View Full Version : Wildlife sightings
Stephen
31-05-07, 12:04 PM
Whenever local wildlife was spotted, people would shout out, and often the bus would stop, or in one case the train slowed right down. On the ship we would often be going slow anyway. Often though they were a fair distance away, and of course I never had the right lens on. One particularly good sighting of a Moose with its 2 calves was missed due to not having the right lens on, but no matter, the image is recorded elsewhere ;)
This shot of some caribou was quite a good one taken through the open window of the bus as we drove through part of the Denali NP. It was taken at 400mm and I've cropped the original considerably. Nevertheless I feel the quality is reasonable.
Now here's a question for you. Whats the difference between a Caribou and a Reindeer?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v119/SteveAnstey//Alaska/caribou.jpg
Stephen
31-05-07, 12:15 PM
This shot is of a Snowshoe Hare. They are completely white in winter, so this one is fast losing the winter coat. Aparently the only thing that remains white is its feet.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v119/SteveAnstey//Alaska/snowshoehare.jpg
coupekid
31-05-07, 12:24 PM
One particularly good sighting of a Moose with its 2 calves was missed due to not having the right lens on, but no matter, the image is recorded elsewhere ;)
The photographers law of 'SOD' strikes again eh Stephen.
Some lovely shots there, the Snowshoe Hare would look good on an Easter card! *LOL
Stephen
31-05-07, 12:37 PM
This was our only sighting of Brown Bears (Grizzlies) taken from the ship as we sailed up Glacier Bay. Apperently, we were told, these would have only recently come out of hibernation and would have been searching for shell fish etc on the shore. We saw Black Bears on 3 separatre occasions, though I don't have a decent shot. Again recorded elswhere though :)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v119/SteveAnstey//Alaska/brownbears.jpg
Stephen
31-05-07, 12:43 PM
I did see a few whales, particularly the Humpback. This shot was from a fair distance but is improved with cropping.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v119/SteveAnstey//Alaska/Whalefluke.jpg
Caribou are larger and wild, while reindeer are a domesticated breed and smaller, but they are basically the same species :)
Ian
More beautiful shots. My favourite is the hare - so cute.
Much better looking than the very bedraggled female I saw yesterday on the way in to work. Couldn't stop - was (1) late, and (2) nowhere to stop safely!
Caz
Stephen
31-05-07, 04:23 PM
Caribou are larger and wild, while reindeer are a domesticated breed and smaller, but they are basically the same species :)
Ian
Indeed, and of course Reindeer can fly *rudolf*reindeer
Stephen
31-05-07, 05:22 PM
Another shot taken at the same time as the Bald Eagle shot I posted HERE (http://dpnow.com/forum2/showthread.php?t=2767) This navigation Buoy seemed to be home to its resident seals, but the eagle on the top just made the shot
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v119/SteveAnstey//Alaska/eagleseals.jpg
Another shot taken at the same time as the Bald Eagle shot I posted HERE (http://dpnow.com/forum2/showthread.php?t=2767) This navigation Buoy seemed to be home to its resident seals, but the eagle on the top just made the shot
Ahhhhhhh - that's cute. Also has a nice built in rocking motion for sending them to sleep too. :D
I'm really enjoying these wildlife shots. That lens was worth every penny 'cos you'd have missed so many nice (and very cute) 'once in a lifetime' record shots without it. *reindeer t-up
Pol