So far from home

On October 25, 2017October 21, 2017 By Mike and Christy18 Comments

So close yet so fat from home a Sand Dollar washed up on the beach as the tide goes down. I can empathize with this guy as the west becomes more developed and the human heard marches across that landscape. Home feels so close yet so far away.

Horns Up

On October 24, 2017October 24, 2017 By Mike and Christy14 Comments

HL_4

Hunting for a meal in the dry grass a Horned Lark with those Horns up.

Pawnee National Grasslands, CO.

Fall Robin

On October 21, 2017October 9, 2017 By Mike and Christy10 Comments

The robins have returned and are enjoying the fall in the forest nearby. We have so many around in spring and early summer and then the vanish only to return as fall begins.

I enjoy their company and are grateful for their return to our little woodland nearby.

on a swivel

On October 20, 2017October 20, 2017 By Mike and Christy14 Comments

Quietly perched and giving us the 180 degree head turn like only an owl can give a Great Horned Owl waits in the early evening light for their day to begin.

Happy hunting to the owl and have a great weekend to all.

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

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.

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?