Banff: Glaciers, Lakes and Glacial Streams

by earthwatcherphoto, posted in Banff National Park, Canada, Geology, landscape, landscape images, landscape photos, Nature Photography, Photography, Uncategorized
Ten Peaks from the Road to Moraine Lake;
Moraine Lake; Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada; MAY 2019

Canada’s Banff National Park is filled with stunning mountain peaks capped with glaciers and snow. The steep, rugged mountains are the source of beautiful, turquoise streams that feed alpine lakes.

The turquoise water is interesting. As glaciers move, they polish the underlying rock, producing very fine particles of dust called rock flour. The rock flour mixes with the water traveling downstream. The color is a result of light reflecting around the densely packed dust in the water.  On bright days, with the sun in the right position, the river displays the brilliant turquoise. If the sky is more cloudy, the water will be a milky off-white. When it reaches the lakes, the rock flour eventually settles out. But, if the river is filling the lake quickly, the lakes can be turquoise also.

The mountainside on this image from Kootenay National Park is beautifully colored. But the coloring is deceptive. The rust color is dead conifers. The black is foliage that was consumed by fire. Many of the conifers died due to pine beetle infestation.

Please click on caption to see image at higher resolution!

Kootenay RIver and Mount Harkin;
Kootneay National Park, British Columbia, Canada,; MAY 2019
Color born of tragedy: The rusty red color are evergreens damaged by the mountain pine beetle; the black is fire damage.
Bow Lake and Crowfoot, Bow Crow and Bow Peaks;
Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada; MAY 2019
Moraine Lake;
Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada; MAY 2019
Mistaya Canyon;
Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada; MAY 2019
Bow Lake and Crowfoot Peak;
Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada; MAY 2019
Herbert Lake; Banff National Park,
Alberta, Canada; MAY 2019

These and other images are available to purchase on my website: www.earthwatcher.us or by contacting larry.klink@earthwatcher.us

Some North American Bear Sightings

by earthwatcherphoto, posted in Fujifilm Cameras, Nature Photography, Uncategorized, Wildlife, Wildlife Photography
Brown Bear (Ursus arctos horribilis). Also known as Grizzly Bear;
Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada; MAY 2019

On our recent trip through the Rocky Mountains, we were very lucky and saw a few of the North American Bears. You may see that they are identified as black bears and brown bears. I don’t know why they were named that way. Both black and brown bears can be black, brown, cinnamon and blonde. I’ve even seen black bears with white “collars”. The major differences is that the brown, or grizzly, bear has a distinctive hump and ears that are more rounded and more closely spaced. Brown bears usually grow to a larger size than black bears.

Note: Please click on caption to see image at higher resolution.

American Black Bear (Ursus americanus) with Cub
Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada; MAY 2019
American Black Bear (Ursus americanus) – P2;
Kootenay National Park, Alberta, Canada; May 2019
American Black Bear (Ursus americanus) – P1;
Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park, WY; MAY 2019
American Black Bear (Ursus americanus) Cub;
Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada; MAY 2019

These and other images are available to purchase on my website: www.earthwatcher.us or by contacting larry.klink@earthwatcher.us.

Some Recent Shorebird Sightings

by earthwatcherphoto, posted in Photography
Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis);
Hayden Valley, Yellowstone National Park, WY; MAY 2019

I’ve been busy and have gotten behind in posting some bird images I took this past spring. So, here are a few. I hope you enjoy them.

Note: Please click on caption to see image at higher resolution.

Green Heron (Butorides virescens);
Sailor Bar, American River Parkway, Fair Oaks, CA; APR 2019
Great Blue Heron (Ardea Herodias);
Willow Creek Recreation Area, American River Parkway, Folsom, CA
Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius);
Effie Yeaw Nature Center, Sacramento, CA; APR 2019
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus);
Effie Yeaw Nature Center, Sacramento, CA; APR 2019
Snowy Egret (Egretta thula);
Effie Yeaw Nature Center, Carmichael, CA; MAR 2019

These and other images are available to purchase on my website: www.earthwatcher.us or by contacting larry.klink@earthwatcher.us

It Was a Dark and Stormy Day

by earthwatcherphoto, posted in Uncategorized
Hot Spring and Frozen Yellowstone Lake;
Yellowstone National Park, WY; MAY 2019

On some recent trips, we were treated to many dark, overcast days. Photographers prefer the golden light of sunrise and sunset because of the atmosphere it sets. But nature provides us with treats even under flat light and dark skies. Fog, rain, stormy skies and crepuscular rays can all make beautiful images.

Note: Please click on caption to see image at higher resolution.

Images of landscapes under dark, flat skies.
Lifting Fog;
Lake Cuyamuca, CA; MAY 2019
Small Elk Herd; Moose Wilson Road,
Grand Tetons National Park, WY; MAY 2019
Path to a Distant Storm;
Craters of the Moon National Park, ID; MAY 2019
Yellowstone Lake near Occasional Geyser;
Yellowstone National Park, WY; MAY 2019
Storm Over Nevada Farm;
Nevada; MAY 2019
Rock Garden under Dark Clouds;
Buttermilk Rd, Bishop, CA; MAY 2019
Lamar Valley,
Yellowstone National Park, WY; MAY 2019

These and other images are available to purchase on my web site: www.earthwatcher.us or by contacting larry.klink@earthwatcher.us.

Bison At Yellowstone

by earthwatcherphoto, posted in Nature Photography, Photography, Travel, Wildlife, Wildlife Photography, Yellowstone National Park
Herd of Bison along the Lamar River;
Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park, WY; MAY 2019

Bison (Bison bison) are an iconic species at Yellowstone National Park. As many as there are and as often as I see them, I am still in awe of them. This trip was especially fun because of the large number of babies. They were standing, sleeping, scampering about; all the things babies do.

For the first few months of their life, the baby bison have a reddish colored coat; many people refer to them as red dogs. The adults were losing their winter coat, so patches of fur were missing or dangling on many of them. Others had a beautiful coat that appeared gold in the sun.

Please click on caption to see images at higher resolution.

Momma and Baby Bison (Bison bison);
Hayden Valley, Yellowstone National Park, WY; MAY 2019
Bison and Babies;
Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park, WY; MAY 2019 #Photography
Morning Discussion;
Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park, WY; MAY 2019
Momma and Baby Bison (Bison bison);
Hayden Valley, Yellowstone National Park, WY; MAY 2019

These and other images are available to purchase on my website: www.earthwatcher.us or by contacting larry.klink@earthwatcher.us.