I paid a visit to my favorite nest site last weekend and was happy to see both eaglets were doing well. They are nearly the same size as the parents now and will probably fledge in the next couple of weeks. Lots of leaves in the way prevent a good view unfortunately. I did get some pics of them together and then of both flapping their wings as they practice for flight. Young or old, these are such impressive creatures.
White-tailed Deer fawn gets some quiet time with mom
What an absolute treat it was to spend time with these two this past Sunday! Deer are quite common so I don’t typically spend much time photographing them however, this time of year means babies – and lots of them. Now those will get my attention.
Indeed, on this morning I counted a half dozen white-tail fawns and at least that many mule deer fawns, all likely born in the previous 72 hours or so. This pair was in a meadow in the post-dawn light. Mom alternated between grazing and cleaning her newborn.
The fawn enjoyed the attention but also displayed periods of braveness for someone so new to the world, occasionally wandering away to explore. I spent more than a half hour watching and photographing them, truly a special time.
Crabby visitor at the beach
No sooner and we picked out our spot on the beach north of Cocoa Beach, Florida than we saw movement in the sand. This little Ghost Crab soon made a full appearance and gave us some entertainment during our visit.
He would go into his little burrow, drag out a load of sand, toss it, then return to do the same thing. The little thing was pretty skittish as just about any movement on our part would send him back into the hole so the key was to sit as still as possible and wait for him.
Little lizard showing off its colors
These little guys were quite prevalent at the place we stayed in Orlando, Florida, and made for a fun photo op.
I believe they are Brown Anoles, a non-native species of lizard that was brought into the country from the Caribbean as pets and now have a range across Florida into Georgia.
In the mornings and evenings they would be scurrying about making you watch where you stepped. This particular one, had a favorite tree where it would move around, bob its head, then extend its dewlap. They never sat still for long and were pretty wary so it was a challenge to get decent pics of them.
Smoke makes for an other-worldly sunrise
It’s not often the sun is red and when it is, it usually comes from wildfires. Such was the case this morning as smoke from the 416 Fire in southwestern Colorado stretched to the Front Range. Certainly it is sad to see forests burn and we certainly wish it wasn’t happening but it does make for some pretty views.
Bald Eagle shows just how majestic it can be
I imagine this guy standing there saying, “I am MARVELOUS!” 😀
This is the male at one of the nests that I observe. He had gone on a bit of a fishing trip earlier in the morning and was doing this to dry himself out. This pose is more often associated with Turkey Vultures who do it in the morning to warm up before taking flight. However, I have seen eagles do it every now and then.
He does indeed look impressive in this pose and it does a great job of showcasing the six foot wide wingspan of these massive raptors.
Have a fantastic, Freedom Friday!
Red Fox vixen strikes a pose
From a couple of months ago… My stakeout at this Fox den failed to yield the much hoped for kits. However, mom did swing by for a bit, checking on one of the places she called home. I snapped a few pictures of her as she hung out but this was my favorite, taken as she was leaving. She paused just briefly near the top of a hill, looked back at me as if to say, “Get that last picture now,” and disappeared over the rise.
Formation flying Brown Pelicans
A first for me photographing these large, somewhat goofy looking birds. Taken near Cocoa Beach, Florida, it was quite entertaining to watch them as they patrolled the surf and shoreline.
My primary purpose there was family fun so these images weren’t taken until mid-morning when the light was kind of harsh. Nevertheless, it is easy to appreciate these coastal residents. I had hoped to get some shots of their infamous head-first dives into the water and while I saw a few do it, none did so close enough for me to get pics of the action.
These pelicans are a bit smaller than the American White Pelicans I see regularly here in Colorado. However, they are still sizeable with wingspans that can push close to five feet across.
Baby American Alligator hanging out in the swamp
And I am back! I forgot to post a notice but I was ‘out of the office’ for the past week on some much needed R & R. While the primary focus was a family vacation, I did manage to snap some pics to share, including some of creatures I haven’t photographed before – including this one.
While in Florida we took an airboat ride one day exploring the headwaters to the Everglades with its gorgeous scenery and abundant wildlife. We saw more than our fair share of gators up close including this young one that was hanging out close to mama. While this “baby” didn’t look so intimidating, mom definitely did (pics of her to come later).
The American Alligator is a success story of man righting a wrong. It was nearly extinct and listed for protection under the Endangered Species Act in 1967. Conservation and preservation saw these cool creatures stage a fantastic comeback and they were removed from the list in 1987.
I am going to give a shameless plug to Marsh Landing Adventures for the tour they and Captain Scott provided us. We had a ton of fun and he did a great job educating us, keeping us entertained and getting me in the right spots for pictures. If you’re ever in the Orlando area, I would highly recommend them!
Remembering fallen friends on Memorial Day
On Saturday I stopped by Fort Logan National Cemetery to pay my respects to my dad and the thousands of other heroes that have served this great nation and are laid to rest there.
Memorial Day is, of course, not a day for all of those interred there. This most auspicious holiday is for honoring those who gave the last full measure of devotion, sacrificing their lives in service to this nation. Going there is always an emotional and humbling experience. This scene made it more so.
A man stood, motionless, staring down at one of the markers, deep in his thoughts. Was it a father? A brother? A fallen shipmate? No matter who it was, he was far more than just a marble stone. He was one of the few that had the courage to put on that uniform and stand the line against those that would harm this nation.
Our nation owes an unpayable debt of gratitude to them and their families. Take time to remember them today and give thanks for what they have done.