Tag: nature

Golden Eagle

On By Mike and Christy6 Comments

It is always a bit shocking to see a Golden Eagle perched up high on a power pole. From some distance away you can notice those broad shoulders and instantly identify them. They are just so darn large.

We are lucky to always have a few Golden Eagles living nearby especially in the non-breeding season. Especially when the weather is mild like it has been so far this winter.

Golden eagles typically hunt small mammals including rabbits, ground squirrels, marmots and prairie dogs. Golden eagles are found from sea level to higher mountain regions but typically regions of open space such as grasslands, desert and high steppe regions. This Eagle was perched upon a power pole overlooking a large expanse of winter farmland waiting for the next meals to appear.

Usually the locals fly away before we even get the camera pointed out the car window but this day we were lucky as this Eagle allowed us a nice long look and several photos as well.

Reference:

Katzner, T. E., M. N. Kochert, K. Steenhof, C. L. McIntyre, E. H. Craig, and T. A. Miller (2020). Golden Eagle(Aquila chrysaetos), version 2.0. In Birds of the World (P. G. Rodewald and B. K. Keeney, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.goleag.02

Bone Dry

On By Mike and Christy4 Comments

Starting out on foot on a trail we would usually be cross country skiing at this time of year. Needless to say that while the mountain tops are indeed covered in snow things below are still bone dry. Nonetheless it was a nice hike as that harsh and contrasty solstice light provided just enough warmth to keep us marching along.

Big views of distant peaks and a canyon where the Yellowstone river flows.

Dry grass and a rock lined ridge pointed the way as a late morning start quickly dissolved into afternoon.

Long shadows on a short day as we wound are way back home.

Bone dry but we hope that all changes soon.

A few fine fishermen

On By Mike and Christy2 Comments

A couple of fine fishermen, just hanging out, doing what fine fishermen do. Waiting patiently and strike when the time is right. Above is the Ringed Kingfisher which is the largest species of Kingfisher in the Americas measuring about 16 inches making it about 2-3 inches larger than the similar looking Belted Kingfisher. The Ringed Kingfisher has gradually expended their habitat Northwards and now can be commonly seen along the lower Rio Grande in Texas.

Another fine fisherman is the relatively small Green Kingfisher which is less than half the size of the Ringed Kingfisher photographed above. Unlike the Ringed Kingfisher the Green Kingfisher number may be on the decline as stream habitat is decreasing. A small bird with a large bill to say the least.

Black-bellied Hummingbirds

On By Mike and Christy6 Comments

In this corner weighing in at 3.5 grams and a diminutive 7-8 centimeters in length is the Black-bellied Hummingbird. The female (above) lacks the distinctive black plumage that gives this Hummingbird it’s name. Black-bellied Hummingbirds are found in humid montane forests in Central America with males spending most of their time foraging in epiphytes in canopy whereas females are more frequently found along forest edges and garden clearings.

A male Black-bellied Hummingbird all puffed up on a cool morning.

Reference:

Schulenberg, T. S. and C. W. Sedgwick (2020). Black-bellied Hummingbird (Eupherusa nigriventris), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (T. S. Schulenberg, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.blbhum1.01