Right Foot, Left Foot

Photographically, I’m not starting out the new year on the right foot - or should I say the left foot. I broke my leg in September and am still recovering. after a second surgery to remove two pins in my lower leg set me back a couple of weeks, it is healing nicely. I’m walking in a boot, and using a walker, but I expect to be out of the boot and back on both feet again by the end of this month.

The real downside to all of this is that I have not been able to go out and shoot photos, and it’s been driving me crazy! After four and a half months of smoke from forest fires we had a most beautiful Autumn and it just killed me not to be able to take advantage of the great weather. I can only take so many photos from my front porch…

I did however, get a ton of work done on the computer.  For some time now I’ve been wanting to scan all of my slides into digital images, - seven, three inch, three ring binders, overflowing with slides. I figured it would take me weeks - maybe months to get them all done. I had them completed in five days. Amazing how much you can get done when you have all day to devote to a project.

On top of that, the week before I broke my leg I had purchased a 4 terabyte external hard drive, and spent countless hours editing all of my photos and transferring them to the new drive, and deleted everything that was unusable. Note to self: be sure and edit all of your photos before you send them to the external hard drive!   

Winter Photography

If you’re thinking of putting your camera away for the winter - don’t!  It’s one of the best times to get out and shoot photos. Cameras are far more tolerant of the cold than they used to be, and especially if you live in the northern latitudes where there is snow and ice, winter offers an entirely different perspective on the world around you.

In many areas up north, we often get “hoar frost”.  Simply put, hoar frost is caused by fog combined with freezing temperatures. According to weather.com, “with more moisture in the air, the interlocking crystal patterns of frost become more intricate and much larger, building up to a greater depth on tree branches, signs, fences, anything. This is hoarfrost.”

This frost clings to anything and everything: trees, blades of grass, wire fences - anything exposed to the air is a target. Anytime I can, I head out with my camera in the dead of winter, to get photos of hoar frost.

The photo of the pine tree was taken on top of a hill that overlooks the river near my house. This tree was naturally "flocked" with a thick layer of hoar frost. No need for a Christmas tree when there's a forest full of them practically in your own backyard! 

 

The second photo was a strand of barbed fence wire that enclosed a pasture. Talk about frost!  This is a great example of what hoar frost can look like when conditions are ideal.

The last photo was taken along the river near my house. It was taken on a whim, with no special results expected. But as often happens, the photo I expected to be a “throw away”: ended up being my favorite of the day.

So now that winter is here, bundle yourself up, grab your camera, and start shooting - the results can be amazing! 

Cranes, Cranes & More Cranes

The Cranes have returned, and finally I've been able to get some good shots of them!  Two of them were in the cattails right next to the road, until some woman walking her dog came by and they flew away. I was able to get one shot of them beginning to "dance" before she scared them off. Caught a pair of them across the pond calling and bowing to each other as well. Their calls sound so prehistoric, and I imagine it's what pterodactyls must have sounded like. Maybe next year I'll take my video camera as well, and try to record them - IF I can catch them at the right time!

Let the dance begin!

Moose on the Loose!

Off early from work today, and with the weather forecast being favorable, I packed up my camera gear and a change of clothes to change into at precisely 4:00 pm. I don’t have many chances to photograph at the refuge in the evenings, so I decided to head down there after work. A 40 minute drive was worth the trip on such an unseasonably pleasant afternoon.

As I headed out the parking lot after work, the traffic on Reserve Street was horrendous, so I opted for the back road over Blue Mountain.  Longer in distance, but far less traffic and a much nicer drive.  As I hit Blue Mountain Road the river was high and fast; the snow melt was sadly in full swing - at least a month early - and the water was even seeping into the overflow ditches already.

No leaves budding out yet, so everything was still pretty brown, and very few songbirds had come in. It appeared as if the ones that did had already continued on their journey north. I rounded the bend just before McClay Flats to see a fair amount of cars in the parking area. No surprise with the warm spring-like weather we’ve been having. But the big surprise was around the next bend, where I came upon about a dozen cars parked along both sides of the road. That only meant one thing…  MOOSE! 

In the twists of the road between McClay Flats and the recreation area, there is a small, seasonal pond that fills in from the rising ground water when the snow melts. With a good rainy Spring, it sometimes stays full long into the summer and typically dries out by mid to late August.

As I pulled up, sure enough, there it was. At first I thought it was a bull, but it turned out to be a very large cow. I turned around and parked on the same side of the road as the pond, using my car as a safety net. I do not want to find myself having to scramble away from the drivers’ side door, should the moose decide it didn’t want an audience and I needed to make a quick escape. With the drivers’ side facing away from the moose, I was able to get my equipment out of the car and set it up safely.

