That looks like an absolutely delicious breakfast, eh? 😉 This male Bald Eagle caught this good-sized fish from the adjacent lake and was kind enough to return to the same roost to devour its meal. Unfortunately for it, it only got it about half way eaten when it accidentally dropped the fish to the ground. At least it got part of a meal! Taken a couple of weeks ago in Boulder County, Colorado
Blue Jay poses for pictures
The sun was just starting to come over the horizon when I came across this beautiful bird. This isn’t the type of bird I would normally photograph but who can resist those gorgeous colors?
Off to the races!
These speed demons rarely stand still and pose for pictures and such was the case of this bachelor herd of Pronghorn. The second I brought my truck to a stop, the race was on!
They took off across a field to escape my view but, thankfully, they opted to stay parallel to the road briefly. I managed a few, quick pictures while going at 40mph (my son was driving). It was pretty exciting and really made me appreciate just how fast they can run.
Pronghorn (often incorrectly called antelope) are the fastest land animal in the Western Hemisphere and second in the world only to the Cheetah. They can sprint at speeds up to 60mph and run for extraordinarily long distances at slower speeds.
Bull Elk engage in pre-rut posturing
One for Wapiti Wednesday that was taken this past Saturday in Rocky Mountain National Park.
The rut is still a few weeks away but you can get a sense that it is getting closer if you watch the behavior of the Elk bulls. This pair and a couple more were hanging out and seemingly getting along (for now) but they did engage in a small hint of what is to come.
The larger one on the right raised his head and closed in on the slightly smaller one, posing a bit of a challenge to it. It never went any further than that but you know the time is coming where these two will do battle for the affections of the ladies.
Happy birthday to the Centennial State
It was on this date in 1876 that Colorado was admitted to the union as the 38th state. A lot certainly has changed in the 141 years since then but, despite all of the progress, much of the natural beauty for which the state is known for remains.
In 1893, Katharine Lee Bates visited the state and soon after penned “America the Beautiful”. It is well known that the amber waves of grain and purple mountain majesties she wrote about were a direct reflection of her time here.
In fact, it is said that a visit to the summit of Pikes Peak was indeed her primary inspiration. From the lower elevations of the Great Plains that cover the eastern half of this state to the rugged mountains in the west, this truly is an amazing place and I am blessed to have been born here.
This image taken back in April seems to me to do a nice job capturing this state.
That’s close enough, bub!
This adult Burrowing Owl made it pretty clear by its stare that it didn’t care too much to have its picture taken. Last year, the USDA and Denver International Airport attempted to eradicate these and other raptors from the land surrounding the airport by destroying any Prairie Dog colony nearby. While it worked in the short term, in the long term the effort failed and the Burrowing Owls (and Prairie Dogs) are back.
Sparkling high country waters in black and white
Taken last weekend in Lake County, Colorado. I was out for an early drive while the rest of my camping crew slept in and came across this very pretty and picturesque creek. Using a slow shutter speed allowed me to make the waters blur as they rushed past the rocks.
You found me!
A prime example of how you really need to be aware when out in the wild.
There were a number of Moose bulls in the area and I was moving to try to get a better angle for my pictures. As I trudged along a faint trail among some willows I suddenly come across this big, big guy.
Unlike the other bulls that were standing up and eating, this one decided it was a nice place to relax and had laid down among the thick brush so I didn’t see him until I was within about 15 feet. Yikes! That is not something you want to do.
I slowly backed away to a safe distance, snapped one picture, and then let the sleeping bull lie so to speak.
Bald Eagle brings home a big breakfast
It is Freedom Friday and here’s a cool capture I recently took.
With their young one having fledged, this male and his mate have some free time and have returned to hanging out a lake in northern Colorado. When I stopped by a couple of weeks ago, I found him standing proudly in their favorite tree. After a time, he went out and attempted to fish but came back empty handed (or taloned as it were).
Undeterred, he tried again and was rewarded for his effort with a very nice sized catch. In this image, he is returning to the tree with his meal. Fish are certainly the Bald Eagle’s preferred meal. Here in Colorado though, water is sparse so you are just as likely to find them hunting waterfowl or prairie dogs.
Have a great weekend and TGIF!
Bison graze at ease along the Madison River
This beautiful scene kickstarted our visit to Yellowstone National Park last month. Winter had been harsh up there with a great deal of snowfall and the spring was a wet one. However, all that moisture made for a lush, green landscape and rivers flowing full and quick.
Soon after arrival we set out for a quick exploration trip and found a herd of bison grazing along the banks of the river. Above, a cloud-dotted sky with spots of bright blue peering through. Truly a scene showing nature at its finest and a scene I will never forget.