• landscape,  Poudre River,  winter scenes

    A Morning Walk

    January 3, 2025
    Winter colors along the Poudre River at the Environmental Learning Center

    I had an invigorating ride in the fog this morning to meet Jeff for coffee. About 10:00 am I drove to the Arapaho Bend Natural Area and then over to the Environmental Learning Center. I needed to take my camera for a walk and did that at the ELC. I had not been to the ELC in a while and was shocked. Everything seemed so bleak to me, dead trees were down everywhere. It’s usually lush, green and vibrant. The last time I was there was there in June of 2023. I settled in for a walk of the Wilcox Trail, about 1.5 mile loop. By the time I headed home for lunch, I had seen seven eagles, two hawks, and a dozen whitetail deer. So I enjoyed my bicycle ride, my mocha, my conversation with Jeff and my walk in nature.

    A pair of Bald Eagles near Arapaho Bend Natural Area
    Blue sky and fog over Beaver Pond at Arapaho Bend Natural Area
    The bleakness of the Environmental Learning Center
    A whitetail doe framed and staring me down at the Environmental Learning Center
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  • Avian

    Today’s Visitor

    February 23, 2023

    While having my second iron infusion today I received a message from my neighbor, Kristin, that a bald eagle was hanging around the cottonwood tree just outside our front door. They were still there when I returned. I assume they are here because we have several bird carcasses located around the city ponds due to the avian flu and we have 3-4 carcasses on the ice of our ponds now. Bald Eagles will hunt just about anything they can catch, including mammals, such as rabbits and squirrels; birds like ducks, geese and coots; reptiles, including turtles; and amphibians; even carrion. Kristin said she saw them pick at one the carcasses. Sure don’t want this bird to die of the avian flu. Love these birds even though they look unhappy. I love to watch them fly!

    It was a bitter cold, -12 degrees at 6:00 am. Brrr! Don’t think we got above 10 degrees. Brrrr! My infusion went well and again, no side effects. I see where those of you in the southeast have been experiencing summer type weather. Enjoy!

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  • Avian,  National Parks,  Yellowstone National Park

    A Day in Yellowstone Park

    September 2, 2022
    Bald Eagle in Lamar Valley

    Monday was a 12 hour day spent in Yellowstone Park. We were able to get a pass into Lamar Valley as it is closed at the Northeast Entrance. They are limiting the amount of traffic while they repair roads. The pass only gave us access from Tower Junction to Slough Creek. That was enough for us to get photos of bison, antelope, this eagle and the beauty of of the park. Here is a link to a map and video of the damage to the roads within the park from the floods in June.

    For those who are into numbers, I drove a total of 1,222 miles and averaged 29.8 miles to the gallon. And, for those who are into plays, we were able to see the musical Bright Star at a theater in West Yellowstone called The Play Mill Theatre on Saturday evening. One heck of a play!

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  • Avian,  landscape,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  sunrises

    Happy Sunday Morning

    May 15, 2022

    Good morning from Pineridge Natural Area. Clear skies and sunshine to start the day. Meadowlarks were sharing songs of joy with all the world. In fact birds were singing all around me. Over time I will come know them but for now I’ll just enjoy their music. This image shows how the rains from last week sure gave the meadow a touch of green.

    When I leave the natural area I need to turn north on Overland trail and drive by an open field that is a Frisbee golf course. About a half mile after I’d turned I noticed this eagle sitting in the open field. I stopped and watched for several minutes with binoculars. The bird seemed rather nervous so I kept my distance. I finally decided to see if it would stay long enough for me to get my camera out and put on the longer zoom lens. I was able to take about 20 images then put my camera gear away because I did not want to disturb the bird anymore than I already had. I then watched them for another couple minutes with binoculars before it lifted off. I was shocked to see in its talons a large fish. Now, that would have been the shot but alas… This is about a 100% crop so it’s not all that sharp.

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  • haiku,  Plants,  trees,  writing/reading

    Given a New Day

    March 26, 2021

    given a new day
    accepting the gift offered 
    feel special again

    ms

    If you look close you will see an eagle perched atop the tree on the left. A half dozen or more eagles have been hanging around these trees on the east side of town for the past few weeks. A large cement plant has been moved so there is now a large gravel pit partially drained which has allowed for the gift of easier fishing for the eagles. I wonder if this eagle feels special.

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