Gray Jay

Gray Jays are rather tame. Always looking out for a handout, aways entertaining.

Visitor from the North

It always happens. I take the dog for a walk, and see a bird. This time it was a Lapland Longspur, a bird from the north. They nest on the tundra and winter down in the states in open areas. As I was driving out this morning, he (or she) was at the end of my drive and very nicely sat still for me.

I am in awe of my lens. It's a Nikon 80-400 with antivibration . I had always been trained to use a tripod. It was so ingrained in me that I always used one. But I had also been trained to try different styles and techniques. Well the darn thing works. Hand held without support. Yep, it's a Lapland longspur!

First snow.

The weather system that has been dropping snow across the country finally got here.

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