Monthly Archives: July 2023
Colorado! Mule Deer in the Morning
Mule Deer: South Valley Park, Denver, Colorado, USA, July 2023 — We went for a hike yesterday, early, at South Valley Park, about 30 minutes from my daughter’s home in Centennial. Early is relative. Toddlers in tow. We were not completely out of the car yet (it takes a while when traveling with two in car seats), when my daughter, who was suiting up in the baby carrier, cried out “look Everleigh, look!” and pointed over my shoulder. This buck Mule Deer had just crossed the parking lot and was, at that moment, running up the stairs in the trail above. I managed a few shots as it headed off the trail toward greener pastures up the canyon. Not a big “rack” (set of antlers) by Mule Deer standards…and still, from the look of it, in “velvet”…still growing. Everleigh did get to see the “reindeer” and this photo is for her. 🙂 OM Systems OM-1 with 100-400mm zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my animals modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro. ISO 200 @ f6.3 @ 1/640th.
Colorado! Young Robin
American Robin: Centennial, Colorado, USA, July 2023 — Our walks around Centennial in the morning are limited by how far I can push a stroller, and how far an almost 4 year old can walk, given time at the playground, and we are in the heart of Denver suburbia, so we are not seeing a wild variety of Colorado birds. There is a family of American Robins at one of the local parks and this young bird posed nicely for me. OM Systems OM-1 with 100-400mm zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom bird modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro. ISO 640 @ f6.3 @ 1/640th.
Colorado! Thumper.
Eastern Cottontail: Centennial, Colorado, USA — I asked my granddaughter Everleigh to help me pick a photo for this morning’s post. I suspect this is the patriarch of the bunny clan that lives in the housing developments around my daughter’s home in Centennial. He was taking is his ease, warming in the morning sun in the middle of a residential street, and was not bothered by us on the sidewalk at all. OM Systems OM-1 with 100-400mm zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom bird modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro. ISO 250 and 200 @ f6.3 @ 1/640th and 1/800th.
Colorado! Bunnies
Wild Rabbits: Centennial, Colorado — The only other wildlife we have seen on our walks around Centennial with our granddaughters are the wild Rabbits that seen to enjoy the lawns of the housing developments and the small parks. I will not say they are everywhere, but there are a surprising number of them, and, as you might imagine with them living in suburbia, they are somewhat tame. This one sat for me for close-ups…though some of that might have been the “freeze” response. (“If I do not move he can’t see me!”…which is a survival technique against airborne and other sight predators, but does not work well against photographers…or other “shooters” for that matter. Fortunately for the rabbits, I am pretty sure shotguns are banned by the local HOAs, if not by the city itself. 🙂 Anyway. The bunnies are a big hit with the granddaughters and look remarkably healthy. OM Systems OM-1 with 100-400mm zoom at 372mm and 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom bird modifications. (No need to switch to animal mode for animals of this size, I am finding.) Processed in Pixelmator Pro. ISO 1250 and 1600 @ f6.3 @ 1/640th.
More Denver Wildlife!
Everleigh and Noemi at the local playground after supper. 🙂
Colorado! Say’s Phoebe
Say’s Phoebe: Centennial, Colorado, July 2023 — Our morning bird walk yesterday (to the playground and back, after some appropriate play time before the slides got to hot to touch) turned up a group of Say’s Phoebes hunting in the short grasses of the park. As an Easterner for a long time now, Say’s is a treat. OM Systems OM-1 with 100-400mm zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom bird modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro. ISO 200 @ f6.3 @ 1/640th.
India! River Lapwing
River Lapwing: Chambal River, Rajasthan, India, March 2023 — Another bird from our boat tour on the Chambal River near Rathambore. A large elegant plover (sometimes called the Asian Spur-winged Plover). Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent (heavily cropped and enlarged). Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator on my iPad. ISO 100 @4.5 @ 1/1000th.
Denver Wildlife!
We went for a walk to look for birds early enough so the temperature was not too high in Centennial. Not many birds but I found these to young naturalists…or rather brought them with me. Sony A5400 with 18-50mm zoom.
Maine! Song Sparrow
Song Sparrow: York County, Maine, USA, July 2023 — Song Sparrows seem to congregate behind the dunes of our local beaches, and well out into the marsh along the rivers. And, of course, they perch up to sing, so they are quite visible. OM Systems OM-1 with 100-400mm zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom bird modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro. ISO 200 @ f8 @ 1/1250th and @ f7.1 @ 1/1000th.
India! — Indian Skimmer
Indian Skimmer: Chambal River, Rajasthan, India, March 2023 — Another bird from our boat tour on the Chambal River near Rathambore. There were several resting on the sandbars in the river. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro and Apple Photos. ISO 100 @ f4.5 @ 1/1000th.