Wildlife activity was slow yesterday morning but the rolling fog and autumn colors were wonderful, so I decided to create a short time lapse video.
Enjoy!
Colin
September Wildlife Photography Class
Hello everyone! Looks like we've got a few more soggy days ahead of us, as it goes with this time of year. Hey I am offering an intermediate wildlife photography course later this month at the Eagle River Nature Center (Alaska). There will be a Zoom class on Friday evening, Sept. 18, followed by 3-hour individual sessions with me throughout the weekend. Space is limited due to the individual lessons and two of the five spaces are already filled, leaving room for 3 more (however I could take 2 or 3 family members in one session). Cost is $85 and attendees must have either taken one of my beginning courses or have a firm grasp of shooting in manual exposure mode. Follow the link below to register.
Thank you and stay dry out there!
Colin
https://www.ernc.org/courses/intermediate-wildlife-photography
Kenai Brown Bears Instead of Iceland
I keep mulling over the fact that I should be in Iceland right now getting ready to lead a tour. I was scheduled to depart yesterday but since traveling there isn't possible right now, I made the best of a beautiful summer day and found some Alaskan brown bears fishing for salmon. All in all, it was a good alternative.
Have a great weekend out there!
Colin
Young brown bear fishing for salmon in the Kenai River
Moose Monday, August Edition
Summer is winding down and this guy's antlers are almost finished growing for the season. Soon he will shed the nourishing velvet layer and carry his polished crown into early winter, when it will be dropped to make room for next year's.
Happy Moose Monday out there!
Colin
Timing and Perspective
This is one of two local bull moose I've been watching and photographing this season and I recently captured an intense moment while it was feeding. The pose appears intimidating, though it was really just a matter of timing and being eye-level with my subject that I was able to come away with this image in the brief moment that he raised his head and moved positions. So I guess one could say that sometimes both timing and perspective are everything.
Have a great day out there and thank you for following along!
Colin
Image taken with Nikon D850.
Saw-whet Owlet Banding
Saw-whet owlet banding - this is the followup to yesterday's post. Last month I was able to join local owl enthusiast Andrew Fisher along with a biologist from the State of Alaska to observe and photograph the banding of saw-whet fledglings. There are still a lot of unanswered questions about the seasonal behaviors of northern saw-whets, so banding these fledglings will help provide useful clues to their travel & migration habits if they are discovered in a future survey.
It was a privilege to accompany these experts into the field and take part in owl research. I hope you enjoy the images and the cuteness overload!
Colin
Saw-whet Owl Box Monitoring
Happy Wednesday out there, everyone! This is the first of two posts from a pair of unique experiences I had earlier this season. First, I joined local owl enthusiast Andrew Fisher as he checked nesting boxes in the Anchorage area. Using an endoscope that broadcasts a live image onto his phone, he was able to peer into the boxes to see whether they were occupied and had clutches of eggs. Andrew builds and maintains these boxes on a volunteer basis to support the growing population of northern saw-whet owls in Southcentral Alaska. After determining which boxes were occupied, I later joined Andrew and a biologist with the State of Alaska to observe and photograph the banding of several fledglings. I will share those photos in the coming days, so please stay tuned.
Have a great day and thank you for following along!
Colin
Adult northern saw-whet owl.
Weekend Rainbows?
I do believe I've found it - the rainbow connection! Can't get enough of these late evening 'bows. Have a great weekend, wherever you are. There is some rain in the forecast for South Central Alaska, and that is half of the ingredients for a rainbow.
Happy light chasing!
Colin
Late evening rainbow, Eagle River Nature Center, Alaska
Yawning Owlet
Rise & shine! Good morning out there. It looks to be a lovely start to the day with a forecast of clouds & rain in the days ahead so enjoy the sunshine if you can.
Also, here's a yawning great horned owlet...
Cheers,
Colin
Another Sunset Rainbow!
Wouldn't you know it, we had another sunset rainbow last night! These late evening light shows have been spectacular and if you live in the Anchorage/Eagle River area, I hope you have been enjoying them as well.
