Peeking at each other through the long fall grass and sagebrush in Yellowstone NP. I always marvel at how an animals fur matches their environment and the subtle changes that occur from place to place within a single species. This Coyote seem to perfectly match the sage and grass in which they live.
We were up high in the mountains a week or two ago and much to our surprise there were numerous butterflies going about their business even as the nights have been cold and the flowers have long died out for this season. Must be slim pickings this time of year for this wonderful comma butterfly foraging on Lichen, Rocks and Spruce.
Ahhh…one last bath on a fine fall day. A Magpie bathing in a small pond as the sun shines on an unseasonably warm fall afternoon.
An American Robin surveys the surroundings from a burnt tree which matches their color quite well. This fire happened long ago but burnt trees still fill the landscape even as decades have passed.
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.
A handsome looking hare posing for a portrait on the Arapahoe National Wildlife Refuge earlier this summer.
The other day I saw a yellow flash land in a nice cedar tree. Thinking it was an unusual insect I quickly went over to get a look. Alas, it was not a new insect but a Honey Bee and to say this one was covered in pollen might be an understatement. This little bee could hard fly with the load they had acquired. After a few minutes of rest they slowly lifted off and headed back to the hive. A job well done.
Inching along from top of the plant down enjoying a meal along the way.
Caterpillars seemed so common in my youth but even while out and about most every day their numbers seem small. Perhaps it’s our location but maybe not. We were excited to find two species inching along on a late fall day. Both similar yet very distinct.
So mysterious and wonderful these creatures seem in a life of transformations.
Inching along until their next incarnation.
A golden pronghorn walk through golden grasses where plant and animal are one.
Just a few family portraits of mom and the kids. We were lucky enough to have them spend the last month or two hanging around our area. A treat to sit and watch as the kids grow up they kept us active as well as much time was spent shooing them away from the garden.
One the the youngsters caught eyeing a nice patch of late-blooming flowers.
While their sibling snacks on wild sunflower seeds.
It’s hard to not smile at a face so cute but turn your back for a second and the petunias are toast.
nature has no boss 
You must be logged in to post a comment.