BEST OF … Animals 2023

Posted on by kritterspaw

I try to look back at my photos and my trips from the last year to improve on the next. While it may be a good idea, I am not always successful in taking the initiative to do so. They say the best photographs tell a story, or at least come with a story. So, in that vein, I have tried to seek out my best animal stories.

In no particular order are a few of my favorites.

In one of my most exhilarating animal encounters and experiences I have every had, was this close encounter with an Asian sun bear in Thailand. I was enjoying this lovely Thai lunch when someone yelled “BEAR”. Of course my first instinct was to grab my camera and run toward it. When it came in closer to check out the tasty smelling food, the proprietress grabbed the chicken off the charcoal hibachi grill, and I heard in the background, ‘back away… s l o w l y,” and they weren’t talking to the bear.

While in Thailand I did go to an elephant sanctuary. But it left me wanting more than seeing elephants held in captivity being fed by hoards of tourists. I wanted to see elephants in the wild. So when I saw my first wild elephant walking out of the jungle toward me, I was beyond thrilled. As it turned out, I was very fortunate and saw a number of wild elephants on multiple occasions. 

While we are in Thailand, let’s talk about dusky langur. Until we went to Thailand we had never heard of this endangered monkey. We got into a troop of these unusual primates and had a terrific time watching them jump around feeding off this tree. It was fantastic to witness.

I was thrilled to find this little guy at Whitehorse Lake. This jovial little guy wandered very comfortably around the Lake, as I snuck behind trees and laid down on berms waiting for it to come in. I thought it was a baby javelina, but with some help of the AZ Game & Fish Dept, it was identified as a feral pig, who apparently loves strawberries (according to fellow campers).

I’ve been fortunate to see a lot of animals in the wild. Of course some of the most common are elk and deer, with the occasional antelope, big horn sheep or coyote. It’s rare and very difficult to encounter (and photographically capture) the more uncommon animals, many, if not most, of which only come out at night. There are a number on my list I would love to see and never have, and maybe in time I can add them to my roaster. But, I must admit this long tailed weasel wasn’t even on my list. I had never even heard of it! He made an appearance while I was unwittingly taking landscape photos. This curious little guy kept poking his head out from behind a rock, then another rock, playing a little hide and seek as he tried to check me out. It was a fun ‘dance’ and he made it a fun challenge to capture his portrait.

I spent some time in my blind this year. There is something so special about animals coming in on you, while you go completely unnoticed. You can watch the animals interacting in their own environment, and if you are fortunate enough, with one another. It is peaceful, relaxing, and time consuming, but an amazing experience with nature. I was lucky enough to capture a white tail mom and baby deer, and a red fox. 

Ok. I’m a sucker for big horn sheep. I could fill these pages with favorite big horn sheep pix, but I won’t do that to you, but I couldn’t pick just one.

We have seen our fair share of white tail deer, but it is unusual to get bucks hanging out together and not being territorial. I suspect these boys are brothers enjoying one another’s companionship. I found it very en-dear-ing. Sorry, couldn’t help myself.

It’s not very often we see 6-point bull elk, particularly in the daylight, so I was delighted to see him, I only wish it has been for longer and more often.

I hope you enjoyed my walk through some of my 2023 memorable animal sightings. Check out my Best Landscape pix here … https://kritterspaw.com/2024/01/20/best-of-landscapes-2024/

Chiang Mai

Posted on by kritterspaw

During our recent trip to Thailand after hitting Bangkok, see my post here …. https://kritterspaw.com/2023/12/06/bangkok-thailand/ , we drove 9-1/2 hours north of Bangkok to Chiang Mai or New City. As it is such a long trek, we stopped at Sukhothai along the way.

Thailand in general has over 40,000 temples, one in every village. So if you are interested in seeing temples, there are many, and from just the few we saw, they are very different from one another. Yui, our guide, was gracious enough to share her culture and educate us a bit on something we knew very little about. We stopped at relatively new temples which are a testament to the depth of commitment to the teachings of Buddha, and the offerings to Buddha and the monks to support the temples and their way of life.

We stopped at the ancient temple in Sukhothai which is considered the temple of the great relic and dates back to 1300. It is particularly notable because it is the only temple with a lotus flower atop the chedi. It’s a fascinating look at an early example of temples and the similarities to today’s temples.

But what we enjoyed most in Sukhothai, even more than the historic temples, were the cooking classes that we absolutely loved in both Sukhothai and Chiang Mai.

We not only got to try some amazing food, we got to make it with local people, who we truly enjoyed. It was such a fantastic way to experience northern Thailand, I can’t imagine a better experience.

We made EVERYTHING. We made papaya salad, khao soi. We made curries from chili paste we made from scratch. We made fried flowers, and learned to wrap with banana leaves. We made dessert, and ate it too.

As wonderful as the food was, the very BEST part was cooking along side the locals with their passion for food and teaching. I absolutely will make this food at home and think of the beautiful personalities we met. It was such a phenomenal experience.

