Posts in Category: animals
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! 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! 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.
Yellowstone! Never Cry Wolf
Wolf: Yellowstone National Park, October 2024 — This is an accidental close encounter with a wolf. I was sitting on a hillside overlooking a fresh carcass where we had been watching 2 wolves come and go…always up and down the draw across the road. There had been a whole group of people there when I arrived, but they all left and I was alone. Suddenly I heard the folks up the hill from me yelling “behind you” and by the time I got to my feet this wolf crested the ridge no more than 15 feet from me. We looked at each other, and since it was too late to do anything else, I took photos. Eventually she (I think) decided to go around me, again at a distance of about 20 feet to cross the road and get to the carcass. She picked up a good sized section of intestines and departed down the same draw as the other wolves had used. That is as close to a wolf as I want to get, and closer than I would ever have chosen to be…but I got some great shots. 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! Hunting
Coyote: Haden Valley, Yellowstone National Park, September 2024 — Coming back from a lightning one day tour of the Tetons to our AirBnB in Gardiner, we found this Coyote hunting a hillside right by the road. This is the long version of the typical pounce…several yards. 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 on the ridge
Pronghorn antelope against the skyline. Lamar Valley in Yellowstone National Park. Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC zoom. Program mode with my birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Yellowstone! Dad, mom, and junior
Moose: Floating Island Pond, Yellowstone National Park, USA, September 2024 — In the golden light of morning we stoped for a mother moose teaching her well grown calf to feed while swimming in the waters of Floating Island Pond, watched over by the Bull. When they left the pond we had excellent views of all three as they worked their way over a small ridge into the next valley. 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. (Posting tonight as we are off early tomorrow morning.)
Yellowstone! Elk on the terrace
Elk: Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park, September 2024 — Something you don’t see every day. A herd of elk climbing a thermal terrace. The dominant stag is driving his harem to a new feeding area. Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC zoom at 222mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.