Thursday, December 12, 2013

Spending Time With the Neighbors...


Yesterday I spent some quality time with this female moose and her calf!
She was browsing the crabapple trees in our neighborhood. 
I'm sure she was feeling the effects of all the fermented apples,
because I was able to get really close to her.  No need for a
zoom lens, just a car and a window did the trick.
I felt pretty safe in my car and she seemed more interested
in eating fermented apples.
She gave me a quick look when I took this photo, checked on
her calf and then went on with whats really important…
food!!!

Friday, December 6, 2013

37 Degree Heat Wave


It actually reached 40 degrees in Cooper Landing this week.  Pretty amazing 
temperatures for this time of the year.  The average is 15 degrees, so I'm loving
every minute!   Hope your all having a nice winter....

Sunday, December 1, 2013

Color in December


Hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday!
I can't believe it's already December, 
my time fly's!!!  
I went out in search of some color this weekend…
I'm always amazed at my finds…
Even with snow, tiny pops of leftover fall foliage  
brought a smile to my face!!!  
I hope you enjoy it, as much as I did!

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Finally a New Post!!!


It's been a long time since I last posted on my blog…
My days are filled with work and any spare moments I have
I try to spend photographing the beauty of nature.

Hope this post finds you all well.
I will try to check in more often!

Until next time stay safe!


Monday, July 15, 2013

Busy Bees!!


We are having the most amazing summer
and the bees are taking full
advantage of it!
This one is working my Lambs Ear plant.
I love all the texture.
Enjoy!

Sunday, July 14, 2013

Yellow Warbler


These sweet little yellow birds are only about five
inches long.  They also don't sit still very well.
I think I must have taken 50 photos of him
before I finally got one semi ok photo.
It's hard to believe Alaska has such a cute
yellow bird in the summertime.

Friday, July 12, 2013

A Great Day for Chasing Butterflies!


Wow, it was 90 degrees today in my garden!
What a magnificent summer we are having.
Butterflies were busy drinking nectar from all the flowers, 
and the birds where panting from all the heat.
This is a summer to remember!!!

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

The Amazing Spider House!



I love how diverse nature is, and I love how I never tire
of searching for more of its tiny hidden treasures.
I think this spider house is a perfect example.
It's not only beautiful, but also very interesting to look at.
To me it almost looks like a little boat, and if you look closely
you can see the entry/exit of this smartly designed house.
I love the way the spider manipulated the leaf around to suit
its final purpose.  The spider is snug inside his humble abode and is
ready to ride out anything the weather brings him. 
It can be cool inside if it's hot out, dry inside if it's wet, and warm
if the temperature drops. 
It truly is a perfect house!!!
My photo doesn't show the spider, but if you look you can see his
dark shadow next to the entry door.

Green Spring Reflections


I took this photo earlier this spring...I love all the different
soft green shades.
Enjoy  :o)

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Coyote Encounter....


This is another view of the Coyote I saw the other day.  
He stopped briefly to look at me.  I wonder if I was the
first human he had ever seen.  We gazed at each
other in silence...it was a very good moment.

Friday, July 5, 2013

Rainy Day Jewels....


A sad goodbye to all our warm weather, we are back to a daily dose of rain.
I'm missing the warmth of those beautiful 80 degree days!!
However....the rain has its own beauty!

Thursday, July 4, 2013

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Baby Black-capped Chickadee


This is a cute little baby Chickadee.  These little birds make their
home year round in Alaska.  They are one of the few 
songbirds that stay and endure our cold winters.
This little baby was very nervous of me taking its picture
and flew off only moments after I took its photo. 

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Capitate Lousewort


These small growing flowers are currently blooming at higher elevations.
They can also be found on the tundra and in Denali Park.
Such elegant little flowers, with such a non elegant name! 
:o)

Monday, July 1, 2013

Golden-crowned Sparrow



I spotted this beautiful little sparrow on a hike the other day, it's a 
breath of fresh air after our long dark winter months.
I love their simple three note descending whistle in the springtime!
This little guy was still collecting nesting material.  I guess their nesting
season is from early spring to August.  Seems rather late for a bird nesting
in Alaska, but I'm sure they know what their doing!  :o)

Sunday, June 30, 2013

Coyote Sighting



I spotted this Coyote the other day making its way along the roadside.
I have seen several searching in ditches for roadside kills.
I was amazed that this one didn't make the usual mad dash into the woods which is
usually the case.  

