Mountain snow..

 We had a good snowstorm in the mountains with just a bit here in the valley. Very beautiful. Here's a couple of photos to try to do it's beauty justice..

Eclipse show

 Saturday morning, despite the clouds, the eclipse show began as predicted and was impressive to watch. How small is humanity compared to things like this?

Anyway, here's some shots..

Refuge Wednesday

 A beautiful day yesterday, good to be alive and out in the refuge. Lots of Great Blue Herons and a few juvenile Black-crowned herons, along with migrating Snowy egrets that provided bright splashed of white. The long dike road was not opened yet, seems later than usual. So all the activity took place around Goose Egg hill and before that.

A few kestrels, one Cooper's hawk and a couple of playful Northern harriers were the only raptors seen. A dearth of raptors this year.

Enjoy!

Muskrat sneaking away to cover..

A juvenile Black-crowned night heron landing in a bush..

Pelicans lifting off..

White-faced ibis in non-breeding plumage

Cloudy day at Antelope

 Randy and I toured Antelope this morning, under threatening clouds but no rain. Also very few people. Of course, the coyotes didn't obey the call, so no photos of them.

Some good antelope photos, a few buffalo's and some quite cute Burrowing owls were seen. A few meadowlarks and other birds, once again, no Great Horned Owl at the farm.

Here's what I saw..

Young ones never gave us a glance..

These owls are so cute....glad to see them

Big boy with a bird!

Loggerhead shrike

Western meadowlark stepping out..

Eared grebe...Quite different and colorful

Found this dead snake in the road and moved it off..have never seen one with these markings..

Zoo walk

 An early entry let us beat the stroller crowds. Quite a bit of activity with the animals, although the baby zebra didn't come out.

Lions, orangutans, meerkats, Pallas cat, Snow leopard...all fell to our photos..

The boys....

Snow leopard curled up in its house..

Pallas cat..seems to be moving most of the time..

Meerkat 

Meditation..

The girls...

Flying high...

Refuge Sunday

Sunday at the refuge was a bit quiet but a lot of diversity. No hawks, only a Kestrel to represent the raptors. Pleasant day to be out there. 

Common terns are back and fishing...

Sandhill cranes being buzzed by a Black-necked stilt while a Red-winged blackbird watches..

Peaceful beauty..

Representative of Red-winged blackbirds - bright and noisy..

Storm clouds threatened but didn't deliver..

Eastern kingbird - a flycatcher - first one I've seen..

The "other" bright and noisy occupant of the wetlands..

Two yellow birds..one hunting and one singing..Western kingbird and Western meadowlark..

Zoo visit

A beautiful morning for a zoo photo walk with Randy. We beat the crowds, thanks goodness.. 

Love those nails..

Don't think she wanted to wake up!

Little one growing big..

Lady Bengal posing..

Orange Goddess..

Pallas cat..

The eye of a rhinoceros ...

He entertained a bunch of kids for quite awhile..

Waiting for breakfast..