This pretty lady and a few of her friends were hanging out in a stand of trees but the deep, early morning shadows was preventing a decent picture. Thankfully she took mercy on this photographer and stepped into the light. I think it makes for a pleasing picture with that soft, golden light of sunrise across her face and much of the rest of her body in the shade.
"Hello, deer!"
There is never a shortage of deer to photograph in the areas I frequent. Mule Deer, like this young buck, are particularly numerous and always willing to be photographed. This particular guy was hanging out with a few ladies at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge last weekend.
Young White-tailed Deer buck out for an early morning stroll
It was a cold, frosty morning this past Monday but the cold only seems to make the wildlife even more active. On this day the deer were out in droves, grazing on the plains as the sun rose and temperatures finally started to rise a bit.
White-tailed Deer are North America’s smallest deer. They are very fleet-footed 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. It isn’t often that they will stay and pose for pictures so I was happy that this guy gave me the opportunity.
A postcard scene of the Colorado plains and snow-covered Rocky Mountains
Extreme cold and a healthy shot of snow were no deterrent to me venturing out to take pictures two Sundays ago. It is times like these that wildlife almost seems to become more active than normal and perhaps best of all, keeps many of the less dedicated humans at home and out of the way. 😉
As dawn began to cast its light across the scene, I had to stop and just take it all in – the beauty of this state can be awe-inspiring and therapeutic. Two deer does were grazing in the snow-covered grass, one seemed interested in the guy with the camera. Low fog draped across the foothills and towering above, those indomitable mountains in the distance. Just a gorgeous scene that I count myself privileged to have witnessed.
Merry Christmas
A pretty exhausting trip for Rudolph and now he is taking a rest before getting ready for next year. 😉
A very Merry Christmas to all of you from my family to yours! Amid all the excitement that today brings, let us pause and remember the reason for the season and give thanks for He who our Lord gave to us on this day:
“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”” ~Luke 2:8-14?
Mule Deer buck poses for pictures
These cool dudes are not particularly tough to find at many of the places I frequent for picture taking. Honestly, oftentimes I just keep on driving a lot of times. This guy however was just such a willing photo subject I felt obligated to spend some time capturing him on ‘film.’
Mule Deer are quite common across the western half of North America and can be found everywhere from the mountains to the plains.
Buck looking for love (or lust). Doe says, “No way!”
The deer rut is all but over however some bucks keep trying to win the affections of the does. A Mule Deer doe was working her way across a field with a buck casually following along. Not keen on the attention, the doe took off running and the buck gave hot pursuit. I never could get both running in the same frame due to their distance from each other but I at least got a couple of nice sequences of them individually.
“Why yes, darling, I am quite pretty.”
“Why yes, darling, I am quite pretty.” 😉 Female White-tailed Deer appearing to be very proud at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge. Photo excursions to the Arsenal can sometimes be hit or miss but you can almost always count on finding plenty of deer to take pictures of.
Foggy deer
Mule Deer does and fawns seemed a bit interested in the guy with the camera. The fog really made for tough shooting conditions and grainy pics but it also allowed for some unique captures. Taken last weekend at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge.
Bald Eagle performs Top Gun flyby
This kind of reminds me of one of my favorite lines from the 80s hit movie: “Sorry, Goose, but it’s time to buzz the tower.” In this case, time to buzz the White-tailed Deer. 😉
I captured this image this past Sunday in Longmont, Colorado. I spotted the eagle in what would have been a prime position to catch it posing with the Rocky Mountains behind but it had other plans. Before I even had a chance to get in position it took flight and while I was a good ways away, I decided to snap some pictures. I’m glad I did as I didn’t even know the deer were there until it went over them.
I haven’t had a truly quality photo session with a Bald Eagle for a couple months now and I am getting frustrated. We have been incredibly warm here in Colorado and I suspect that is delaying their arrival for the season. Problem is, I am not a patient person!