Ms Elk enjoys a snack

I came upon this pretty female elk grazing in a meadow in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.  As I focused the camera, she looked right at me and smacked.  Then, almost as if she realized I had captured her in an inelegant moment, she quickly struck a more serious pose -- protruding grass stems and all.

Western Mountain Ash Berries

Berries on a Western Mountain-ash shrub

The Western Mountain Ash (Sorbus scopulina) is a shrub that grows wild in the Rocky Mountains.  The plant is a member of the Rose family (Rosaceae), and despite the common name, it is not related to Ash trees.  In spring the shrub bears clusters of white flowers that mature in late summer to bright red-orange berries.  The berries are eaten by birds and a number of mammals, including deer, elk and moose.

I photographed this example in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.

Yellow Cinquefoil in Rocky Mountain National Park

Close-up of a yellow Cinquefoil flower

It is wildflower season in the mountains of Colorado.  Flowers of every color imagineable are scattered in meadows, on mountain slopes, beside streams, and along hiking trails.  I spotted this pretty yellow Cinquefoil (Potentilla sp.) at an elevation of nearly 8,700 feet, beside a trail  near Sprague Lake  in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Cinquefoils belong to the Rose family (Rosaceae).  The Cinquefoil in these photos -- exact species uncertain -- grows low to the ground.  Other species have stems that may be more than a foot tall.  In some areas Cinquefoils are considered to be noxious weeds, invading gardens and agricultural fields.  To hikers in the high Rockies, these Cinquefoils are seen simply as delightful yellow wildflowers.

Yellow Cinquefoil growing in Rocky Mountain National Park

Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus)

Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus) - adult female

I photographed this Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus) near the edge of a forest in a mountainous area of Larimer County, Colorado.  This individual is an adult female.  The markings of the male of the species are very similar, but the male has a red patch at the back of its head.

The diet of the Hairy Woodpecker consists mainly of insects, although they also will eat seeds and fruits. They are known to eat the larvae of the bark beetles that infest Ponderosa Pines in Colorado, so these birds are a welcome sight.

Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus) - adult female

Ground Squirrel Says: "I Haz a Cornz"

Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel (Callospermophilus lateralis)

I had been out photographing wildflowers, and on the way home I stopped at a scenic overlook near the edge of the town of Estes Park, Colorado.  I saw a man sprinkle an assortment of seeds and nuts on the ground for the squirrels and chipmunks known to hang out there.  A dozen or so critters showed up in a flash and began picking through the scattered bits searching for their favorites.

While most of the animals scampered about, stuffing their cheek pouches with as much as they could, this one little guy, a Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel, picked up a single item at a time and daintily nibbled at it.  By a stroke of luck, my trusty macro lens was already mounted on my camera, so I was able to snap a couple of close-up shots of the corn-eating squirrel.

Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel eating corn

Butterfly: Milbert's Tortoiseshell

Milbert's Tortoiseshell Butterfly (Aglais milberti)

Location:  Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

On an early Spring day, we walked the trail around the perimeter of Sprague Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park.  At a point where a boardwalk section of the trail crosses over a marshy area, we paused to take in the view.  Fortunately I looked down just in time to see this pretty butterfly land on some vegetation just below the boardwalk.  It is a Milbert's Tortoiseshell (Aglais milberti), a member of the Nymphalidae family.

Mophead Hydrangea

Hydrangea

There are two forms of Hydrangea flower clusters: round, flat flower heads called lacecaps; and round, mounded flower heads called mopheads.  This is an example of a mophead Hydrangea.

The blossom in the photo is from a Hydrangea that flourishes in front of my house in Colorado.  It blooms all summer, and requires very little care beyond making sure it has enough water.

Drowsy Elk with an Itch

We were driving through a residential area in the mountain town of Estes Park, Colorado.  We came upon a bull elk who had decided to take his afternoon rest in a patch of sunlight right beside the road.  Not wanting to startle the drowsy animal, we eased off to the side of the road and stopped.  As quietly as possible, I stepped outside the car to take a few photos.

Elk resting by the roadside in Estes Park, Colorado

The elk stirred a bit, but did not get up.  As he turned his head toward me I was able to get a shot of his huge antlers.

Male Elk with beautiful antlers

Then he did something surprising.  He leaned his head back and began to scratch his back with his antlers.

