life

There is a whole world living right under our feet. One of the most obvious examples is that of the pocket gopher. They do a great job of mixing the soils, but are usually seen in a negative context.

Gophers do not usually have to worry about red tailed hawks because of their fossorial lifestyle. The gopher is rarely above ground and almost only in the early mornings when this hawk is less active.

The warmer weather is starting to cause the trees to produce buds. The thorns on this tree are actually produced to reduce water loss, also work to keep trampling animals away. Most browsing species still eat them just fine.I think this species is a mequite.

In among the willows it's clear the beavers target the most mature cottonwoods. I was wondering why they leave the trunks where they are. It looks like wanton destruction for the sake of it! Really it is just a form of gardening.

This stand helps show how the beaver activity causes the new growth to sprout into shorter, and easier to eat shoots; a more bushy style of growth that allows beaver easier access to the nutritious cambien layer they feed on.

The moon can be hard to photograph well in a landscape. This large,last full moon of 2020 benefits prey animals, who can forage and keep an eye out for predators easier.

I'm very proud of this picture. Not a great composition, but flickers are notoriously flighty birds and never hold still for more than a few seconds before flying off. In spite of all their red feathers they can blend in amazingly well unless they are moving. It is difficult to get them on camera. This one was more worried about a person below who was closer, and so stayed still long enough for me to get a quick picture.

I think this red tailed hawk is sleeping. He never moved while I watched him. The perch is over a field populated by sandhill cranes, but I suspect these big hawks just use the bosque to roost, before flying out to hunt rabbits during the day.