Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR: November 2014

I drove out to the RMANWR today hoping for some bison shots. I came up empty on that front -- only saw a handful, and they were too far away for photos -- but still enjoyed the fresh air and the wildlife I was able to see.

Beauty in the everyday -- a small rabbit catching some rays in an appropriated prairie dog burrow.

The prairie dogs were also enjoying the warmest weather we've had in about a week and a half.

Some front range denizens are so common you'd think I'd have much shots of them than I do.  Magpies, for instance.  I still don't have a shot of a magpie I'm really proud of.  Mallards are another, and this shot still doesn't make me feel like I've nailed it.

The dead vegetation around Lake Mary was pleasing to my eye -- no real pattern to it, but a nice intimate vista (if that's an actual thing).

My best find of the day -- a big 5x5 mule deer buck.  He only had two does with him; I'd have thought he'd be able to accumulate more of a harem than that.

He also had this fellow in his group, who was content to just lie in the grass and watch me with little more than idle curiosity.

I did manage one raptor shot -- a juvenile red-tailed hawk, who seemed to have an issue with his nicitating membrane.  Another photographer reports that his right eye often looks like that.  He seems in good health otherwise, though.

A leisurely amble around the refuge on a warm fall day.  Pretty solid start to the weekend!