Elk scratching his back with his antlers

He moved his head back and forth, rubbing his antlers across his back for about a half minute.

Elk scratching his back with his antlers

Judging from the expression of pure bliss on his face, he must have found just the right spot.  If he could have spoken, I think he would have said, "Ahhhh."

Elk says, "Ahhh - that's the spot!"

Itchy spot relieved, he resumed his nap.  We watched the big elk for a few more minutes, then slowly drove past him and went on our way.  He never stirred.

Male Elk at rest - Estes Park, Colorado

White-lined Sphinx Moth (Hyles lineata)

White-lined Sphinx Moth (Hyles lineata)

This nice-looking moth species is the White-lined Sphinx Moth (Hyles lineata).  It is a member of the Sphinx Moth (Sphingidae) family.  I photographed this individual in a residential area of Westminster, Colorado, on the side of a building next to a small flower garden.  

The species entry on Butterflies and Moths of North America, an authoritative Web site about Lepidoptera, says that the adult White-lined Sphinx Moths feed on the nectar of flowers.  Among the flowers listed were columbine and honeysuckle -- two of the flowers that were growing in the garden that was just a meter away from where the moth was resting.

Here is an earlier post with a photo of an Oleander Hawk Moth, also a member of the Sphingidae family.

White-lined Sphinx Moth (Hyles lineata)

Critters blending in with their habitat

Blending in with the habitat is a survival advantage for creatures in the wild.  It is harder for predators to spot a critter who blends in well with its surroundings.  Wildlife photographers aren't exactly predators (we hope!), but sometimes we, too, have some difficulty spotting critters that blend well with their habitat.

Consider the photos series below.  In the first pair of photos an American Pika is  perched on a rock.  The color of its fur is so similar to that of the surrounding rocks that in the longer shot, the little animal almost could go unnoticed.

American Pika (Ochotona princeps)

American Pika - Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

In the next pair of photos, a Yellow-bellied Marmot sits in repose.  This animal's larger size and golden color usually make it easier to spot amid the rocky background than the Pika .  In this instance, though, the critter just happened to stop next to a rock of a color similar to the animal's coat.  I do not know whether this was by intention or by chance, but it did make it tougher to get a photo in which the animal stood out from the background.

Yellow-bellied Marmot (Marmota flaviventris)

Yellow-bellied Marmot - Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Both of these mountain-dwelling species prefer high-elevation habitats. I photographed these two individuals in Colorado's Rocky Mountain National Park near the base of the Tundra Communities Trail, at an elevation of around 12,000 feet (3,700 meters).

Here are some earlier posts on this blog with photos and more information about these two animals:

• American Pika (Ochotona princeps)
• Yellow-bellied Marmot (Marmota flaviventris)

A very cooperative Black-billed Magpie

Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia)

Head Shot:  Black-billed Magpie

Anyone who regularly photographs birds -- or tries to -- will tell you that it is not an easy thing to do well.  It is difficult because birds tend to move about a lot.  They may land briefly, but as often as not they fly away before you can set up the shot.  And when they do perch somewhere for awhile, it is often at a distance greater than the photographer would like.

I photographed this Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia) in a parking lot at Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.  As we unloaded some gear from the car, this individual flew down to the pavement from a nearby tree and landed right next to us.  It seemed unafraid of people, and my hunch is that this bird had a history of being fed by tourists.

I wouldn't go so far as to say the bird was "tame" but it certainly was an unusually cooperative model.  This afforded me a nice opportunity to get some great close-up photos of the Magpie, including the one below, in which you can actually see my reflection in the bird's eye!

Mug Shot: Bull Elk with a Broken Antler

Bull Elk in profile

Bull Elk portrait

Location:  Estes Park, Colorado

This Rocky Mountain Elk was drinking water at the edge of Estes Lake in Estes Park, Colorado.  He lifted his head as I approached to photograph him.  Looking through my camera's viewfinder I was happy to be able to get a nice profile shot, although I thought to myself that his antlers looked a little sparse.  Then he turned to face me and I realized that his antlers had been broken.  Poor guy must have had a rough winter!

Common Raven (Corvus corax)

Common Raven (Corvus corax)

Location: Sprague Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

When we first spotted this Raven, he was squabbling with another of his species.  We stopped to watch their quarrel, trying to figure out what the problem was.  Perhaps it was a territorial boundary that was in dispute.  This individual eventually chased the other bird into the nearby pine forest, then returned to perch on the top rail of a fence.  He stayed still just long enough for me to take his picture before resuming his patrol of the area.

