Just returned from an amazing safari trip to East Africa; #Kenya and #Tanzania. Lots of images to sort. Meanwhile, a video that I took in Ngorongoro Crater. It's a bit shaky since it was hand held telephoto and a lot of heat waves but still pretty cool. #nikon #wildlife #Lion

M27 Dumbbell Nebula. Taken in bortle 2 conditions. Skies were so dark and clear and the target so bright it did its own post processing. Astro modified Nikon D5300, RC6 (1370mm at f/9), ISO 1600, 5 min exps. Total stack 3.5 hrs. #Colorado #astrophotography

NGC 6559 nicknamed Chinese Dragon Nebula for the dark nebula next to the central star. For me, this was one of those targets where you keep coming back and tweaking. Calling it done for now. Nikon D5300a, RC6 (1370mm at f/9), ISO 1600, 5 min exps. Total stack 3.2 hrs. #Colorado #astrophotography

Greater Short-horned Lizard (aka horny toad) from my hike today. Only had a cell phone so not the greatest picture. #Lizard #Colorado #reptile

Rufous Hummingbird perched in the shade of a pine tree. #Birds #Colorado #Hummingbird #cobirds

Another capture from June; Rho Ophiuchi. Captured with an unmodified Nikon Z6 and Rokinon 135mm f/2 lens on a star tracker. ISO 1600, 1 minute exposures. Total stack 3.5 hours. Bortle 2 skies. #Colorado #astrophotography

Continuing through my Rocky Mountain Star Stare captures from June. This is IC 1396 Elephant's Trunk Nebula. This was a backup target for when clouds got in the way of Blue Horsehead. Wider angle than I have used to captured before. Equipment details in alt text. #Colorado #astrophotography

Super cool experience last night. Had an opportunity to go on a Flammulated Owl walk lead by University researchers. Second smallest owl in North America. It got its name from the flame-like markings on the wings. #birds #cobirds #colorado

Attended Rocky Mountain Star Stare this past week. Had great dark skies conditions. Just now starting to go through all the data captured. My target project for the week was Blue Horsehead Nebula in Scorpius; captured over two nights. Equipment details in alt text. #Colorado #astrophotography

Decided to stack all the data from my Aurora watch night (6/1-6/2) and create a star trail. #astrophotography #colorado #startrail

Set up a camera to try and capture the #aurora on Jun 2. I did not see anything but the camera came through and captured a tiny event at 3:00-3:51 local time. Its fun to watch the stars in the sky in any case. Nikon z6, 14mm, 8 sec exposures. #astrophotography, #northernlights #Milkyway #colorado

Male Evening Grosbeak #bird #cobirds #colorado

Broad-tailed Hummingbird at the rock bubbler taking a bath. #bird #hummingbird #cobirds #colorado

Attended the Pikes Peak Birding & Nature Festival this weekend and had some spectacular birding hikes. 5 lifers. One being this Lazuli Bunting. And Western Tanagers always deliver. #birds #cobirds #colorado

Somewhere around May 13th we got a hatchling in the Hairy Woodpecker nest. Now feeding time begins. This is a little composite of clips from the game camera on the nest. Have not seen any little beaks yet. Probably another week. #birds #cobirds #colorado #woodpecker

Encountered a Ruby-crowned Kinglet with attitude while out birding this weekend. Very pleased to have captured his crown displayed. In the second picture I feel like he is saying "See my crown? Its red. Don't mess with me!" #birds #cobirds #Colorado

Male Hairy Woodpecker - mate to the female in the video. I think the nest is active since it is not being left unattended with the male and female trading off. I have a game camera set up on the nest so hopefully we will see a chick or two later this month. #birds #cobirds #colorado

Feeder Watch today. This is a digiscoped video of a female Hairy Woodpecker that is nesting on our property in a Aspen tree cavity. She is out from the nest bulking up on some suet before returning to egg duty. I have some stills of her mate that I will post later. #cobirds #birds #Colorado

Migrating Evening Grosbeaks at our feeders today. Lights Out Colorado! Our feathered friends are on the move. #cobirds #birds #Colorado

#Sun Day. After using solar eclipse glasses to view the giant sunspot AR4079 with my eyes, I decided to image with my telephoto lens and solar filter. Captured with a Nikon z6, 180-600mm @ 600mm, f/8, 1/3200 sec, ISO 200 and Kase Solar ND filter. #Solar #Astrophotography

Waking up for spring. Western Terrestrial Garter Snake. I was out cleaning up leaf litter on the rock drive and almost stepped on him/her. Little sluggish but definitely enjoying the warm rocks. #Colorado #herps #wildlife

While out looking for the Mountain Plover came across a Burrowing Owl which is always fun to image. #colorado #birds #cobirds #owls

Cold wet week birding. Got several new life birds. This is a Mountain Plover nicknamed the Ghost of the Prairie. Status is Near Threatened. Conservationist are working with Colorado Ranchers and Farmers to help maintain its shortgrass prairie habitat. #birds #Colorado #cobirds #KarvalPloverFestival