Cheers,
Colin
Rainbow at the Eagle River Nature Center, Alaska
The Summer of Double Rainbows
This certainly has been the summer of double rainbows in Eagle River Valley! After last year's dry season, I welcome the rain and its subsequent light shows.
Have a magical Monday out there and thank you for following along!
Colin
The Owls Return
It's always nice to start my day with owls. Shortly after this juvenile great horned owl began flying it left the area for a couple weeks. I was happy to see it return with its mother to their former hunting grounds.
Have a great weekend and thank you for following along!
Colin
Juvenile Great Horned Owl, Eagle River Nature Center, Alaska
August 2020 Iceland Tour Postponed
Well, last week we got word that Iceland will not be allowing visitors from the US at this time. Prior to then it seemed they were going to add us to the list of countries who are welcome but their government ultimately decided to follow the same plan for reopening as the EU and with the number of rising Covid-19 cases here, we do not meet the criteria. Michael L Haring and I had not choice but to postpone the August tour until 2021, which is disappointing but also completely understandable. The good news is that all of our guests are on board for next year and once things look more promising, we will nail down the dates for August of 2021 so please stay tuned for that!
All the best,
Colin
Seljalondsfoss, Iceland
Northern Goshawk Chicks
Back to raptor photos today. Look closely, those are northern goshawk chicks. This was a rare opportunity to observe them in their nest at eye-level. I even watched the adults successfully hunt and feed the chicks! Soon they will be soaring and hunting on their own.
Colin
Evening Moose
I've been posting so many owl photos & videos recently I thought it was time to share some of the local megafauna. Here is a cow moose in late evening light.
Hope you enjoy it. Happy Tuesday!
Colin
Mealtime
A female great horned owl shares a snowshoe hare with her offspring. This was taken shortly before the juvenile began flying. I observed them sharing a red squirrel high in a cottonwood tree a few days later but since junior is airborne they seem to have moved to new hunting grounds.
Have a great Monday out there and thank you for following along!
Colin
Great Horned Owls, Eagle River Nature Center, Alaska
Owlet Siesta
Please enjoy this juvenile great horned owl having a little siesta while taking a moment to allow yourself to slow down and breathe. Have a great weekend out there, everyone, and thank you for following along!
Colin
July Photo Class
Hey everyone, I am going to be offering an introductory photo class next month at the Eagle River Nature Center! I will hold a Zoom presentation for all of the attendees on Friday, July 24 at 6 pm and schedule individual two-hour outdoor sessions with everyone on Saturday, July 25. Cost is $75 and there are only 6 spots so if you or someone you know is interested, please follow the link below to register and feel free to share!
https://www.ernc.org/courses/nature-photography-workshop
PS - I am looking into offering a more advanced photography class later in the summer for those who have attended one my intro classes, so stay tuned for that...
Thank you,
Colin
Summer Wildflowers, Eagle River Nature Center, Alaska
Hiding Among the Grasses
With the wild grasses and flowers reaching their peak seasonal growth, it's easy for large mammals to remain hidden from sight at close proximity. I took this yesterday morning as the sow black bear was grazing next to the trail. The cubs aren't yet tall enough to spot when they're on the ground so I watch for moving vegetation to monitor their whereabouts.
Colin
Black Bear, Eagle River Nature Center, Alaska
Masters of Disguise
The great horned owl is a master of disguise. I wonder how many times I've walked right past one of these large birds, completely unaware that I was being watched. I believe I've developed a discerning eye for particular shapes and textures that has led to more owl sightings. It's like the four-leafed clover in that once you believe they are omnipresent they begin to reveal themselves, but believing is half of the battle.
Have a great Wednesday - keep your eyes and your mind open to what might be lurking nearby!
Colin
Great Horned Owl, Eagle River Nature Center, Alaska
Great Horned Owl, Eagle River Nature Center, Alaska
Great Horned Owl, Eagle River Nature Center, Alaska