Who’s the peeking out from behind the bush?
Well it’s just little old me a Sandhill crane.
Reluctantly, this beautiful rusty red crane eventually moved from behind the bush. She preened and foraged and allowed us a few photos on a late summer afternoon.
Red Rocks Lake National Wildlife Refuge, 2018.
The Aspen tress are doing their thing and a day spent soaking it up is an experience as good as gold.
Happy fall to all.
One of my favorite animals to inhabit the alpine tundra and one I always think of as summer turns to fall is the American Pika. Scurrying about above the tree-line diligently gathering vegetation to stock their winter larder. The Pika is adapted to live year-round in the harsh alpine environment. However tough they may be climate change poses a significant danger to the continued existence of the Pika and in the lower regions of North America have already lost up to 1/3 of their previous habitat to climate change.
It would be a sad day indeed if a hike through the alpine tundra was devoid of a pikas song.
When I think of an American Robin foraging the picture that comes to mind is a Robin head down focused and ready to pull a wiggling worm form the grass.
This day flies were buzzing about above the river and the Robin was keen to get into the act of flycatchin’.
He would swoop down out of a tree across the the river and grab flies landing either back on a branch or in this case a log along the river back. He looked quite skilled at catching his prey and I will forever have a changed picture of a Robins foraging habits.
Given my abysmal skills at dragonfly identification I suspect this beautiful looking creature is some species of Red Meadowhawk Dragonfly.
Even though Fall is almost here there are some Dragonflies still buzzing about when the sun is out.
You never know what you will find hidden in the willows is what this guy was probably thinking when he noticed we were peeking in from the edge of his terrain. It always amazes me just how easy a creature the size of the moose can disappear from your sight with a simple step or two into the willows. Photographed near Cottonwood pass in Colorado.
The flies were abundant that afternoon and so were the flycatchers.
This little flycatcher took a second to rest and pose with his catch. Good work as there were families to feed.
Perhaps a Margined White or another version of the Family Pieridae enjoying some time resting on a nice white wildflower. White on white…not a bad combination.
Relentlessly buzzing and zooming while patrolling his small pond a dragonflies flight is something to behold.
This patch of pond must have been a treasure worth holding onto as anyone who dare flew into his view was quickly escorted away with a swift deliberate attack. As he flew head on into the camera we got a quick a cursory glance then he was gone.
With the rain came a quietness that only rain can bring. Looking out into the big Pacific Ocean off the NW coast of Vancouver Island.
nature has no boss 
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