for this increasingly annoying rock squirrel that regularly vacuums up the seed for my feathered friends. I’ve supported this somewhat entertaining rodent through the winter months, but now it’s time for it to fend for itself elsewhere.
Rock squirrel (Otospermophilus variegatus) caught in a live trap and about to go for a ride.
after performing his warbling U-shaped diving courtship display for an unseen mate.
Adult male Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri), the size of your little finger.
Refueling after its vigorous aerial acrobatics.
taking a break from nest building, hanging out in the squawbush.
Adult male House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus).
to my feeder in greater numbers this year than last, a good sign.
Adult male Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri).
Shot at 1/2000th of a second, the wings are still in motion in these images.
right now in southeastern Utah, as cliffrose explodes with a sweet-smelling natural perfume that fills the air in the canyons.
Cliffrose (Purshia mexicana).
Too bad this image isn’t scratch-n-sniff.
lapis lazuli, this colorful songbird is very shy and difficult to catch at the feeder. But patience and stealth has its rewards.
Adult male Lazuli Bunting (Passerina amoena) in vibrant breeding plumage.
is a lovely tyrant flycatcher, whose family has nested at my neighbor’s home ever since it was built in the early 2000s.
Say's Phoebe (Sayornis saya).
as yet another snow squall rolls across the La Sal Mountains this chilly evening.
Whipple's fishhook cactus (Sclerocactus whipplei).
Claret cup cactus (Echinocereus triglochidiatus).
across my daily mountain biking route is not something that one encounters every day. Ranchers are moving cattle from Professor Valley and along the Sylvester Trail as I hang back to let them pass.
Click on image to embiggenate.
in the British Isles and Norwegian fjords, a small ship trip with Apex Expeditions, departing late this month. Here’s a map showing our intended travels and a link to the detailed itinerary.
I’ve worked this region before with Apex, and there is a “British Isles” portfolio of images in the Gallery. Navigate to the main menu and enjoy.
is frequently seen and heard rummaging through the saltbush and rabbitbrush for an insect meal.
Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus).
the high desert plants begin the blossoming parade in Castle Valley.
Yellow cryptanth (Cryptantha flava).
Indian paintbrush (Castilleja linariifolia).
Panicled death camas (Toxicoscordion paniculatum).
of Castle Valley from a high point near Castleton, Utah. This panoramic view was captured yesterday during a 22 mile ride (2,560 foot ascent) with my neighbor on our awesomely fun eMTBs.
Another lousy day in Utah! (Click on the annotated panorama to embiggen.)
named after an early western naturalist.
Newberry’s twinpod (Physaria newberryi).
lies a most peculiar petroglyph, pecked into a varnished sandstone wall at the base of the Wingate escarpment.
Snow squall over Grand View Mountain, the northernmost peak in the La Sal Mountain range.
Note the odd conjoined twin anthropomorphic figures at the center of this image.
after a terrific three day-long road trip from Astoria, Oregon. Feels good to be ensconced in red cross-bedded sandstones once again.
On a walkabout with friends visiting from Canada.
Utah penstemon (Penstemon utahensis).
is sustained by groundwater discharging from a series of large springs at the base of the east side of the Ruby Mountain range in northern Nevada.
Adult male Cinnamon Teal (Spatula cyanoptera).
Adult male Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis).
Adult male Eared Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis).
in Nevada and Utah includes the most remote and loneliest part of the western US, and all the rivers are internally drained, that is, have no outlet to the oceans.
Endless mountain ranges, endless empty valleys.
There’s copper in them thar hills: Variegated mine dump at Ruth, Nevada.
in central Oregon greets the dawn with a light morning mist hanging in the low wetland pockets.
Sandhill Cranes (Antigone canadensis). Side note: These birds funded my M.S. thesis on the fluvial sedimentology of the Niobrara River in Nebraska. Thanks!