Winter Wildlife Photos: Tundra Swan

Continuing my series on Winter Wildlife Photos we come to the Tundra Swan. The Tundra Swan is another water bird that winters in large numbers in the Northwest. Again Fir Island in Washington but also the Lower Klamath along the Oregon/California border. In this photo there is a thin layer of ice that the swans are standing in:

Winter Wildlife Photos: Snow Goose

Continuing my series on Winter Wildlife we come to the Snow Goose. We find Snow Geese occasionally here in Arizona. In fact, there has been a single Snow Goose at Lakeside Park for the past 10 months. But, Snow Geese winter in huge numbers in Washington State after spending the Summer in Siberia. Here, some of the 10,000-15,000 Snow Geese on Fir Island with Mount Baker in the background:

Winter Wildlife Photos: Bald Eagle

Continuing my series on Winter Wildlife we come to the Bald Eagle.

One morning shortly after moving to Southern Arizona from the Northwest, I met an "older" man who was retired and who fished every day at Columbus Lake in West Tucson. He was so excited because earlier that morning there was quite a commotion: a Bald Eagle there at the lake. It was the first Bald Eagle he had ever seen. I let him enjoy his story saying, "That must have been quite a thrill."

I didn't have the heart to tell him that Bald Eagles are common in Western Washington; that in fact, in the winter along the Skagit River, you could relatively easily find 100 of the 500 Bald Eagles that hunt along the Skagit for Chum Salmon.

Here is a photo of one of those Bald Eagles sitting on top of what looks to be a 20 pound salmon:

Bald Eagle with 20 pound Chum Salmon

Winter Wildlife Photos: Sandhill Crane

Continuing my series on Winter Wildlife, we come to Sandhill Cranes. Winter Wildlife doesn't always mean "snow." Winter in Southern Arizona is relatively mild compared to the more northern parts of North America. 

Whitewater Draw in Southeast Arizona collects the largest concentration of wintering Sandhill Cranes in the United States. Yearly estimates can be as high as 42,000. Typically, they start arriving in late October, peaking in late January. They start heading north in mid-March. 

Here a photo from Whitewater Draw:

Sandhill Cranes

Winter Wildlife Photos: Red Squirrel

Continuing my series on Winter Wildlife, here a cute little Red Squirrel which ought to be underground:

Red Squirrel (photo taken in British Columbia)

Winter Wildlife Photos: Pronghorn

Continuing my series on Winter Wildlife: The Pronghorn.

"Of all the animals we have seen the Antelope (Pronghorn) seems to possess the most wonderful fleetness. Shy and timorous they generally repose only on the ridges, which command a view of all the approaches of an enemy." Lewis and Clark.

It is true, Pronghorn have very large eyes which can detect movement from 4 miles away with 320 degree vision.

It is also true, Pronghorn are the fastest mammals in the Western Hemisphere and the second fastest mammal in the world (second only to the Cheetah). Actually the Pronghorn can maintain their speed longer than the Cheetah.

The pronghorn has a large windpipe, heart, and lungs which allow it to take in large amounts of air while it runs. They also have a very light bone structure with two long, cushioned, pointed toes which aid in running at high speeds.

They are built for speed and not jumping. So they can't (don't) jump fences like deer. They will go under fences instead of over them. Ranchers have been removing the barbed wire from the bottom of their fences and replacing it with barbless wire to lessen the damage to the Pronghorn.

Pronghorn's primary range in the US is Montana through Eastern Oregon, Wyoming, Colorado, and Arizona, though they can also be found in Minnesota, South Dakota, West Texas, Utah and Nevada. There is a subspecies, the Sonoran Pronghorn, in Southern Arizona and Mexico that is endangered. The US population of the Sonoran Pronghorn is less than 500.

Below are "winter" photos of Pronghorn from Montana. I like the first because it seems like a Japanese silk painting.

Winter Wildlife Photos: Mule Deer

Continuing my series on Winter Wildlife we come to Mule Deer.

