One of Yellowstone National Parks wonderful tour guides pointing out Floating Island Lake in the morning light. A little past due but November 1st was National Bison Day. We sure are lucky to still have these guys walking around free in a few spots on the globe.
An American Kestrel sat quietly surveying the field on a late November day out in the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge near Denver, CO.
We watched as the Kestrel quickly swooped down into the dried brown fall grass and pulled up small juicy meals which looked to be caterpillars easily held in their toe.
After a few successful hunts from this one fence post the Kestrel glanced back to see how we had liked the show and then flew off down the road to find another hunting spot.
In place where there is still a smidgen of free range we enjoyed observing the Antelope go about their day.
Wishing you a wonderful weekend.
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In a place with unlimited color, texture and forms it’s hard to know what to focus the camera on.
One moment it’s concrete then the next it’s abstract.
Dipping the lens into an area called Artists paintpots and observing in wonder at the beauty of our natural world.
Earlier this fall it was reported that over 3 billion birds or almost 1/3 the bird population has been lost in North America due to human enterprises. A new report from the Audubon Society demonstrates that about 66% of bird species in North America may be threatened with extinction resulting from anthropogenic climate change. The full report can be found here. The findings of this study are bleak to say the least. When you consider the fact that this report only focuses on climate change and does not consider other anthropogenic factors such as habitat destruction, pollution etc. a dark picture of a world with no birds could certainly be painted. Mass extinction events like the one we are in typically don’t end well for most species humans included. The report indicates that if we take action ASAP to reduce the rate and extent of warming there may be a ray of hope. How do you feel about living in a world without birds?
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The long view from the Norris Hot Springs area looking out towards the Gallatin Mountain range.
Facing into the ever changing wind as steam heads our way at Biscuit Basin.
A Bison enjoying some open space around Black Sand basin.
Hot water pouring into the Firehole rive as steam clouds the lodgepole forest behind at Midway Geyser Basin.
Yellow cliffs, blue waters and an ominous sky filled the landscape this day as we looked down the Yellowstone river. Each time we look from this spot our focus might shift from river to rock to all of the above. A place with a story to tell.
A juvenille Black Crowned Night Heron is taking a break from his fishing but still keeping an eye on the water below while perched in an old cottonwood tree along clear creek in Denver, CO. He sure looks good wrapped in those fall colors.
The Green Tailed Towhee spends most of its time in dense low thickets, where it forages on the ground. Like other towhees, it scratches in the leaf-litter with both feet as it searches for food. It is somewhat secretive and difficult to see so we were thrilled to get a quick glimpse at this bird when it quickly flew from a berry thicket and landed on this tree for a few seconds.
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Green-tailed_Towhee/id
http://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/green-tailed-towhee
These kids made it through kindergarten and are now on to first grade. Elk and mule deer that were only Fawns and calves just a short time ago are heading into winter as the first snows have hit the ground.
A young mule deer wondering what this white stuff is all about.
An elk calf ponders their next move just a short time ago when the plants still were rich with green.
Perhaps a few leaves from this wild rose will do.
Good luck kids and we hope you make it to second grade next spring.
Happy weekend to all.
nature has no boss 
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