Earthwatcher – Page 21

Orioles and Waxwings

September 11, 2019September 11, 2019 by Earthwatcher, posted in Bird Photography, bird watching, birding, Earthwatcher, Effie Yeaw Nature Center, Fujifilm Cameras, Nature Photography, Wildlife, Wildlife Photography

Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) -P1
Willow Creek Recreation Area, American River Parkway, Folsom, CA; SEP 2019

Over the course of the current year, I have been busily photographing many birds; so many that I have gotten behind in my posts. Over the next few months I’ll do my best to catch up, interspersed with some other interesting aspects of nature such as the golden leaves of the aspens along the eastern sierra. In this post, I’ll start with sharing some birds that I find especially beautiful.

The Bullock’s Oriole (Icterus bullockii) is found in the western part of North America. They like open areas near trees where they can find caterpillars, fruit and nectar.

The Hooded Oriole (Icterus cucullatus) is found in the southwestern United States. However, in breeding season they reside in western California also. They live in more open areas, and especially like palm trees. They like fruit, nectar and the sugar water in hummingbird feeders.

The Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorumlives) can be found across much of the United States. They are social birds that flock together in trees. Their preferred diet is fruit and berries but sometimes practice the aerobatics of flycatchers chasing insects. Waxwings get their name from a waxy substance they secrete from their wingtips.

Here in the Sacramento area, we see the waxwings in the winter and the orioles in the summer.

Hooded Oriole (Icterus cucullatus)
Lake Natomas, American River Parkway, Orangevale, CA; MAY 2019

Female Bullock’s Oriole (Icterus bullockii)
Effie Yeaw Nature Center, Sacramento, CA; JUN 2019

Bullock’s Oriole (Icterus bullockii)
Effie Yeaw Nature Center, Sacramento, CA; JUN 2019

Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) -P2
Willow Creek Area, American River Parkway, Folsom, CA; SEP 2019

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

Squirrels

September 7, 2019 by Earthwatcher, posted in Earthwatcher, Fujifilm Cameras, Wildlife, Wildlife Photography

California Ground Squirrel (Otospermophilus beecheyi);
Effie Yeaw Nature Center, Carmichael, CA; APR 2019

I have mixed emotions about squirrels. I enjoy watching these industrious creatures foraging for food. I love watching them chase each other. I especially like their alarms when they rapidly shake their paw and cluck loudly. But, they do consume a lot of food meant for the birds at our backyard feeder. So, for the most part, I enjoy them.

As I have travelled, I have learned there are a large variety of squirrels. There are tree squirrels like the gray, red and fox varieties who live in nests in trees. There are ground squirrels who nest in burrows under the ground. Chipmunks and marmots are a type of ground squirrel. It has been many years, but I’ve even seen flying, or more appropriately, gliding squirrels.

One of the more interesting squirrels in this post is the black morph of the Eastern Fox Squirrel. I’ve done some research on these squirrels and learned that there is evidence that black squirrels were once the most common. But as we settled North America and cleared forests, evolutionary pressure selected the lighter colored squirrels. To me, they are uncommon, but I have spoken with some folks who are aware of places where they are more common.

Here are some of the squirrels I have seen in my travels over the past year.

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

Juvenile Eastern Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger);
Effie Yeaw Nature Center, Sacramento, CA; MAY 2019

Black Eastern Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger);
Effie Yeaw Nature Center, Sacramento, CA; MAY 2019

Cliff Chipmunk, (Neotamias dorsalis);
Mather Point, South Rim, Grand Canyon National Park; AUG 2019

Western Gray Squirrel (Sciurus griseus);
Effie Yeaw Nature Center, Sacramento, CA; APR 2019

American Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus);
Schwabacher’s Landing, Grand Teton National Park, WY; MAY 2019

Columbian Ground Squirrel (Urocitellus columbianus) – P2;
Glacier National Park; May 2019

Columbian Ground Squirrel (Urocitellus columbianus) – P3;
Glacier National Park; May 2019

Rock Squirrel (Otospermophilus variegatus);
Mather Point, South Rim, Grand Canyon National Park; AUG 2019

