mg1744's photos

After two trips to Alaska, finally got a decent whale capture. These two are probably mother and baby (breaching) in the Behm Canal on a cruise in the Misty Fjords National Monument near Ketchikan. Orcas are actually the largest members of the oceanic dolphin family. They are apex predators, as no animal preys on them which is perhaps why they are commonly called killer whales. A cosmopolitan species, they can be found in each of the world's oceans in a variety of marine environments, from Arctic and Antarctic regions to tropical seas, absent only from the Baltic and Black seas, and some areas of the Arctic Ocean. Orcas are highly social; some populations are composed of matrilineal family groups (pods) which are the most stable of any animal species. Their sophisticated hunting techniques and vocal behaviours, which are often specific to a particular group and passed across generations, have been described as manifestations of animal culture. Wild killer whales are not considered a threat to humans and certainly this pod, of between ten and fifteen members, seemed playful as opposed to aggressive and not at all bothered by the presence of our boat.

Departing Seattle for Alaska on board the Celebrity Solstice on June 21 - the summer solstice.

I noticed this scene in my rear-view mirror as I was driving by on the adjacent road. When I returned later in the day the coyote in the preceding photo caught my attention for a few minutes. I was particularly stuck by the blue hue of the ice on this small pond in the upper Fossil Creek drainage. View is to the northwest.

Was out taking some landscape shots in the Cathy Fromme Prairie Natural Area when I noticed some of the ever present prairie dogs sunning themselves outside their burrows. After I took a few frames they suddenly disappeared. Panned around a little with the camera and sure enough along came Mr. Coyote, I think he was traveling, you can see the faint trace of an animal track just behind him, rather than seriously hunting, but he did investigate a couple of the prairie dog burrows as he passed through. Out of the frame to the right a couple of hundred yards (200m) up on the next ridge is the first subdivision on the south edge of Fort Collins; hope everyone took their pets in for the night. View is generally to the west.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL IPERNITY!!! Inspired by the Griswald family of the1989 movie CHRISTMAS VACATION the Medhurst family of Greeley, Colorado illuminates their home annually during the Christmas season with thousands of lights and other decorations. The display is on a 30 minute cycle which is synced to a low power radio broadcast which starts with only a few of the lights flashing and builds to the climax seen here. Thousands visit every year as testified to by the numerous shadows. View is due east. For more about the movie CHRISTMAS VACATION and streaming links: www.imdb.com/title/tt0097958 For more about the GREELEY GRISWALDS (MEDHURSTS): www.greeleytribune.com/news/greeley-grizwalds-outshined-on-abc-show-great-christmas-light-fight For video and the soundtrack (for very local use as the broadcast is very low power 90.3 FM: mike.btfh.net/show.htm

Reprise of the preceding photo in black and white monotone.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDxfjUEBT9I Not "in the dead of night", but definitely a blackbird. More accurately, a crow flying east to west along tide line at Pritchard Park, on the south shore of Eagle (maybe next time I visit) Harbor. View is due north and as you can tell from the shadow the photo was taken in the mid-afternoon.

Sideyard garden at a friend's home. View is to the ESE.

Went to the Larimer County Fair which is held at the county events complex known as The Ranch. Although the county fair is an annual showcase of agricultural prowess throughout the country, most fairs include a carnival arranged along a "midway" featuring food, drink and games as well as rides. Shown here is the ferris wheel along with a mini-coaster the lead car of which is a green cobra breathing green smoke which intrudes at the lower right of the frame. The view is to the northeast. Submitted to the July, 2018 Contest Without Prize, theme "Lines and Curves" as entry #43.

These mammals are a product of Ice Age isolation; a species unique to the Olympic peninsula in northwest Washington state. Indeed, their habitat is largely contained within Olympic National Park. Their closest relatives within the marmot family are found across the Strait of Juan de Fuca on Vancouver Island in Canada. Marmots are relatives of the eastern woodchuck and are the largest members of the squirrel family found in the Park. Marmots live in colonies usually consisting of an adult male, two females, which normally breed only every other year, and their offspring. Marmots inhabit the high meadows of the Park as shown here and as hibernators live in multi-chambered burrows up to 15 feet (5m) deep. They are very sociable, gregarious animals communicating with a variety of whistles.This one posed for some minutes by his den about 30 feet (10m) off the Hurricane Hill trail near the summit. He or she appeared undisturbed by the human presence which included several loud and active small children. View is to the SSW.