Cinnamon Black Bear

The bear has a bit of a disgruntle look. I was driving home middle of the day, after being out and about exploring the mountains since sunrise. Looking ahead I saw along the road a bear, as I got closer, realized it was a Cinnamon Black Bear. As I was setting myself for a picture of the bear from my car, another vehicle was approaching behind me at a fast rate. I watched it accelerate past me and within couple of feets past the bear. I can understand not everyone wanting to stop to admire this beautiful animal, but putting the bear at risk was not appreciated, in particular by this bear.

Until next moment,

Amar

Bow Lake

Just couple of weeks ago most of the Bow Lake was still covered by ice. I had just made my way to the lake after watching a female Grizzly eating away as the sun was setting and heavy clouds moving in. I was out to take pictures by the Bow Lake, but its hard to pass by a chance to watch a Grizzly, all part of the experience in the mountains. The clouds were moving in fast, and the light quickly disappearing. Ray of sunlight still covered part of Crowfoot Mountain, grabbed few images before it was gone.

Until next moment,

Amar

Trumpeter Swan

Life is a full of challenges, just when you get past one, another comes along. Just when you feel you're one step ahead, you get pushed back two. All the more reason to find a way to recharge and push through. I think most of you know by now, my way to recharge is to reach out to nature. John Muir said it best, "In every walk with Nature one receives far more than he seeks."

Until next moment,

Amar

Elk

Just had seconds to take picture of the Elk before the image I wanted to take would be gone. It was crossing the road and just liked the light it was under. Pulled the camera out and grabbed few images before it was in the bushes.

Until next moment,

Amar

Red winged Blackbird

Was just out and about taking pictures of what I came across. I was near water with several Red winged Blackbird in the area. One let me get close as it was perched top of  willow shurb, grabbed few pictures befor eit flew away.

Until next moment,

Amar

Flowers

Pussy Wilow

The sunshine is here and more and more wild flowers are on display. This is th etime nature keeps you busy taking pictures of landscape, funa and flora. There is not end to the subjects you can take pictures of. Here are few images of the flowers I came across.

Saskatoon Srub

 Red Paintbrush

Until next moment,

Amar

Beauty

My goal is to capture beauty that's before me. It's all about the beauty, for me its a addiction. Being a very visual person, I'm attracted to beauty, captivated by it. When I come across it, my mind is working overtime trying to figure out how to capture it. Trying to find the balance of colours, the balance of the subject and the surrounding and the balance of light and shadow. Only when it all comes together, I'm doing justice to what I'm enjoying visually.

More Bears

Male and Female Grizzly Bears

Still coming across bears, Black and Grizzly Bears. Just the other day saw 9 bears altogether, I'll never get tired of them. Gives me a chance to get better and better pictures. Always making sure the bears are safe and I'm safe, then going ahead and taking the pictures. As more snow melts, they will be moving away from the valley to find food higher up. Last week I git to watch black bear cubs at play, this time watching little bit of the grizzly mating ritual.

Large Male Grizzly

Female Grizzly

Cinnamon Black Bear

Black Bear

Until next moment,

Amar

Grizzly Bear

I was coming back from taking pictures at Marble Canyon in Kootenay National Park, when I saw a Grizzly Bear . It was walking at a good pace, only stopping to eat any dandelions that would come its way. Light was fading fast, used my car's door to stabilized the camera and lens to take few pictures. Darkness was moving in, decided to leave this beautiful animal heading toward the destination it only knew.

Until next moment,

Amar

Black Bear Cubs

 It has been a while for the mid-week moment, so here it is. I watched the black bear cubs for a long time playing, going up and down the trees, while the mom ate nearby. They stayed close to the forest, in the shaded area. But, was still able to get half decent shots to share.

Until next moment,

Amar

Great Blue Heron

I was slowly about to drive by the pond when I spotted a Great Blue Heron. I stopped and wondered I long before it wold notice me and fly away. I took few pictures and it did not seems to mind me. I turned the engine off and kept taking pictures. After about half and hour, I decided to stop. I looked up and to my left, there on a dead tree was a Bald Eagle. Spend the next little while taking its pictures. It was a rewarding morning.

