Yesterday, we went to Kebler Pass which was still under at least a couple feet of snow, so I helped out with the bee nest-box checking again. While walking to the site, I accidentally spooked a grouse and it flew high up onto a tree.
I didn't see any bees inside the nesting straws. Instead, I found several flies still in hiding.
On the drive back to Gothic, we saw this Yellow-bellied marmot (Marmota flaviventris) on the side of the road minding its own business.
Scratching its head.
After a quick lunch, I headed out to my study site to work on my own project. While measuring flower temperatures, the Gray Jays appeared again.
Gray Jay (Perisoreus canadensis)
Beautiful bird.
With Gothic Mountain as the backdrop.
Taking off!
Picking a worm off the ground.
Posing for more photos.
In the evening, while returning back to my cabin for dinner, I saw this North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) hanging outside one of the buildings.
I decided to follow it, and instead of heading to the forest, the porcupine went to another building.
And then it got itself cornered at the entrance with bikes all around it. I decided to leave the poor creature be. An hour later, it wasn't there anymore.
On the way to my field site this morning, I saw this hummingbird perched nicely on a branch. I decided to take some pictures of it.
I screen captured the interaction frame-by-frame and was able to watch it in slow motion.
Some of the more impressive frames. See the full image here. Wow!
It caught a rodent of some kind (a vole, perhaps) and buried it in the ground.
Then it was off hunting again.
I love its beautiful tail.
Later in the day, I saw it again with another prey in its mouth.
The Broad-tailed Hummingbirds (Selasphorus platycercus) have recently returned back to Gothic and everywhere you go, you can hear the sound of their flight.
On the way to my field site this morning, I saw this hummingbird perched nicely on a branch. I decided to take some pictures of it.
And then I decided to film it, which allowed me to document its interaction with another hummingbird invading its territory.
I screen captured the interaction frame-by-frame and was able to watch it in slow motion.
Some of the more impressive frames. See the full image here. Wow!
After working for a couple of hours at the ground level with Mertensia fusiformis, I looked up and saw a Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) not far from me (at most 10 meters) stalking something. I quickly crawled towards my backpack to grab my camera.
It caught a rodent of some kind (a vole, perhaps) and buried it in the ground.
Then it was off hunting again.
Then I went back to work and later saw the same fox trotting next to me (this time less than 3 meters away from me).
I love its beautiful tail.
Later in the day, I saw it again with another prey in its mouth.
Burying the prey. I hope it remembers where it cached all of its preys.
Most rewarding two days thus far this field season!
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