In the first photo I was traveling in Southeast Oregon heading to Hart Mountain where Pronghorn gather for the winter. There was a wide open field ahead of me on the right with ten Mule Deer feeding on the grasses. Since they were unprotected I figured that they would cross the road, hop the fence, and head up the mountain side. I slowly turned my Jeep so that I could get a good look at the fence ahead from the driver's side window. Sure enough, they obliged, ran across the road, and hopped the fence:

This photo was also taken as I travelled through Southeast Oregon on that same trip:

Winter Wildlife Photos: American Marten

Winter is approaching. And with it comes opportunity for interesting if not fascinating wildlife photography.

Continuing the series on "Winter Wildlife" Photos: The American Marten

Here then, the American Marten that was behind me as I was photographing the Bull Moose:

American Marten in Jackson County, Colorado

Winter Wildlife Photos: Moose

Winter is approaching. And with it comes opportunity for interesting if not fascinating wildlife photography.

Continuing the series on "Winter Wildlife" Photos: Moose

I was driving up a snow covered dirt road in British Columbia when I saw a brown spot in the middle of what was probably 10 acres of snow. I only got a glimpse because in was through trees that lined the road. I wasn't really in a hurry, so stopped and walked between the trees into the open space. Then it was clear, a beautiful female Moose. I slowly walked closer being careful not to scare her. She let me get about 30 feet away at which point I sat down in the snow. (I was wearing jeans over some long johns, so I didn't notice the minus 7 degree temperature). I sat with here for a good 30 minutes. She would occasionally dip her nose into the snow, but otherwise sat still. It was a wonderful experience and now fond memory.  Here is one of my photos:

This next photo was taken near Maligne Lake in Alberta. Mom and her "teenage" son marching through the forest:

On to Jackson County, Colorado and one of the highest concentration of Moose in the lower 48 states. Driving up one of Colorado's Rocky Mountains, I came across a Bull Moose in a meadow below. I had to drive a couple hundred yards to a spot where I could park. Slowly I made my way to about 75 feet and watched as this Bull Moose ate the oakbrush. Interestingly, as I turned to head back to my Jeep I saw an American Marten making its way through the snow. ( I'll save that photo for my next post).

Lastly, driving in Alberta I saw (from quite a long distance) what looked like a brown "speck" in a large patch of snow in the forest. I got out and started trudging through the snow toward what I then realized was a Bull Moose.  The snow was quite deep and there was no trail, so it was essentially "bush-whacking." Progress was slow and after a while the Moose seemed to be moving away. So I took one last photo and left the area: 

Winter Wildlife: Grey Fox

Winter is approaching. And with it comes opportunity for interesting if not fascinating wildlife photography.

Continuing the series on "Winter Wildlife" Photos: The Grey Fox

Grey Fox from Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Winter Wildlife: Elk

Winter is approaching. And with it comes opportunity for interesting if not fascinating wildlife photography.

Continuing the series on "Winter Wildlife" Photos: Elk

Elk in Jasper, Alberta

Elk from Medicine Lake, Alberta

Elk in the Cascade Mountains of Washington State

Winter Wildlife: Coyote

Winter is approaching. And with it comes opportunity for interesting if not fascinating wildlife photography.

Continuing the series on "Winter Wildlife" Photos.

The resilient Coyote on the Columbia Icefields:

Winter Wildlife: Raven

Winter is approaching. And with it comes opportunity for interesting if not fascinating wildlife photography.

Over the next few weeks I provide some "Winter Wildlife" Photos.


The Raven from the Columbia Icefields:

Winter Wildlife: Caribou

Winter is approaching. And with it comes opportunity for interesting if not fascinating wildlife photography.

Over the next few weeks I provide some "Winter Wildlife" Photos.


Here are Caribou from Alberta, Canada:

Winter Wildlife: The American Buffalo

Winter is approaching. And with it comes opportunity for interesting if not fascinating wildlife photography.

Over the next few weeks I provide some "Winter Wildlife" Photos.