She had wintered well, and was fat and sleek - and most likely pregnant, as a few of my photos revealed a rather swollen belly.  The calves are usually born around mid to late April, so I made a mental note to keep checking the pond in the next few months. I was so very fortunate to photograph a cow and calf in this same pond several years ago, and while I doubt this is the same cow, it could be one of her calves, returning to her home waters. 

I started with the 75-300 lens, which offered just the right amount of telephoto for some nice shots.  Other spectators came and went, shot off a few frames of photos and drove away. Others stopped only long enough to grab a few photos with their cell phones, and a few - like me - hung out for a while, but I stayed the longest. Almost exactly two hours, in fact. How could I not, with this opportunity, literally sometimes, staring me right in the face?

It’s almost as interesting to watch other humans observing wildlife, as it is the wildlife itself. Most of the just don’t stop to think that this is a wild animal, not something at a zoo.  A few of them kept creeping further down the slope toward the pond, getting about half way down and then, hopefully feeling a sense of not being safe there, went back up to the edge of the road. One young man however, ignored everyone’s warnings not to get too close, and made his way all the way down to the edge of the pond. The moose was non reactive at first, but then decided she did not want him there, and charged at him. I bet that guy had no idea he could move that fast! She spooked him so bad that he dropped his phone at the edge of the water and was afraid to go back and get it. For all I know it’s still there. The moose didn’t intend any harm and only ran toward him as a bluff. She could have easily killed him if she had a mind to. As soon as he was back up to the top of the slope she turned her back on him and began grazing again - guess she told him. The guy was either so scared or so embarrassed that he got in his car and left, to a round of jeers, applauds and scolding from a bunch of the other people.

A little later, another guy stopped with his kids; two about ten or twelve, and one around two or three. He stood at the top of the hill and let the toddler run about, squealing and yelling. The moose was obviously a bit annoyed by the commotion; I watched her lay her ears back more than once while she watched this little tyke race around. I held my breath each time, wondering if she was going to charge again. If so, it could be disastrous - and the moose would be the one to suffer for it. Fortunately, the dad picked the kid up and walked away with him. Thank goodness.

 

About an hour and a half into shooting, I opted to change lenses, and attached the 150-600 onto my camera, and wow!  Talk about close-ups!  I got full face images of this magnificent moose.  As it became later and later, the clouds rolled in and there were a few sprinkles of rain. Everyone loaded up and left, but I simply slipped the rain sleeve over my lens and kept shooting. Next time I looked up I was the only one there - well, me and the moose. She watched me off and on, and I stayed behind my car, ever vigil for the slightest sign of annoyance or aggression - but she never showed either. When her belly was finally full, she took one last look at me, gave me a snort, turned around and wandered off into the trees. I watched her go, packed up my gear and headed home, the refuge and the Sandhill Cranes the farthest things from my mind.

Escaping Winter

It seems that with each year, I have more and more difficulty dealing with winter.  Less sunlight and more snow and ice are SO depressing! 

This winter was no different, and I’ve had a terrible case of cabin fever!  I realized a few weeks ago that I didn’t take my camera out one single day this winter.  Typically there are at least a few days that are sunny enough - but I just didn’t feel like it.  What’s with that, anyway?  But with spring only a week away, the days are getting warmer and longer, and I have been just itching to get out and shoot pictures!  So today was the day.

I really wanted to get up to the Bison Range, but I figured there wasn’t really much going on right now.  The ruts are over and no babies will be born until at least April, and most of them in May.  No wildflowers yet, and the migratory birds are only just beginning to head this way, so it would be a long trip with very little - if any - results.  Besides, there is most likely still plenty of snow on the ground there - the very thing I want to get away from . So the Bison Range will have to wait. 

I opted for something that might be a little more promising, and headed out to Metcalf at around noon. It was very cloudy and overcast, with a temp of around 40-42°, and a light breeze.  The sun poked out intermittently and it looked to be a pleasant day!

I arrived at the refuge and my first stop was at the trail head along the river. The temp was quite comfortable with my medium weight parka and I attached the 600 mm lens to the camera and headed down the trail.

My first photo op was a Pileated Woodpecker, roughly 20 feet up a cottonwood snag, about 15 feet off the trail.  I heard the slow drumming on the tree before I spotted it.  I had to maneuver around a bit to get a clear shot of it through the tiny branches, but once I did I got several promising shots. 

I walked further along the path; there were very few birds about, not even crows or ravens.  I can usually see muskrats along the slough in the cattails, but even they were in hiding today.  Further down the trail, where the woods begin to open up and the river runs right alongside the path, the wind began to pick up and I wished I would have grabbed my wool hat out of the car.  I took a side trail, which I noticed has recently been paved, and felt a twinge of disappointment for that. I understand the need to make it accessible for everyone, but there’s something so comforting to me about walking a dirt path.

