Category: Animals

A Noble Beast

Timothy Price45 Comments

I was out visiting with Osric and Nora Owls (the owlets pretty much ignored me) when I saw two coyotes on the top of the levee and six or more on the lower part of the levee on the other side of the ditches running at top speed. I was trying to catch the action through the trees when this coyote stopped like, “Whoa! Paparazzo on the prowl. I better look my best!” She stopped and gave me her best noble beast look. Then I saw a couple on the top of the levee and yelled over to them and asked if they had seen the coyotes. They said one coyote ran out of the clearwater ditch, and then eight coyotes started chasing it like they were trying to kill it. I thought the coyote that was in the ditch might have caught something, and the others wanted to take it from him. Ms. Noble Beast doesn’t look like she’s been missing many meals.

Osric Owl snoozed behind a tangle and then enjoyed the sunset.

Nora Owl gave me a squint like Clint! “Is that Bazooka going to make me look fat?”

Eye of Owlet

Psst! Don’t look now, but there’s that stupid paparazzo on the ditch bank again.

As I was heading home, I heard my name being called. One of the Alpacas had its head stuck in the fence. I walked back, and sure enough, there was one of the Alpacas with its head through one of the wire squares in the fence, looking very stuck and rather sad. We tried to help the Alpaca get his head back through the fence, and as we pushed back, he pushed forward. He was stubborn. Meanwhile, two coyotes were on the top of the levee watching our goings-on with great interest. After we stretched the wire apart as much as possible, we gave up, stood back on the ditch bank, and watched the Alpaca. After a few minutes of not getting any more attention, it pulled its head back through the wire. I think it was acting stuck to get attention.

While we were talking, Osric flew over into the bosque, and I grabbed this shot of him.

By the time I got back to our property after all the ditch bank drama, it was dark. I got a shot of Venus and The Pleiades with my 70-200mm zoom lens. Venus and The Pleiades are too far apart to get them in the frame with the Bazooka.

Easter Sunday Surprise

Timothy Price67 Comments

Happy Easter! Glenda showed her respect by lying down with the bunny and the lamb.

Osric is a wily old owl. He misled me on where I suspected Nora Owl and the owlets might be. Last night I walked down to see Osric after sundown.

After a good been of negotiation between us, Osric flew over to a tree on the other side of the tree where I thought Nora and the Owlets might be.

Nora came out of a tree closer to the ditch bank, and an owlet popped its little head up. I was so close to them, I couldn’t get Nora into the frame using the Bazooka.

Nora took off before I could change cameras, and the owlet looked up as Mama silently flew away.

Two little owlets stared at me from the nest. Happy Easter Owls!

Mystery Bird Nesting In Resa’s Tree

Timothy Price37 Comments

I was photographing the Western Bluebirds and Sparrows in and around Resa’s tree when I noticed one of them going into and coming back out of a hole in one of the branches. I could not see clearly enough through the camera to see the bird in the shadows, but I was expecting to see a Western Bluebird or Sparrow when I processed the photos. Much to my surprise, I did not recognize the little bird when I pulled the images up on my computer. I used one of the photos to identify the bird using the Merlin Bird ID app. The mystery bird turned out to be a Bewick’s Wren.

The Western Bluebirds are still hanging around Resa’s Tree. I assume they have a nest there, but I haven’t found it.

A sparrow on Resa’s Tree gave me a sly look.

The Bewick’s Wren perched near the hole in the branch.

The Bewick’s Wren was taking small branches into the hole in the tree limb where it has a nest and coming back out, hopping around on the tree limb before flying down to find another twig.

The female Redwing Blackbirds are still hanging out, flying between the tops of the cottonwoods during the day and roosting in Rebecca’s black bamboo at night. The above series shows a flock flying out from and back to the same cottonwood before moving to another cottonwood in the last photo.

Moonrise Dawn Birds & Dusk

Timothy Price31 Comments

And yet another Pink Moon rising put on white.

A colorful dawn. Resa’s tree throws out clouds.

House Finch on the tippy-top of the tree.

Rodney Red-tail in Gigi’s Tree.

Cooper’s Hawk fluffed up because it was cold, bleached white in the sunshine.

Dusk’s display

STOP Color

Timothy Price42 Comments

STOP and look around
Colors here there everywhere
Sky clouds birds mountains

A Western Bluebird with Blue

All blue above and below the Sandias.

Osric Owl braving the wind.

Half a moon

I had a terrible time getting this American Coot in focus

Dawn’s colors from home, on the road, and at the office this morning.

Rodney Redtail

Timothy Price40 Comments

Rodney Redtail (I’m assuming this is a male) has been hanging out in Susan’s tree occasionally, perched above where I hung the nest for the owls. I’m hoping that maybe Roberta Redtail is nesting in the owl’s nest. I won’t climb up there and see if she’s in there. But I can hope she is. Rodney had a stick or something in his beak.