Next, Bison from western Montana:

Winter Wildlife: Bighorn Sheep

Winter is approaching. And with it comes opportunity for interesting if not fascinating wildlife photography.

Over the next few weeks I provide some "Winter Wildlife" Photos.


Here now, Bighorn Sheep (photos taken in Alberta, Canada):

Winter Wildlife: Hummingbirds

Winter is approaching. And with it comes opportunity for interesting if not fascinating wildlife photography.

Over the next few weeks I provide some "Winter Wildlife" Photos.

First up, taken here in a couple of rare Tucson snowfalls, Anna's Hummingbirds

Fall Landscapes - 13

It's finally turned "Fall" in Tucson. So I thought I'd share some "fall photos." 

I will not pretend to be a "Landscape Photographer." Certainly not like our dear friend Bill Hubbell who with his lovely wife Jean used to visit us here at The Azure Gate. Looking at his landscapes I remain in awe. I stand in front of the Grand Canyon, for example, and all I can think is that "this is un-photographable, it is so vast."

In a way photography is like sports. You can excel in Football but not necessarily in Baseball or Tennis. I feel like I am fairly good at Wildlife Photography, but I pale in comparison to Landscape Photographers -- or Portrait Photographers -- or Industrial Photographers. I'm a novice in that regard.

Nonetheless, I am going to share some "Fall" photos. So here we go:

#13:

Yellow Headed Blackbirds in Sulphur Springs, Arizona

Fall Landscapes - 12

It's finally turned "Fall" in Tucson. So I thought I'd share some "fall photos." 

I will not pretend to be a "Landscape Photographer." Certainly not like our dear friend Bill Hubbell who with his lovely wife Jean used to visit us here at The Azure Gate. Looking at his landscapes I remain in awe. I stand in front of the Grand Canyon, for example, and all I can think is that "this is un-photographable, it is so vast."

In a way photography is like sports. You can excel in Football but not necessarily in Baseball or Tennis. I feel like I am fairly good at Wildlife Photography, but I pale in comparison to Landscape Photographers -- or Portrait Photographers -- or Industrial Photographers. I'm a novice in that regard.

Nonetheless, I am going to share some "Fall" photos. So here we go:

#12:

Cibola National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona

Fall Landscapes - 11: Thanksgiving

It's finally turned "Fall" in Tucson. So I thought I'd share some "fall photos." 

I will not pretend to be a "Landscape Photographer." Certainly not like our dear friend Bill Hubbell who with his lovely wife Jean used to visit us here at The Azure Gate. Looking at his landscapes I remain in awe. I stand in front of the Grand Canyon, for example, and all I can think is that "this is un-photographable, it is so vast."

In a way photography is like sports. You can excel in Football but not necessarily in Baseball or Tennis. I feel like I am fairly good at Wildlife Photography, but I pale in comparison to Landscape Photographers -- or Portrait Photographers -- or Industrial Photographers. I'm a novice in that regard.

Nonetheless, I am going to share some "Fall" photos. So here we go:

#11: Thanksgiving in Madera Canyon, Arizona

Wild Turkeys braving the early snowfall

Fall Landscapes -10

It's finally turned "Fall" in Tucson. So I thought I'd share some "fall photos." 

I will not pretend to be a "Landscape Photographer." Certainly not like our dear friend Bill Hubbell who with his lovely wife Jean used to visit us here at The Azure Gate. Looking at his landscapes I remain in awe. I stand in front of the Grand Canyon, for example, and all I can think is that "this is un-photographable, it is so vast."

In a way photography is like sports. You can excel in Football but not necessarily in Baseball or Tennis. I feel like I am fairly good at Wildlife Photography, but I pale in comparison to Landscape Photographers -- or Portrait Photographers -- or Industrial Photographers. I'm a novice in that regard.

Nonetheless, I am going to share some "Fall" photos. So here we go:

#10:

Joshua Tree National Monument

Fall Landscapes - 9

It's finally turned "Fall" in Tucson. So I thought I'd share some "fall photos." 