While I was wow’d by the cooking classes we experienced, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention what a lovely city Chiang Mai is. It is full of modern coffee shops, tea shops, and Michelin recommended restaurants. It has temples galore, the most impressive, not to be missed in Chiang Mai is the Doi Suthep, both the upper and lower temples. The lower temple, the jungle temple is fascinating as it seems untouched by time from 700 years ago. Though, the temple at the top of the hill, is equally impressive in a different way.

Back in 1300’s a white elephant carrying a relic from Buddha was said to walk up to the hill and collapse. It’s at this site that the ‘upper’ temple was built on that very site and the chedi is said to house the relic the white elephant carried.

We were extremely fortunate to have wonderful guides to guide us through our experiences, giving them depth and meaning. We can’t thank Yui, Lynn, Tom, Ann, and Mr. O enough for all they taught us and we learned and enjoyed through them.

Patience and Luck

Posted on by kritterspaw

With the lack of rain we have had, the animals are hungry and out foraging for food. I hadn’t seen them much lately, but they must be out there! The more I watch animal behavior the more I start to understand it. I never see them on windy days (their scent gusts in the wind alerting their presence to predators) and infrequently on cloudy overcast days, as they can’t see shadows.

So I figured I should spend some time in a blind to see if I could get lucky and catch some animals coming in for food once the weather settled down. I choose nice days, no wind or clouds, perfect for foraging animals to make an appearance.

I spent 4 days in a row in complete silence hoping for any animal to wander into my field of view… to no avail. All I saw were birds and squirrel.

On the fifth day, I was gifted with a momma white tail deer and her fawn. There is something special about being in with nature. You can hear the sounds of the baby bleating, and the mom snorting for the little one to come along. It was precious to be able to witness from a very close proximity to these magnificent animals, and to see them eye-to-eye.

Persistence and tenacity are key attributes for success, so are patience and luck!

Gray Fox

Posted on by kritterspaw

We have been fortunate enough to see gray fox this year, which is fortuitous given its nocturnal nature.

The gray fox normally frequents ridges and canyons, but can be found in wooded areas and grasslands. We were lucky enough to witness mom and 2 kits playing.

Our sightings were limited though, as the gray fox can be quite skittish, particularly during daylight hours.

Their predators include mountain lion, bobcats, coyotes, eagles, owls, and hawks, all of which we have our fair share, particularly the pesky mountain lion that wants to eat our pup for a snack.

The gray fox are mostly omnivores and prey on chipmunks, mice, bunnies, and the occasional bird or insect. Whatever brings them here, we are happy to see them, for as long as they happen to visit.

What time is it?

Posted on by kritterspaw

It’s 4 o’clock somewhere.

Sundials were estimated to be ‘invented’ by the ancient Egyptians around 1500 BC. There is evidence going back to 3500BC of a stick or pillar with a triangular ‘wedge’ (known today as a gnomon) to cast shadows to tell time.

Early devices were thought to help farmers tell time such that they would know when to plant and harvest crops. The early Egyptian ‘shadow clocks’ consisted merely of a straight base and raised crosspiece at one end with a scale inscribed in 6 divisions. The semi circle construction wasn’t developed until 280 BC by Greek astronomer Aristarchus of Samos who devised a pointer fixed at one end along a circular arc divided into 12 equal divisions.

Early versions of the sundial did not account for the seasons and length of the day. The sundial continued to iterate and become more sophisticated with factions across the world refining the design. Babylonian astronomer Berosus invented a spherical surface that traced a shadow tip for the longest day of the year. Around 100 BC that the Greeks began experimenting with vertical, horizontal, and inclined dials. The Roman’s employed seasonal hours, and even some portable sundials.

Over time, sundials became more complex and more accurate. Modern astronomers and mathematicians adjusted for the Earth’s tilted axis, the length of the shadow (longer in the winter than summer). Gnomon’s (the triangular pointer) were devised to cast a shadow to tell time and were eventually designed to point north versus straight up.

Eventually, the sundial became so accurate that it was the basis to check and adjust mechanical clocks until the late 1900’s.

Today, sundials are primarily ornamental, and use embellishments to make them unique and individual. Many incorporate mottos or whimsical sayings, like German’s wit, ‘Do like a sundial, count only the sunny days.’

See our own efforts to replicate an ancient scientific development…. https://kritterspaw.com/2023/10/15/dont-do-this-at-home/

Big Horn Sheep

Posted on by kritterspaw

I love all animals. I search them out. You can see my post on Baby Season and it’s animals here … https://kritterspaw.com/2023/08/22/baby-season-2/

The more ‘exotic’ the better as far as I am concerned. But those more rare animals are indeed harder to find, particularly in good light to photograph.

So I am thrilled any time I get to observe any animal, so much so, that I solicit my friends and neighbors to let me know of any sightings. My friend and neighbor did just that when they told me of this herd of big horn sheep.

