Seems like we are always waiting for that moment. A moment that seems to have no beginning and perhaps no ending. Such is the case with trying to photograph bees just taking to flight or just landing. The results are seldom clear but like life itself what is?
Along the trail on a silent hike the digitalis were ringing strong.
Photographed in a dark yet very green forest.
The Chokecherries were the big hit on the menu this week. Just like the Western Tanager family a group of American Robins found them to their liking as well.
In fact they were head twistingly irresistible.
It’s amazing to watch them slurp them down in a single gulp and man the seeds in chokecherries are large.
Just like the Tanager family we watched earlier in the week the adults took time demonstrating where and how to eat this fall treat.
Late summer is always a bit of a down time for birders living in the more northern reaches. A time when the forest goes eerily silent and a feeling of loss seems to enter your heart. Thus it was a wonderful surprise to see this Warbling Vireo hop into plain sight a few days ago. While they look a bit low keyed they are prolific singers who had graced our forests with their songs most of June and early July. Then silence.
Just a week or so ago we noticed a flurry of activity in the serviceberry and chokecherry bushes nearby as family of Western Tanagers moved back and forth between the two. It appeared that on this day the fledglings were being taught an invaluable lesson and getting a good meal as the result. While the male seemed to fly in and out of the bushes quickly picking a berry and flying up into a Douglas Fir tree to consume his meal mom gathered the two young ones and showed them how it was done.
A fledgling taking stock of the work ahead.
While the fruit was abundant the picking was not always easy and at times a bit of aerial acrobatics was required as mom show the kids how it was done.
As much of the natural landscape disappears it is evident that we need to consider other species in how we landscape our yards and what better way than by planting some berry producing shrubs and trees for the birds. This article contains just a few suggestions that might help.
With wings tattered and torn a Fritillary takes a sip of nectar on the coneflowers. Those tattered wings sure feel like a metaphor for the month that has passed.
We don’t know about you but we are looking forward to autumn this year.
It was bound to happen.
Just as the chokecherries become ripe the Black Bears in the area make themselves just a bit more conspicuous.
This Bear sure looks like the little bear who was roaming the neighborhood last chokecherry season but all grown up.
It is sure nice seeing them if it is only an infrequent visit every now and again.
Female Moose enjoying an early morning drink on the snake river. Grand Teton National Park, WY.
This summers bounty of Indian Paint Brush was like getting that big box of crayons you always wanted as a child. So many colors, so much fun to be had.
And the best thing about getting the big box is that there are plenty of crayons to share.
The green grasses and fields of wildflowers of summer have long turned to brown yet the heat seems to have remained as a mule deer doe finds a bit of a shady rest under a lonesome juniper tree.
nature has no boss 
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