Countdown 365 ~ T-145

Total Miles: 6.2 Miles ~ Wildlife: 2 Moose ~ Bald Eagles ~ White Fronted Geese

May 25, 2010 ~ This evening while enjoying two bottles of very fine vintage homemade wine with two good friends, a Cow Moose walked into our yard. The coloration of the Cow caught our immediate attention. In the future, she will be easy to keep track of because of her distinctive white markings. She has the same size circular patterned white hair patch on her rib cage on each side of her and the white markings on her chest. This is the first moose that I have ever seen with this pronounced white markings.

I was so intent on photographing her, it was not until I heard those in the house yell that she had a calf behind her. It was only then that the calf wobbled out into my view. It is most likely, that this was the first walk that he or she had made with it's mother. The legs were very wobbly and it was not quite sure how to make all four of them work together at the same time. It was such a delight to watch him try to maneuver, especially the first time it encountered crossing the gravel driveway. This is the first new calf of the season that we have seen in our sanctuary.

Whenever she got close to the calf, she would stopped and lick it, cleaning her baby up after the birthing process.

"Proud Mother"

"Welcome To Life"

"First Outing"

"First Encounter With A Hard Surface"

"Small Steps"

Early this morning, I spent more time photographing the American Bald Eagles. If the number of Eagles gathering in the area is an indication, it appears that the salmon runs will be strong this season. Although, a good number are in the area of Cook Inlet Beach, they are also lining up on the gravel bars of Anchor River. They are such a spectacular bird.

"Beach Rye Cover"

Although, I am not pleased with the quality of the photographs, I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to find a nesting pair of Bald Eagles. One of the pairs was just returning to the nest with additional building materials.

"Landing In The Nest"

"Settling Into The Nest"

"Mating Pair"

In the Marsh Lands at the mouth of the Anchor River there is now two distinct flocks of White Fronted Geese. Typically they will stay in the beach rye, assuming that they do plan to nest in the area. They will leave the grassland area to feed in the wet lands within the the marsh area.

"Mud Flat Feeding"

"Flushing"

"In Flight"

Countdown 365 ~ T-143

Total Miles: 4.1 Miles ~ Wildlife: Bald Eagles ~ White Fronted Geese

Sunday, May 23rd took a short Photo Trek to the beaches of Cook Inlet at the mouth of the Anchor River. For next several months, this will be a prime area to get some great shots of the American Bald Eagle. It is also an ideal location due in part that there is no type of structural development that will distract from the shot.

Countdown 365 ~ T-135

Total Miles: 2 Miles ~ Wildlife: Three Moose ~ Bald Eagles ~ Sandhill Cranes

Although, Saturday, May 15, 2010 was not a dedicated Photo Trek day, I have learned to carry my camera with me wherever I venture. On this particular day, my schedule was simple, I was to sit in the parking lot of the Anchor River Inn from 0600 to 1930. Needless to say, Anchor Point was very quiet until 0800 when the Anchor River Inn opened for the day, but I was their first customer. This date, I was to sit in the parking lot or inside the Inn and drink coffee, waiting patiently to weigh in King Salmon at our 16th Annual Calcutta King Salmon Tournament.

As I was sitting there, awaiting an early fish to weigh in, I saw a Cow Moose walk out to the edge of the road, her ears laid back as if she were angry. A couple of minutes later, a calf appeared down the road from her about 100 yards. The cow, just stood there and watched it move across the road to a small rise and flat area in front. A few minutes passed and a second calf appeared from the spot that the first calf appeared. Waiting for a minute of so, it joined it's sibling across the road. It was only then, that the Cow Moose crossed the road to join them, however her ears were still laid back. She was a very angry mother.

I can only assume, that she was trying to "ween" her twins, so they could continue their life on their own and she give birth to a new calf. Joining them, whenever she could get close enough, she would try to strike them with her hoof and bump shoulders with them, all the time her ears remained laid back.

"A Gentle Strike To Remind Her Off Spring It was Time To Go Out In The Cruel World"

"Perhaps, A Nudge In The Butt Will Work A Little Better"

"Siblings Conferring On What They Should Do"

Perhaps, Those Of Us That Have Siblings, We Should Always Remember. That Giving One Of Our Siblings A Hug Or Even A Kiss Is Not All That Bad. You May Never Have The Opportunity Come Again.

Assurance That Everything Will be O.K. "Sibling Kiss"

While sitting, I was also entertained by a variety of American Bald Eagles and a flock of Sandhill Cranes winging their way north.

"Immature Bald Eagle"

"Sandhill Cranes"

Countdown: 365 ~ T-123

Total Miles: 7.2 ~ Wildlife: Waterfowl *White Fronted Geese ~ Bald Eagles

Returned to the marsh land at the mouth of the Anchor River today. The small flock (3) of White Fronted Geese that is on my previous posting had increased in numbers today. Located in the same area, the total number was eleven today. Unfortunately, I was not able to get as close as I was on our first encounter.

"Flushing I" "Flushing II" "Safe Altitude"

Being such a beautiful day, could not resist taking the time to play a little "ball" with my two assistants. They do enjoy their time at the beach.

"Dutch"

After a vigorous game of ball, they took a little swim in the Anchor River.

"Dutch and "Ruger"

Countdown: 365 ~ T-121

APRIL COMMENTS Total Miles: 589.4 ~ Wildlife: 17Moose ~ 4 Dall sheep ~ Bald Eagles ~ Migratory Waterfowl

Next year, I will need to mark my calendar, April appears to be the slowest month of the year for the subjects that I am interested in photographing. Perhaps, next April I will also put in a little more effort to explore new areas. However, I have really enjoyed learning to photograph the American Bald Eagle.

May 2010 Total Miles: 5.2 Wildlife: Waterfowl ~ American Bald Eagles

The migratory waterfowl are just now starting to appear in our area in greater numbers. We should see these numbers increase over the next two weeks. It is also the time of the season that the King Salmon will start moving into area streams. The number of American Bald Eagles will show in greater numbers to nest and feed. Within this same time frame, we should start seeing our Cow Moose giving birth to our new crop of calves. This morning, I took a short drive to the marshlands and ponds at the mouth of the Anchor River. Although we have had small flocks of Mallard Ducks in this area for the past two weeks, today was the first encounter with Geese. This particular specie is the White Fronted Goose. They are most often confused with the Lesser Canadian Goose. The easiest feature to differentiate them is their bill and feet,which are yellow or orange in color. The Canadian Goose species will have black bills and feet. Although, I only had three subjects to work with, they cooperated fully and gave me several fly overs and landings.

"White Fronted Geese With Steaming Mt. Redoubt In the Background"

"Eye Level Fly Over"

"Muddy Launch Site"

"Water Landing"

"Below The Beach Berm Flyover I"

"Below The Beach Berm Flyover II"

"Returning To Original Holding Site"

"Stacked Three High"