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Twinflowers....



These tiny little flowers belong in a fairy landscape.
They grow on runners and are really low to the ground, so taking 
a photo means you have to get down low to your subjects.
There is no exception to that rule...enjoy!

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Damelsflys!!!


I'm just learning how to identify dragonflies, but
I am pretty sure this is a Common Blue Damselfly and not
an Azure.  Whichever dragonfly it is, I am grateful for them
because they have an appetite for mosquitoes!!!
And these year we have more than our share!!!

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Cotton-Grass


Alaskan Cotton-grass or Cottonsedge.  These are perennial plants with 
slender, grass-like leaves.  The seed heads are covered in a fluffy mass of cotton 
which also serves as "down".  This helps elevate the temperature of the 
reproductive organs by trapping solar radiation....
Nature is so neat!!!

Friday, June 21, 2013

Tree Swallow


I love this bird!!!   This is a Tree Swallow,  
they average about 5 inches long and they weigh 
about 20 grams.  The males have beautiful iridescent blue-green 
backs and white underparts.
Enjoy!

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Loon


Loons are such beautiful creatures.  I was lucky 
enough to get a photo of this one....enjoy!

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Baby Birds Are Everywhere!!!


The Canadian Geese have chicks now and so do almost all
the other birds.  I think this warm weather has helped
the hatching process.  This little chick was in a group of about
eighteen.  They steal your heart right away when you see them.
This chick is only several days old at most.
Enjoy!!!!

Monday, June 17, 2013

Baby Arctic Tern



I didn't know it, but this chick was right at my feet.  I could have reached
out and picked it up.  It was such a wonderful day I decided to sit on a inviting  rock out by Potter's
Marsh that was vacant.  It was the perfect spot to observe all the dragonfly's buzzing around.
It was very peaceful for about 15 minutes when all of a sudden an Arctic 
Tern decided he wanted to feed me a caterpillar.   After several dive
bombings I decided a quick exit was in order.  That's when this little guy
jumped up on the rock I was sitting on.   I had no idea....bad little pair of 
parents to leave their chick unattended!!!!

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Canadian Goose


This Canadian Goose and I had a heart to heart talk. I
was honored to get so close to her. 
She had so much soul in her eyes, I wonder what she
was thinking.  When animals let me get close to them
I try to give them their space.  She seemed as
curious about me as I was of her.
It was a very good day!
:o)

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Arctic Tern


This little Arctic Tern let me get really close to him.  I 
think he was trying to cool off on his perch.  We both
eyed each other for about 15 minutes and then I left
him alone to revel in his breeze.  

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Wild Alaskan Strawberry Flowers


I found a wonderful patch of wild strawberry flowers 
today.  It was so exciting to see so many flowers in bloom!
It's going to make for a wonderful harvest in the fall!!

Monday, June 10, 2013

Portage Valley...




Portage Valley is beautiful anytime of the year.
I took this photo about three weeks in the evening.
I am sure a lot of the snow is now gone.  We have been
blessed with warm weather lately...
Unheard of warm days in the 70's & even into the 80's!

Saturday, June 8, 2013

Turnagain Pass


It's springtime in the pass right now and all the yellow
meadow flowers are blooming!!!
I'm loving our warm weather right now!!!!

Spring Violets


I was amazed to find so many little violets along the Seward Highway.
Hundreds of little clumps everywhere.
All these years and I never spotted them before!!

Thursday, May 23, 2013

My Love For Chickens!


This is a photo of one of my sister-in-laws chickens.  She has
a small flock of free range chickens in her yard.
I was in heaven taking photos of them.
I can't remember the name of this particular breed,  but he impressed
me with his fluffy cheek feathers!

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Deer Sighting in Montana


While on a recent trip to Montana, I had several deer sightings.  
We have deer in Alaska, but not in my area.  
I loved seeing them!!!

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Clematis Flower


While traveling through Idaho, Montana, Oregon, & Washington,
I was lucky enough to see several of these beautiful flowers!
I can't wait till mine starts blooming!!!

Monday, May 20, 2013

Male Red-breasted Merganser


I love this birds hairstyle.  For some reason
he reminds me of the Woody Woodpecker 
cartoon character.
Beautiful duck!

Sunday, May 19, 2013

A Very Tired Canadian Goose...


