rabbit gets a closeup
Should other campers have been awake early Saturday, they probably would have laughed at the fool with the big camera combat crawling through grass to take pictures of a bunny. Thankfully there were no witnesses beyond me and this little one. 😉
Taken at Jackson Lake State Park, Colorado.
American White Pelican performs a flyby
This past weekend there were a lot of these graceful fliers where we camped and they provided plenty of entertainment. This particular ??pelican?’s gray head can’t help but make me feel like it was an older one although nothing I can find says the color means anything. I guess I’ll just pretend it was an old veteran. 😉
Congregation of Cormorants
I have spent almost every weekend of the first half of summer for 15 years at Jackson and this is the first time I have seen this. We always see Double-crested Cormorants hanging around but never in the numbers we saw this weekend.
Dozens upon dozens (hundreds?) of them on the water. A very unusual scene but also kind of cool. Not sure why they chose to congregate here in these numbers.
Taken yesterday at Jackson Lake State Park in northeastern Colorado.
A visit with the new Burrowing Owls
I haven’t had the opportunity to visit my little friends in a couple of weeks and since then there have been big changes. Last time I saw them, the Burrowing Owl owlets were still hiding underground.
Today they were out and about and entertaining as always. Unfortunately it was mid-afternoon so the lighting wasn’t particularly good but it was fun to watch them. Taken in Adams County, Colorado.
Scroll down to view the complete gallery from the day.