I will not pretend to be a "Landscape Photographer." Certainly not like our dear friend Bill Hubbell who with his lovely wife Jean used to visit us here at The Azure Gate. Looking at his landscapes I remain in awe. I stand in front of the Grand Canyon, for example, and all I can think is that "this is un-photographable, it is so vast."

In a way photography is like sports. You can excel in Football but not necessarily in Baseball or Tennis. I feel like I am fairly good at Wildlife Photography, but I pale in comparison to Landscape Photographers -- or Portrait Photographers -- or Industrial Photographers. I'm a novice in that regard.

Nonetheless, I am going to share some "Fall" photos. So here we go:

#9:

Tanque Verde Wash, Arizona

Fall Landscapes - 8

It's finally turned "Fall" in Tucson. So I thought I'd share some "fall photos." 

I will not pretend to be a "Landscape Photographer." Certainly not like our dear friend Bill Hubbell who with his lovely wife Jean used to visit us here at The Azure Gate. Looking at his landscapes I remain in awe. I stand in front of the Grand Canyon, for example, and all I can think is that "this is un-photographable, it is so vast."

In a way photography is like sports. You can excel in Football but not necessarily in Baseball or Tennis. I feel like I am fairly good at Wildlife Photography, but I pale in comparison to Landscape Photographers -- or Portrait Photographers -- or Industrial Photographers. I'm a novice in that regard.

Nonetheless, I am going to share some "Fall" photos. So here we go:

#8:

Great Egret

Fall Landscapes - 7

It's finally turned "Fall" in Tucson. So I thought I'd share some "fall photos." 

I will not pretend to be a "Landscape Photographer." Certainly not like our dear friend Bill Hubbell who with his lovely wife Jean used to visit us here at The Azure Gate. Looking at his landscapes I remain in awe. I stand in front of the Grand Canyon, for example, and all I can think is that "this is un-photographable, it is so vast."

In a way photography is like sports. You can excel in Football but not necessarily in Baseball or Tennis. I feel like I am fairly good at Wildlife Photography, but I pale in comparison to Landscape Photographers -- or Portrait Photographers -- or Industrial Photographers. I'm a novice in that regard.

Nonetheless, I am going to share some "Fall" photos. So here we go:

#7:

Southwest Arizona

Fall Landscapes - 6

It's finally turned "Fall" in Tucson. So I thought I'd share some "fall photos." 

I will not pretend to be a "Landscape Photographer." Certainly not like our dear friend Bill Hubbell who with his lovely wife Jean used to visit us here at The Azure Gate. Looking at his landscapes I remain in awe. I stand in front of the Grand Canyon, for example, and all I can think is that "this is un-photographable, it is so vast."

In a way photography is like sports. You can excel in Football but not necessarily in Baseball or Tennis. I feel like I am fairly good at Wildlife Photography, but I pale in comparison to Landscape Photographers -- or Portrait Photographers -- or Industrial Photographers. I'm a novice in that regard.

Nonetheless, I am going to share some "Fall" photos. So here we go:

#6:

Below Mount Baker, Washington

Fall Landscapes - 5

It's finally turned "Fall" in Tucson. So I thought I'd share some "fall photos." 

I will not pretend to be a "Landscape Photographer." Certainly not like our dear friend Bill Hubbell who with his lovely wife Jean used to visit us here at The Azure Gate. Looking at his landscapes I remain in awe. I stand in front of the Grand Canyon, for example, and all I can think is that "this is un-photographable, it is so vast."

In a way photography is like sports. You can excel in Football but not necessarily in Baseball or Tennis. I feel like I am fairly good at Wildlife Photography, but I pale in comparison to Landscape Photographers -- or Portrait Photographers -- or Industrial Photographers. I'm a novice in that regard.

Nonetheless, I am going to share some "Fall" photos. So here we go:

#5:

Padilla Bay, Washington

Fall Landscapes - 4

It's finally turned "Fall" in Tucson. So I thought I'd share some "fall photos." 

