reddirtretiree! That bear looks a little close....
While I was driving home from Hummerfest today, I drove up on a kettle of Swainson's Hawks. There were approx 40-50 gliding in the air. They were BEAUTIFUL. I got a couple of decent pics. Here's one of an adult. Look at it very carefully, or you will miss the coolest part.
Here's a Juvie Swainson's.
Great Blue Herons are so photogenic. This was in Rockport, TX.
This message was edited Sep 19, 2010 6:36 PM
Look at it very carefully, or you will miss the coolest part.
That bear looks a little close...
Good eye, Res. It's some type of rodent.
Let's hope that reddirtretiree has a very long lens.
We watched that bear for about 30 minutes, gradually moving closer. We were eventually within 50 feet of her. She was pretty much oblivious to our presence, just focusing on the chokecherries in that tree. It was interesting to watch her stand up and grab a branch and bend it over so she could get to the fruit. Funny story. I had tried to locate this bear the day before from a reported sighting. No luck. I told my wife the next morning that I think I know where that bear is within a half-mile and we are going to get out of the car and find her. She was not overly enthusiastic about heading down a trail with a bear in the area.
Res is right about the moose being more dangerous. The cows with calves are probably more dangerous than the bulls. We have looked for grizzlies in the Lamar Valley of Yellowstone the past two days with no success. Going down by Yellowstone Falls and up the Hayden Valley this a.m.
Another Black Bear we found yesterday. I got 3 shots of him, none with him looking at me. Once he smelled me, he was over a big log and down the hill.
I've seen Golden and Bald Eagles in Yellowstone, but no pics. Saw a Trumpeter Swan on the Madison River yesterday. About 25 Mergansers were nearby. I just haven't taken many bird pics as I want to spend my allotted time looking for a grizzly.
The ugly Raven.
Forgot to attach the pic.
I'm amazed at what you're seeing reddirt. Great pics everyone.
Thebestmissy, it almost looks like a little vole is being given a lift by the hawk.
This morning the birds flew up in a panic. I was looking for a hawk when a Siamese cat came strutting by the window with a big rat in its mouth. Good kitty, take that to your mama's house. My dogs were asleep at my feet oblivious to the cat/rat invasion.
Just now, I saw the cat again. This time it was eyeing some house sparrows on a branch above the pond. The cat leapt and grabbled onto a clump of horsetail trying to get at the sparrows. The horsetail couldn't hold its weight so the clump fell over into the pond, cat was safe and dry on top. Had to sick to sick the dogs on the cat then b/c can't have a cat ruining my plants!
Plus, I had a new little visitor to the pond that I wanted to protect. This little Nashville Warbler.
Congratulations Elphaba!
Red, Love your bear and moose pics!
Missy, Beautiful Swainson's Hawks!
Great shots everyone!
I will continue to avoid both bear & moose I think. But i love to see photos of them! lol
Neat catch on the hawk Missy!
Elphaba, your shot of the Nasville is a little better than mine.....I had to follow this little bird all the way down the road!
This was the first shot I got of it. Not quite what I wanted.....
I just kept following and it finally paid off!
Good one nanny! I'm doing the opposite to get a better pic of mine. I'm not letting myself go outside and scare it away. I'm sitting by the window waiting, a prisoner in my house. It keeps coming back, but it's so fast.
Thanks!
I was playing with using the AP mode yesterday on the camera and had pretty good luck with it for the most part. The shot above was on the AP mode. Trying to learn how to use more stuff on the camera!
Got a few shots of this handsome Cardinal. Does anybody know what the plant is that he is on. All the birds eat these and even the chipmunks will climb them and eat those little seeds. They grow all over out here.
This message was edited Sep 20, 2010 1:53 PM
I don't know what that plant is, but I'll be interested to find out.
I've been trying to get a picture of this yellow House Finch for a while now. Can't believe that I finally got a pic on this very dark, cloudy day.
I got behind once again! Everyone is doing a great job with their birds. Red-your animals are beautiful-be careful now but it's obvious you're enjoying yourself.
