Birds Critters Sightings Wildlife
December 04, 2024

December 04, 2024

Environment:Start Time: 7:50 AM Temperature: 33 degrees Sky: Sunshine. The streak of great weather continues with another brilliantly sunny morning. Today’s images are a little bit different, though. Featured today (mostly due to his sheer magnificence) is a Mule Deer Buck who casually crossed the Arkansas River right in front of me. Pictured here is what both Google and the Cornell Lab’s Merlin phone app identify as a Wilson’s Snipe. This is definitely a new bird for me. According to Merlin the bird is uncommon in this area. There were two of them in a shallow spot on the Arkansas…

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Birds Sightings Wildlife
December 03, 2024

December 03, 2024

Environment:Start Time: 7:55 AM Temperature: 32 degrees Sky: Sunshine. A truly beautiful morning greeted me as I arrived at my normal parking spot by the Anticline Fishing Pond. The freezing temperature was nicely mitigated by the radiant heat from the Sun. Most of the birding action was to be had in or around bodies of water. Featured is a male Belted Kingfisher making a stab at the Arkansas River. The only shot I got of his entrance into the water was a splash. I could not tell if the dive was successful or not. Also on the Arkansas River were…

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Birds Critters Sightings Wildlife
November 30, 2024

November 30, 2024

Environment:Start Time: 3:20 PM Temperature: 49 degrees Sky: Sunshine. Cold weather and holiday travel have really messed with my nature photo tours. I finally made it out for a late afternoon stroll around the Osprey Picnic Area in Rock Canyon. Activity was pretty scarce. I heard at least two Great Horned Owls having a conversation but I could not spot their locations. The featured image is a buck Mule Deer (with nothing but the most honorable of intentions) stalking a shy doe who seemed reluctant to commit to a relationship. Pictured here are a couple of Common Goldeneye hens navigating…

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Birds Critters Sightings Wildlife
November 22, 2024

November 22, 2024

Environment:Start Time: 3:15 PM Temperature: 68 degrees Sky: Mostly sunshine. Sightings:Birds: Ducks, Gadwalls, Canada Geese, Gulls, Starlings, Sparrows, American Kestrels, Cooper’s Hawk, Great Horned Owls, American Robins, Northern Flickers, White-breasted Nuthatch, Wild Turkeys, Belted Kingfisher, Pied-billed GrebeCritters: Mule Deer, Prairie Dogs Gear: OM System OM-1 Mark II, Lumix 100-400mm; Olympus EE-1 Dot Sight

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Birds Sightings Wildlife
November 21, 2024

November 21, 2024

Environment:Start Time: 3:25 PM Temperature: 57 degrees Sky: Mostly sunshine. Today’s start was a bit late but at least I got out on the trail. Morning temperatures have been a bit too cold for my old bones for sure. Though I didn’t see a lot of birds this evening I can say that the ones I captured were Great. Pictured here is a Great Blue Heron that seemed to be settled for the night. The Great Horned Owls that start and end this post are (I believe) the two adult Owls that were raising a family in the old hawk…

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Birds Sightings Wildlife
November 17, 2024

November 17, 2024

Environment:Start Time: 7:15 AM Temperature: 30 degrees Sky: Sunshine. There wasn’t much going on out on the trail this morning. I only saw the one female Belted Kingfisher pictured here on what seems to be a favorite perch along the Arkansas River. She even lets me get pretty close before leaving. Featured is what I think is a female House Finch who kindly hung around after all her companions flew off to another tree. She was happy munching on the seeds and did not find me at all intimidating. Sightings:Birds: Ducks, Wood Ducks, Canada Geese, Gulls, Starlings, American Kestrel, Belted…

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Birds Sightings Wildlife
November 14, 2024

November 14, 2024

Environment:Start Time: 3:10 PM Temperature: 64 degrees Sky: Sunshine with a chilly breeze. Frigid morning temperatures made me opt to walk in the late afternoon’s more comfortable warmth. Warmth that was mitigated by a pesky breeze. For some reason all my feathered friends were not out enjoying the weather as much as I was. It was really lonely out there. If it wasn’t for the female Belted Kingfisher pictured here and in the top featured image I would have come home empty handed. She did treat me to a nice dive, though she pulled up at the last minute and…

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Birds Critters Sightings Wildlife
November 12, 2024

November 12, 2024

Environment:Start Time: 7:20 AM Temperature: 27 degrees Sky: Sunshine mostly. Sightings:Birds: Mallards, Gulls, American Robins, Starlings, Northern Flickers, Western Grebe, Cooper’s Hawk, Belted Kingfishers, American Kestrel, American Goldfinch, House Finches, Dark-eyed Juncos, White-crowned Sparrows, Great Blue Herons, Mountain Bluebird, Blue Jays Critters: Mule Deer, Pronghorn Antelope, Tree Squirrels Gear: OM System OM-1 Mark II, Lumix 100-300mm; Olympus EE-1 Dot Sight; Panasonic Lumix FZ80

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Birds Sightings Wildlife
November 11, 2024

November 11, 2024

Environment:Start Time: 3:00 PM Temperature: 57 degrees Sky: Sunshine. Walking in the afternoons this time of year is certainly more pleasant than in the frosty mornings. Thing is, I just don’t seem to see (or capture) as many birds. Although I did see a pretty good variety of birds tonight not many were inclined to pose for me. I was lucky enough to capture the Belted Kingfisher who is today’s featured image. He (pretty sure it was a male) blasted past me in a big hurry. I also got one of my better captures of the Western Grebe that has…

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