Jake Peterson’s Blog

Nothing like sitting on a rock looking out at Alaska and the critters that are a part of it. This time it was the Hoary Marmots that we were watching and enjoying. This spot is a bit more accessible than the mountain slopes we were working on in the arctic. Of course it did require a 2.4 mile hike up to the outcrop and then the same back. When we got up there the marmots behaved like all marmots do. The whistles went off across the ridge and the nearest ones ducked down. We setup on a rock and waited for the little guys to come back out and some of them really were small. This fellow was for sure a kid that we saw bounce around and climb the rocks. Out of the 6 that we photographed he was the most energetic and cooperative. He even went out and grazed for a while.

There was five adults around and three of them would frequently be up on a rock spire that was perfect for sun bathing. It was about 20 feet high and the top was flat, perfect for lying on. This rock was just a haven for them, with tunnels going in and out, separate ledges on multiple levels, and a perfect view for watching the surrounding area for predators. These marmots were great to work with because it gave a bit more perspective to the Alaskan. A big difference that we saw was the affect people just walking through had on them and their tolerance to us. The ones in the Arctic being so excluded from people made them much more shy. It was still great biology to see.

Images captured with D3, 600f4, TC-14e, on Lexar UDMA Digital Film

Up there on the hillside we saw a few other critters that were fun to play with when the marmots weren’t out. One of the more common folks to be out are the Arctic Ground Squirrels. These little guys, like all squirrels are just goofy to watch. I mean the name says it all, they do funny things. This particular one had a burrow just south of the marmot burrow and would occasionally come out and watch us as we were photographing the marmots. But if we did anything wrong, like move, the alarms would go up and everyone on the slope would know. Nervous little buggers.

A rather interesting species that would frequent our rock pile was the Wheateater which is a Trans Siberian bird. These guys lay their eggs and hatch kids here in North America and then fly back across the sea. That’s one very long trip for a conception. They too are characters as this one patrols the top of the rock ledge back and forth. Fun to see and even better to photograph as it’s a new one for my files. Who else will we see i wonder?

Images captured with D3, 600f4, TC-14e, on Lexar UDMA Digital Film

Wait, where was I? O yea i remember now. We get past the Brooks range to our camp which was, well I’m not going to say except that it was out on the tundra. We get the tents up fast because the fog is rolling in fast which can only mean one thing, the rain is coming. That’s not a bad thing though, being in a warm dry tent and cozy sleeping bag can feel pretty good.

When the rain cleared up we went out to greet the little guy that we went up there for. This is him. Wait this is him! What is it you might ask well it’s cute, fuzzy and sluggish when the sun is out. You might have guessed, it’s a Marmot. These rock climbers and burrow dwellers live in the high slopes and rocky outcrops that most people wouldn’t believe they could live in. This is a special Marmot it’s the Alaskan which is different from the Hoary and others found in British Columbia and lower forty eight.

Why is it different… well can’t say, but it was fun to photograph. This particular one spent a lot of its time outside the burrow and eventually climbed up the hillside and out of sight. No problem, where there’s one there will be more. In this case two other individuals came out and sorta played with us (Dad and myself).

The little guys are such good climbers on the slippery rocks that it made the rest of us look like drunken monkeys trying not to topple over. Between the tundra going squish after every step and the rocks covered in water from the rain showers, it was amazing we were able to carry the 6′s up the slope. Speaking of the slope what else might be up there you ask?

Images captured with D3, 600f4, TC-14E, 24-70 AF-S, on Lexar UDMA Digital Film

Amazingly enough i keep coming back to Texas for images and ideas to write and talk about, this time is no different. Maybe it’s because it was such a good trip, or perhaps it’s because i have so many good images. It’s probably because i can draw so much from the event. One of the best parts was seeing the raptors at the hawk blind. This Harris hawk in particular was starring at the yellow flower at the end of the log and seeing it watch the flower as it swayed in the wind. It seems even the raptors can enjoy the subtleties of the life as they scarp down bits of meat.

