Baby Ground Squirrels

Walking across my yard

which is meadow land at the edge of forest 

hoping to photograph dragon and damselflies with my macro lens

when I noticed movement

though they were very aware

they didn't seem to notice me
maybe they thought me a tree

they wandered into the sunlight

near my feet

foraging 

for greens

a couple of them came quite close 

(this happened to me once last year)

this photo is to show you how small they look

I don't think mamma would be to happy with how close they came to me

soon she will have them trained to be more careful

~

I hope you enjoyed these wee critters

they are much better in photos than digging holes in one's yard!

~

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Awake!

it seems early for the bears to be out of hibernation

but these certainly woke up and took a walk

~

I am thinking two different bears

They might have gone back to the den....

what do you think

black bear or grizzly?

~

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Great Grey Owl for Halloween

walking through the woods
feeling the soft give to the forest floor
even though it snowed 4 inches last night

looked up to watch snow plopping from trees above

there you were
a great grey owl
looking into my eyes

a calm majestic being
sitting at the meadow's edge
listening
watching
waiting

so perfect for Halloween
and
Samhain

lovely celebrations to one and all  

~

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Kokanee Salmon

in the clear creek

they swam

upstream

their colors a sight to behold

the ritual of

spawning

in deeper waters; an unedited artful image:

 

it was such a thrill to get to see them!

~

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Grizzly

So Sorry that I couldn't get closer for Better Photos!

this bear found food at a neighbors 

and did not want to leave

taking walks.....

is full of awareness!

this grizzly was in the shade of the trees

i lightened the photos so you could see it's features better

our world is a lush dark green now

still i wanted to show you who we share the forest with

~

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Tangible Warning

they appeared
majestic in beauty and muscle
above our heads on summer cliffs
blue sky
green  flora
framed them superbly

their gaze landed on us with concern
in turn this should have concerned us
yet we watched with joy to see them

two elders came down the cliffs toward us
sent the younger ones far around

as they neared 

a force quite tangible
beamed from their eyes and forehead
warning us to back off

we did
they held us off
until their tribe was far away
lowering their heads to eat
~

Celebrating Mama's and Their Cubs ~

Look Up, Way Up High! 

look up
way up high
in the branches
that mingle with sky
perhaps you'll spy
a mama bear
denning
with her cubs
up there

mama mama
where you going?
we want to come
and play down there!

Soon they will
descend that tall tall tree
and roam the earth with you and me
~

 I regret not having taken ONE photo of just how VERY tall this tree is!

I am guessing they are denning 50 Feet above the earth. 

I did indeed see the mama bear crawl out of the hole and climb

down the tree and wander about.

As you can see one of the cubs attempted following the mama down

before scurrying back into their den. I am guessing

that any day they will be brave enough to make the journey

to the earth below.

~

Please visit and leave a comment on my last post. 

I have a $75 Gift Certificate Give Away from Novica

that you could have a chance of winning. 

Winner will be picked this coming Sunday!

~

Visit SkyWatch Friday to enjoy wonderful sky photography

from around the world. 

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Late Summer Wildflowers

Mountain Bog Gentian

 precious flowers of the wild
late summer beauties make me smile
growing in the mountains high
delicate strength in which you thrive
your beauty has me on my knees
admiration for you
turns into a gift for me
~

 St. John's Wort

 fringed grass of parnassus

~

visit: Lisa Chaos's Macro Monday enjoy other folks

wonderful close up photography!

I took these photos early this month.

Tucked at your Ankles

wind is howling through the forest
reminiscent of a raging river
yet tucked at the ankles of trees
my experience is more the wispy caress
of a breeze

my spirit mingles with the land
like fingers of trickling water
seeping into the earth
hair flying with the wind
makes the sky my dancing friend

dark chocolate and huckleberries in my mouth
I close my eyes
there is nowhere else
I would rather be

~

Happy Earth Day ~

looking to the sky
in the tree and way up high
wondering
where do owls reside
in the branches they do hide
and spy
upon all that lay
and stride
upon the earth

until they glide

~

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To view sky photos from around the world visit:

Sky Watch Friday

~

Wishing one and all a glorious relationship with our amazing planet!

Happy Earth Day!

A Hawks Feast

 This morning is a blue skied sunny day, lovely. The snow still firm enough to walk on due to the nights freeze. Wandering through the woods, pepper spray on hip, for we have a bear that has left its winter den. Two cameras with me hoping to find ice in geometric form on the surface of the creek. Yet instead of heading to the creek I turn and wander down the long meadow. Soon this meadow will be a shallow lake made of melted snow. A bird sanctuary, though not the sort of sanctuary that is safe, this mornings journey was proof of this. On the edge of a snow bank next to a meandering creek was a Northern Goshawk, perched on its kill, an orange footed duck. Is it one of the ducks that has been living in my pond? As sad as this thought makes me, I felt no sadness watching the hawk ripping feather and flesh from it's kill. Often in my wanderings I come across evidence of some animal tracks, a scuffle or kill; always wondering what had occurred. Wishing that I could have seen the wild in action. Today I saw plenty of action.

Tis the next day and I have an Addendum to this post: I have awoken this morning, to find a pair of mallards swimming in my ponds. They are entirely lively and making plenty of noise. Yesterday I never saw them and I wondered if that hawk had eaten them or one of them. I can barely say how empty the ponds felt to me without them there . Yea, I feel so happy.

~

Slow Dance

There is waxing and waning in the air,
the seasons begin their dance of change.
Winter and spring visit around a tree stump
topped with snow like a marshmallow as a table cloth,
having a cup of tea.
Winter shares "I am bowing out early this year, are you up for your dance?".
Spring smiles as birds land on her shoulders,
her womb full of the promise of flowers, insects and leaves.
As morning rays of light flood through the forest,
winter sparkles in the morning sun.
At the same time,
springs presence is tangible.
Tis a slow dance these two do,
here in the NW of Montana.
A slow lively dance.