Living in Colorado again provides constant reminders that great nature photography opportunities are literally right outside your front door. I had made plans to go to Waterton Canyon today to do some hiking and look for wildlife, and I was pulling out of my neighborhood I saw a car on the shoulder by some open space with its hazards on. I know what that means, so I wheeled around to see what was up.
Three
bull elk were peacefully grazing. I stopped my car, rolled down my window and started shooting.
Two of the three were half-heartedly knocking their antlers together from time to time. Nothing really to fight over, but never too early to practice.
This fellow was not, in fact, bugling. But he certainly looks like he was, which is cool.
He didn't bugle, but he did groom himself a bit.
To my surprise, after this guy "bugled" and groomed he decided to lie down! The other two agreed with him, and since it seemed like nothing much else was going to happen I went back home.
Danelle and I went out right after I got back home, and on a hunch I kept my camera with me. The sun had started to break through the clouds by this point. We drove back past where the elk had been, and sure enough they were still there. So a few more pics were in order.
Mid-chew always makes for a fun shot.
We ran errands for about an hour and a half, then returned home to bright, full sunshine. And guess who were still right where we'd left them?
One final shot of the trio all together, and I decided I'd intruded on their idyllic Saturday long enough. I do look forward to more wildlife encounters in our beautiful new home!