Least Chipmunk (Neotamias minimus);
Schullman Grove, Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, CA; SEP 2018

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

Seal Rock, Oregon

September 1, 2019 by Earthwatcher, posted in Bird Photography, bird watching, birding, Birds, Earthwatcher, Fujifilm Cameras, Photography, Seascape, sunrise, Uncategorized, Wildlife, Wildlife Photography

Seal Rock Beach at Sunrise
Seal Rock, Waldport, OR; AUG 2019

We recently spent a few days on the beach at Waldport, OR. It is located in Oregon Dunes area of the coast. Just outside of town sets a beach amongst a craggy, old volcanic lava flow. It is a beautiful beach with many tidal pools left teeming with wildlife as the tide recedes.

On this visit, the birds really took center stage. We saw some seals, but they were offshore and all I could see were heads bobbing. So, they weren’t photo worthy. But we found some Pelagic Cormorants (Phalacrocorax pelagicus); one with a chick on the nest. We found Western Gulls (Larus occidentalis), many of which were recently fledged juveniles.

The Pelagic Cormorant is found along coastal waters and eats fish and marine invertebrates. It roosts and nests on steep, inaccessible rocky cliffs. It swims and dives for food.

The Western Gull is the common gull that you find on US West Coast beaches. They like fish, marine invertebrates, bird eggs and jelly fish. They will also scavenge on carrion and human refuse.

Our experience with the Western Gull brought some amusement. The juveniles were in the water and along the shore. When they wandered too far inland, an adult would chase after and send it back to the shoreline with the others. In the early morning, we even saw adults force the young into the tidal pools to splash and bathe. It was great fun.

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

Pelagic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pelagicus)
Seal Rock, Waldport, OR; AUG 2019

Juvenile Western Gull (Larus occidentalis)
Seal Rock, Waldport, OR; AUG 2019

Starfish in Tide Pool
Seal Rock, Waldport, OR; AUG 2019

Western Gull (Larus occidentalis)
Seal Rock, Waldport, OR; AUG 2019

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

Grand Canyon Monsoon – Part 2

August 14, 2019August 13, 2019 by Earthwatcher, posted in Earthwatcher, Fujifilm Cameras, Grand Canyon, landscape, lightning, Photography, Rainbow, storm, sunrise, sunset, Uncategorized

Sunset Over Grand Canyon – P2;
Rim Trail Between Mojave and Hopi Points,
South Rim, Grand Canyon National; Park; AUG 2019

This is the remaining images from the Grand Canyon that I plan to share at this time. Again, I hope you enjoy these images from this amazing place.

Note: Please click on caption to images at higher resolution.

Lightning Over Grand Canyon – P1A;
South Rim, Grand Canyon National Park, AZ; AUG 2019

Rainbow Over Grand Canyon;
Imperial Point, Grand Canyon National Park, AZ; JUL 2019

Sunset Over Grand Canyon;
Rim Trail Between Mojave and Hopi Points, South Rim,
Grand Canyon National; Park; AUG 2019

Sunset From Imperial Point – P1;
Imperial Point, Grand Canyon National Park, AZ; JUL 2019

Lightning Over Grand Canyon – P3A;
Mojave Point, South Rim,
Grand Canyon National; Park; AUG 2019

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

Grand Canyon Monsoon – Part 1

August 11, 2019August 10, 2019 by Earthwatcher, posted in cloud, Earthwatcher, Fujifilm Cameras, Grand Canyon, landscape, landscape images, landscape photos, lightning, monsoon, Nature Photography, Night Sky, Photography, storm, sunrise, sunset, Uncategorized

Lightning Over Grand Canyon;
South Rim, Grand Canyon National Park, AZ; AUG 2019

I recently had the privilege to photograph the Grand Canyon during the monsoon season of Southwestern North America. It was a marvelous time to visit this national wonder. We were treated to dark and stormy skies, lightning, rainbows and vivid sunrises and sunsets.

