I don’t normally shoot video but this pretty lady was quite content to eat her entire meal right in front of me so I took advantage of the opportunity. Here in Colorado you are almost more likely to find Bald Eagles eating prairie dogs so getting to watch one dine on fish was kind of fun.
Portrait of a Bighorn ram
One of the senior members of a herd of these powerful creatures southwest of Denver. You can just tell from those worn, beaten and cracked horns that this big guy has seen his share of battles and I would bet won most of them.
The Bighorn Sheep is the Centennial State’s official animal and to me that is quite fitting. Just like the terrain and many of its people, these animals are very rugged, strong and tough. The animal is found in many places in the state’s high country.
Diseases from European livestock and overhunting had caused the animal’s population to drop precipitously by the early 1900s. Thankfully conservation efforts have been successful in helping the sheep rebound since then.
Roots of the earth
Roots of the earth. Something quite a bit different from what I normally post. I took this image back in June as we hiked around Sunwapta Falls in Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada. The randomness and texture of the exposed tree roots along the trail really caught my eye and while it looked okay in color, I thought the black and white was cooler. What do you think?
Little rascal hunkers down, tries to hide
Little rascal hunkers down, tries to hide. Clearly though, I saw it and it saw me. 😉
For such a common type of wildlife, I found getting a good picture of a Raccoon to be a bit of a ‘white whale’ for me. In fact, not only could I not get a good picture, I struggled to even find them despite knowing of places they frequent.
My years’ long quest finally came to an end Saturday. My wife and I were out for a photo drive / hike and I decided to check a spot where I knew they had been spotted and sure enough, I found not only one but four of them! I don’t think they were particularly happy at have the attention of this paparazzi but the cute ones gave me some nice poses in the early morning light.
Portrait of a Great Horned Owl
This beautiful lady is Sophie. She was rescued after suffering a broken wing and unfortunately cannot fly well enough to live in the wild. Now she serves as an ambassador for a local wildlife group. Because I have plenty of Great Horned Owl pics, I didn’t spend too much time photographing her at a workshop last month but she was beautiful.
Notably was her coloring that was darker than the Great Horned Owls we have here in Colorado. This is because she is from Alaska where the owls up there tend to have darker plumage that works better for blending in with the surroundings up there. Taken in Denver, Colorado.
Sunrise of orange and blue
I figured those colors were a good omen for tonight’s game between the Denver Broncos and the Kansas City Chiefs. 😉
My son and I were up and at ’em before the sun this morning as usual and ended up at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge. There, on the shores of Lake Ladora, we watched a beautiful sunrise unfold. Here in #Colorado we almost take these scenes for granted as more often than not, our days begin and end with this kind of beauty. Go Broncos!
Avalanche creates a snowfall
Reaching back to June 30 when I was in Jasper National Park. We had taken a short hike to Mount Edith Cavell, a truly stunning location. As we took in the sights, we suddenly heard what could only be likened to a gun shot going off across the valley followed by a long, low rumbling. Straining to find the source of the noise, we discover that a small avalanche had been triggered and snow was cascading off of a cliff.
It was very cool to see and I still can’t believe how loud it was. As temperatures warmed that morning, we got to see two more avalanches as the early summer temperatures took their toll on the past winter’s snow.
A better way to spend Black Friday
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.