Grizzly's Sharing Dinner

Yellowstone National Park provides a safe environment for people to see potentially dangerous Grizzlies. These two Grizzlies were devouring an Elk. What started out as about five people watching, an hour later had grown to at least 50. Several Park Rangers were there to be sure all were safe. Occasionally, the bears would look up (as in this case) just to see how many humans there were. But by enlarge, they were determined to get every last morsel out of that elk. It made for a nice "5" Star Photo:

Grizzly Bears

Grizzly Bear among the Wildflowers

Continuing with my series of "5" Star Photos: Grizzly Bears. This particular bear I found between Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park. He was searching for bugs around fallen trees. With the wildflowers in front of him, it made for a nice photo:

Grizzly Bear

Grey Wolf: What qualifies as Luck?

What is "Luck?"  If "luck" was to see a Grizzly Bear in the wild, what would you call seeing a Grey Wolf in the wild? Very Lucky? But what if you saw both a Grizzly Bear and a Grey Wolf? What if you saw them both at the same time? And, what if you were able to photograph them together? Are we talking lottery kind of luck yet??

Okay, so you put yourself in the place with the most potential. How about Yellowstone National Park? So, I am at Yellowstone looking for Grizzly Bears and/or Grey Wolves. I was down in Hayden Valley when I saw at a distance what looked like a hundred or more Ravens circling overhead but off to one side. I thought to myself, must mean something big. And, if something big, maybe something big is eating it causing the Ravens to wait their turn. So I pull off the road and start hiking, camera and tripod in hand. After a couple hundred yards I come to a rather steep hill. So up the hill I climb. I get to the top and WOW!!!! I can see down below (about 100 yards away) a very large adult male Grizzly Bear chewing on a Bison. This was back in the "film" days, and I was running on empty (or close to it). So, I had to conserve film. With digital, I would have taken 300 photos easily. But as I paused (to conserve film) I looked around and saw a lone Grey Wolf sitting, patiently, about 75 yards further away. 

I should point out that I made no attempt to get any closer. This distance was going to have to do. I had my 400mm super telephoto lens and hoped that would do the trick. 

After watching for about 30 minutes, the Grizzly Bear stood up, turned and started walking away from the Bison (and from me). At the same time the Grey Wolf stood up and started walking toward the Bison. As you might imagine I am literally shaking with excitement. I am anticipating -- hoping -- for the moment when the Grey Wolf and the Grizzly Bear pass each other in the same frame.

So, just how lucky is this:

Grey Wolf and Grizzly Bear

Green Heron: Sometimes You are Just Lucky

Let's face it. Sometimes you are just lucky. 

Such is the case with this Green Heron. As I mentioned, Green Herons are much more secretive than their cousin the Great Blue. Often a Great Blue will fly away if approached, but it is not uncommon to find one more interested in "fishing" than having their picture taken. Green Herons are different --- well, at least in the Western US. When I have found them (Arizona, California, Oregon, and Washington) they have usually been much further away than I would have liked. But, on this particular occasion at Agua Caliente pond in Tucson it was different. Very early one morning I found this Green Heron more interested in fishing than having his picture taken, and I was able to get very close (within ten feet).  So, I lay down on my stomach, using my elbows as tripods, and snapped away. Here is one of those photos:

Green Heron

Green Heron - I

Next up, the Green Heron. The Green Heron is much more secretive than the Great Blue Heron  and certainly a much lower population. Found more often in the Eastern US and near the Western Coast. I like this photo because of subdued colors which don't detract from the fact that the heron has just caught a small fish. He was sitting on this fallen tree branch and catching whatever passed him by. You'll see from tomorrow's photo how colorful the Green Heron is.  But today, it's about fishing:

Green Heron

Green Darner Dragonfly: Simplicity at its Finest

Continuing alphabetically with my "5" Star Photos, we come to one of my favorites. No, not the two Grizzly Bears eating an Elk, or the Grey Wolf passing a Grizzly in an open field. No, not a Lucifer or Berylline hummingbird. Just a dragonfly. This Green Darner was a complete surprise. When I took the photo I thought it would turn out nice. But, wow. I love the muted green background, the simplicity of the photo with just the tree branch and the dragonfly. Nice detail, good composition. Couldn't have ask for a better photo. And, it's just an "insect."

Green Darner Dragonfly

Greater Earless Lizard

Maybe not quite as exciting at Great Horned Owls -- or Grizzly Bears, but nonetheless a nice photo, is the Greater Earless Lizard. Found in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and the north central Mexican states, the Greater Earless Lizard is diurnal, active both day and night. They spend their day foraging for insects or basking in the sun. However, if temperatures get above 111 degrees they head back underground. They are characterized by the lack of external ear openings, which is presumably to prevent sand from entering their body while they dig. 

greater earless lizard