Fall is dwindling toward a close but there are still gorgeous sights all around us. I captured this photo on Friday... but, yesterday, a lot of snow fell on the high mountains that you can barely see on the horizon in this photo. It will look very different tomorrow!
I've been feeling so grateful that I have Shyla in my life. We've enjoyed getting to know each other over this autumn. She looks more beautiful to me every day.
As part of autumn, the animals have been getting ready for winter. The other day, a huge flock of Sandhill Cranes circled over our meadow for 10 minutes as they migrated. I heard them when I was in the forest, and I sprinted out into the open where I could see them.
It was a magnificent sight and sound. I've never seen the cranes in migration before. They look so huge and majestic.
The bears are also getting ready for winter. The females are probably all in their dens by now. However, I know from past years that some males will keep wandering the forest, moving in slow motion, until early December.
This guy wandered all over the forest the other night. Here, he marked a favorite bear tree. I believe that this bear is the one who I called "Tiny" last autumn.
I also captured video of him half-heartedly marking a sapling that the bears mark like crazy during mating season. You can watch it here or at
Youtube.
Based on this bear's path (I captured his photo in multiple places in the forest), I suspect that he visited the rock den where I have a motion-activated trail camera positioned. I hope so! I'd love to have a bear use it this year! Based on the many visits to the den over the course of each summer, I'd guess that it will be used again - I just have to be patient.
Great pictures and films, I love the colored one with the bear doing his dance!
ReplyDeleteWe are having great sunshiny weather and good temps too. How long will it last? Who knows?
Cheers and hugs,
Jo and Stella
Those cranes are amazing. MOM and I spotted two of them a while back in the bottom of a ravine and at first from where we stood on a ridge looking down we thought they were two deer. They are very cool. Each season has it's own beauty, even with leaves almost gone there is beauty in that as well.
ReplyDeleteYou can see the love Shyla has for you in her eyes. She is so lovely. MOM just wants to pert her and hug her. We of course would wait for the signal that it is OK to do so, in her own time. We love how you are showing her the world and that it does not have to be so scary.
Blessings,
Goose
Yikes! I think the bears would make me nervous!
ReplyDeleteSam
Shyla sure is a beauty! Just think it will be your first winter with her to share so may things in the snow! Great capture of the cranes migrating. It must have been something to see and hear and it's amazing how silly big black bears can look. I personally can't wait for the snow!!:)
ReplyDeleteNow just so you know, we're waiting for pictures of Shyla and the BIG snowfall. That's going to be fun to watch!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Lily Belle & Muffin
Hi Y'all,
ReplyDeleteWe, too, hope some bear likes your den this winter. We hope you will have some great photos from your camera come next spring/summer.
So glad Shyla is proving to be the wonderful companion you need.
Y'all come by now,
Hawk aka BrownDog
Hi, I wondered if you got hit with all the snow. The views from here in the lowlands show most of the high peaks covered. I imagine we will be seeing snow in Steamboat. A girl can hope though, can't she?!
ReplyDeleteAs for animals-we have seen so many wild bunnies this year(different from jack rabbits), also the black birds have been going crazy with our lawn(I imagine we either have grubs or night crawlers) and now the sow bugs are out in the hundreds at night-we've never seen so many. I hope you get some great pics of the bears visiting the den. I'm so thankful that you and Shyla were led to one another. What an incredible blessing, sounds just like something K would arrange.
Have a great week.
Noreen
How funny to watch Tiny doing that bear dance!!! We hope you get snow and then send some our way this year. Last year we virtually had none.
ReplyDeleteShyla has the most beautiful eyes. We can't wait to see what she thinks of the snow.
Woos - Phantom, Thunder, Ciara, and Lightning
The change of seasons really has come to your world and your world knows it--It felt a bit like summer here today, but I know that was only temporary.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all of the great photos (as usual). And so glad to hear that you're enjoying your beautiful Shyla. We're sure the feeling's mutual
ReplyDeleteI love that closeup of Shyla!
ReplyDeleteWE LOVE Bearas and mountain lions and we love getting to see them on your video cams. You bring us such a treat each time.
ReplyDeleteNow we are off to look at some of your past videos.
bERt and My Vickie
How cool to see the cranes! I love photo of Shyla
ReplyDeleteNola
That "Tiny" looks like a pretty good-sized bear to me! :)
ReplyDeleteNice pics, for sure!
It's funny how fast Autumn marches along, once it decides it's happening. We had a cold weekend, and had to put Miss Elka into her hooded sweatshirt a couple of nights, because she was shivering!
ReplyDeleteSand Hill Cranes overwinter just south of us at Bosque del Apache...hundreds of thousands of them! It is the most amazing site to watch them take off from the marsh en masse and circle as they fly off to feed in the plowed over fields...and their return in the afternoon is spectular. Such huge birds, so graceful...but the surprising thing is the noise of all of them together!
ReplyDeleteIf you didn't see yesterdays post re missing furry friend can you pop by and see if you can help. Anything we can do will be greatly appreciated. Have a happy Monday.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes Molly
Wow, Tiny is anything but!!! LOL.
ReplyDeleteMarilyn
This is so beautiful to see nature like this every day. We laughed when we saw the video thumbnail picture. it looked like a gorilla at first
ReplyDeleteBenny and Lily
Winter is definitely working it's way into our world too, but not as much as yours. Our dampness prevades. The video was an eye-opener...now I have better idea of the bear's habits...thanks for that!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing the migration and your beautiful autumn.
ReplyDeleteI am trying to take a deep breath to smell what you smell- to see what you see- to be a part of your world.
Shyla is more beautiful everyday.
Thank you for sharing your world with us,
love
tweedles
Thank you for sharing such gorgeous photos! I have not seen a real fall in such a long time!
ReplyDeleteGreat photo of Shyla! She looks so alert and happy!
I made a comment on another post but I think blogger ate it. It was on the great new that R is getting better. So glad to hear that! I wish I had your skill and patience with dog training. Can I send Latte to you? (Just kidding. I wouldn't do that to you.)
ReplyDeleteFunny to see what a difference the season makes in the bear marking dance! Hopefully we'll get to watch him through the winter. You've gotten pretty good at figuring out where they go.
ReplyDeleteI've really enjoyed seeing Shyla come into your lives, too! :)
Lovely pictures...the video is great...how exciting to follow them..you have a lot of fun in your mountins.
ReplyDeleteHugs to you all!
Those Sandhill Cranes must be heading to our gram's house in Florida! Mom says when she visits gram, she always sees these huge birdies in her yard!
ReplyDeleteLove ya lots,
Mitch and Molly
Wow! You're the second person I know in the last week who has seen cranes! I really wonder if their migration path is changing a bit, because I think it typically is further west. Nevertheless, I'm so glad you captured them! And the bear...
ReplyDeletei always love seeing your bear sightings! thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteWow, incredible shots!
ReplyDelete