Bull Elk In Charge

Rocky Mountain Elk (Cervus canadensis nelsoni)

Location:  Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, USA

The photos above were taken in succession just a few seconds apart.  I had been photographing a small group of Elk cows that were grazing in a clearing in a pine forest in Rocky Mountain National Park. Suddenly this bull Elk came crashing through the trees at the edge of the clearing, and he was heading straight for me.  He trotted toward me at a pretty good pace, vocalizing as he approached.  I got the message immediately: "You leave my women alone!"

I made a hasty retreat -- probably not a moment too soon!  Satisfied that I had withdrawn an acceptable distance, Mr. Elk slowed his pace and then stopped, but he remained vigilant until I was completely out of sight.

Rabbit Ears Peak - A Colorado Landmark

Rabbit Ears Peak

Location:  Routt National Forest, Colorado, USA

The two stone pillars on top of this mountain peak are said to have served as a landmark for travelers across the Rocky Mountains since pioneer times.  When the feature was named initially, the two pillars were taller and looked more like real rabbit ears, but over time they have eroded.  The peak, which is part of the Park Range of the Rockies, is situated within the Routt National Forest.  The area is popular with hikers.

This photo was taken from Rabbit Ears Pass, which is located on a stretch of  U.S. Highway 40 between the Colorado towns of Kremmling and Steamboat Springs.  The Pass is at en elevation of 9,426 feet (2,873 meters).

Prairie Spiderwort (Tradescantia occidentalis)

Prairie Spiderwort (Tradescantia occidentalis)

Location:  Larimer County, Coloado, USA

I spotted this pretty wildflower on a roadside a few miles west of the town of Loveland, in Larimer County, Colorado.  The delicate blossom was about one inch across.  According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Plants Database, this species is widely distributed throughout the central regions of the United States and Canada.

Male Black Witch Moth (Ascalapha odorata)

Male Black Witch Moth (Ascalapha odorata)

Location:  Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

This moth is a member of the 'Owl Moth' family (Noctuidae).  It is a large moth, with a wingspan of about six inches.  One way to tell the males and females apart:  the female has a bright white stripe across its wings, while the male does not.  Some time ago, I posted a photo of a female Black Witch moth.  If you have a look at that earlier photo, the difference in coloration between the sexes will be obvious.

Reflections at the edge of Summit Lake, Mount Evans, Colorado

Summit Lake, elevation 12,830 feet

Location:  Mount Evans, Colorado, USA

Summit Lake is an alpine lake situated above the tree line on Colorado's Mount Evans at an elevation of 12,830 feet above sea level.  It is surrounded by steep cliffs and rocky hills covered by tundra.  This lake is about 2,000 feet below the actual summit of Mount Evans, which rises to an elevation of 14,265 feet (4,348 meters).

Rocky Mountain Goat - Mount Evans, Colorado

Rocky Mountain Goat (Oreamnos americanus)

Location:  Mount Evans, Clear Creek County, Colorado, USA

This Rocky Mountain Goat probably is a male.  The two sexes of this species look very similar, but the males may have somewhat longer horns than the females, and males are most likely to appear alone rather than in small family groups.  We saw this solitary goat surveying the tundra at an elevation of about 12,000 feet, on Mount Evans, Colorado.

Mount Evans, not far from Denver, is one of Colorado's many "fourteeners" -- i..e. mountains whose summits rise to an elevation of more than 14,000 feet above sea level.  The height of the Mount Evans summit is 14,265 feet (4,348 meters).