Tag: lighting

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.

Another Conjunction

Timothy Price87 Comments

Venus and The Pleiades conjunction in the low right. The short streak at the top is a satellite.

Conjunctions happen! And this week, Venus and The Pleiades are getting up close and personal as they pass each other, as seen from our earthly perspective.

Venus and The Pleiades on the right. The Kiss Flying-V on the left.

Venus looked orb-like shining through the thin cloud cover, with The Pleiades managing to shine through the clouds as well.

Speaking of orbs, I was in the middle of a bast of phantasm plasma bursting out of the dark matter. Researchers who deal in paranormal activity believe that ghosts and spirits travel in plasmatic cylinders and orbs.

This is a series of the pink moon rising on April 6th when it was 100% full, but not the official “full moon” from the night before. The fifth photo shows Venus near the horizon under wild clouds.

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

Pink Moon On The Move

Timothy Price58 Comments

I made a timelapse video of the April Pink moon moving through the clouds on Monday when it was 96% full. The more classic rock-style music in the video is reminiscent of what a slow-fingered guitarist might play in a guitar battle. The epic battle between Ralph Macchio and Steve Vai in the movie Crossroads comes to mind. Vai smokes Macchio in the battle, in my personal opinion, but in typical Hollywood fashion, Macchio, the underdog, wins the battle after the wild and crazy-looking Vai lays down his guitar and walks off the stage. Vai probably played the parts Macchio was supposedly playing.

The full moon is tonight, but it will be close to 8:00 pm before the moon rises over the mountains. Therefore, I will not get detail in the mountains when it rises tonight.

Pink Moon last night as the Bazooka saw it.

The pink Moon last night. The southern sky in the middle, and the western sky in the right.

Starting Easter Sunday through Wednesday, April 12th, there will be a conjunction between Venus and the Pleiades. You can see the Pleiades above Venus on the right side of the middle photo and the left side of the photo on the right.