Wildlife - KNOWLEDGE AND LIGHT

Wildlife

Atlantic Puffin
Portrait of a Puffin returning to the burrow with sand eel prey to nourish it's pufflings. Grimsey Iceland, July 2018. Canon 5D IV, 500mm f/4 IS II, ISO 640, 1/640 second @ f/8, image size 6720 x 4480 pixels.
Badger Cub
A Badger Cub (Taxidea taxis) poses at the entrance of it's den near Malta Montana, June 2018. Canon 5D IV, 500mm f/4 IS II + 1.4x, ISO 640, 1/1600 second @ f/5.6, 4281 x 2854 pixels.
Badger Sow and Cub
The energetic and playful nature of a badger cub requires a patient parent. This mother badger tolerated her offspring even as they nipped and bit her ears. I viewed the family for several days and never observed the mother scalding the cubs. Phillips County, Montana, June 2018. Canon 5D IV, 500mm f/4 IS II + 1.4x, ISO 640, 1/1250 second @ f/5.6, 4569 x 3046 pixels.
American Avocet
An American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana) at dawn, Lake Bowdoin, Montana, June 2018. Canon 5D IV, 500mm f/4 IS II + 1.4x, ISO 640, 1/2000 second @ f/5.6, image size 5335 x 3557 pixels.
Red Fox and Ground Squirrel Prey
A mother red fox (Vulpes vulpes) returning to her den with four ground squirrels to feed her hungry kits, Montana, May 2018. Canon 5D IV, 500mm f/4 IS II + 1.4x, ISO 640, 1/2000 second @ f/5.6.
American Avocet
An American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana) at sunrise, Lake Bowdoin, Montana, May 2018. Canon 5D IV, 500mm f/4 IS II + 1.4x, ISO 640, 1/2500 second @ f/5.6, image size 5764 x 3843 pixels.
Pintail Ducks
A breeding pair of Pintail Ducks (Anas acuta) at sunrise on Lake Bowdoin, Montana May 2018 . Canon 5D IV, 100-400mm IS II, ISO 800, 1/5000 second @ f/5.6, image size 6616 x 4411 pixels.
Yellow Headed Blackbird
A male Yellow Headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) and Cattails at Shiloh Conservation Area, Billings, Montana May 2018. Xanthocephalus is derived from the Greek words "xanthos" and "cephalus" meaning yellow and head respectively.
Mountain Blue Bird
Male Mountain Blue Bird (Sialia currucoides) near Gardiner Montana, April 2018. Canon 5D IV, 500mm f/4 IS II + 1.4 x, ISO 800, 1/1600 second @ f/5.6, image size 5033 x 3355 pixels.
Mountain Blue Bird
Female Mountain Blue Bird (Sialia currucoides) near Gardiner Montana, April 2018. Canon 5D IV, 500mm f/4 IS II + 1.4 x, ISO 800, 1/2500 second @ f/5.6, image size 4317 x 2878 pixels.
American Avocet
An American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana) shakes the snow from it's wings during a spring squall in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming April 2018. Canon 5D IV, 500mm f/4 IS II + 1.4x, ISO 640, 1/500 second @ f/5.6, image size 5919 x 3946 pixels.
Face Off
A pair of Greater Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis) in a dominance struggle, Bernardo Wildlife Management Area, New Mexico, January 2018. Canon 5D IV, 500mm f/4 IS, RRS TVC 33 tripod, ISO 640, 1/6400 second @ f/5.6, image size 5485 x 3697 pixels.
Sandhill Cranes
Just after sunset from an elevated hide, I was watching the cranes slowly fly in and gather for their nightly roost. A thirty second exposure and mosaic of sunset hues and reflections came together to create an intriguing impression of the roosting cranes. I spent every night of my visit watching and listening to the "fly in" of thousands of cranes engaged in their remarkable ancient cycle of daily life. Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis) at Bernardo Wildlife Management Area, New Mexico, January 2018. Canon 5D IV, 500mm f/4 IS, ISO 320, 30 seconds @ f/32, image size 6741 x 3124 pixels.
Sandhill Cranes
I observed that Sandhill Crane aggression is more posturing and acrobatics than actual physical contact. I witnessed dozens of ninja-like kick boxing episodes and rarely observed actual physical contact among the combatants. On several occasions I did observe the beak grabbing behavior that is depicted in this image.