I forgot to post this younger Green Heron from our last trip on the kayak. The bird let us paddle up so close that I couldn't get a clear photo anymore.
I've been waiting to get better photos of the partial leucistic Anna's hummingbird to show you. It arrived on the 12th and I was only able to get 4 photos through the window and it hasn't been seen since. I guess it was just passing through on its migration south.
Lousy photo, but this shows the underside.
I'm pretty sure this is a Forster's Tern.
Bears, Moose, Ravens, Herons, Flickers, Kingfishers, Cardinals, Hummers - such fantastic variety. I enjoyed them all.
Hack
Here's two pics I got yesterday.
This Mockingbird, enjoyed a drink. Never did take a bath, though
Hack
This Brown Thrasher ventured a little farther out into the yard than usual. But it was bouncing back toward the underbrush when I snapped the shutter.
Hack
One more animal pic and I'll get back to birds. I haven't found Yellowstone to be a particularly birdy place. We did see a Bald Eagle and an Osprey along the Madison River yesterday. Found this bull elk along the Madison, too. Wish the light had been from the other direction, but as folks here know, when you're photographing wildlife, you take the shots as they come. This fellow has quite a rack. If anyone is interested, I have some pics from our trip on a public Picasa stream at http://picasaweb.google.com/okierednek/OutWestTrip?authkey=Gv1sRgCL_KuKCy0r2a5wE#
This message was edited Sep 21, 2010 6:18 AM
Another Raven.
duc, that is so neat to have a leucistic Anna's visit your feeder! Is that the first one?
Hack have you ever noticed your mockers bathing? I don't think I've ever seen mine in the water-hmmmm. That Brown Thrasher sure is pretty.
Red, I really enjoyed seeing all your beautiful photos-thanks for sharing them. You sure have seen some great animals and places.
Missy, I have photos of leucistic hummers that have been here in the past-2007 and 2008. It's interesting to me because I was hoping it was the same bird, but I don't think they have been the same.
This House Finch is one of several that come daily for food.
We have three Crows that just come to sit on the feeder and stuff themselves.
My younger Scrub Jays are always so dramatic when they see me.
Duc, that Green Heron is a looker!
I am seeing Brown Thrashers but have managed any good pics this year..love seeing your Hack.
These are shots from last week. First up was a Tufted Titmouse...theyvare quite active right now!
The Red-bellied Woddpecker has been coming by occasionally now.
The White-breasted Nuthatches are coming & going a lot too. This one enjoyed some peanuts...
and then got a drink out of the ant moat...which was almost empty! He did let me know about it and I promptly refilled it after he left! lol
Hack have you ever noticed your mockers bathing? I don't think I've ever seen mine in the water-hmmmm.
We have noticed the cardinals come and drink at the birdbath in the evenings mostly during what we call the "Cardinal Hour". Have only seen a couple during the day drinking. Have not seen any bathe.
Oops! Meant to post this pic.....Found a Black-and-white Warbler this morning. Not a new bird, but didn't see one last year. Wish the pic was a little better...fast little bird! lol
Hope you marked your calender today Nanny. It'll be interesting to see if this bird comes around about the same time next year. Sure is cute. I got a kick out of your little nuthatch in the ant moat.
Hack, thanks for answering. Maybe not all birds enjoy the bathwater since Nanny's and your cardinals rarely are in bathing.
oooh I want a black and white warbler!!!
I have definitely noticed some birds like to bathe more than others. I never see any chickadees, nuthatches, woodpeckers, or wrens in/at the pond. But the doves, robins, grackles, starlings, house sparrows are always splashing around. In the moderate use would be Finches and Blue Jays. And then I had this little Tennesse Warbler there yesterday.
Great pics guys!
I have a few from earlier this morning. I used the iBird on my iPhone to 'call' him to me. He got closer & sang back which was pretty cool.
This one is a Nuthatch.
Black-capped Chickadee in my neighbors tree. I like how he was hanging onto the tree.
