Wildlife, landscape and weather photography
The deer rut is getting ramped up on the Colorado plains and I saw many signs of it yesterday. The bucks are clearly becoming very interested in the does, following them around and doing some light sparring with each other.
This good-looking white-tailed deer buck had his eye on the pretty lady, staying right near her. Here he gives her a bit of an amorous look while she looks away, perhaps playing hard to get. 😉
This was one happy guy! Well, or it could just be that I caught him mid chomp as he was eating but let’s pretend. 😉
My photo outing Saturday wasn’t as eventful as I had hoped but there were a few cool creatures to take pictures of, including this guy.
I did see some signs of the rut with a few battles between bucks off in the distance but none close enough to get decent pics. Hopefully I can get some captures of them going head-to-head before the season is over.
Mom was on the move and anxious to move to a more private location but this little one was in no mood to wait. Bending over and diving right in, she stopped the doe in her tracks and got some breakfast. A growing child needs its nutrition, right? 😉
This is National Wildlife Refuge Week and fittingly enough, this was taken at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge this past Sunday. There are 567 national wildlife refuges across the United States, each providing great wildlife viewing opportunities. More importantly, these lands protect habitat for thousands of species of creatures that would be crowded out by human encroachment otherwise.
One from early this month in Arapaho National Forest. This handsome fellow was grazing on the wildflowers but of course the guy in the truck with the camera got his attention. Behind him you can see some of the damage from the East Troublesome Fire that many of my recent pictures have highlighted.
There are quite a few little ones at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge this year. I have not had the best of luck getting pics of them as either the light has been poor or the distance too great.
Last weekend this one gave me a break and briefly stopped in the sunlight to give me a nice look before heading off into the shade with its mom. The golden light of the rising sun really cast a pleasing glow on it and lit up its eye beautifully.
Taken late one evening during our recent visit to Ridgway State Park. We were watching some deer in the field below our campsite when suddenly there was a bit of action.
Apparently some nesting red-winged blackbirds did not take kindly to the deer grazing near their home. The male blackbird was quite aggressive defending its territory, constantly dive-bombing the deer.
Here, one young deer walks through, focused on the female blackbird. Little did it know that the male was approaching from behind. A quick hit on the rump from the bird sent the deer running.
Not the best pictures given it was after sunset and minimal light but a fun bit of action to see.
Kind of a fun shot from this past weekend. The morning was largely cloudy so light was minimal as the sun began to rise. On the horizon, a sliver of clear sky was glowing orange. On top of the hill, I seemed to have gotten the attention of two mule deer. Thankfully, both sat still long enough for me to grab a shot and, best of all, provided a mirror of each other bookending the rising sun.
On their way to the impressive racks they will be wearing later this year, the white-tailed deer and mule deer bucks are beginning to regrow their antlers.
Judging by the base of the growth on these two, they will almost certainly be contenders come the fall when the rut kicks in and the hormones are raging.
Right now the deer look pretty scraggly and aren’t particularly photogenic as they begin shedding their winter coats for thinner, cooler summer coverings. Come the fall, they will be far more handsome and impressive.
Kind of a pretty shot from last weekend of this pretty lady. I loved the way the rising sun illuminated the lingering leaves on the trees behind her.
I caught this pretty white-tailed deer doe and her yearling off guard this past weekend.
I was in my usual hiding spot, pretty well concealed as I monitored a bald eagle nest. As I sat there, I saw the two of them approach, entirely oblivious to my presence. It was just one of those nice moments I experience when I am in the field. A quiet, chilly morning along the river with the only sounds being of the water and birds.
The pair of deer walked along lazily and I enjoyed soaking in the scene. As they got close, I quietly, slowly lifted my camera. That movement was just enough to get mama’s attention as you can see in this image. Needless to say, once she realized I was there, she didn’t linger long.