I generally don’t think of the southwestern US as having a monsoon season, after all, it is largely desert. I think of torrential rains in places like India and the eastern coast of Africa. But, the monsoon season in southwestern North America is very real. The term monsoon refers to the seasonal wind shift that brings in warm, humid air. Those winds cause most of the rainfall received by the desert southwest each year – all 1” to 8” of it; sometimes more and sometimes less. It can be responsible for torrential downbursts that cause flash flooding and lightning induced wildfires.

The southwestern North American monsoon season generally starts in early July and runs through September.

In this post, I am sharing a few of the images I took while at the Grand Canyon. I’ll share a few more later this week.

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

Sunrise From Imperial Point;
Point Imperial, Grand Canyon National Park, AZ; AUG 2019

Milky Way From Cape Royal; Cape Royal
North Rim, Grand Canyon National Park, AZ; AUG 2019

Sunset Over Grand Canyon – P1
Mojave Point, South Rim, Grand Canyon National; Park; AUG 2019

Sunrise From Imperial Point – P1
Point Imperial, Grand Canyon National Park, AZ; AUG 2019

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

Elk, Moose and Pronghorn from A Trip Through the Rocky Mountains

July 24, 2019July 23, 2019 by Earthwatcher, posted in Earthwatcher, Fujifilm Cameras, Grand Tetons National Park, Nature Photography, Wildlife, Wildlife Photography, Yellowstone National Park

Male or Bull Elk (Cervus canadensis) with Antlers in Velvet;
Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park, WY; MAY 2019

In sharing these images today, I am using the common North American names for these animals. It was interesting learning about these animals though because, the names are not consistent. Even in North America, the Elk is referred to a Wapiti, from the Shawnee term Wa Piti meaning White-rumped. Also, Elk are sometimes claimed to be the same as the European Red Deer. However, mitochondrial testing in 2004 found that the much smaller Red Deer is a different species.[i] To confuse matters further, in Eurasia, the Moose is called an Elk.[ii]

The Pronghorn is sometimes referred to as an antelope but it is not a true antelope. Unlike true antelopes, the keratin sheathing on its horns is shed and regrown annually. The pronghorn is also the only animal that has branched horns.

The Elk and the Moose are members of the deer family, which means they have antlers made of bone. The pronghorn and true antelope, as well as cows, sheep and goats have horns which have a bony center covered by a keratinous sheath.

Anyway, forget the confusion unless it helps in social conversation and enjoy these magnificent animals.

[i] Elk Network. https://elknetwork.com/whats-the-difference-between-red-deer-and-elk/

[ii] Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moose

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

Female Moose (Alces alces);
Moose Wilson RD, Grand Tetons National Park, WY

Female Elk (Cervus canadensis);
Grand Tetons National Park, Near Moran, WY; MAY 2019

Female Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana);
Lamar 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.

A Winter Morning in the Gettysburg National Military Park

February 28, 2019 by Earthwatcher, posted in Earthwatcher, Fujifilm Cameras, Gettysburg, Gettysburg National Military Park, landscape, Photography, snow, winter

Confederate Rifles in Winter;
Gettysburg National Military Park, Gettysburg, PA; FEB 2019

A few weeks ago, we visited family in the Gettysburg, PA area. While there, we were treated to some snow and very cold weather. On one early, sunny, morning we drove along Confederate Ave. The street. On Seminary Ridge, overlooks open meadows ringed with farms. The ridge top is where Confederate troops set up their artillery and was the starting point for many Confederate troop assaults. On July 3^rd, 1863, it was the site of Pickett’s charge against the troops of Union General George C. Meade.

On this early morning, the guns laid quiet. Sunlight glistened on the icy snow while frost gave trees, weeds and other objects a silvery glow. Though snow adds a burden to our efforts to maintain a normal life and we grow tired of it after a time, a morning like this makes you slow down and appreciate the beauty that nature bestows in winter.

Please click on caption to see images at higher resolution.

