early morning
in a time of change
a filter of pale light
on a hushed space
animals linger
browsing calmly
watchful but unafraid
fox investigates
yawning in boredom
gray jay observes
ever curious
my day begins
I've been asked how I take photos of wildlife. The truth is, I look out my windows and see these creatures in my yard. I go onto my deck and watch quietly. I've lived in my house on the edge of the forest for a long time. These animals are not tame. I respect their wildness and would not trust to approach too closely. I do not feed the foxes, though I think some of my neighbors do. If they start to come too close, I clap my hands to deter them. I don't want them coming up to a Grandchild expecting a treat. Though the fox above is just yawning, you can see its sharp teeth. Occasionally, a bear will break into a home because it smells food. This summer, a neighbor had a bear open a sliding glass door and remove a bag of trash from her kitchen. Because of drawing both bears and coyotes to the house, I no longer put out seed, suet, or sugar water for the birds. If I'm sitting on the deck having a snack, I occasionally give the jays a handout. They fly very close and carry any food away immediately. I use my 250mm lens to photograph the animals, though the foxes and birds don't need much zoom.
This is my world in Breckenridge, CO.
Enjoy a visit to others around the world here:
Enjoy a visit to others around the world here:
You know, we have had the fortune to travel through some of the west= Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, and California. One of the things we often remarked upon was the ability to capture on film the animal life in Colorado. It is truly a special place.
ReplyDeleteOlga, above, is so right....Colorado is truly a special place.
ReplyDeleteI liked reading about how so much respect accompanies your interest in the animals in your "neighborhood".
The picture of the fox yawning is really great.
Such a beautiful beautiful place and all of those wild animals. I think it's a good idea not to put seed out what with the bears. Carol
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful place you live. Great pictures of the wild animals.
ReplyDeleteThey are wonderful . You live in such beauty . Thank you for sharing your world. I adore it.
ReplyDeleteYour world is beautiful. Your photography is amazing.
ReplyDeleteYou are fortunate to live amongst the wildlife and allow it to be wild while capturing the intimate happenings around you.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a very sensible approach. I love your photos of the stag and the fox.
ReplyDeleteBreckenridge is a lovely area of the world. I have vacationed there a few times and even did some skiing as a teenager. I remember the foxes outside our condo. These photos show it well.
ReplyDeleteExtremely lovely photos of the munching deer and yawning fox, Barb!
ReplyDeleteEarly morning is my favorite time of day!
I sit on my deck and do the exact same thing every single chance I get.
ReplyDeleteYour photos are gorgeous!
xxoo,
RMW
Living closely with and in nature is surely the greatest gift we have had bestowed on us. How wonderful it is that some of us have learned to tread lightly.
ReplyDeleteLike the animals. Good you told me the fox is yawning, it looks a bit agressive.
ReplyDeleteGreetings,
Filip
Beautiful series!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful series indeed! I love the animals and birds!! Such a gorgeous world you have, Barb, and a fantastic one to spend time in! Thanks for sharing the beauty with us! Hope you have a great week!
ReplyDeleteFantastic group of photos and captures ~ Thanks for sharing how you take these photos ~ Wonderful place to live ~ (A Creative Harbor)
ReplyDeleteI am glad you told me that fox was just yawning. He looks kind of scary. Your animal photos are excellent,
ReplyDeleteThis past Wednesday, on the way home from New Hampshire, I finally saw a live bear! It was crossing the road in front of us in Hiram, Maine. Now, if I can only see the Northern Lights!
We live in the middle of the woods but don't see half as much wildlife as you do, Barb. I love the fox yawning. It almost looks ominous and scary, those razor sharp teeth. The buck is awesome! We see hundreds of does, but rarely a buck and certainly not one with a rack like that.
ReplyDeleteFantastic photos of the wildlife!
ReplyDeleteI like the morning light in the purple-shadowed landscape. I felt scared a little to see the fox’s yawning and remembered even my tamed dog looked wild with her sharp teeth. 250 mm zooming is powerful, I feel like that the buck appeared suddenly from another world, breaking the air in front of me. How lovely you start your day, Barb!
ReplyDeleteYoko
Good morning, Barb!
ReplyDeleteYour animal photos are always fantastic!!! Especially I like the fifth and the eighth photos. They show a variety of emotional expressions!I feel that they are taken with your deep admirations to them. It is a good idea that you do not feed them and keep a distance from them,Barb.
Have a good day!
Tomoko
Wonderful shots, they have all posed very well for you.
ReplyDeleteWow - you live on the edge of an enchanted forest! What amazing shots.
ReplyDeleteFox does have some sharp teeth! He looks like he is ready to chomp on something rather than yawn. How fortunate you are to have such abundant wildlife out the back door.
ReplyDeleteAs long as they are not coming in the front door :)
so wonderful to see your photographs Barb.
ReplyDeletesounds like you have a nice respect for the life your live with and around you.
That velvet is so beautiful and such a clear image of a fox is a joy to see.
Thank you for sharing ! I am in love with your fox, even with those sharp teeth! And I can almost feel the velvet on the deer's antlers. A wonderful series as summer definitely draws to a close in the mountains.
ReplyDeleteI love your wildlife photos. The Gray Jay with the colors of the wildflowers behind him is incredible. I adore Gray Jays - they're so smart and social. The red fox is also a glorious animal. It's funny - our gray foxes are very reclusive, unlike yours. I wonder if it's because we have lots of coyotes around here... who will kill a red fox if given the chance.
