Photographer in Colorado

One of the first birds that we encountered in the Wildlife Refuge, was this Mountain Bluebird, at one of the parking lots. While watching this bird, it kept looking up into the sky. Perhaps there was a raptor in the vicinity. We did see a few Red-Tailed Hawks later on.

The Bluebird turned to face in my direction, also looking up in the sky.

There are several hundred Canada Geese at the refuge. I managed to capture a single goose in flight soon after we arrived at the refuge.

Soon after this, a pair of geese flew past. I liked the expression on this pair that I managed to capture as they were cackling in flight. Their broken reflections in the water also helped improve this image.

We spent some time at Home Lake, on the edge of the town. This lake hosted a few hundred ducks, but they were too far away. However, I was intrigued by the flocks of Canada Geese that flew in occasionally. In the following image, the three geese are coming in for a water landing, with landing gear deployed. This was one of my favorite images, especially since the birds are reflected in the water.

While entering the refuge, we noticed a pair of doves in the vicinity of the entrance. I managed to find these Eurasian Collared Doves, and made an image of one of the doves.

We spotted a handful of Snow Geese among the flock of Canada Geese while they were feeding. During one of the mass flight lift-offs, several Snow Geese took flight. Here is a small group of these birds.

On the last morning, we made a final stop at the Wildlife Refuge before making the return trip home. It appeared that some of the Sandhill Cranes were having an altercation.

Perhaps, all that “dancing” that was observed in not just courting! That concludes images from this year’s spring visit to Monte Vista.

Continuing with our visit to the National Wildlife Refuge. One behavior that is often seen with Sandhill Cranes is a “dance”. This appears to be a courting behavior where the cranes often jump into the air with wings spread. Here are three images from a sequence between some of the cranes.

While this dance is taking place, several cranes standing nearby, often calling out.

Here is another crane image.

While we we watching the cranes at one location during the afternoon, most of the cranes in the feeding area suddenly took flight. The air was filled by several hundreds of cranes. Maybe something must have spooked the cranes to trigger their response?

This happened two or three times during the afternoon. In a day prior to our visit, a wolf was observed in the Refuge. Perhaps one was observed when we were there? We could not find a wolf or even a coyote after the birds had flown.

Soon after arriving at Monte Vista, we headed out to the National Wildlife Refuge. During the late afternoon, Sandhill Cranes try to organize themselves by finding a roost for the night. I made the image below as a group of cranes flew past. I like the combination of the stack of cranes on the diagonal.

During the next day, we spent a few hours in the morning and afternoon, to spend some time in the wildlife refuge. In the image below, a pair of Sandhill Cranes were arriving at the feeding ground. It is always difficult to capture decent images of cranes in flight, especially where there are hundreds of cranes in the area. Fortunately, this pair found an area that was relatively clear.

In the following image, another pair of Sandhill Cranes flew in, with “landing gear down”, to the feeding ground.

I like the following clean image of a Sandhill Crane coming to land.

Here is another image as another single bird is about to touch down.

I am always fascinated with the images that I capture Sandhill Cranes coming in for a touch down. As the crane alights with wings wide open, the air flow disrupts the tips of the feathers along the wings. The wings look like an “untidy mess” as the feathers lift up, as can be seen in the following image.

That completes a selection of some flight images.

Earlier this month, we headed to the National Wildlife Refuge near Monte Vista. This year we saw several Great-Horned Owls split between two nests. The first owl was sitting on a nest located in the fork of a tree. The image below was captured during the early morning, with the owl peering out from the tree.

We found another nesting owl at a different location, but we were barely able to see the owl. However, perched on a branch on a nearby tree, we found that owl’s partner, standing guard. This owl, probably a male, chose this location to perch in the shadow of the tree. During the morning, his face was partially covered by sunlight. Later in the day, his face was shaded; this made for a better photo.

Later that same afternoon, we returned to the location of the first owl that we found. This time we found the partner of the first nesting owl, perched close by in the same tree as the nesting bird.

The sun had also moved around to the other side of the tree. The nesting owl also moved behind the branch, partially obscuring her head.

I captured another image of this owl’s partner, with a more full-on view of his face, and showing tail feathers.