Frosty Winter Morning;
Gettysburg National Military Park, Gettysburg, PA; FEB 2019

Parot Rifle in Winter;
Gettysburg National Military Park, Gettysburg, PA; FEB 2019

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

#Photography #Photographie #PhotosOfTheDay #Fujifilm #fujifilmusa #fujifeed #gnmp #gettysburg # civilwar #nationalpark #artillary #fieldartillary #parotrifle #rifle #winter #snow #landscape #ig_landscape #landscapelover #landscapehunter

Some More Interesting Raptors

January 6, 2019 by Earthwatcher, posted in Bird Photography, Birds, Earthwatcher, Fujifilm Cameras, Photography, raptor, Sacramento National Wildlife Reserve

Juvenile Bald Eagle, Turkey Vultures and Herring Gull on a Kill
Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge; DEC 2018

Returning from a recent trip to the Seattle area, we stopped at the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge. The visitor center and restrooms were closed but the government shutdown didn’t affect the birds. This stop turned out to be very productive. It was a great day for raptors. The star was a juvenile Bald Eagle on a kill. But we saw Ferruginous Hawks, Northern Harriers, Rough Legged Hawks, a Cooper’s Hawk and a Red-shouldered hawk also. This is feast time for the raptors at Sacramento NWR because of the large numbers of waterfowl that spend the winter months there.

I didn’t share images of the Rough-legged haws because I only got a rear quarter shot and it didn’t show enough to make the shot interesting. I’ve shared other Cooper’s Hawks and Red-shouldered Hawks in the recent past, so I didn’t include them. But, I hope you enjoy what I shared.

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

Ferruginous Hawk
Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge; DEC 2018

Pair of Ferruginous Hawks
Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge; DEC 2018

Northern Harriers
Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge; DEC 2018

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

Some Wildlife from Recent Trips

October 28, 2018 by Earthwatcher, posted in Bird Photography, Birds, Death Valley, Earthwatcher, Fujifilm Cameras, Photography, raptor, Wildlife, Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park

Here is a few shots of some wildlife we saw travelling through various places. The locations are listed with each image.

We hadn’t seen any bears in the wild for several years. Then, on one trip, we saw 2. Unfortunately, the one that got away, was a cinnamon colored one. Maybe someday I’ll be able to photograph one of those.

The tufa in Mono Lake are beautiful themselves but we got a rare treat – an osprey on its nest on top of a tufa.

Note: Click on caption to see image at higher resolution.

Tuolumne Grove Giant Sequoias, Yosemite National Park, CA; SEP 2018 — Western Gray Squirrel, Yosemite National Park

Least Chipmunk, Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, CA

American Red Squirrel, Grand Tetons National Park

Turkey Vultures in the Desert, Death Valley National Park

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

Grand Prismatic Spring

October 3, 2018 by Earthwatcher, posted in Earthwatcher, Fujifilm Cameras, Geyser, Grand Prismatic Spring, Hot Spring, landscape, Photography, Yellowstone National Park

The Grand Prismatic Spring is another of Yellowstone’s iconic hydrothermal features. It is the one that looks like a big orange and blue eye. The spring sits along the Firehole River in the general area of the Upper Geyser Basin where Old Faithful resides. It produces a constant flow of water that flows into and heats the Firehole River. To me, the Firehole River is the most fascinating of Yellowstone’s rivers. It flows from Madison Lake, on the continental divide, 21 miles to the Gibbon River at Madison Junction. What fascinates me, is that it travels through the Upper Geyser Basin, where Old Faithful is located, and past the Grand Prismatic Spring. Those and other hydrothermal features dump their water into the Firehole. This raises the temperature 9-18 degrees Fahrenheit.

The pool filled by the Grand Prismatic Spring is very shallow. It is colored by the brown. orange and yellow bacteria and algae that grow in its pool. The sun highlights its colored features and the water reflects the blue of the sky. Steam rising from the spring adds mystery to the landscape. Though you can appreciate the spring by just giving it a cursory walk-by, paying attention to the details and seeing how the light seems to make them change provides a breathtaking experience.

Here is a link to an image that shows the spring in totality: https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/photo/grand-prismatic-spring-close-up-royalty-free-image/136952950; I don’t have one of my own to share.

Note: Click on caption to see higher resolution image.