Tule Elk

Tule Elk -- Point Reyes National Seashore, CA
Canon EOS Rebel T5i, EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM, f/5, 1/1600s, ISO: 320

Coyote

Coyote -- Point Reyes National Seashore, CA
Canon EOS Rebel T5i, EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM, f/5.6, 1/2000s, ISO: 2000

The elk reserve at Point Reyes is the best place I know of to see coyotes in the wild.  Like the elk on the reserve, the coyotes seem to be used to the constant presence of hikers on the trail.  They don't seem to associate people with food like some of the coyotes I've encountered at the national parks nor do they seem to be particularly wary of people.  I imagine the ranchers on the Point don't particularly care for them, but I certainly do.

Lunar Eclipse

Alameda, CA
Canon EOS Rebel T5i, EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM, f/5.6, 1/8s, ISO:6400

Unfortunately, the moon was hidden behind clouds for a good part of the eclipse.  This is what I caught around 9:00 PDT.  I wasn't very patient with it.  I think I could have done better if I'd spent more time.  Well, it is what it is.

Dance of the Rocky Mountain Elk

Rocky Mountain Elk -- Yellowstone National Park, WY
Canon PowerShot SD770 IS

This is from a series of photos I took of elk on a ridge as we were exiting Yellowstone one evening this summer.  We counted five young elk on the ridge.  They look calm in this photo but they were anything but that.  They were frolicking in the fading light with this lone mother elk in view.  It was a magical end to what had been an amazing day of sightseeing in this oldest of national parks.

Photo selection inspired by Geogypsy's Foto Friday Fun, image #4305.

Bull Elk

Tule Elk -- Point Reyes National Seashore, CA
Canon EOS Rebel T5i, EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM, f/5.6, 1/1600s, ISO: 640

Not sure what this guy was up to, but it made for an interesting pose.

Rump Sniffing

Tule Elk -- Point Reyes National Seashore, CA
Canon EOS Rebel T5i, EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM, f/5, 1/1600s, ISO: 320

Fair warning: if you bring your kids to the elk reserve during the rut they may learn a thing or two about life.  Not a bad intro to the birds and the bees, actually.

American Kestrel

American Kestrel -- Point Reyes National Seashore, CA
Canon EOS Rebel T5i, EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM. f/5.6, 1/1600s, ISO: 640

I encountered a kestrel today that seemed almost happy to pose for photos.  That's not normal, at least not in my experience.  Kestrels in general don't hang around long for photos to be taken, and when they do they make sure to be in a position where the lighting will make it impossible to get a good shot.  This little lady, though, she was very patient and gave me a number of different looks.  What a sweety.