Fur Coats

On October 19, 2017October 19, 2017 By Mike and Christy8 Comments

Tow different alpine moths each wearing fur coats forage up high in the mountains of central Colorado.

Photographed in early September.

Just an hour after posting this I came across a news story describing the decline of insects by 75% in Germany. I am sure this is happening globally to varying decrees. This sixth extinction caused by our human species will have consequences and is affecting life big and small. A link to the study is provided below:

http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0185809

A dash of color

On October 18, 2017October 17, 2017 By Mike and Christy14 Comments

With a snow storm moving in beautiful colors pop from the rocks and trees near Lizard Head Pass, Colorado.

Fuzzy

On October 17, 2017October 9, 2017 By Mike and Christy8 Comments

Fuzzy Purple Asters up high near tree line. It seems that when you ascend up towards the tundra the Asters become more fuzzy. A fur coat to protect against the chilly nights?

The butterflies like them as much as I do.

Photographed in August near tree-line in Central Colorado.

Buffalo Fork

On October 16, 2017October 9, 2017 By Mike and Christy8 Comments

Snow up high and rain moving in down low along the Buffalo Fork of the Snake River in Wyoming. Fall colors in the Valley and dark clouds up high portend the early arrival of old man winter.

Milk Weed Seed

On October 15, 2017October 15, 2017 By Mike and Christy14 Comments

October is the time when Milk Weed releases it’s seeds and boy how I love looking at these. So many variations on a theme each unique in some wonderful way.

Quiet Time

On October 14, 2017October 9, 2017 By Mike and Christy17 Comments

With the firm arrival of fall comes a quieter time of year. The songbirds have left and the animals have hunkered down. There will be sunny days but the cloudy days become more frequent as October marches on.

Black Necked Stilt

On October 13, 2017October 8, 2017 By Mike and Christy10 Comments

One of my favorite wading birds is the Black Necked Stilt. The Audubon guide says “Everything about the Black-necked Stilt seems delicate — from its incredibly thin stilt-legs to its slim wings and its needle-like bill — yet it manages to thrive on the sun-baked flats around shallow lakes, some of them in searing climates.”

They are truly amazing birds and have the second longest leg length to body ratio of wading birds only surpassed by Flamingos.

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-necked_Stilt/lifehistory

http://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/black-necked-stilt

Like air

On October 12, 2017October 8, 2017 By Mike and Christy12 Comments

This little dragonfly seemed as small and ethereal as the air in which they flew. I am not sure the exact species of Dragonfly but this one was one of the smallest I have seen this year. Perhaps a juvenile?

They were hovering about then occasionally landing on the fall grasses out in a field where we take a walk. This one had what looked to be eggs attached to their body. Do Dragonflies or Damselflies do that?