I will not pretend to be a "Landscape Photographer." Certainly not like our dear friend Bill Hubbell who with his lovely wife Jean used to visit us here at The Azure Gate. Looking at his landscapes I remain in awe. I stand in front of the Grand Canyon, for example, and all I can think is that "this is un-photographable, it is so vast."

In a way photography is like sports. You can excel in Football but not necessarily in Baseball or Tennis. I feel like I am fairly good at Wildlife Photography, but I pale in comparison to Landscape Photographers -- or Portrait Photographers -- or Industrial Photographers. I'm a novice in that regard.

Nonetheless, I am going to share some "Fall" photos. So here we go:

#4:

Barn Owl at Whitewater Draw in Southeast Tucson, Arizona

Fall Landscapes - 3

It's finally turned "Fall" in Tucson. So I thought I'd share some "fall photos." 

I will not pretend to be a "Landscape Photographer." Certainly not like our dear friend Bill Hubbell who with his lovely wife Jean used to visit us here at The Azure Gate. Looking at his landscapes I remain in awe. I stand in front of the Grand Canyon, for example, and all I can think is that "this is un-photographable, it is so vast."

In a way photography is like sports. You can excel in Football but not necessarily in Baseball or Tennis. I feel like I am fairly good at Wildlife Photography, but I pale in comparison to Landscape Photographers -- or Portrait Photographers -- or Industrial Photographers. I'm a novice in that regard.

Nonetheless, I am going to share some "Fall" photos. So here we go:

#3:

Greenlake, Seattle, Washington

Fall Landscapes - 2

It's finally turned "Fall" in Tucson. So I thought I'd share some "fall photos." 

I will not pretend to be a "Landscape Photographer." Certainly not like our dear friend Bill Hubbell who with his lovely wife Jean used to visit us here at The Azure Gate. Looking at his landscapes I remain in awe. I stand in front of the Grand Canyon, for example, and all I can think is that "this is un-photographable, it is so vast."

In a way photography is like sports. You can excel in Football but not necessarily in Baseball or Tennis. I feel like I am fairly good at Wildlife Photography, but I pale in comparison to Landscape Photographers -- or Portrait Photographers -- or Industrial Photographers. I'm a novice in that regard.

Nonetheless, I am going to share some "Fall" photos. So here we go:

#2:

That's a little Ruby Crowned Kinglet in the Middle

Fall Landscapes - 1

It's finally turned "Fall" in Tucson. So I thought I'd share some "fall photos." 

I will not pretend to be a "Landscape Photographer." Certainly not like our dear friend Bill Hubbell who with his lovely wife Jean used to visit us here at The Azure Gate. Looking at his landscapes I remain in awe. I stand in front of the Grand Canyon, for example, and all I can think is that "this is un-photographable, it is so vast."

In a way photography is like sports. You can excel in Football but not necessarily in Baseball or Tennis. I feel like I am fairly good at Wildlife Photography, but I pale in comparison to Landscape Photographers -- or Portrait Photographers -- or Industrial Photographers. I'm a novice in that regard.

Nonetheless, I am going to share some "Fall" photos. So here we go:

#1:

This photo was taken at Turkey Creek on the East side of the Rincon Mountains

Goldfish Thief

We have a gold fish pond/fountain in our oasis. It has had two residents over the past 16 years. The first was Wyatt who died after 8 years. We immediately put two new goldfish in the pond. After a couple of years one (Virgil) "disappeared -- without a trace." We never knew what happened to him.

Yesterday, our remaining goldfish (Morgan) who we've had for over 8 years, was taken from us.

One of our guests was sitting outside when this happened. He had his camera with him at the time. Here is what he saw:

On the far wall

On the near wall

On the patio deck near the hummingbird feeder

Above the fountain

Checking everything out above the fountain

Eyeing it's prey from above the fountain

And then in a flash, speared Morgan, and took off.

Photos by our guest Gene.

P.S. Thanks to Gene for sharing and solving the mystery for us.

Gotta go now and get some new goldfish.