They caught me on the street during a walk around the neighborhood. I quickly jumped in their truck and asked them to take me home so that I could go get my camera and check it out.

Fortunately, I was able to catch them, and delighted to find a large group of baby sheep practicing climbing on the bunny hill ledges.

It was one of those memorable magical moments that I hope I was able to capture the fun and delight of these babies experiencing ‘firsts’ right in front of me.

I feel so fortunate and thankful for the tip.

Woodpecker Babes

Posted on by kritterspaw

I am always astounded by how big, and how quickly baby birds grow to be full size. I caught these baby acorn woodpeckers being fed by mom.

You can tell the baby by the black eye, while the parents have a yellow ring around their pupil. Both parents feed their young, normally 1 – 2 broods per year.

The red-headed acorn woodpecker eats nuts (acorns), seeds, and insects. They burrow in bark and trees to bury their food for later. It’s fascinating to watch the parent teaching the babies early on to squirrel away seeds to eat later.

Animal behavior is so interesting to watch if you just take the time to observe.

See more baby bird pix here .. https://kritterspaw.com/2023/07/15/bird-watching/

Santa Fe Adventure

Posted on by kritterspaw

Adventure adds spice to life. Enjoy every moment to the fullest and celebrate often.

John outdid himself when he surprised me on my birthday with a balloon ride outside of Santa Fe. Even though I used to work chase crew for Arizona Balloon Company a lifetime ago, I have never been up in a hot air balloon… that is until now.

He had signed us up for a special experience with Santa Fe Balloons, owned by the colorful character, Johnny Lewis. I can’t imagine a better guide through our maiden voyage as Johnny explained the art and science of ballooning as he deftly showed his experience through his skillful hands.

We floated effortless and quietly across the ravines north of Santa Fe, not a power line or city in sight. The views were stunning, and made better only by the commentary and education we learned as Johnny entertained and delighted us.

Johnny deftly walked the balloon across the nap of the earth, through the valleys, and gently raised it over ridges just as we wondered if we’d hit ground. He did things with a hot air balloon we didn’t know could be done giving us a thrilling ride.

Then he brought us to 1000′ altitude so that we could view the landscape from a-high. I can’t imagine a better pilot for our first ride.

He worked the winds as if he controlled the gods from above as he made the balloon yield to his every whim. His masterful touch, his charismatic wit, and undeniable charm just added to this amazing experience.

With a kiss of the earth and barely a bump, he walked the balloon back the the trailer waiting on the ground. He was showing off his experience to anyone able to see it. It was a sight to behold.

Johnny was aided by a faithful crew who had clearly been to this rodeo before, as they handily aided in the deployment, catch and release of this ancient art. Jeannie, Johnny’s co-pilot was a delightful companion as she shared history and stories to enhance our experience.

We toasted our safe return to the earth with champagne and the balloonists prayer:

The wind has welcomed you with softness. The sun has blessed you with his warm hands.

You have flown so high and so well that God has joined you in your laughter and set you gently back into the loving arms of Mother Earth!

Thank you Johnny, Jeannie and crew of Santa Fe Balloons for a wonderful adventure and adding spice to our life for a memory of a lifetime. And to my loving husband who I love more today than the day I married him 36 years ago.

Channel Islands – Santa Cruz & Santa Rosa

Posted on by kritterspaw

While there are over 500 species of birds that breed in North America, only one, the island scrub-jay, lives and breeds on a single island, Santa Cruz in the Channel Island National Park. The island scrub jay breeds in the coastal oak and chaparral oak that are found throughout Santa Cruz, and feeds on insects, lizards, mice and nestlings.

Other species endemic to the Channel Islands are the island fox. The island fox lives on only 5 of the 8 Channel Islands, and no place else. Each island fox species is recognized as its own separate unique subspecies. The island fox is a third smaller than the mainland ancestor, and more the size of a small cat, at only 4 – 5 lbs. It has distinctive markings around its face, with rust colorings on its sides and white underneath.

The one (above) we saw on Santa Rosa, was visibly different from the one we spotted on Catalina (below).

We found our visit to the Channel Islands to be interesting, educational, and tiring with the many nature hikes and excursions we enjoyed. for more photos of the Channel Islands – Anapaca, check out my blog post here…https://kritterspaw.com/2023/05/05/channel-islands-anacapa/

White Pelicans

Posted on by kritterspaw

Most people know where Lake Havasu is. The London Bridge has made it a tourist landmark. Forty miles southeast of Lake Havasu is the Alamo State Park.

The park was formed as a recreational reservoir. It offers camping, ATV trails, boating, and fishing. It is also popular to wild burros and white pelicans.

We saw dozens of white pelicans who winter in the calm still water in the recesses of the Lake.

The American white pelican breeds in Canada and upper Midwest, but migrates south to warmer climates for the winter. Arizona has become an increasingly popular place for the pelicans to winter due to the ideal climate, warm waters, ample fishing (thanks to well stocked man-made lakes) and protection from predators.