Wildlife – Circadianreflections Blog

Whatever Weds. North American Elk

February 9, 2022February 8, 2022Posted in Nature Photography, Photography, Travel and Tourism, WildlifeTagged Elk, Estes Park CO, Fuji X-T3, Nature, North American Elk, Rocky Mountain National Park, Whatever Wednesday, Wildlife59 Comments

One of the highlights we had while visiting Rocky Mountain National Park last October were the North American Elk herds. The surprising thing is just how BIG they are. They stand 5 feet tall at the shoulder, and weigh several hundred pounds. The females are half their size. Only the males have antlers which they shed each winter. Their antler can grow up to an inch a day!

One morning while in Estes Park I saw a Bull laying in the shade with his harem and made my over to get some images of them.

The bull …

He had about dozen females (called cows) in his harem. Here he is with some of them just chillin.

Here’s an image of a bull and some of his harem we saw the night before just after the sun went behind the mountains while in Rocky Mountain National Park.

The rutting season begins in October so the bulls were on high alert keeping a close eye on their harems and keeping them close by.

Fun Fact-

Free roaming elk have a lifespan of 10-13 years in the wild.

https://www.nps.gov/romo/learn/nature/elk.htm

We really enjoyed seeing these wonderful animals while we in the park. They really do enrich the visit.

Fuji X-T3| Fujinon 100-400mm| PS CC 23.1.1

more to come…

Wordless Weds. Deer

December 2, 2020Posted in Nikon, Wildlife, Wordless WednesdayTagged snow; deer; nikon; pine trees; wildlife; Nature; Photography; morning light; Nevada31 Comments

Nikon D180| Nikkor 24-120mm f/4 @ 120mm| PS CC 22.0.1

more to come…

Wordless Weds. Things that caught my eye on an early morning walk up to the gate

August 5, 2020August 5, 2020Posted in Insects, Photography, Whatever Wednesday, WildlifeTagged Black Eyed Susan, Blue-eyed Darner, Cotton-tailed Bunny, Cultivated Flowers, Hot Air Balloons, Pinenut Mountains, Sprinkler Mist, Walks around the neighborhood, Whatever Wednesday70 Comments

A Wild Cotton-tailed Bunny

Wild Cotton Tail Bunny — Copyright © 2020 Deborah M. Zajac ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Sunlight through the Sprinkler mist

Sunlight on the sprinkler Mist — Copyright © 2020 Deborah M. Zajac ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Black-eyed Susans in a neighbor’s yard

A Hot Air Balloon rising above the valley

Hot Air Balloon Rising over Carson Valley — Copyright © 2020 Deborah M. Zajac ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

and, a curious Blue-eyed Darner …

Blue-eyed Darner Dragonfly — ©Copyright 2020 Deborah M. Zajac

Panasonic Lumix FZ200| Photoshop CC 21.2.1

more to come…

Whatever Weds. Happy Thanksgiving!

November 27, 2019November 26, 2019Posted in Holidays and Fetes, Holidays and Observances, Nikon, Photography, Whatever Wednesday, Wildlife, Wildlife PhotographyTagged Birds in the Wild, Nikon, Thanksgiving, Turkey, Whatever Wednesday, Wild birds43 Comments

Tom Turkey

I’ve had #1 Grandson here with us since Saturday. He’s on a Fall or Thanksgiving Break from school this week. He’s so excited waiting for the storm which is supposed to bring 6 inches of snow to our neighborhood. It’s stalled somewhere and isn’t here yet. He really, really wants to make a snowman.

Baby Girl and the Handsome Surveyor and our littlest will be with us for Thanksgiving and I can’t wait to see them and hold our Littlest.

I’m finally over or nearly over a miserable cold so I am feeling very grateful for my health at the moment, and for my family, friends, and the friends I’ve made here.

About the image of Tom Turkey. This is to date the biggest Turkey I have ever seen in the wild! It was huge!! It was taken in Amador County, CA while on the back from a Spring wildflower excursion. No luck with wildflowers that year, but he was a welcome sighting and made up for the lack of flowers.