A neighbor has been deemed worthy and a Northern Saw-whet Owl has taken up residence on his property. I took this video with a spotting scope and phone from about 60 yards away. #birds #cobirds #owl #colorado

Haven't seen a clear night sky in weeks. #MilkyWay Arch in Big Bend National Park from April '22. #BBNP #Astrophotography

Out #birding this week since #bird migration has started. Found some Burrowing #Owls. I find these guys extremely hard to photograph. They are always at least 100 yards away and heat waves make everything soft with telephoto. Taken from car since they were very much watching us. #cobirds #colorado

A little Sharp-shinned Hawk stopped by for a visit today. #birds #colorado #cobirds

Spring is coming and water fowl are returning. Mallards are here year around but mergansers, wigeons, teals, wood ducks and more are starting to show up. The day was beautiful with warm temps for hiking. But because it is springtime in the Rockies it snowed over night. #Colorado #Birds #cobirds

Signed up for an adult #birding course which includes field trips! First outing was yesterday and signs of spring were noticeable in the #bird song. Biggest plus was to see the Great Blue Heron rookery back in use. We watched a lot of stick gifting. #Colorado #COBirds

Acorn Woodpecker peopling while I was out #birding. At least it felt like he was watching me. Probably worried I was going to steal an acorn. Pinnacles National Park in California #birds

Took a whale watching trip out of Monterey CA and captured some #birds out on the water. Nothing like the challenge of using a long focal length lens on a bobbing boat. Lucky to get the bird in the frame much less focused.

Back from California. Added 9 #birds to the life list. Also saw some old favorites and got better pictures than was possible with film cameras when I started this strange hobby. That saying about bird watching creeping up on you certainly applies to me.

Second set of images from our first day #birding in California. Birds are starting to show up in fancy dress for spring! #bird

On a mini break visiting family in California. Entire family loves #birding so our days are filled with going to county. 7 new birds for the life list. Here are some favorites. #birds

All Americans should Email [email protected] and give them a list of 5 things you accomplished this week. For example: Organized a spontaneous dance party in a library Tried to order pizza from a sushi restaurant Took my goldfish for a walk Built a snowman in the desert Hosted a blindfolded cooking show

White-breasted Nuthatch. Love these little upside down travelers. Past years we have had a pair in a nesting box in the yard. Hopefully again this spring. #Colorado #birds #cobirds

#Solar #Eclipse 2024. Our astronomical club organized a trip to TX for the event. For a full year I said I was not going to image - just watch. Than -3 months I realized who was I kidding. Created a setup that allowed me to watch and not camera fuss. Awesome experience #astrophotography #nikon

Steller Jay waiting for a turn at the peanut feeder. I like to think of the white steaks above the beak and over the eyes as their war paint. #birds #colorado #cobirds

Last set of #hummingbirds for today from our trip to #Ecuador in 2023. We saw over 50+ different hummingbirds. At times it was overwhelming. Easiest pictures -- when they decided to perch. Otherwise it was non stop buzzing. #birds #nature

A break from the news to look at some of #natures beautiful flying jewels. This images are from our amazing #birding trip to #Ecuador in 2023 during nicer times. #birds #hummingbirds

WOW: Canadians ruthlessly BOO the United States during the singing of the National Anthem before their game in the NHL 4 Nations Face-Off. Three fights then erupt between the two teams within the first 10 seconds of the game.

How I approach the day as I look to see what the idiots did while I was asleep. Mule Deer fawn obeying mama and staying still. I was very far away for this image. Only spotted the fawn because the crows were on watch duty above her which is what caught my attention. #colorado #nature #photography

Captured by a game camera I have set up. I think he/she is wondering why I have not stocked the bird feeder with mice or maybe some rabbit. #birds #colorado #SuperbOwl #Owl #GHO

Captured Jun 2021. #Milkyway panorama using 81 images (9 positions and 9 images stacked at each position). Conditions were such that we could see the stars reflecting in the water with our eyes. Beautiful night and memory. #astrophotography #colorado #airglow #nikon

Guess Hoo's Coming to dinner. Another one from summer. This Great Horned Owl landed in a tree to check out the bird feeders in our yard. Normally when I pick up my camera they immediately fly off. This time I guess he/she decided I would be allowed a picture. #bird #colorado #cobird #owl

We installed a rock bubbler in the garden this past summer. This is a group of Pygmy Nuthatches enjoying the water. Little soft because it was dusk and very low light but it does give you a sense of the bathing action. #birds #Colorado #cobirds

Another amazing hummingbird from our #Ecuador trip. Sword-billed Hummingbird. Longest bill in relation to body size for any bird in the world. Image taken at Reserva Zuro Loma. #Birds #Hummingbird

When skies are cloudy, process old data. I have been playing with the SetiAstro standalone tools and really liking the results. This is a redo of Dark Shark Nebula using SetiAstro Statistical Stretch. It easily brought out more faint detail especially in the trailing dark nebula. #Astrophotography

Went out to Lake Pueblo State Park to look for the Yellow-billed Loon rare bird sighting. Successfully located, but the digiscope images were a bust. This little Canyon Towhee landed on a fence post next to me and suggested that I take his picture instead. #Colorado, #Birds, #COBirds