On a recent hike across sage-lands dotted with forest the Sparrows were distant yet constant companions.
Tag: wildlife
Now you see me….
A Comma Butterfly playing a wonderful game of now you see me now you don’t. Photographed along the rustlers gulch trail in central Colorado.
Blue and green
A blue dragonfly perched and overlooking the greenest of summers green.
Welcome to August. The month that seems ruled by dragonflies and where the birds have ceased their songs. In August the the summer sun still sines bright and burns hot yet the green slowly slips to brown. The dog days of summer some say yet the wildflowers still bloom, insects buzz about and plenty of time left to enjoy bounty that summer brings. Still time to hike, swim or just laze around and enjoy the summer sun. Overall August is not so bad.
An unmistakable song
Along the trail the House Wrens song was unmistakable. Moving quickly in the underbrush but appearing just long enough for a quick photo. A house wren is always a great companion while on the trail and that song is unmistakable.
Golden Mantled Ground Squirrel
Cute like a Chipmunk only bigger. The Golden Mantled Group Squirrel is a resident of mountain and coniferous forest regions across the western United State and Canada.
We spent some time observing this guy/gal while on a recent hike. They were busy scurrying about and not too concerned about us hanging out watching them. They moved about nimbly in the rocky terrain where we found them that afternoon.
Before we left they collected a nice big piece of moss presumably for their den.
So, if you see a giant chipmunk running around it is probably a Golden Mantled Ground Squirrel.
Female Yellowthroat
We spotted this Female Common Yellowthroat quickly moving in and out of the bushes while on a morning walk. While we most often see the males perched out in the open singing we very rarely have seen the female out in the open like this. She only stayed for a minute or two then flew off into a marshy area several hundred yards away.
Spotted Sandpiper
A spotted sandpiper serene and observant along the banks of the Snake River in Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park. It sure feels nice when we feel one with our environment.
Rise and shine
Warm summer sun illuminating the electric blue of the Penstemon welcome a Prairie Dog to this fine summer day.
Time to rise and to shine on this fine summer day.
Have a wonderful weekend.
A Marvel or Marvelous?
A male Red Veined Meadow-Hawk dragonfly perches on an old branch just above eye level. Perched facing right, he took a quick flight, then perched on the same branch facing left. He provided us a wonderful view of what has to be considered a marvel of engineering and biomechanical design from his amazing exoskeleton right down to the structure of his wings.
Truly a marvel as well as marvelous to observe. Beauty, form and function all wrapped up in one fine package.
From the water
A day spent paddling besides just being good clean fun allows you to see things from water level. Yes, these are birds we see from land, but while floating by in a kayak, seeing mergansers, red-necked grebes and bald eagles from the water provides us with a different perspective.
A common Merganser pair preens while perched on a log.
A Red-Necked Grebe pair courting and strengthening their bond.
An ever watchful immature Bald Eagle perched along the shore. All sighted we can see from land but when seen from the water make them just a bit more special.
nature has no boss 
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