on a conspicuous perch, this hefty flycatcher does the work during the day that our bat friends do at night.
Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis).
Selenium is accumulated...
by a number of plants in sufficient amounts to be toxic, and the lemon-yellow spike-shaped blossoms of this desert beauty belie the dangerous concentration that it may contain.
Prince’s plume (Stanleya pinnata).
It's been a bumper year...
for pesky and persistent varmints. Meet Number 10, going for a ride. Number 11 has already been spotted, hopping around and enjoying freedom for a short while longer.
Rock squirrel (Otospermophilus variegatus).
More model rocketry goodness...
was enjoyed today at the Ken’s Lake Proving Ground on a quiet and calm morning with two good friends.
Doorknob takes to the sky.
Arreaux lifting off with the GPS radio tracker in the payload bay.
The flight of the Arreaux at Ken’s Lake Proving Ground south of Moab, rendered on Google Earth using flight telemetry. Cool tech.
A full eclipse of the Sun...
by Castleton Tower, caught on my early morning ride in the coolest part of the increasingly warm days.
Venus reaches greatest western elongation...
of 45.9 degrees from the Sun today, making it the best time to view the planet since it will be at its highest point above the horizon in the morning sky. Here’s the so-called “morning star” rising above Adobe Mesa around 4:30 am MDT.
Racing up the rail...
the Bull Pup model rocket heads skyward at the Ken’s Lake Proving Ground this morning on an Aerotech F20-7W engine. It’s a very menacing scale replica of a short-range air-to-ground missile used by the US Navy during the 1960s and 1970s, but without the ordinance onboard, of course.
Hundreds of launches...
of low-, mid- and high-powered rockets occurred over four days at the National Sports Launch West event, bringing together more than 250 rocketeers from across the country for the Memorial Day weekend near Alamosa, Colorado. Here’s one of the first high-power rockets heading to 44,000 feet (13,400 meters) to kick off the event!
The high altitude launch site lies at 7,600 feet above sea level in the San Luis Valley with 80 launch pads/rods/rails/towers on the firing range. There’s nary a tree for miles and miles in any direction.
All launch pads and rockets on the range are fired by the Launch Control Officer and their staff of assistants, pad managers and spotters.
All rockets to be flown are first inspected by Range Safety Officers for flight worthiness prior to launch, no matter the size, both large and small.
GPS radio tracking frequencies must be managed so as to avoid conflicts during flights.
Basic kits were generously donated by Estes and the rocket engines by Chris’ Rocket Supplies for the kids.
Many vendors were represented at the event and a lot of business was conducted on the site.
Like a liquid buzz saw...
the Gunnison River has deeply incised the Black Canyon, exposing the ~1.7 billion year-old Precambrian metamorphic rock that comprises the enormous Painted Wall, caught at sunrise and the moment of first light.
Wide pre-dawn view of the 2,250 foot (686 meter) high Painted Wall, showing pegmatite dikes intruding the foliated gneiss and schist creating a natural abstract mural nearly a half-mile high.
Bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) enjoying sunset near Cedar Point the evening before.
Maintaining a nearby nest...
keeps this flycatcher busy and it is now being frequently observed around the house.
Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis).
The high flying rockets in the quiver...
for the National Sports Launch West to be held near Alamosa, Colorado during the upcoming Memorial Day weekend, a four day-long event. Launch waivers to 52,000 feet!!
The Arreaux (left) and Arcas (far right) are the highest fliers, and they will carry the GPS radio tracker in their payload bays.
A face that only a mother could love...
but they sure are dee-licious. Credit goes to the first person who thought to put this thing in their mouth.
Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo).
Happy Mount Saint Helens Day...
1980 USGS image.
Paying a social visit...
around the feeding stations on occasion, this large flycatcher is caught relaxing in a cottonwood.
Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis).
Big and bright and beautiful bunches...
of sunflowers are spotting the landscape in Castle Valley National Park, massive natural bouquets of gorgeousness dotting the rusty terrain.
Rough mule’s ears (Wyethia scabra).
You can dress them up...
but you can’t take them out without teaching them some table manners. Chew your food with your mouth closed and use a napkin to be polite.
Lazuli Bunting (Passerina amoena).
A deep diving pollinator...
inside a prickly pear cactus blossom. Macro photography takes one into amazing micro worlds.
Prickly pear cactus (genus Opuntia).
Within 24 hours of pollination, the prickly pear blossom turns reddish-pink.
Dispersing across the continent...
in less than 40 years, this prolific dove is a common occupier of the feeding stations, here and nearly everywhere.
Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto).
Busy bees harvesting pollen...
from opening globemallow blossoms. I’ll have to go prospecting for the entrances to their underground hives, given away by their tiny sedimentary turrets.
Desert globemallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua). The fully open blossoms are about 15 mm wide.
Fully loaded mallow bee with a large pollen pellet on its hind legs, weighing up to 30% of the bee’s weight.
Hiding in the filtered shade...
of rabbitbrush.
Lazuli Bunting (Passerina amoena).