ReplyDeleteI can tell that you've been enjoying summer!
How nice to have these visitors come to you. Wonderful shots Barb. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat photos, I've read about the bears in certain areas helping themselves to what is in houses. You are wise not to attract them or to try and domesticate the critters in general.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos- you live in one of my most favorite places to vacation-
ReplyDeleteWonderful pictures of the wild animals ! Was certainly not easy to take them !
ReplyDeleteA lovely series of photos, not sure about the Bear making home visits though!
ReplyDeleteHi Barb!
ReplyDeleteThese photos are breathtaking!
The animals are stunningly beautiful. The fox ~ yes ~ "what sharp teeth they have."
The story about the bear is wild! The thought of a wild animal actually opening up my sliding screen door late at night has actually crossed my mind, Barb! It's so crazy that it actually happened there!
Thank you for sharing these gorgeous photos.
I'm writing you from my desk at school. I'm taking a little after school break, waiting for my tea to brew...
My desk looks like it was torpedoed :o) and my tea will make the job sweeter.
This year I have almost 120 sixth graders in my developmental reading classes {4 sections with almost 30 in each}
I also teach remedial reading ~ which is now called AIS {academic intervention services}
This class is for students who did not pass the NYS English exam.
My students are really nice {so far and hoping it lasts all year!}
Wishing you a wonderful final week of "summer" as the calendar says...
and a beautiful start to autumn there in Breckenridge!
~ Blessings always ~
Maria
You certainly got some fabulous photos. Watching and listening - not trying to take over their environment. Funny how some people think they can build in the woods and then get annoyed when animals encroach.
ReplyDeleteYour wildlife photos are great, Barb. I always enjoy seeing them.
ReplyDeleteWhat a cute new baby in the last photo! I hope you're enjoying some cuddle time.
Your animal photos have a way of telling a story. I agree about not feeding wildlife, although it would be tempting at times, especially in winter. The fox’s teeth indicate it is practicing good dental hygiene. :)
ReplyDeleteAmazingly beautiful. Thanks for bringing us close.
ReplyDeleteMarvelous photos Barb. It is good to know you are cautious about feed and habits, and respectful of the wildlife and their habitat. Thank you for sharing these incredible photos...
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful place. Wonderful shots of wild animals!
ReplyDeleteYour wildlife photos are so up close! Seems like a long lens just right in front of you. A dream place...for retirement!
ReplyDeleteYour photos are wonderful, Barb. I can understand why you wouldn't want many of the critters to come to close. A bear than can open sliding doors is scary!
ReplyDeleteThe trees are starting to turn at our high altitude cabin but the year has been so dry that there is little color.
ReplyDeleteI awake to the sound of gunfire, it is hunting season and I wonder about the little buck I saw the previous day and I wonder why so many shots, a good hunter only needs one.
You captured Fabulous moments! To have wild animals near you is a great blessing. But, at the same time I realized how difficult to live with them keeping proper distance. The fox is very cute, but his sharp teeth remind me that he is wild.
ReplyDeleteIs it a young deer whose antlers are covered with soft fur, isn't it? In Nara, there are about 1100 wild deer. But most of visitors do not know they are wild. At the moment of feeding dear crackers to them, people start to think they are kind of pets.
My day starts with wonderful walking with you early in the morning! How nice! Barb thanks a lot!
keiko
I always love it most when I see Brer Fox but oh -- those deer! How stunning. I'm very glad you shared how you photograph the animals. It puts my sometimes worrying mind a bit at ease to know that you aren't out there so close, as lovely as that would be in some ways. (Till supper time. Theirs. Not yours.) Your camera and lens are fabulous. At some point when I'm ready to go to something far more complex than my mini, I'm going to pester you with questions!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful, beautiful share. Thank you, Barb! I will go to sleep tonight with that sweet fox face as an inspiration for dreaming : )
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful, beautiful post. Thank you, Barb! I will go to bed tonight with that sweet fox face as inspiration for dreaming : )
ReplyDeleteI LOVE living in places that are immersed in nature. The wildlife simply becomes one with your home, you become part of their daily routine. How fun to have all these beautiful visitors in your back yard! I would love to see fox more often.
ReplyDeleteyour wildlife photos and the first picture are simply so heart-warming and so incredibly beautiful...I wish I could be there with you! big hug and happy weekend...
ReplyDeleteIt is so exciting to have wildlife right out your door, as long as it's not a bear coming close, or the time you had the moose out there! Your photos of them are always wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI saw photos of the snow in Breckenridge the other day on some of the ski slopes. I think we only had a dusting in a couple of places.
I'm glad that you told us how and when you take your wildlife photos Barb. I can envision that now. You do get some wonderful pictures from your deck! Love Di ♥
ReplyDeleteYour wildlife shots are wonderful!! I whole heartedly agree with not encouraging them to come any closer!!
ReplyDeleteGreat shots. Fall approaches faster in the high country. IT's such a short summer season up where you are. But I would take that clear sky and clean air right now for a little frost.
ReplyDeletebeautiful photos! How wonderful that you get to see these animals up close!
ReplyDeleteAmazing photos!!!! What awesome and beautiful captures--excellent work. Colorado is such an extraordinary place to live--beauty in every directions. Mickie :)
ReplyDelete