Portrait of a Gull

I love the light of a foggy day. This afternoon I was at Clam Beach in Humboldt County. There was a Western Gull perched on s kiosk roof next to the parking lot. I walked close enough to get a portrait of it in the soft foggy light. I love how it came out. God's blessings, chris

Tough Guy

Yesterday afternoon I had a strong need to get out into the photoblind. I've been spending too much time editing images indoors since I got back from my vacation. The lighting was a little harsh but I didn't care because I was outside! I set up some new bird feeders and poured out some seed, climbed into the photoblind and I was set. A few birds came by and then a bold Douglas Tree Squirrel jumped up next to the bird feeder. He looked around and started chowing down. A Western Gray Squirrel appeared and he started chattering away at it and staring it down. The big Gray Squirrel kept quiet and stayed on the ground. A chipmunk tried to feed on one of the small feeders nearby and it didn't go well for the little guy. He was attacked from above in a flying leap by the Douglas Tree Squirrel and sent packing.This went on for about forty five minutes before he decided he had his fill and turned it over to one of the big Grays to defend. I had a great time watching these little dramas unfold.A great way to spend the afternoon. The image below shows the ferocious beast overseeing his domain. God's love and blessings to all, chris

Chipmunk

Anyone that has followed my photoblog for awhile knows that I'm a big softy for small mammals. I love otters, squirrels and Pikas. Most anything small and furry I want to photograph it! On trips I'm always checking out the squirrels and practically ignoring the moose or elk. Yesterday morning I went out to my photoblind in the rain and had a great time photographing the chipmunks that were coming to the bird feeders. It's amazing how much bird seed they can cram into those tiny cheeks of theirs! Such cute little guys. God's light and love to all, chris

Hidden "Little"Gem of Southeast Wyoming

My penchant for winding gravel roads has lead me over the years to some pretty spectacular places. My rental car didn't think so as I turned off of Highway 34 onto a gravel road earlier this month in southeastern Wyoming. The car protested loudly against the weeds scraping along the bottom of its belly as I slowly drove up a rugged canyon beside Johnson Creek further into the Tom Thorne/Beth Williams Wildlife Habitat Management Area.Along the way were lichen covered rocks with a wide range of colors on display. When I reached Johnson Creek Reservoir I was greeted by a Cottontail Rabbit running "towards" my car. I stopped and climbed out of the car. It continued running towards me and then stopped about six feet away. It looked at me for awhile and the bounded off into the sagebrush. What a place. It even has it's own official greeter! Such a beautiful day. I decided not to drive in any further and risk it with the rental car. I just enjoyed the lake and the beautiful scenery surrounding it until I felt the urge to move on.This would be a great place for a morning of fishing and a picnic. God's precious light and love to all, chris

Rainy Day in the Backyard

After a few days of sunshine the rain returned today. Just a soft drizzling rain. I headed out into the backyard and set up my photoblind (hide) and photographed some of the backyard birds and squirrels and a few chipmunks too. When I set up the blind it was only misting out so I didn't bother with putting in the top poles on the blind. Big mistake! When it started raining a little later I had water drops from the top of the blind dropping onto my back and neck. Needless to say a short break was required to go back into the house to retrieve them and put them up.Good news the Bandtail Pigeons are back from their vacation down south. They were out in force today joining the few locals that over wintered here.There were also a few Varied Thrushes that always love to come out in the rain. A real treat to see. A good time was had by everyone. God's love and blessings to all, chris

The Oregon Trail Ruts Park

One of the coolest sights from my recent vacation to Colorado and eastern Wyoming was a visit to Wagon Rut Park along the bluffs overlooking the North Platte River near Guernsey, Wyoming.Here the sandstone rocks show striking evidence of the thousands of wagons of emigrants headed west in the mid-1800s on the Oregon Trail to California and Oregon. Across the west you can find examples of wagon ruts left by the pioneers wagons but most most pale in view of those found at this park. Here, the trail ruts are just incredible because they are carved into solid rock.Some of the gouges are more than four feet deep! These deep cuts were the result of the passage of years of steel wagon rims and from intentional excavations by emigrants attempting to ease the steep climb up from the North Platte River bottom to the plains up above. A pretty amazing place especially when you think back to all of the pioneers that passed this way in the making of those ruts. What lives they must have led? God's love and blessings to all, chris

How Green is My Valley?

Well actually not very green at this time of year but it will be soon. On my recent journey I stopped off in the North Platte River Valley near Guernsey, Wyoming. What a beautiful valley! What a sight this river must have presented to the pioneers traveling beside it across the prairies? In fact the Oregon Trail is just across the river in this image behind the top of those bluffs above the river. A little more on that tomorrow. God bless, chris

Battling Bulls

On my recent visit to Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado I was driving past a herd of elk in Horseshoe Park. I was about to fly right on by when I spotted two bulls posturing to one another that they wanted to spar with each other. I immediately spun around in a "U" turn and found a place to park. I'm glad I did because I had the pleasure of watching several bulls sparring with one another off and on for close to forty five minutes. I took quite a few images and these were my favorites. God's precious love to all, chris

Iconic Elk

It's hard not to go to Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado and not take a few elk images. They are a pretty majestic animal so it's not difficult for them to grab your attention. For locals it's not such a big deal. A common reaction is none at all or "Oh, another elk". I had a really good time one evening while I was there photographing a group of five bulls off of Fall River Road in Horseshoe Park.I got some really good sparring images the following day. But I will save those for tomorrow's photoblog. God's precious love and blessings to all, chris

First Few Days of Spring

It has been sunny and simply gorgeous the past few days. I actually grabbed my camera yesterday and photographed the first blooming "Droopy Daffodil" in our front yard yesterday. A sign of more good things to come. God's love and blessings to all, chris

Rooting for the Mangy Coyote

Very late in the evening on my second day at Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR I was just leaving the refuge when I saw the "Mangy Coyote". I had heard from other photographers of its struggles and I was surprised to see that it was still alive. It was working its way across the prairie stopping every once in awhile to smell and look for scraps of whatever it could find to eat. Very much a desperate bid for survival.I couldn't help but admire its pluck and root it on for it to find something to eat. At one point it stopped and dug its nose into the dirt and weeds and it pulled up something black to eat.The lighting was really poor but I felt the need to capture a few frames of this courageous coyote. If it survives the recent snows there will be a lot more food available when the bison calve and all of the small mammals and rodents start having there young. God's light and love to all, chris