Monthly Archives: December 2009

Revenge of the Dinosaurs

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Close-up view of a great blue heron swallowing a Townsend's vole at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge

Many people seem shocked by the idea that birds might have descended from a line of dinosaurs that didn’t die out with the rise of the little furry mammals. Spend some time watching herons take their revenge on those little furry mammals and the idea doesn’t seem so far-fetched.

This great blue heron had the most efficient hunting streak I’ve ever seen, I saw it strike the ground six times and catch something every time. Three times it caught a Townsend’s vole like the one it’s swallowing here, three times Pacific treefrogs. The little treefrogs hardly seemed worth the effort but I’ve seen herons catch them many times.

White Socks

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A moose cow and her calf stand in Willow Flats at Grand Teton National Park

On my first visit to Grand Teton National Park, I arrived there in the middle of the afternoon in late September. I was driving from south to north and stopped off at Willow Flats, having read that it was a good place to watch for moose. There weren’t any about at first, but late in the evening this mother and calf came into view. They were often obscured by the willows, but for a short moment stood and posed. I had seen moose on a few occasions before, but the Tetons were my first chance to really observe them for longer periods of time.

The next two pictures are closer views of the cow and calf shown above, nicely showing off the white socks on their long legs.

A moose calf stands in Willow Flats at Grand Teton National Park

A moose cow walks in Willow Flats at Grand Teton National Park

It’s Not an Addiction, I Can Stop Anytime I Want!

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A chipmunk eats seeds while eating on a log along the shore of Colter Bay on the Lakeshore Trail in Grand Teton National Park

It will not surprise regular visitors to know that on my very first hiking trip to the Tetons, on my very first trail, smack dab in some of the most beautiful scenery in the United States, I started taking pictures of chipmunks right away. This was one of several chipmunks eating seeds on the rocky shore of Colter Bay.

Not Quite Yet

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A male red-winged blackbird sits atop cattails during the fall at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge

It’s a bit early yet for the redwings to start staking out their territory at the edge of South Quigley Lake, my favorite spot to photograph these beautiful birds up close. Still, when I arrived at Ridgefield with my new camera to test, I couldn’t resist a shot of a blackbird near the edge. I wasn’t quite quick enough and missed him in full song, in a few months he might have given me an encore performance that would give me a second chance.

But not now. Not quite yet.

Biding His Time

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A young elk bull scratches its fur in a tall meadow at Yellowstone National Park

This young bull was hanging out on the periphery of the harem of a much older bull. It kept a respectful distance and never sought to challenge the old fellow, despite his exhaustion at the end of the rut. The older bull was more concerned about bugling rivals further off than this youngster.