Along this side path I heard a Flicker, and stopped to listen for it’s drumming. I was not disappointed, for it was in a dead snag just a few feet from me, and about 15 feet up.  I moved into a better position to photograph it and was just getting ready to focus in on it when a second Flicker flew in and began fighting with the first bird. I hurried to get some photos, thinking a “fight scene” would make for some great photos, when they both flew off in different directions. Damn!  I waited for several minutes, hoping one or both of them would come back, but no such luck. An opportunity lost.  Such is the life of a wildlife photographer. 

The wind started picking up more and I decided to head back to the car. But as I reached the trail head I opted instead to wander up another trail, this one in a more densely wooded area where the wind was blocked - more or less. Just off the trail head I heard several chickadees, and saw them flitting around in a small shrubby tree, and one of the bold little birds came right out in front of me and perched in clear view. I already had my tripod set down and the lens pointing in that direction, so I quickly focused and landed a few shots before it flew off again. And what a photo I got!  I have to say it’s the most perfect chickadee photo I’ve ever taken! 

Back to my car and off to the levee and the ponds, where there is not - as I expected - much in the way of activity. The main pond is still about half frozen over, and the open water is on the east end.  Canada Geese, Common Goldeneyes and Mallards were the prominent species today, with a few coots and some other ducks that were too far away to identify - mere silhouettes against the brightness of the overcast sky.

I did spot a muskrat feeding on the edge of the ice and got a few shots of it, but they’re not good ones and only for the purpose of seeing and identifying it. I watched it for some time as is dipped in and out of the water, pulling its catch of small fish or pond weeds (I could not tell which), onto the ice and feasting on it.  The wind was blowing so hard by now that I had to drop the tripod down the a lower height and hide in front of my car on my knees to keep the lens steady enough for the photo.

Got a great shot of a Common Goldeneye in the smaller pond to the north of the levee, but that was about it.  I did hear a single Red-winged Blackbird but never saw it. At one point I watched a large flock of the Goldeneyes bolt out of the pond and fly across the levee, circle around and head back to the large pond, and then circle around again. It was curious to me, until I noticed the Marsh Hawk chasing after them. It caught a small duck in mid-air, raking it with its talons, and then following the injured duck to the ground, out of sight of my camera.

By now the wind was blowing constantly, with gusts that almost felt like gale force winds, and I decided to head home.  And of course, as soon as I hit the highway, the wind died down.  Go figure.  It wasn’t what I would call a great day for photography, but then again, even getting one great shot makes the trip well worth it. That being said, it was a good day! 

This Day Was for the Birds!

Woke up to a chilly but beautiful morning and headed down to Lee Metcalf with my camera riding shotgun.  Not a lot of birds yet but those that are there put on quite a show. 

It must be Sandhill Crane Day, because the cranes were everywhere!  I counted 14 of them in all, only two that were close enough to the road for decent photos - but hey, I’ll take ‘em!  

The Osprey are back!  Got some great shots of a pair of them on the nest in the old snag, a few shots of them mating.  Man, that looks tricky with those big old talons… There is still a goose on the nesting platform at the west end of the big pond.

I got a few shots of a Great Blue Heron landing in the top of one of the pine trees where the rookery is, and a few Coots - yes, I said Coots.  Those stupid little birds that seem to be just everywhere. But what the hell, there wasn’t much else there. 

Lots of Canada Geese, and the Trumpeter Swans are gone.  I suspect they’ve taken to the back ponds, where they won’t be disturbed during nesting season. Not many Red-Winged Blackbirds yet but the ones that were there are fiercely displaying. 

Marsh Wrens are all over the place.  I finally got some really good shots of those little devils.  Even though they’re plentiful, they’re so tiny that they’re difficult to spot.  I listen for the first, and then look for movement in the cattails. Then if I can follow them with my eyes I at least have a chance of a photo or two. The tricky part is finding them with the lens. But I was lucky today - one of the little guys perched right in front of me, and stayed there for quite some time.  

I was really surprised not to see a single Yellow-headed Blackbird, and not much in the way of ducks. 

Ahhh, the photo gods were with me today - it was a great day of shooting!

 
 

Welcome Spring!

First day of Spring!  Woke up to an absolutely gorgeous morning; clear blue sky, birds singing their little hearts out, sunshine, forecast of 56 degrees,,,  what better way to celebrate than with a road trip?  Headed up to the Bison Range early in the morning with my camera riding shotgun to see what I could find. 

As I topped Evaro Hill the Mission Mountains came into view, and I could feel a smile spreading across my face. The sight of these incredible mountains always makes me smile - it’s like coming home. 