Until next moment,

Amar

Palm Warbler

Palm Warbler

I was having lunch with a friend when I got a call from a another friend about a Palm Warbler being spotted next to the First Vermilion Lake, near the Town of Banff. 1974 was the last spring record of Palm Warbler in Banff National Park. Soon after lunch I headed for the location. Parked the car, grabbed the camera and ate chocolate to sharpen the vision to find a 10 g (0.36 oz) bird. I decided to walk around in the area and take pictures of what was around me and hopefully would come across Pam Warbler. Grabbed a picture of a Columbia Ground Squirrel, followed by Clay colored Sparrow and Chipping Sparrow. 

 

Half hour passed when I saw a flash of yellow on top of a shrub, I thought I had missed my chance as it flew father away. I waited and was pleasantly rewarded, few minutes later just front of me was the Palm Warbler. It stayed around the large shrub eating flies that were there. Which gave me a chance to get better and better pictures, time well spent.

Columbia Ground Squirrel

Clay colored Sparrow

Chopping Sparrow

Until next moment,

Amar

Spotted Sandpiper

Spotted Sandpiper

Fun continues taking pictures of birds flying. I was walking along the Bow River ad noticed there were number of Spotted Sandpipers along the shore flying away as I got near them. But my focus was on the two Belted Kingfishers that were chasing each other. I grabbed a picture of one of the Belted Kingfisher before turning toward the river and catching the picture of the sandpiper flying away.

Belted Kingfisher

Until next moment,

Amar

 

White tail Deer

I'm always coming across the White tail Deer, as we with the Mule Deer. White tail I find are less likely to hang around when they see me, ofter the tail goes up and off they go. This one had its tail up and slowly made its way into the forest.

Until next moment,

Amar

Coyote

There were three of them walking trough tall grass, when the train going by could be heard. The whistle went off and like clockwork the coyotes started howling. The other two were farther away and could not be taken pictures of, but had better luck with the one lagging behind.

Until next moment,

Amar

Yellow rumped Warbler

Photography serves so many parts of my life, but my favorite is letting me see parts of nature I would not otherwise see. Most if not all of us know many birds like to eating insects, I particularly like when the birds are flying and trying to catch flies. Few weeks back I was trying to take pictures of Yellow rumped Warblers flying all around me, catching flies I was having problem seeing. Taking pictures of them perched, not a problem. Getting images while they are flying, challenge increases but possible. But I never thought I would get a picture of one just about to catch a fly, but I got one. I was very excited about that image, but few days later I got even a better one. 

Until next moment,

Amar

Gray Jays

Juvenile Gray Jay

The adult was feeding three juvenile Gray Jays. They were slowly following the adult from tree to tree, getting food put into their mouth. I kept track of them, trying to get few images of them. They did not make it easy for me but before they moved to far I was able to get one of the juveniles and the adult.

Fairholme Range

Spent a long day waiting for my car as it got serviced. Was happy to get back home and have a quick bite before getting outside to see if I could get few pictures of the sunset light hitting the mountains. The water was calm and the light was just right as I went about creating a panorama. To create a large file I decided to use my zoom lens to zoom in on the Fairholme Range. The attached picture is made up of four images, giving me the option of printing a large poster with all details I saw while taking the pictures. 

Until next moment,

Amar

Birds

Say" Phoebe

Couple of great days for participating in my favorite activity, walking.Might have over did it, feet are very tired. Discomfort is easy to handle when there is reward, in the form nature, always inspiring. Few days back I was visiting Rocky Mountain house NHS and was able to get images of Say's Phoebe and Tree Swallows. Then yesterday across Dark eyed Junco next to the Bow River, along side Marsh Loop. On the way back to the trail head, saw a Western Tanager by the Sundance Trail.

 Today in the morning I was on the Vermilion Road, hoping to see the swans that have been hanging out on 1st Vermilion Lake, still too far away to get a good image. Hopped over to walk along the Two Jack Canal and got images of Bufflehead Ducks flying. After a small break I was back to the Vermilion Road , as I started my walk, I looked in the direction a Northern Flicker was calling. Nearby I saw for my first time, a Lewis's Woodpecker. Continued my walk and captured images of Yellow rumped Warblers and Red winged Blackbirds.

Tree Swallow

Dark eyed Junco

Western Tanager

Bufflehead Ducks

Lewis's Woodpecker

Yellow rumped Warbler

Male Red winged Blackbird

Female Red winged Blackbird

Until next moment,

Amar