Pika, Tundra, Rocky Mountain National Park. Photo copyright (c) Jim Doty, Jr.

This pika was busy collecting “hay” for the winter. There were several constantly scurrying about collecting food. At an elevation of over 12,000 feet, there is snow cover for 8 months out of the year. They only have 4 months to collect enough food to last through the coming winter. They are about the size of a human fist. This one seemed to have a preference for the yellow flowers in the area. Located close to Trail Ridge Road, several people had gathered to watch. The most frequent comment was “They’re SO cute!”

Canon 20D, 100-400mm zoom lens at 400mm.

Dead Tree at Night, Moraine Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.
Photo copyright (c) Jim Doty, Jr.

This is the same tree in the middle of Moraine Park as the one in a prior post, but from a different angle and later in the evening. I positioned the camera so the stars and Jupiter would appear at strategic locations among the dead branches. Once the composition was determined, the photo presented some technical challenges.

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Long’s Peak at Dusk from Moraine Park, Rocky Mountain National Park.
Photo copyright (c) Jim Doty, Jr.

The sun had set and the last rays of light painted the clouds around Long’s Peak. A dead tree in Moraine Park provided a frame.

Canon 20D, 17-40mm lens at 17mm. Aperture: f/16, Shutter speed: 1 second.

Young Rabbit, Horseshoe Park, Rocky Mountain National Park.
Photo copyright (c) Jim Doty, Jr.

This rabbit was hiding in the grass not far the Alluvial Fan in Horseshoe Park.

Canon 20D, 100-400mm lens at 400mm. ISO 400. Aperture: f/8. Shutter: 1/60.

Marmot, Trail Ridge Road, Colorado. Photo copyright (c) Jim Doty, Jr.

This marmot was laying on a rock not far from the highway at “Rock Cut” on Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park.

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Red Rock Lake, Colorado. Photo copyright (c) Jim Doty, Jr.

Red Rock Lake is west of Ward, Colorado in the Brainard Lake Recreation Area. This photo was taken at mid-morning with a Canon 20D camera at a focal length of 21mm.

Bighorn Sheep, Guanella Pass, Colorado. Copyright (c) Jim Doty, Jr.

I had crested Guanella Pass and was heading north toward Georgetown, Colorado. I came around a curve and found two bighorn sheep. I took my first few photos right out the car window in case they ran off. (It is a good idea to have your camera and lenses nearby for unexpected photo opportunities.) They didn’t spook, so I got out of the car, set up my tripod and took some more photos. As they fed they got closer and closer until I was able to get the photo above.

Canon 10D camera with EF 100-400mm IS lens.

Green Anole, Florida. Photo copyright (c) Jim Doty, Jr.

I don’t enter photo contests but a friend talked me into entering the NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION’S annual photo contest this year.

I learned today that I am one of the finalists. Out of over 5,000 entries, my green anole photo is one of 52 that was selected to be featured as a “Photo of the Week” on the NWF website. The photo will appear the second week in July 2005. I was quite surprised!

You can see a larger version of this photo here.