At Ravalli I turned off Highway 93 and onto Highway 200, and about six or eight miles down the road I was sidetracked for several minutes by a small herd of cows and calves.  These particular cows are called Belted Galaways, but because they are black with a white “belt” around their middles, they are affectionately known, at least  locally, as “Oreo Cows”. I’ve seen them many times but never the calves, and as most calves are they were just as cute as could be!

Arrived at the Bison Range at around 9:20 and headed on up to the Visitor Center, which won't be open until sometime in May so, no entrance fee!  I headed out on the ten mile winter drive, and as I passed the turnoff toward the staff housing area I stopped and began to turn, changed my mind and headed toward the winter road, and then changed my mind again and turned off.  I never know what causes me to change directions so suddenly, but I always trust that somewhere deep down, my intuition is guiding me.  It did so again today, for as I approached the bottom of the drive where Mission Creek comes nearest the road, I saw two swans on the creek. 

I parked my rig and got out to grab the tripod out of the back seat, but as I was setting the camera and lens on the tripod I heard the swans honking loudly from what I thought was overhead.  I looked out onto the creek and they were gone.  Damn, they flew away.  But again, that inner voice told me to wait, and sure enough the swans had not flown off, they had just floated down the creek and around the bend behind the cattails.  I aimed my lens and stood as still as possible while the male swam back toward me, seemingly checking me out.  He turned and swam away again but a very short time later he returned with his mate.  

The combination of the soft morning light, and the dark background of the water and the trees behind the creek gave me the most amazing shots of the swans!  I took both horizontal and vertical photos, and I wanted to jump up and down and yell with excitement.  I’m (wishfully) thinking, “cover shot”!!   I silently thanked them for being so cooperative, loaded up my camera and headed away from the creek.

When I got back up to the winter road another vehicle was parked and I pulled in behind them.  A pair of Mountain Bluebirds were tending the nesting box attached to a fence post.  The males are such beautiful birds with their bright, turquoise blue feathers.  The females, being more drab, still have some blue feathers and even they are quite pretty.  As I shot some photos of them from inside my car, I noticed that the male had a bug in his mouth, which told me they had chicks already!   And once again, after numerous photos I thanked them for being so cooperative as I drove off.  

 

Meadowlarks were everywhere!  While they were singing prolifically, and very visible with their bright yellow breasts, they were unfortunately still too far away, even for the Big Gun (I need to name this lens).  But I left my window down just to listen to them, and just in case one was singing nearer the road. 

I drove slowly, enjoying the fact that I was the only vehicle on the road at the time.  No tourists zipping past and scaring off all of the critters; just me and the animals and my camera - gotta love it.

At the spot where the creek runs alongside the road I saw several White-tail Deer and stopped to get some photos.  As I was pulling away I was startled by a Pronghorn that jumped up onto the road from the slope along the creek.  I think it was as startled as I was because it just stood there looking at me for several moments, and acted as if it wasn’t sure which way to go.  I took advantage of its indecision and got a good number of photos of it. I missed a :perfect” shot of it gazing off into the sun - the lighting was perfect but the mirror on my car was in the way.  But the shot I did get was a good photo and by far my favorite of the day.

As I had been photographing the Pronghorn, the deer wandered off to a more open area, and when the Pronghorn noticed they were no longer there he turned in the direction they had gone and quickened his pace to catch up with them.  I had to wonder why this Pronghorn was hangin’ with the deer.  Had he been booted from his herd?  It was a male and it’s very likely the dominant buck ran him off, but why wouldn’t he just find the other bachelors to herd up with - why the deer, of all things? 

Just below the switchbacks at the end of the road there is a large circle of boulders, and I parked my car there and got out.  It was so very quiet!  No sounds but the Meadowlarks, Bluebirds, nearby cows, and the breeze through the sagebrush. The view of the Mission Mountains was spectacular from this vantage point!

On top of one of the boulders I noticed that someone - most likely a child - had placed three stones on top of one of the boulders.  I immediately loved the simplicity of it and took a few shots of it. 

On the way back out I realized that I had not seen a single buffalo!  I looked closely at the tops of the hills and in the lower coulees and dips near the creek -not a bison in sight.  I was disappointed!  Not that I’d needed to see them.  I’ve seen bison plenty of times; I guess I just expected to see them and it just seemed so strange.

Before I headed out I stopped at the pond, but it was lifeless. Not a single turtle to be seen.  But it is only March, and they are probably still hibernating in the mud. I did hear a Kingfisher and headed of it the direction from which I heard its voice, but there was a sign that read “Swans nesting; no public access beyond this point”, so I retreated back to my car and headed out. 

About a mile or so down Highway 200 there is a Great Horned Owl nest that was pointed out to me last year by a fellow photographer.  The owl was back and looked to be sitting on eggs.  I got a few shots of her and headed home.

On the way home I heard an announcement on the radio that not only was today the first day of Spring, but also the International Day of Happiness.  How appropriate.