The Nature Photography Thread

[ProXimuS]

And here he is only about 5 minutes after the first two pictures:
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The reason I say he was scary...Is only because he was sooooo big!! He was probably like 2 inches long, and that freaks me out. But when I found out he was a moth, it wasn't so bad.....

[Steveo]

I braved the 100+ degree heat today to get out for a few hours. I went to a place that had been productive in the spring and wanted to check in. It's about 40 minutes west, right up against the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.

I didn't expect to find the creekbed bone dry, but I guess it's not a huge surprise given how little snow the mountains had this winter:
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The grass has also grown rapidly since my last visit about 2 months ago. It was up to my ankles then, now it's up to my waist in some places. I'm sure there were some flippable logs that I just didn't see because of the high grass.
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I searched both sides of the creekbed, about 3/4 of a mile on each side. Right before I gave up on the first side I found my first rattlesnake!
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I'd estimate this one at about 2.5'. It didn't want to move, even when nudged with a stick, but I did get it to rattle at me for a few seconds (I'd never heard the rattle in person before). The brush on this side was getting really thick so I switched sides. I went back to where I've seen gopher snakes, yellow-bellied racers, and a radix before, but all of my previous hotspots had dry soil underneath. I'm sure they were there but there were a ton of better places that I couldn't get to without causing some major damage.

I'm thinking about giving road cruising a try later tonight since the pavement is going to be warm well into the wee hours of the morning. I'm not real sure where to go but if I go east of Denver I'm sure I can find some lightly-traveled back roads.

[ProXimuS]

Nice pics! You're brave, poking a rattlesnake

[Steveo]

It's 105 degrees today but I just want to get out and flip some logs! Waaahhhhhhhhhhh

[infernalis]

I simply took pictures and let it on it's way. Enjoy.






Here is where it lives, About 1500 feet off my back door step.

[guidofatherof5]

Very nice Wayne. The little fella has a long road ahead.

[infernalis]

I was almost tempted to try and rear it, but it seemed right at home taking advantage of the low water levels. The minnows are densely concentrated right now because the creek is drying up. Quite the opportunity to feast under these conditions. So I left it be.

[Steveo]

Went out for a walk at my usual spot tonight and found out why I haven't found much there lately.
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The creek is bone dry. All of the snakes must have moved downstream to the lake. I did manage to find this little guy though.
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[ProXimuS]

I found this poor guy in my pool today. He had been treading water for who knows how long I caught him fairly easily, and he seemed pretty calm. But, I think it was probably more because he was just a little scared a reeeally tired. He's a little Mourning Dove, and I think he's a "fledgling." He didn't seem like a full grown up, but definietely wasn't a baby-baby.

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I put him out in the sun to dry off. I went to look at him a few minutes ago(he's been out there for about 45 or so minutes)and he still isn't flying. He was trying to flap, but he seemed to be flapping a little bit weirdly. Not sure if maybe his little wings are sore from swimming for so long. I think he's olg enough to fly on his own I looked him over and didn't see any visible cuts or broken bones or anything, so I'm hoping he's just tired and will be on his way soon.

[guidofatherof5]

You are probably right on the tired part. Nice save.