Ouray  National Wildlife Refuge

The Refuge lies between Vernal and Roosevelt.

The tanks are in the ground.  Issues are mostly resolved.  Don’t want to drive home late.  Word on the street in Roosevelt is that there is a congregation of Sandhill Cranes at Ouray NWR.  So……

These guys are noisy!!!  Beautiful in flight.  And a blast to watch play.

There was literally thousands of Cranes there tonight.  Just before the sun went down they started dancing.

While enjoying the display in front of me with the cranes a beautiful Blue Bird passed by…….

Last week I was in Yerington, Nevada.

The nowhere capital of the world.  They may get a new store.

Not far from Yerington is a wildlife refuge. Always looking for these.  It was very late.  I had an hour and half drive back to Reno.  Had to stop.  The birds were calling.  In this case “a” bird was calling.  One that has been in front of me a lot as of late.  The Cormorant.

Often the Cormorant will leave the safety of water to perch and dry off.  I was there to witness this.  Really humorous!  But by the look I got from the Cormorant you would think he was undressed to dry. …..

Almost daily my travels in Yellowstone include a BEAR traffic jam!

This particular day was no exception.  A cinnamon  black bear was walking near the road.  People stop their cars to see the bear.  It’s kinda what Yellowstone is famous for.  Nowadays the park is overcrowded.  When a bear is sighted the cars back waaaaaay up.

I had an idea.  Park where the traffic was stopped.  About a quarter mile from the bear.  Possibly… and I mean possibly I could anticipate where the bear was headed and cut him off.  At least 100 yards away.  It’s the rule in Yellowstone – 100 yards minimum from a bear!

Looking up the road through my long lens there was a ton of rule breakers.  No ranger in site (yet).  One man looked as close as 15 or 20 feet from the bear.

Can you say C R A Z Y?

Before long the bear was headed in the opposite direction of the road.  Then he was out of site.  About as fast as the traffic jamb appeared it disappeared.  I was alone….hopefully with the bear (at 100 yards minimum).  Guessed on his route.  Checked the bear maze, camera gear and headed out.  About the time the road was out of view I was following a trail.  It had a lot of elk prints.  With the dry fall and new growth this trail was probably used by all the wild.

There he was. About 150 yards ahead on the same trail.

Camera, lens and tripod UP!  Beautiful animal.  Looked to be quit young.  Still a wild bear.  Fired a lot of shots of him…..heading at me.  What’s the minimum focusing distance of  Nikon 600mm f/4 VR II lens?    To be exact….15.7′   About the distance the bear was from me as he passed.  Only one glance at me.  Me?  I was protected by my tripod and a can of maze!   Kinda like a one iron for protection from a lightning bolt.  Way to close.  It happened fast.  He was incredible.  Obviously not threatened by me.    I wish it was the same for me about him.

Can you say C R A Z Y ?

Ok so my wife will read this.  I will be grounded again.

I love photographing birds.

They are everywhere.  In Yellowstone while waiting and watching for “that” shot-birds want in on the photography.  They appear and leave quickly.  The trigger hand has to always be ready.

This fella is what most lovingly call “Camp Robber”……

A little harder to find but always draws a crowd………

I spent some time with this Swan.  Drew a crowd.  A beautiful animal and fun to watch………

They are definitely everywhere.  I see one on everyone of my trips. Regardless of state from Wyoming to Arizona. They are there.  Hunting, resting, stealing and posing for me………the RED TAIL Hawk!!!!!

A little story with this shot.  It was late and getting dark.  Shooting a bull elk in the trees.  With two other photographers that were shooting Canons.  As the light decreased we were announcing to each other our ISO’s as we shot.  ”1200″ then “1800 ISO”.  Soon the canon guys said “out of high ISO”. The Nikon guy (that would be me) had plenty of ISO left.  I shot this photograph at 8000 ISO!!!!!   The Canon guys had put their cameras down just when the hawk passed by.  One of them said he could not have got the shot.  Unless he wanted to show a lot of movement (blurry).  Frankly I was thrilled with the shot.  As we all looked at the screen on my camera one of them said “I need to get a Nikon”…………8000 ISO WOW!