What luck to see two pairs of owls during this year’s trip!

Earlier this week, I visited the South Platte River, at one of my usual haunts there. With the warmer weather that we have been having — a really warm winter — many folks were busy fishing along the river. So I did not see many birds in the river, since they stay away when people are around. Stopping by one of the bridges, I noticed a Great Blue Heron perched in a tree.

After making several images, I paused to see what would happen. Then, I noticed a second heron, also a Great Blue, perched in another tree across the river. How lucky was that!

After some more images, I was switching between Heron No 1 and Heron No 2. Then I saw another Heron, No 3, in a different tree. I couldn’t believe it! Three perched herons in one location.

After a while, Heron No 3, decided to take flight. I had noticed another pair of birders that were exploring the same area. Maybe they had spooked this heron? Anyway, here is the Heron No 3, in flight.

I decided to approach closer to Heron No 1, to capture an image that was larger in frame. Before getting to the new location, Heron No 2 had already left. Heron No 1 was calling out to someone. Another heron maybe? I captured this image of the heron with bill wide open. No wonder that Great Blue Herons are able to swallow a big fish!

I made several images of Heron No 1 at the closer location. Eventually, after spending some 10 to 15 minutes at this location, I noticed that Heron No 1 looked like it was time to move on. I just waited to see what would happen. Heron No 1 had decided to take flight.

Here is another image as this heron was about to leave from the perch.

Finally, I made this image of Heron No 1, in flight with its incredible wingspan.

That was my lucky day. Three Great Blue Herons, including some in-flight images.

Over the last week, I made several walks through our neighborhood with camera in hand. Often, I visit several alleys that usually offer a variety of different subjects. One evening, the late afternoon sun cast tree shadows against a garage door.

While driving home from a local store, I noticed signs of an boarded up house. So I took the opportunity to visit that location during an evening walk to explore what could be found.

During a trip through one of the alleys, I found these branches growing in front of a blue wall.

In another alley, I found a blue door. This was located in a garage that had been painted blue. The garage’s paint had started to peel, revealing the underlying white paint.

In one front yard, the house owner had hang two hearts in a low bush.

Valentine’s Day takes place in February, so there are still remnants of the celebration in the neighborhood. The hearts are probably a remnant. In the image below, I was drawn to this scene below by the two pots containing blue flowers.

Blocked by two dumpsters.

The low sun provides some interesting light. I found a monochrome rendition that showed the contrast created by the backlit cage.

One of the alleys backs onto a car dealership. At sunset, the setting sun highlighted some reflections of car parts, shining through a green mesh fence covering.

Our cat was due for an annual visit to the vet during the early morning. Behind their office were some colorful paint on the fence. So I decided to do a return trip on foot later in the day, when the sun lit up the fence.

We all need Peace, Love and Happiness.

During the last month, I made several visits in our neighborhood during mostly daily afternoon walks. During these walks, I frequently make images of interesting or unusual subjects. Close to Kunming Park, the evening sun lit up power lines against a blue sky at sunset.

As I passed on the other side of the street, I noticed that this pole which supported a streetlamp was covered with a tangle of branches. Crossing to the other side, I made this image without the background clutter of the house behind me.

We did get some snow during the last month! Several homes still had their Christmas lights out and switched on in the evenings. Returning home, I found this patch where the red lights were reflected in the street ice that was a remnant of a recent snow storm.

Sometimes my route takes me through several alleys in our neighborhood. I found this abandoned rodeo cowboy. Perhaps this was a discard from a visit to the Stock Show which takes place every year in January?

There are several trees that have interesting features during the winter. I found this gnarly tree along the sidewalk. A monochrome black and white rendition really shows the texture of the branches and trunk.

As the sun set lower in the horizon, the raking sun revealed the texture of the concrete and shadows cast by the curb of the sidewalk.

During another day’s walk, I pass the Harvard Gulch golf course. The edge of the fence casts a pronounced shadow on the grass near sunset.

This week, I made another detour through an alley. One of fence posts was adorned with a cute bicycle helmet.

Nearby, I found a parked car whose windows were reflecting the scene that included houses behind me that were lit by the setting sun.