Maine! Hunter

Great Blue Heron: York County, Maine, USA, November 2024 — I posted a hunting Coyote from Yellowstone already this morning, but here is a local hunter…hunter of the November marsh along the river just back from the ocean. About as different as you can get, but hunting is hunting, and if you take the time to compare the two you will see a similar attitude in both Coyote and Heron. A similar intensity. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Yellowstone! Hunter

Coyote: Hayden Valley, Yellowstone National Park, September 2024 — While waiting for the wolves and bears to be visible on the distant carcass in the Hayden Valley we were treated to this hunting Coyote, realitively close (at least compared to the bear and wolves), a hundred yards below us in the stream-bed. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Yellowstone! Start them young!

Way to go! Start them young. Give them the experience. Nature will do the rest. This was taken as we photographed the Pronghorn the Lamar Valley of Yellowstone National Park in September, in the little bowl below the road by the cottonwoods. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii zoom at 207mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications (just because that is what I was using). Processed in Photomator.

Yellowstone! More Pronghorn

Pronghorn: Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park, September 2024 — Here you see the buck Pronghorn doing what I talked about yesterday…rounding up a couple of stragglers to keep his herd together, acting very much like a sheep dog. He is happiest when his charges are as close as in the second photo. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Yellowstone! Slough Creek

Slough Creek has been, for many years, the place to see wolves in Yellowstone. They have denned several different spots on the far slopes in this wide angle landscape. From the Slough Creek access road you get “scope” views. They are so far away what you do not get much at all with any conventional camera set-up…so not my favorite place to see wolves…but one of the only relatively reliable spots in the park. Which means there is always a crowd, and parking is always a challenge. Another reason it not my favorite place. 🙂 Still, it is one of them of the most beautiful little valleys in Yellowstone, and always worth a landscape shot. Sony a5100 with E 10-18 f4 wide zoom at 15mm equivalent. Superior Auto with Landscape Scene Select. Processed in Photomator.

Yellowstone! Pronghorn

Pronghorn: Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park, September 2024 — We used to call these Pronghorn Antelope, but they never were part of the Antelope family. Pronghorn have a family all their own, and while distantly related to the antelopes of Africa and Asia, and goats and deer world-wide, their closest relatives are the giraffes and okapi of central, east, and south Africa. What I found most interesting in watching this small herd is the way the bucks “herd” the does and fawns exactly as a sheep dog herds sheep, from behind mostly, working the edges to keep them bunched and moving, and aggressively running down any that would stray. Fun to watch. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii zoom at 600mm and 423mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Yellowstone! Bison Jam

American Bison: Yellowstone National Park, September 2024 — Bison Jams are common in the Lamar Valley. When the Bison are ready to cross the road, they cross the road, and, if you have any sense, you stop and let them do it. Photographers pull off and attempt photos. Generally it all goes well and no bison or photographers are harmed before the jam breaks up. The first against the trees was taken from the back seat, through the windshield. 🙂 Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Yellowstone! I like your pheromones

American Bison: Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park, September 2024 — As I mentioned yesterday, the rut was really just about over when we visited Yellowstone in late September, early October, but evidently a few cows were still receptive. When there were any in a herd, it increased the overall activity in the herd enough to notice. And there was some of this pheromone sniffing going on. I thought we might get to see some actual mating…but no…not this day. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Maine! Fall ducks

Mallards: York County, Maine, USA, October 2024 — Mallards on the fall reflections in a small pond. Just because. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Yellowstone! Feeling his oats

American Bison: Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park, September 2024 — Bison are mostly placid animals, even the bulls, but during rutting season you can catch some action. Rut was mostly past in the Lamar Valley when we got there, but this bull had apparently not gotten the memo. He was actively defending what appeared to be a still receptive cow. A bull from an adjacent group was showing interest. He was having none of that! I would not want to see this fellow coming for me. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.