I wish all my friends here in the blogosphere that are in the USA a very Happy Thanksgiving!

I wish the rest of you a wonderful week and week-end where ever you are!

Nikon D90| Nikkor 70-300mm| SanDisk Digital Film| PS CC 21.0.1

more to come…

Whatever Wednesday:Beary Tale

October 9, 2019October 9, 2019Posted in Photography, Whatever Wednesday, Wildlife, Wildlife PhotographyTagged Black Bear, California wildlife, Fall, Nikon, Photography, Whatever Wednesday58 Comments

I went to see the Kokanee Salmon that are migrating upstream right now in South Lake Tahoe last Friday. I was hoping to see a bear since I just got butt shots of one the last time I went to see this migration back in 2010.

We saw salmon schools and some swimming around the creek, but no bears while we were there so, we went to look for fall color, have lunch, and return for the late afternoon, early evening and maybe see a bear come to the creek to eat.

We got lucky and a young black bear did come by to eat! It got really exciting for several seconds when the bear wanted to get up on the deck I and quite a few observers were on and cross to the other side. This is how close I was. Right at the very edge of my focusing limit…too close! I and everyone else backed up and the bear hopped up on the bridge and I was still too close so we backed up more and the bear walked across the bridge and into the woods.

Black Bear

It looked like it was heading back to the creek but near the other bridge so, I made for that and sure enough, the bear went up on a huge beaver dam and started hunting for something to eat. It didn’t fish. I wonder if it didn’t learn that skill?

Black Bear

That’s my bear tale. It was pretty exciting and neat seeing it.

I hope you’re all having a lovely week!

Nikon D810| Nikkor 80-200mm| Lexar Digital Film| PS CC 20.0.6

more to come…

Whatever Weds. This and That

June 19, 2019June 20, 2019Posted in birding, Landscapes, Photography, Whatever Wednesday, WildlifeTagged Birding, Carson Valley, Golden Hour, Job's Peak, Nikon, Photography, Roughed-wing Swallow, Sunsets, Wild Mustangs of Nevada52 Comments

I thought I’d share several images I’ve made in the last few weeks and have been working on to share.

Golden Hour over the 13th Fairway, the Eastern Sierras, and the marsh as seen looking southwest from my patio.

Golden Hour on the Eastern Sierras and Neighborhood

A new bird for me! A Rough-winged Swallow with lunch. If I have not made the correct ID for this one please let me know!

Roughed-winged Swallow with Lunch

Last Friday a friend came up for a Doctor’s appointment and spent the night, but after her appointment, we went out exploring my area looking for some Nevada Wild Mustangs; we had Lady Luck with us b/c we found a small band! Doing a little research we discovered that this Black/Blue Stallion is called Zorro.

Zorro

Here’s one of Zorro’s band members with some Hitchhikers.

Wild Mustang with Birds out for a ride

I’m looking forward to getting to know the Wild Mustangs of Nevada and this band.

To close out this week’s post I’ll share a sunset from last week. This was made while I was on my patio.

Sunset from my Patio

I hope you’re all having a great week so far, and as they say out here in the Valley, let’s get our Hump Day Dance on and bump those hips! 😂

Nikon D810| Nikkor 200-500mm and Nikkor 50mm| Lexar and Hoodman Digital Film| PS CC 2019

more to come…

Wild Wednesday 46/52 Tule Elk

November 14, 2018November 13, 2018Posted in Nature Photography, Nikon, Photography, San Luis National Wildlife Refuge, Wild Wednesday, WildlifeTagged morning light, National Refuges, Nikon, Smokey air, Tule Elk, Wild Wednesday41 Comments

The smokey morning air from the Northern California Camp Fire diffused the morning sun giving the look of Golden Hour on the Tule Elk in the field.

Tule Elk Herd

The largest male with that beautiful rack is the Alpha Male with part of his herd and a couple of young bachelors in Central Valley at the San Luis National Wildlife Refuge.

Nikon D810| Nikkor 200-500mm @500mm| Hoodman STEEL Digital Film| PS CC 2019

more to come…

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this: