29 Jan

Where has this month gone???

This is a hard photo to like...the harrier came in and got the gulls all riled up.  It (the harrier) looked in focus when i was processing, but now I'm not so sure...(the gulls are suppose to be a bit blurry...)

Pheasant...

I didn't realize till the other day that I never got a photo of "Lori's Star' in full bloom...it's fading now and it's hard not to take that to heart...it's only a flower, not my life.

Skiing

It's been almost 11 years since I put on skis.  I'm hurting right now after about 5 hours on the slopes today...
Day started out in the clouds...the strangest feeling not knowing where you are going and barely able to see in front of you.  After lunch (this was an office function), the clouds went away, and my confidence was had grown enough where I decided to take the camera with me on the slopes.

Some more Juncos

I took these on the 23rd (I don't recall which day that was...Monday?).  It was snowing again...

there's been enough snow, that I'm finally going skiing on tomorrow!

Flicker

This guy was at the top of a tree in my yard...I only wish he'd come eat the suet that's hanging on my deck...

Rain, then snow...

It's been raining here all week, till yesterday afternoon, when it started snowing.  There was over 4 inches of wet snow here at the house, but on Antelope Island, nothing....what a difference elevation makes.  I hear the skiing is finally getting good this year, so I may need to check it out one of these days.

That's Promontory Point in the background of both pictures.  I was only on the island so I could run on something flat and not covered in snow...

Harrier in Flight

Male Northern Harrier in flight....I've seen so many females, so this was a treat seeing this guy flying.

I warned you...

I told you that I'd post more than once a week, so here's a few from yesterday.  Still have a few more that I want to process, but don't want to be on computer all night tonite.

So it snowed yesterday...from my back patio (I put a feeder out at the bottom of the yard, so I have lots of little guys around)

I later went to Antelope Island, still hoping to find the porcupines, but found these guys instead:

This Towhee was really funny digging in the dirt and snow.

When he flew off, I looked up and guess who I found!

I had searched around and couldn't find him till that moment...

More later when I get the chance (I have some other harriers in flight)  I also saw a pheasant, but he came in such a flurry that I couldn't get the camera on him.  There was also an eagle sitting out on the ice, but way beyond the reach of my lens.

St George (lots of photos)

Flew to St George UT yesterday.  I have got to learn that it takes twice as long to get ready to fly solo as it does with two people.  Mark and I had it down to a science on preflight/loading. I, on the other hand, do not. Ended up landing an hour later than planned.  Oh-well, I guess I'll learn.

14 Jan:  Entrada Country Club at Snow Canyon.  Mark and I played this course in either 2001 or 2002 (need to find his log book, but we will never forget the sacrifice his hat made...)  It went private a few years back.

Animals:

15 Jan:  Had to leave early due to incoming wind/snow back at home, but here are some from the flight

Comfort Food

Sometimes you just need a little comfort food...chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes and gravy....

Outing...

There's a wildlife management area for elk just over an hours drive away called Hardware Ranch.  It was bought in 1945 as a 'conservation' program.  Seems elk traditionally migrated to the Cache Valley (13 miles west), however, farmers were now there.  So every year starting in Nov and ending in late Feb, the facility feeds the elk when they migrate out of the highlands.  So far, we've had a dry winter, so the herd is a bit thinner than normal (haven't moved to the lower lands yet).  They offer wagon rides to get up close with the elk.

 Ice:

Not Ice...

7 Jan

It snowed last night, and I found yet another nature park in the area...

And...

I took photos...tomorrow, I take the camera to get cleaned professionally.

Old habits

die hard...

ran, played golf and flew all on 2 Jan.  What fun...

1 Jan 12 (New Beginnings)

Wow, I finished last year's project, so what to do next.  I don't think I can handle another 365 as it taxed my creativity, plus I really don't like still life photos.   So, I'm going to do a 52 week project.  Only need to take a photo a week.  However, given that I tend to take lots of outdoor photos, I will probably post more than one a week.  Not sure what will constitute a week, either Sunday-Saturday, or Monday-Sunday.  Not that it matters...

Please note this is a different blog than last year, as I wanted to keep them separate.   The new address is 5-byphotos2012.blogspot.com.  I will put this in the last post on my old blog, in case you forget.

So I went to Antelope Island.  Original plan was to go for a hike, but there was a large group on the trail and I didn't want to be at that particular trail.  So started looking for the tree climbing porcupines (supposedly they like to be in trees this time of year).  Didn't see any, so wandered down to the ranch looking for this guy.  Luckily a ranger was pointing him out to another group as I walked up!

And I wasn't even wearing my owl shirt that Rita gave me.

Sunset

Now this is why they are purple mountains...

So a great way to start out the year...