A single Canadian Goose on the shores of Kenai Lake.  This goose 
was very tired and was resting and warming itself up on the 
shoreline rocks.  I saw this goose feeding on young green 
shoots throughout the day.  I'm thinking it couldn't 
keep up with the rest of its flock.  I really hope  it
was able to join up with a group passing through the 
valley.  I sat with this goose for a little while 
and kept it company.

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Yellowlegs Shorebird


A Yellowlegs shorebird....
This bird was busy trying to divert my attention away from his
mate.  He did a very good job.

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Lichen Bliss


I love taking photos of lichen!!!  
I love it's beauty!!!
Enjoy!

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Red-necked Grebe


I took a walk on a rainy day down by the Lagoon this last sunday,
and was lucky enough to spot this Red-necked Grebe.  
He was a really great little diver.
He was busy catching little minnows when I spotted him.

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Goodbye Winter Coats!!


I'm excited to get rid of my winter coat for a couple of months, so 
I'm thinking this Alaskan Hare has the same thoughts as we head
toward warmer weather!!!  
Most of the rabbits that I have seen have already lost their winter
coats, but this bunny seems to be hanging on to his.
He looks rather elegant with his mismatched coat!  :o)

Monday, May 13, 2013

Pine Siskin


This little Pine Siskin came to my deck looking for 
free handouts, but none were available.
Springtime and birdseed = bear visitors, so the seed buffet will be closed till fall.

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Red Breasted Mergansers....


These Mergansers are such a beautiful pair.  I had to sneak up on them to capture this photo.
Someday I might invest in a bigger lens, but then again that might
spoil all the fun of trying to capture a photo.
I'm sure they were wondering why I was hiding behind a boat dock!!
The male was always between me and the female protecting her.  
The lake still had a lot of ice so flying away was not their best option.
These are beautiful diving ducks.  They feed on fish, (fry, minnows, herring)
and occasionally shrimp or crabs.  They usually dive for food, hunting on lakes and rivers,
in coastal bays and a sea.  These two were on Kenai Lake.

Alaskan Pussy Willows


Springtime always has me searching for pussy willows, especially
those that look like they could be part of a firework display.
When the days are warm enough for the bees to fly from their hives, then 
these wonderful burst of color and pollen greet them.
Happy Spring and Mother's Day everyone!

Saturday, May 11, 2013

Male Northern Shoveler


This is a photo of a male Northern Shoveler.   I guess they are a pretty
common duck and are listed as a dabbler.  They feed by dabbling for
plant food, swinging their bills from side to side and straining the food from the water.
They use their highly specialized bill to forage for aquatic invertebrates -  a carnivorous diet.  They have small, comb-like structures on the edge of their bill that act like sieves.  This allows them to skim crustaceans and plankton from the water's surface.  I love their bills!!  

Friday, May 10, 2013

Arctic Tern


This small little bird, the Arctic Tern is well know for its long
yearly migration.   Its travel from its Arctic breeding grounds to its wintering 
grounds off of Antarctic may cover as much as 25,000 miles.  This is the farthest yearly journey of
any migratory bird.  Pretty impressive!!!  These little guys can live up
to 35 years.  I spotted them this last Thursday, such a welcome site!!!

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Snow Goose


These geese were so much fun to watch this spring as they 
stopped to rest out at Potters Marsh.
I've never seen them out there before, so it was a treat to see them.  
I think I have over 500 photos of them.  
I might share a few more throughout the year.

The First Flowers of the Season!!!!


It's always exciting to see our first set of flowers!!!
These tulips are thriving in their warm south facing bed.
Those little things in life can be the most rewarding, and
these spring flowers are one of those little things!!!

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Oregon Sunset....


Spent the weekend in Oregon...
I stopped to take this photo on an overlook up on Bald Ridge Mountain right
as the sun was setting...beautiful!!

Monday, May 6, 2013

Dall Sheep


I took this photo in March out on the Seward Highway, so there is still a lot
of snow on the ground.  I'm so glad we don't have a lot of snow laying about anymore.
I sat and watched this sheep and a group of others for about a hour or
so.  Wonderful to be able to sit so close to them without them 
running off.

Saturday, May 4, 2013

The Melting Process...


Spring is taking its time this year, but slowly
it's taking a hold on the snow.
These fish bones from last fall decided it was time to surface
from their snowy winter home.

Friday, May 3, 2013