The moose and other happenings.

Last week I stopped at a favorite spot on my way home form the post office, and while walking along the road, I heard a flurry of wings, saw a fair size raptor flying off. It was about that time that something fell. "What the ..." and there at the base of a spruce tree, was a dead robin. I could see a few drops of fresh blood.

Ten minutes later on my way out it was still there, and so was the hawk. I couldn't get a good enough look to identify it.

Today I was able to get out late this afternoon and the robin was gone.

But the moose was there.

If you never heard a bull moose calling, it's a weird,freaky noise. That's what told me a moose was ahead. Where was my camera? Back at the car.

Color

As the days get shorter,something magical happens. Well ok maybe not magical, but real close. Chlorophyl and carotenoids are always in the leaf during the year. Chlorophyl is the one giving the green color to the leaf and is continually being produced and broken down. As the days shorten and cool, chlorophyl production slows down and slowly the chlorophyl is completely broken down. The carotenoids and anthocyanin are then unmasked and start to give the leaf the fall colors.

But it is magic.

Coos Canyon

Down the road from Oquossoc.

Moose

It's that time of the year when a moose's interest turns to love. Yesterday I was walking on the Appalachian Trail with a friend when up ahead I saw a dark form in the woods. "Moose!" I grabbed my camera and crept ahead.

It's dangerous out in the woods now,and I'm not kidding. Bull Moose want some loving and they really don't have much to fear, and the hormones coursing through there system makes them not too afraid. They have been know to charge cars,trains hikers,cows, just about anything that they feel is a threat to their territory or their chances of scoring. I had a friend get treed by a moose a while ago. He spent a good half hour in that tree.

Alces alces

God's Dog

Canis latrans
In my backyard, today .

The usual suspects.

I was out the other day in the woods and got accosted by a of couple gangs. Before I got away , I was able to get a few shots off.

Boreal Chickadee (Parus hudsinicus)

Gray Jay (Perisoreus canadensis)

The Other Morning...

I usually wake up around 5 am all year long.

Here's one of the reason's why.