Warming up

I've spent the last several days in Yellowstone and took a break this afternoon to catch up on downloading files and relax. It may be hard to believe but filming wildlife can be exhausting! Frustrating toowhen your perfect capture  becomes a reject when seen on the screen.  Lots more to come, Yellowstone is living up to its reputation as the Serengeti of North America.

Yellowstone Speed Bump

I'm currently in Yellowstone looking for wildlife. On my first morning into the Park there were a couple speed bumps to help remind me where I was. Out here they are called  Montana squirrels, at least that's what I was told.

It's not pretty

Habitat restoration is not pretty. It can be hard work like pulling buckthorn or in this case noisy and ugly. Regardless of how it is done the end result is satisfying. The prairie seeds that have been dormant for decades have been waiting for a chance to grow. It is worth the ugly! I'm looking forward to returning this summer for a followup image.

 

Four Bucks at NIght

Yearling vs very young fawn

1-2 year old

 

Teenager

The old guy

All recorded over a two week period at the beginning of February. Before seeing these images I thought the antlers would have been shed by now. The amount of night activity in a wild setting is also surprising, always learning.

Winter Wind

 

I usually think of the winter wind and how it will limit my outdoor time. Walking in the windswept prairie I think of its direction and how to keep it from watering my eyes,burning my face, and taking my breath away. There is a rhythm to it and watching prairie grass move with it can be mesmerizing, if you are dressed for it.

Coyote Chopsticks

That was my  first thought when I saw this on the trail. Then I thought about everything being eaten except the tail, marveling at the efficiency of nature.

Two Raccoons Meet

One of the joys of photography is recording events that others may not see. Another joy is recording something that is a mystery, a least to me. I'm sure there are biologists that are familiar with this behavior but it is a mystery to me. If only I could read their minds...

Technical: The gap in recording is a function of "dynamic" video feature on the camera. When this feature is selected  a pause in action stops the recording saving battery power and memory, however, it can make for uneven video. I have since disabled this feature.

Prairie Abstract

I was out in the wind earlier this week looking for signs of prairie winter. My tripod had a frozen leg so I could only shoot from knee level. Shooting below a drift was warm and presented a couple photo opportunities. With the absence of color I like to work the lines during winter.

Cuteness

 

The last few days of wind and blizzard conditions reminded me it is not all misery during extreme winter conditions. Check out Inspiration Archives to read about a wide range of topics and maybe get a new idea.

Daisy Garaldini is a Swiss photographer who does amazing work. If you have time check out her 50 minute documentary on Antarctica.

Hunger or Curiosity?

 

Is it hunger or just curiosity that caused these deer to investigate the camera? I think it is interesting to see the difference in behavior between these does and the buck shown on a previous blog post. Which is it? . . . I can only guess.

Classic Minnesota

With a classic blizzard I thought I would share yesterday's classic winter activity, watching the bird feeder. Today the work begins, shoveling and firing up the snowblower. Tomorrow the ski trails should be groomed and the fun begins.