Black-tailed Prairie Dogs

Black-tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys ludovicianus)

Prairie dog colony in a suburb of Denver, Colorado.

Black-tailed Prairie Dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) are rodents that belong to the squirrel family, Sciuridae. In fact, they do look like over-sized ground squirrels, but without the stripes!  Although this species is called "black-tailed," only the tip of the animals' tails are black.

They are social animals, living in colonies.  The colonies are a complex of tunnels and burrows and can be home to hundreds of prairie dog families.  Although prairie dogs will eat insects such as grasshoppers, they are primarily herbivores.  Thus, grasslands and prairies are their preferred habitat.

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Black-tailed Prairie Dogs are found in 11 States including Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming.  The prairie dogs on this page were photographed in the Big Dry Creek Open Space in Westminster, Colorado -- a suburb of Denver.  This is one of many prairie dog colonies on the outskirts of the Denver area.

The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado

The Stanley Hotel

Location: Estes Park, Colorado

The Stanley Hotel was built in the early 20th century by F.O. Stanley, co-founder of the Stanley Motor Carriage Company, which built a steam-powered car known as the "Stanley Steamer."  As the story goes, Mr. Stanley moved to the town of Estes Park, Colorado in 1903 for health reasons.  He purchased a large tract of land on which he built the Stanley Hotel.

The hotel, which opened for business in 1909, features  neo-Georgian architecture and luxurious furnishings. Among the many well-known people who have stayed at the Stanley Hotel over the years is the writer Stephen King.  Mr. King's novel The Shining is said to have been inspired by his stay at the Stanley, and portions of the TV mini-series based on that book were filmed at the hotel.  (The feature-length film of the same name was filmed elsewhere.)

For more about the Stanley and its history, visit the Hotel's website, and the Wikipedia page about the Stanley Hotel.

Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia)

Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia)

Location:  Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, USA

Many people consider Magpies to be nuisance birds -- and indeed, they can be aggressive and annoying sometimes -- but they also are very beautiful creatures.  I photographed this individual in a parking lot at Rocky Mountain National Park.

Interesting factoid about Magpies:  They are one of only four American songbirds whose tail makes up half or more of the bird's total body length (according to Wikipedia).

Shy Mule Deer

Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus)

Location:  Estes Park, Colorado, USA

While driving, I saw some deer grazing in a meadow near the road.  Armed with my ever-present camera, I stopped and got out of the car to photograph them.  The deer spotted me instantly and trotted into a stand of pine trees that bordered the meadow.  I waited a long time for them to re-emerge into the meadow so that I could get some clear shots, but they would not cooperate.  I had to be satisfied with a few images of the deer peeking at me through the tree branches.

Redstem Filaree (Erodium cicutarium)

Redstem Filaree (Erodium cicutarium)

Location:  Estes Park, Colorado, USA

Redstem Filaree is considered to be a weed, but it looked like a dainty little wildflower to me.  I found this example growing along the roadside near the edge of the town of Estes Park, Colorado.

Colorado Cutie: Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel

Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel (Callospermophilus lateralis) 

Location: Estes Park, Colorado, USA

One of the cutest and friendliest wild critters in the mountains of Colorado is the Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel.  They look like plump chipmunks, but without the eye stripe.  They are encountered frequently in parks, along hiking trails, and especially in picnic areas where they actively -- and sometimes aggressively -- beg for food.  Those tempted to offer these cute creatures a treat would do well to remember that while they may seem very tame, these are indeed wild animals, and they have been known to "bite the hand that feeds." 

Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri)

Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri) 

Location:  Estes Park, Colorado, USA

The Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri)  is a resident of evergreen forest areas of western North America, especially at higher elevations.  This individual was photographed in the town of Estes Park, Colorado near the eastern border of Rocky Mountain National Park.

Steller's Jays are large songbirds that belong to the family Corvidae.  The family includes crows, ravens and magpies along with jays.  Like their eastern cousins, the Blue Jays (Cyanocitta cristata), Steller's Jays are omnivores and are also known to rob the nests of other bird species.  They are good mimics, able to imitate the calls of other birds as well as the chirps of small mammals like squirrels.