Posts in Category: wildlife
Yellowstone! Pika!
Pika: Sheepeaters Cliffs, Yellowstone National Park, September 2024 — Coming back late in day from our first day in Yellowstone, we decided to check Sheepeater Cliffs one more time for Pika. We had seen none on our morning visit, but we knew they were there. There is a very rough kind of trail off the left of picnic tables at the foot of the talus slope that climbs up to a little amphitheater like bite out of the cliffs. Though I really should not have, considering my heart, I climbed up there with Ken and Teresa Bonner, since we were still not seeing Pika down by the parking. It is a magical place with the basalt columns rising up on three sides, brushed with the last rays of the sun. And there were Pika. At least 4 that we saw. The scramble back down was even more difficult than the scramble up, but I made it…only to find that Robert Wilson had been photographing Pika at his feet while sitting on a picnic table. 🙂 Pika: Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC zooms at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Cliffs with the Sony a5100 and Sony E 10-18 f4 at 27mm equivalent. Superior Auto. Processed in Photomator.
Yellowstone! Scragglehorn
Elk: Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park, September 2024 — This is one of two younger bucks that #24 tolerates in his herd in and around Mammoth. Though apparently otherwise healthy, this buck has a deformed horn…as you can see…his right horn grows right out of the center of his forehead. I do not know how that will affect his success with the ladies when his time comes. Here he is caught in the first full sun as it penetrates the valley above Mammoth town. Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Yellowstone! Magpie
Black-billed Magpie: Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park, September 2024 — We did not see many birds at all in Yellowstone. The season and the wide open terrain don’t favor birds, but we did encounter Black-billed Magpie on several occasions, mostly around well used parking areas. Such a striking bird. These were around us near some picnic tables one morning early as we stopped to photograph the Elk of Mammoth. Who can resist a few photos? Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC zoom at various focal lengths to frame the bird. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Yellowstone! #24
Elk: Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park, September 2024 — On our first day in the park, we stopped in Mammoth Hot Springs early in the morning, long before the sun was high enough to light the Hot Springs terraces, to photograph the herd of Elk that make downtown Mammoth their home. They generally spend the night on the green and the surrounding lawns, and only disperse into the hills and up the terraces as the day gets warmer. This is #24, the dominant bull of the herd, though he is so secure that he tolerates at least 2 other, younger, bulls. There is, however, no doubt about who’s herd, whose harem, it is. Here he is bugling his dominance as he returns from putting one of the younger bulls in his place. Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC zoom at 463mm equivalent, and just about full frame. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Yellowstone! Grizzly too
Grizzly Bear: Tom Miner Basin, Gardiner MT, September 2024 — This is another shot of the Grizzly with two cubs digging Caraway roots in a meadow. It was well after sunset so the light was not optimal, and the bears were over 670 yards away…as measured with a rangefinder…that is almost 4/10s of a mile…so I am happy to have gotten any shot at all with the Sony a6700 and the Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator. A heavy crop from an image at ISO 2000. This is a close as we got to a Grizzly, as apparently the warm fall weather has kept them mostly up in the higher meadows.
Yellowstone! Pica pica
Pica: Sheepeater Cliffs, Yellowstone National Park, October 2024 — We made 4 visits to Sheepeater Cliffs in search of Pica…the little rock bunnies with the round ears…and saw them on two of those visits. They come out to the edge of the talus pile in search of green grasses and leaves, and then scurry back to eat what they find. And they are, in my opinion, about the cutest thing you can imagine. Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Yellowstone! Pronghorn
Pronghorn Antelope: Yellowstone National Park, October 2024 — This buck Pronghorn was leading (or herding) his small harem along the road-side in Yellowstone. Pronghorns are truly odd looking animals but have a beauty of their own. Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Yellowstone! Study in Bison
American Bison: Yellowstone National Park, October 2024 — This big boy was right along the roadside by Yellowstone Lake in a little semi-thermal depression. He stood up for us when we stopped. Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC zoom at 207mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Yellowstone! Moose encounter
Moose: Yellowstone National Park, October 2024 — Early in the morning before the sun reached the valley floor. This big bull, at least two females and a young bull. Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Yellowstone! Never cry wolf 2
Wolf: Yellowstone National Park — The other wolf…not as close as yesterday’s but still satisfyingly close…across the road and up the hill. Black wolf. Note the contrast with the eyes 🙂 Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC zoom at 600mm. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.