Galiuro Mountains: Coatimundi

Today, a break from my "5" star series to share yesterday's trip to the Galiuro Mountains of Southern Arizona. The Galiuros are about 50 miles from us as the crow flies. (Well, we don't have crows in Southern Arizona, so as the Ravens fly). However to drive there it's about 90 miles and two hours time. Ten years ago when we first moved to Arizona I went there looking for Coatimundis (white-nosed coati). I would go four or five times a year seeing one or more almost every time. But, by 2006, they had all but disappeared. I might see one once a year. 

Yesterday, I didn't have to make breakfast so left early to try again. After three and a half hours of looking I spotted one on the ground through the trees. I immediately started taking photos, but after a quick look at me, he ran off. And, as he ran off coatis started running down the surrounding trees and off behind him. I would guess somewhere between 15 and 20 coatis in all. All this took place in no more than 20 seconds.

As I have explained he previous posts, the Wildlife Photographer has to be lucky. First, you have to find what you want to photograph, and second, it has to be willing to be photographed. Shooting through trees creates several problems: 1) it's dark so the lighting isn't very good; 2) trees and branches are in the way so you can't get clear photos of an entire animal; and 3) those trees, branches, leaves make it difficult to focus on the animal -- especially if the animal starts moving. 

As I was driving home, I was thinking that I probably did not have a single decent photo. However, that was not the case. The first photo I took was actually fairly good. So, here it is, the White-Nosed Coati.

P.S. Check out the length of his tail.  (click to enlarge)

Coatimundi

Black Bear IV

I was driving out to Tunkwa Lake, British Columbia when I saw this female Black Bear with her two cubs. While I did get photos of all three, this is the one I liked, simply because she stood up to look at me.  So, it gets "5" stars:

Black Bear

Black Bear III

First, a welcome to new visitors this past week: Taiwan, Lithuania, Switzerland, Belgium, Libya, Guatemala, Columbia, and Chile. Thank you. Christine and I hope you enjoy visiting us and our love of nature.

Today's "5" Star photo is another Black Bear. This one I found near the Continental Divide on Mt. Sinclair, Yoho National Park, British Columbia, Canada. It was a fully grown (500 pound) male enjoying the dandelions on the mountainside. He has obviously spotted me, and in another moment will run down the mountain and out of sight. I got this photo before he "got away." Look how beautiful his coat is:

Black Bear

Black Bear II

Continuing with my "5" Star Black Bears. This photo was taken in the Chiricahua Mountains (Arizona) in September of 2011. I had been photographing this Bear for about 20 minutes when all of a sudden he started walking toward me. I took that as a sign and slowly backed away in a diagonal direction. As I said yesterday, Bears must be respected. In this case, he told me he wanted to stay in the area but wanted me to leave. And, so that is precisely what I did. I said "thank you" for the photo opportunity and left. Of all those photos, the last one is the one I liked best:

Black Bear: Chiricahua Mountains, Arizona

Note: If you would like to comment about one of my photos -- or the story that goes with it, please feel free to do so. I do read the comments and will be happy to respond if appropriate.

Black Bear

First, a big thank you to those from around the world who visit my blog every day, including: Sri Lanka, Spain, Armenia, Ukraine, Indonesia, United Arab Emirates, Norway, Turkey, Jamaica, Brazil, Croatia, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Romania, Moxambique, Nicaragua, Finland, Italy, Hungry, Japan, Israel, Belarus, South Korea, Netherlands, Philippines, Russia, Australia, Pakistan, Germany, Poland, France, Slovakia, Serbia, Qatar, New Zealand, Mexico, India, Greece, Canada, UK, and the US.

 

What is heartwarming to me, is that we all share something in common: a love of nature. 

Now, to continue my series on "5" Star Photos, we come to Black Bears. Over the years I have spent a good deal of time looking for and photographing bears. As you will see, my style is to be an unobtrusive observer where, in a few miraculous moments, a brief relationship transpires creating a photo which places the viewer in the wilderness -- interacting with the animal just as I did. 

The key is being able to get close enough without fear or aggression, with just love and compassion. You must be patient and willing to pass up a photo if an animal is disturbed by you. Bears must be respected and you must feel privileged that they are willing to let you photograph them. Standing 15 to 20 feet from a bear is an exhilarating and memorable experience but it can only be done with patience, love and respect.

My experience is that 50% of the time you see a bear it will run away. 25% of the time it will walk away (in which case I do not follow or track it because it has told me it doesn't want to be around me). This means 25% of the time I should be able to get a good photograph -- as long as I don't "screw-up."

My first Black Bear Photo I'll show you was taken in Ramsey Canyon, Huachuca Mountains, Southern Arizona. This fairly young (150 pound) bear was going from tree top to tree top foraging on the leaves --- as if he were a squirrel. I took many photos, including close-ups, but thought this one told the whole story:  (Click on the photo to enlarge).

Black Bear

Two for One: Ring Necked Pheasant & American Bittern

Luck is a major part of being a Wildlife Photographer. Obviously you need to be in a place and at a time when you might get lucky. In other words, put yourself in the place with the most potential. Such a place was Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge. Finding a Ring Necked Pheasant takes time. Finding an American Bittern requires time and luck. Finding both together, within the same photographic frame, is a once in a lifetime event. And produced a "5" Star Photo:

Ring Necked Pheasant & American Bittern

Bison - II

Here's another "5" Star photo from the National Bison Range National Wildlife Refuge in Montana. While the refuge is open year round, the main 19 mile gravel road up into the mountains is closed during the winter. In the summer, it's a different story. The terrain changes significantly, and as it does so does the wildlife. In addition to Bison, you might see deer, elk, pronghorn, bear, bighorn sheep, and mountain goats, and over 200 species of birds. One summer as I was driving the loop I saw this Bison following an "animal path." As I stopped to photograph it, I realized that the path crossed the road  precisely where I was stopped. As he approached it appeared as though he was "licking his chops", so I took this one photo before moving out of its way. 

Bison