• landscape,  Poudre River,  winter scenes

    A Morning Walk

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

    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.

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  • fall season,  landscape,  natural areas,  trees

    More Bluer Skies

    October 17, 2017

    This pat weekend was lovely. Afternoon temperatures reaching the mid 60’s and nighttime temperatures down to freezing. The cold nights and humidity brought frost to everything in the morning. Saturday morning included some fog where I could not see across the pond.

    Starburst on a beautiful fall afternoon.
    Starburst on a beautiful fall afternoon.
    Whitetail deer live along this riparian area of the Poudre River
    Whitetail deer live along this riparian area of the Poudre River

    A restlessness on Sunday afternoon beckoned me to drive the 5 miles to the Environmental Learning Center and walk the outer loop with my camera and journal. Very few people were out so the quiet in nature was healing and soothing. Clear blue skies and the sound of rustling cottonwood leaves along with the calls of blue jays was all the music I needed. A couple of whitetail deer kept an eye on me as I walked along the trail near the Poudre River.

    The colors of late fail always brings me a smile.
    The colors of late fail always brings me a smile.

    We also had a days of high winds so a lot of trees have become barren and naked with the loss of their leaves. However we do have a few lingering fall colors. The winds also clear up the smog and gives us these Bluer skies. Enjoy the rest of your week.

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  • animals,  Humor,  natural areas

    Put it on the list

    December 9, 2014
    Whitetail Buck
    Whitetail Buck

    If you look closely you will see a nice whitetail buck staring directly at you. I came upon him while he was bedded down in the trees just to the left. All I had with me was my Fujifilm X-E1 and the 18-55mm lens. It’s not the lens for reaching out to capture wildlife images. Off to the right side was his harem of 4 does. There was a time when I thought a harem was what I needed but once reality set in, those fantasies are long gone. 🙂

    Even though I’m quite happy with this camera and lens, this image reignited a wish to have more focal length than the 55mm. What I want is an image stabilized 12-400mm zoom with a variable aperture of f1.2 to f2.8 and only weight 12 ounces. I’d even settle for a cheaper, and lighter, version at a fixed f4.0. So, I’m putting it on my Christmas list, right below the new underwear. Always need new underwear. So, I guess I still have fantasies, they’ve just shifted a bit.

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