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…

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

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…

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…

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…

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

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…

November 10, 2024

Environment:Start Time: 3:10 PM Temperature: 55 degrees Sky: Sunshine and a few clouds. After three days of heavy snow followed by two days of decent sunshine I finally decided it was safe enough to return to Rock Canyon at Lake Pueblo Stated Park and see how things had held up. Turns out – not too bad. I only saw one fallen branch and no new downed trees. Much better than my neighborhood. Still I took it kind of easy since the unpaved trails were pretty muddy. Bird-wise things were definitely sparse. The Red-tailed Hawk pictured here was a welcome surprise…

November 05, 2024

Environment:Start Time: 7:05 AM Temperature: 32 degrees Sky: Sunshine and clouds. Sightings:Birds: Mallards, Gadwalls, Buffleheads, Gulls, Canada Geese, Starlings, Osprey, Northern Flickers, Western Grebe, Blue Jays, Crows, American Kestrel, Cooper’s Hawk, Townsend’s Solitaire, White-crowned Sparrows, Belted Kingfisher Critters: Mule Deer, Tree Squirrel Gear: Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II, Lumix 100-300mm; Olympus EE-1 Dot Sight; Canon Powershot G12