This last trip at Yellowstone was a little different.

This article may explain a lot of what was experienced….

Yellowstone Wolves Teach Nature Knows Best

More than half of the third day photographing the “wild” at Yellowstone was spent with a Coyote.  Way off the beaten path.  He was hunting.  I was following.  Needed that perfect exposure.  Perfect background.  And perfect execution by the Coyote.  As one hour turned to two and soon four I was almost out of memory in my CF card.  A total of 98 GB had been burned…….

Then the shot was there.  It was late.  The ISO was turned up to almost 8000 (did that a few times this trip with great results..stay tuned).  Zing, Zing, Zing, Zing…four shots.  Literally the last four of that outing!

I couldn’t resist the layer blend!!!!

From the house you can hear GUNFIRE!!!!!

Shotgun fire can be heard from my house again.  It’s waterfowl hunting season again.  The time when the wild fowl’s lives are in jeopardy.  I don’t keep track of what is in season to be killed….swan, pheasant, duck, geese?  All I know is that everyone that gets carried out in a bags has NO chance of being photographed.  Don’t get me wrong.  I am not jumping up and down angry at hunters.  No.  If it wasn’t for them there would probably not be as many places to photograph waterfowl near my home.  But it’s like this….

When leaving today after photographing a beautiful Western Grebe family the DNR agent stopped me near the gate.

“what did you pick up today?”

He asked referencing what fowl had I shot and was taking home for some reason.

“I shot a grebe family over and over and left them there for others to enjoy”

I said while pointing at my not so tiny lens sitting on the console.

“Nice”

He replied with a huge grin.

This Western Grebe family consisted of two “youngerlings” and a parent.   I watched as the parent would dive and bring up fish for the kids.  Pretty dang cool morning I would say.  Even if I felt like I was in the middle of a war zone!

Hayden Valley has some good little hikes.

It’s dry to the west of the main road.  Lots of sage brush.  Probably lots of critters that like dry summer climates are out here.  Mice, snakes, bugs, buffalo, coyote, etc.etc.

Out for a daily walk.  In west Hayden Valley.  About a quarter mile from the road I had the living “heeby jeebys” scared out of me.  Always on  the look out for bears.  In Hayden you can seen far (at least where i go). All of a sudden about 200′ ahead, in the sage brush a Great Blue Heron POPS it’s head up.  Bout wet my pants!  What the heck is a Blue Heron doing out here in the sage brush?

Seriously my first thought was that it was a King Cobra or the like!  I froze.  Then he lowered his head slowly.  I very carefully brought out my 600 lens.  Handheld!!!!!  I really wanted a shot.  I Inched forward.  Then looked up again!

What the heck? A bird I have always seen “IN” water.  Fishing.  No fish out here!!!!!!  Really weird.  I guess I have some homework to do.  Why are you out here?

The lens was soon too heavy to hold.  As I put it back in my backpack the Heron flew off.  I watched through my binoculars.  After a brisk walk and short drive I found the Heron on the Yellowstone River.  More common surroundings…..I hope!

Another family portrait.

I am not sure when the Pronghorn (antelope) are in RUT.   But what was going on in my presence looked just  like the ELK rut.

The second fastest land animal.  Another beautiful critter to enjoy in the wild!

In Washington tonight.

The “arsty” look of the plowed fields had to be shot and posted.

I have chased this bird for years.

The Cormorant!

I live near a very large bird refuge.  The Cormorant frequents the refuge.  But hates to be photographed.  Not sure if they have keen sight and hearing. Even my blind has not allowed a descent shot of the Cormorant. Until last week. Hundreds of miles from home. In Yellowstone.

Pretty simple color. Simple bird. Funny poses….

Like most all birds it is beautiful in flight….

It was a test for me and my new lens.  Man was I happy with the outcome.  Low light.  High ISO.  look at the detail!   I am very happy!