Springtime means babies in the animal world and the herd has had a bumper crop this year. By my count there were nine new calves at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, all born within the past month. This past weekend the temperatures in the sun were comfortable and conditions calm so it seemed like a great day to just lay down in a field among the wildflowers and take in the new world these little guys just came into.
Red Fox kits out looking for trouble
Having antagonized one of their siblings so bad it went down into the den to escape, these two sought out looking for a new target. They never did find anything but had a lot of fun walking around and exploring the big, new world around their home.
I have to say that Fox kits are undoubtedly the cutest animal I have ever photographed. My goodness. Look at those two and those eyes!
While they aren’t seen often, Red Foxes are quite common across the entire Northern Hemisphere from near the equator to the Arctic Circle. They are extremely adaptable and able to coexist in areas with large human populations.
Rolling thunder on the Great Plains
Work and life’s commitments don’t allow me to storm chase near as often as I would like. However, every now and then, I get lucky and Mother Nature brings a storm right to me. Such was the case this past Friday as I went for a photo drive after work.
A nice little thunderstorm popped up and while the storm itself wasn’t anything extraordinary, it did make for a very pretty scene. This same storm cell would go on to intensify and drop hail up to an inch in diameter only about 10 miles from where this picture was taken.
Honoring a local hero
I visit a few gravesites at Fort Logan National Cemetery when I go. Some people I knew, some are friends and family of people I knew. Yesterday, I stopped by and said hello to a shipmate, one you may have heard of.
Petty Officer Danny Dietz was a man that stood above others. Raised in Littleton, Colorado, he would go on to become a Navy SEAL and serve with distinction and honor. It was in the Hindu Kush of Afghanistan on June 28, 2005 that Danny’s journey would come to an end.
In a battle immortalized in the movie, Lone Survivor, he was shot in the neck and yet he kept fighting – fighting for his teammates. He would fall back with them, leap off a precipice and continue the fight, providing covering fire until he received a fatal shot.
A truly extraordinary man, one who fought and died for something greater than himself. My visit was humbling and shook me. I thank God for men and women like him. For his valiant action, Gunner’s Mate Second Class Dietz received the Navy Cross.
Remembering the real reason for the Memorial Day holiday
As I do a few times a year, I paid a visit to Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver this weekend. My father is buried there, along with thousands of others of our nation’s heroes. Brave men and women who answered the call of the nation, some in peacetime, some in war.
Today, however, is not for all of them. It is for those that made the ultimate sacrifice – a price paid out of love for country, for God and for their countrymen. Those of us left behind are charged with carrying forward and ensuring that they are never forgotten, that their sacrifices shall not have been in vain.
We would do well to remember the words of Abraham Lincoln when he said, “Any nation that does not honor its heroes will not long endure.”
Were it not for those heroes, we and our nation would not be here. Let us remember.
Male Osprey returning from Home Depot
Well, probably not but he was bringing back some home building material to add to his and his mate’s nest. A friend pointed this spot out to me yesterday. This pair has chosen a rather poor location for a nest – right on top of a power pole with lots of wires.
Osprey are infamous for this, not always choosing their homes wisely and unfortunately sometimes with bad outcomes as they or their nest can short out the wires. At best it can cause a power outage, at worst, the birds can perish.
I’ll be hoping these two use great care up there and are successful in raising a family.
Video: Badger cubs at play
I always say I need to bring my video camera and just point it at whatever I am taking pictures of. Today I finally remembered and stuck it on top my truck while watching these three troublemakers. They were very rambunctious this morning while mom was off getting them breakfast. Wished I had it better centered on the action but I was busy taking regular pics at the same time.
A panting Bald Eagle?
Something most folks may not know but yes, Bald Eagles (and other birds) do in fact pant. They don’t sweat so panting is a way for them to dissipate heat. It wasn’t particularly hot when this image was taken but the eagle had just returned from a flight and was apparently a bit warm afterwards.
Putting on the brakes for landing
It is Freedom Friday and let’s start things off with this pic of this beautiful lady as she comes in for a landing. When I first arrived at the nest site this past Sunday, she was pretty upset.
A younger Bald Eagle had stopped by and was circling around. Bald Eagles are usually very sociable to each other – except when they have a nest and are guarding their young. They don’t play around then.
Not appreciating the visitor, she took off in hot pursuit of the interloper, chasing it down the river and out of view. It didn’t take long and she returned, landing right by her offspring and giving me a nice series of images including this one.
Have a great weekend, everyone! Take time to remember what the Memorial Day holiday is all about. Since our nation’s founding, brave men and women have given their lives in service to this great nation and we are forever indebted to them. Never forget!
Hot air balloon above the Rocky Mountains
What a difference a couple of days make in Colorado. Just two days before this image was taken we received a late season snowstorm that shocked the residents of the Front Range. It definitely had us wondering what happened to our spring.
As is typical here though, it didn’t last long and soon we were returned to our typically beautiful weather. The morning temperatures were still crisp when I took this image but the gorgeous view of the snow-capped peaks to the west were more than enough to warm my heart.
It was a bonus that this balloon rose high in the sky, seeming to sail above those massive mountains in the background. The scene certainly served as a reminder why I love this state.