Image captured with D3, 600f4, on Lexar UDMA Digital Film

What better way to end a good week than on a bright note and what better bird than these here Green Jays. Gotta love these birds, so unlike the other jays found to the north that have the blue and the greys to them. The green makes them pop, plus they’re jays something comical always happens.

Images captured with D3, 600f4, on Lexar UDMA Digital Film

Well it’s another of those weeks when i can’t think of things to blog and i have to actually put my mind to it, well i came up with something. Well it brought me to this Brown Crested Flycatcher down in Texas that we saw on the last day and the spider web that was stuck in its bill. It was a great looking bird but it must have just gone through a pile of bugs on a cactus or mesquite tree because there was glob of webbing that it could not get off and boy did it want it off. It reminded me of being tongue tied, thinking that even the birds can get that way.

Image captured with D3, 600f4, TC-14e, on Lexar UDMA Digital Film

It’s spring time, finally, and that means all those lovely kids are out of the holes and the parents are working hard trying to make them happy. Boy they don’t have it easy do they; us picky kids, take this Prryhuloxia for example. The parent brings in the meal, a juicy grasshopper, and the kid starts squawking and then drops it when he gets it. Of course he makes the parent pick it up, then they fight over it. I love the whole thing, best part it’s green. Kids just hate eating green things. Such fun times, makes summer all worth while.

Images captured with D3, 600f4, on Lexar UDMA Digital Film

What a week! From Texas to PRS and the transition has blown my mind. As I’m writing this i can hear the planes buzzing around the airfield outside. I can hear it right now, why am i not shooting the planes? Well after two days of shooting, no blogging and about 3000 unedited images to get through i figured i should get a little caught up. Plus seeing a kingbird yesterday made me want to write about seeing them down in Texas.

The funny things about the blinds is that everyone there was under the conception that we were shooting nothing but birds. It wasn’t until we went to Pondito blind, Steve named it, and a lull came that they began shooting the frogs. Great little frogs, the Leopard frogs, colorful and slow. They hold still and were close so we could play with them all day if so desired. It wasn’t, but the option was there.

Then there was this guy, he was a bit harder to deal with. The Curved-Billed Thrasher whose soul purpose in life is too dash in and out of the frame making it challenging for us photographers. Thankfully they are deemed common birds and seem to pop up a lot so we get a lot of opportunities with them. Got to love that bill and those great bright eyes. More to come but back to the planes!

Images captured with D3, 600f4, TC-14e on the birds, on Lexar UDMA Digital Film

Day 2 arrives and the temperatures start heading in the direction we finally want them to go, up. Wait, did i say that! Yea believe it or not i did. The hotter it gets the better the shooting it gets. It means more birds at the water holes. Not great for us humans but that’s why it’s tough photography, and i love it. I’m enjoying every moment because you never know when you someone like this guy pops out. Nothing special just a Black Crested Titmouse, see them often. He is about the size of your thumb to finger, pretty small, and is very challenging to photograph. This bird hops around a lot. Getting a shot of it on a branch with a relatively clean background may sound easy but it can be quite frustrating and time consuming. It was one of those little joys getting that opportunity the other day.

Then there is this guy, probably saying o great another dove. Yea there are a lot down here. More than a lot, there seems to be an endless supply of them. That’s a good thing it apparently makes some of the other birds feel safe maybe that’s true maybe not hard to tell at the moment. This is a Common Ground Dove, a really cool one that i always liked mostly cause it has that red ring in it’s eye. Not much trick with shooting either of these two was in F8, minus a half exposure compensation in morning light. Let that morning glory do the rest.

Images captured with D3, 600f4, Tc-14e, on Lexar UDMA Digital Film

After the first day here in Texas Base Camp we have had a one heck of a great time and some great shooting, i know cause I’m already having a hard time keeping up with blogging and image processing but at least I’m not alone. On the first day out Dad and I are never quite sure what to expect even after being told what is here and what is not. Well one bird that we know is here and can be a problem is the Northern Mockingbird. This one bird is rather large in size, very aggressive and is dominant over the watering hole. It also is cool to photograph, even with all the seemingly lack of color it certainly lacks no character.

Image captured with D3, 600f4, Tc-14e on Lexar UDMA Digital Film