Tony's Takes Photography

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Red fox vixen joins the photographer on the sidewalk

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A red fox vixen enjoys a quiet evening in the suburbs. (© Tony’s Takes)
A red fox vixen enjoys a quiet evening in the suburbs. (© Tony’s Takes)

What a treat and a very pleasant surprise and a great shot for #FoxFriday.

Taken a few weeks ago, I was sitting on my perch on a sidewalk watching this pretty lady’s kits play in the evening sun. The sun was getting low and starting to cast long shadows so I was preparing to pack up when mom decided to come up and pay me a visit.

She kept a respectable distance but it was clear she had grown comfortable with my repeated presence enough to hang out in close proximity. It could be too that she was simply looking for a brief escape from her rambunctious kits as they undoubtedly were wearing her down. 😉

Storms over the Collegiate Peaks

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Thunderstorms roll over the Collegiate Peaks and toward Buena Vista, Colorado below. (© Tony’s Takes)
Thunderstorms roll over the Collegiate Peaks and toward Buena Vista, Colorado below. (© Tony’s Takes)

I am back from some much needed R & R in San Isabel National Forest overlooking Buena Vista, Colorado. I didn’t take many pics as family and relaxation were higher priorities but the skies in many of the evenings demanded attention.

This one from this past Friday. Mount Princeton is front and center. If I am not mistaken, Mount Yale is the tallest peak to the right then moving back left of Princeton, Mount Antero and Mount Shavano are the two most prominent on that side.

No matter their names, the view was awesome! Oh, and believe it or not, the next night we had snow!

Swainson’s hawk struggles to stay awake

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A Swainson's hawk seems to be having a hard time staying awake while perched in Adams County, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)
A Swainson’s hawk seems to be having a hard time staying awake while perched in Adams County, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

Being a new parent is a struggle. Sleep is a rarity and it is just a lot of work. It certainly appeared its new role as a father was taking a toll on this handsome fellow. Despite it being early in the morning when they would be most active, this guy was having a hard time keeping his eyes open and seemed to be trying to catch a quick nap.

A Swainson's hawk looks into the rising sun. (© Tony’s Takes)
A Swainson’s hawk looks into the rising sun. (© Tony’s Takes)

Burrowing owl soaks in the morning sun

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A burrowing owl is wide-eyed not long after sunrise on the Colorado plains. (© Tony’s Takes)
A burrowing owl is wide-eyed not long after sunrise on the Colorado plains. (© Tony’s Takes)

A fun encounter with this handsome fellow last weekend.

He was out in a field, a bit too far for me to get a decent show when much to my surprise, he flew up and landed right in front of me. The post-sunrise light was gorgeous and lit him up nicely although, judging by the look on his face, he might not have really wanted his picture taken right then.

During the summer burrowing #owls can be found across much of the western United States. At more southern latitudes closer to Mexico and in Florida they stay in place year round. Unlike most owls, Burrowing Owls are diurnal (versus nocturnal) so it is quite common to find them out and about during the day.

All in the family

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A prairie dog family hangs out at home on a beautiful Colorado morning. (© Tony’s Takes)
A prairie dog family hangs out at home on a beautiful Colorado morning. (© Tony’s Takes)

What better way to start the day than hang out with the family at sunrise on the Colorado plains? Sounds good to me and apparently to these prairie dogs as well.

While some view this rodent as a pest, it is in fact a keystone species whose survival is crucial to many others. They are common on the Great Plains however their habitat is regularly threatened by human encroachment.

Bambi bounds through the grass

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A white-tailed deer fawn bounds through the grass of the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge. (© Tony’s Takes)
A white-tailed deer fawn bounds through the grass of the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge. (© Tony’s Takes)

Despite being less than a week old, this white-tailed deer fawn was already quite fleet-footed. It was a pretty impressive display as it raced to catch up with mom last weekend.

When it grows up, it will be capable of speeds up to 30mph and able to leap as high as 10 feet and as far as 30 feet in a single bound!

A white-tailed deer fawn bounds through the grass of the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge. (© Tony’s Takes)
A white-tailed deer fawn bounds through the grass of the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge. (© Tony’s Takes)

Gear extended for the grab

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A bald eagle extends its legs and opens its talons as it prepares to land in Adams County, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)
A bald eagle extends its legs and opens its talons as it prepares to land in Adams County, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

Holy moly. Check out the talons on this guy! Those could definitely do some damage, eh?

This handsome bald eagle was returning to his home at the end of April and put on a nice little display as he prepared for touch down. Seems like a good image for Freedom Friday.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

American avocet wades in the water

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An American avocet wades in the waters in the Eastlake area of Thornton, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)
An American avocet wades in the waters in the Eastlake area of Thornton, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

There are a couple of these cool birds that hang out in a pond near my house. These birds spend summers here in Colorado for their breeding season. I love their unusual plumage and they are kind of fun to watch as they dip their bills in the water grabbing food. Apparently they can be quite aggressive toward predators and have been known to strike harriers and ravens.

An American avocet wades in the waters in the Eastlake area of Thornton, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)
An American avocet wades in the waters in the Eastlake area of Thornton, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

“That’s no prairie dog!”

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A black-footed ferret, North America's most endangered mammal, peeks up from a burrow in Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)
A black-footed ferret, North America’s most endangered mammal, peeks up from a burrow in Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

It had been more than a year since I last saw North America’s most endangered mammal, the black-footed ferret. This past Saturday morning, I had a very brief but very fun encounter.

As I was driving along, I saw its white and black face pop up out of a burrow. I initially dismissed it as a prairie dog but then my brain started yelling, “That is not a prairie dog!”

I came to a stop, backed up slowly and the little guy gave me a few quick poses before disappearing into its home. The visit was brief but I was ecstatic to have been given the opportunity to see such a rare creature again.

Once thought extinct, conservation and captive breeding programs run by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have allowed small populations of the black-footed ferret to return to the wild. It is heartening to see such dedicated efforts being taken to right a wrong.

Taken at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge near Denver, Colorado.

If you are interested in owning a copy of this cute little dude (or dudette), I have it available in my online store. You can select everything from just a standard paper print to one with framing to metal prints. At checkout, if you use discount code FZPNMB, it will take 50% off my markup on whatever you choose.