Heermann's Gull
The magnificent countenance of Heermann's Gull (Larus heermanni), La Jolla, California January 2018. Canon 5D IV, 100-400mm + 1.4x III, ISO 640, 1/800 second @ f/8, image size 5070 x 3380 pixels.
Headthrow
A California Brown Pelican engaged in "head throw" behavior. Pelicans frequently toss their heads backwards, open their beaks, and expand their gular pouch. The maneuver is most likely a means to maintain the health and elasticity of pouch skin, La Jolla, California, February 2018. Canon 5D IV, 100-400mm IS Mark II, ISO 800, 1/640 second @ F/7.1, image size 4480 x 6082 pixels.
Double Crested Cormorant
Double Crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus), La Jolla, California February, 2018. Canon 5D IV, 100-400mm IS Mark II, ISO 800, 1/320 second @ F/8, image size 6720 x 4480 pixels.
Preening Pelican
A California Brown Pelican (Pelicans occidentals) preening on the cliffs at La Jolla, California February 2018. Canon 5D IV, 100-400mm IS Mark II, ISO 800, 1/1000 second @ f/5.6. Note that the gular pouch (throat) skin is vibrant red during mating season; the colors in this image have not been enhanced.
Sandhill Crane
Sandhill Crane calling in flight at Bernardo Wildlife Management Area, New Mexico January 2018. Canon 5D IV, 500mm f/4 IS + 1.4x, ISO 800, 1/3200 @ f/5.6, image size 6720 x 4480 pixels.
Brandt's Cormorant
Bright blue gular pouch skin that matches eyes and lore enhance the magnificent countenance of this animal. Brandt's Cormorant (Phalacrocorax penicillatus) La Jolla, California, February, 2018. Canon 5D IV, 100-400mm IS Mark II, ISO 800, 1/100second @ F/8.
Brandt's Cormorant and Newly Hatched Chick
Newly hatched Brandt's Cormorant (Phalacrocorax penicillatus) on the cliffs at La Jolla, California, February 2018 Canon 5D IV, 100-400mm IS Mark II, ISO 800, 1/250 second @ F/8, image size 5331 x 3554 pixels.
Gray Ghost
A Great Gray Owl (Strix nebulosa) Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming.
Silhouette Dancer
At sunrise, a Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis) dances across the water in anticipation to fly. Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico.
Black Bear (Ursus americanus)
A Hyperphagic Black Bear Pursuing Autumn Hawthorn Berries, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming. http://www.knowledgeandlight.com/JOURNAL/Black-Bears-and-Hawthorn-Berries/
Mallard Drake
A Mallard Drake (Anas platyrhynchos) in flight, Yellowstone County, Montana.
Soul Mates
Sandhill Cranes form monogamous pair bonds, they mate for life and remain together year around. This pair of Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis) silently forage as they wade a "Crane Pool" at sunrise. Sandhill Cranes spend each night roosting in water safe from coyotes and other predators.
Fair Beauty
A magnificent light colored Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes), Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming.
Marbled Godwit
Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa) at Morro Bay, California.
Unchallenged
A Bighorn Sheep Ram's (Ovis canadensis) skull is an engineering marvel; shock absorbing horn design, thick cortical bone, strategically placed trabecular bone, sinus cavities, and a multitude of unfused cranial sutures protect the combatants from brain injuries and death. North Fork Shoshone River, Wyoming.
Dark Beauty
The gene that is responsible for the dark or melanistic phase of a red fox is apparently pleiotropic (responsible for many traits) because melanistic red fox have larger tails, extra hair on the bottom of their paws, and thick curly ventral (chest and abdominal) hair. Although the "cross fox" has a unique appearance and characteristics, they are the same species as the "red fox" (Vulpes vulpes).

Powered by SmugMug