Album Wildlife

[OwenM]

Walked out on a little point to take a pic, Saturday, and heard a groan.
Right below and next to me, close enough to spit on.
Much as I wanted to enjoy my Magical Mating Mooses Moment, it was a bit close for comfort, IMO, so I instantly backed away, and just clicked off a few smartphone pics.
I was really excited to see them, though.




Sunday morning, I got to see another one.

 

[Janice]

From our Wyoming trip this summer

Mating at Fossil Butte


Along Boulder Creek in the Winds


Heading down toward Peak Lake in the Winds

 

[Yvonne]

found this cute guy on a hike in Yellowstone. It totally made my day

 

[IntrepidXJ]

Deer in the Willows by Randy Langstraat, on Flickr

 

[OwenM]

Young Timber Rattlesnake from South Cumberland State Park(Savage Gulf) in TN.
Maybe 12-15", and just a button, but he had a full belly.
It was in the 40s last night, so I was kinda surprised to see him about 9:30 this morning.

 

[Titans]

This adult Coopers Hawk put on quite a show yesterday. We watched it chirping away for a long time at this spot. Then it flew across right in front of us into a shrub, sat still for a moment and then it suddenly tumbled down through the shrub. Lots of commotion as two doves went in separate directions and the hawk chased low after one of them. It all happened right in front of us on trail (not in the desert museum!). Free raptor show!

 

[Titans]

Yesterday morning 1/2 hr before sunrise in 17F we went to watch 20,000+ Sandhill Cranes depart from Whitewater Draw, Az. The noise was super loud! This was really one of our top wildlife experiences ever! We are camped 45 mins away, so photos aren’t ready, but here’s a random quick selection

some yet to fly out, far away opposite side of the lake. Within 30- 45 mins they were all gone!


on a small pond behind us a mesmerizing air show unfolded of blackbirds gathering before sunrise to fly out as well , stunning to watch! They kept changing flight direction over this tiny pond, They were all completely gone before sunrise. Notice the reflections of them in the water



We went back and had breakfast, made coffee. Returned to the lake to watch ducks and other birds (snow geese and white Pelicans, etc

Between 9:30-11:30 the Sandhill Cranes were done foraging in the fields and they returned , all 20,000+ of them, whoa!!! That was cool and this time some came much closer.






Hard to see the grey line of densely packed cranes, far out in front of the tan grass line





this was like a less crowded overflow landing area, very close to us, cool! Even some reflections here as well.

 

[Titans]

In Chiricahua we finally saw some Coatis on trail, cool. A group of them foraging in the forest. Usually the females with young ones stay together I read. To our surprise they didn’t take off, they were completely focused on eating.

One of them was eating right along the trail, we were very close. The photos of her looking up were only after we made a little noise by moving some leaves on the ground, kind of to signal “passing on your right “.

 

[b.stark]

Had a front row seat for a while for a battle between these two tom turkeys this afternoon.

 

[Titans]

Bunnies, rabbits, hares… not my favorite animals, as they are so destructive at home. But this desert hare (?) had some nice backlit supersized ears.

If I sit still, they might not see me. This went on for quite a while…as Rick stepped within a few feet from it.


“Ok, you’re getting really close now”


Something is itching…


Back to eating

 

[Outdoor_Fool]

Love those ears!

 

[Titans]

Love those ears!

Yes! I forgot to insert the best photo of those super big backlit ears…

 

[Wanderlust073]

A pair of almost perfectly camofauged ptarmigans

 

[Titans]

Four corners region- suspect these were wild horses grazing in the desert a few feet from the edge of the road

 

[b.stark]

Just some birds passing over my place on their epic migration. They passed over while I was out working in my shop the other day. I can't say I'm a huge fan of geese, but the writings about them by Barry Lopez have really given me a greater respect for them in many ways.

 

[zionsky]

I think he just ate

 

[Yvonne]

I think he just ate

View attachment 108892

I love Chuckwallas

 

[Bob]

Nice! I hardly ever see bears in Yellowstone.

Take a long dayhike up Slough Creek

 

[Yvonne]

Take a long dayhike up Slough Creek

never saw one there at all. Did 16 miles round trip along Slough Creek and there were no bears at all. But I have to say, I'm a wildlife repellant, so I was not expecting to see one at all

 

[Bob]

Lol.... Did a 6 day loop there.... 8 bears.