Posts Tagged ‘coyote’

Yellowstone Diary: May 17, 2012

Yes, it has been a while since I’ve had the chance to catch up on things.  Rest assured that I have not been neglecting my photo interests, but we’ve been out in the field a bit this spring and summer, and I’ve just not had the time to sort out a post, well, until now.

The images of the resident Swan Lake Flat sow grizzly and her two cubs are shown above and below (five images).  Images recorded at 07:40 MDT on May 17, 2012 using the Nikon D4 and the AF-S NIKKOR 600mm f/4G ED VR with the AF-S Teleconverter TC-14E II (1000mm).  Exposure was f/6.7 and 1/800s, ISO 2500 (+0.67 EV, adjusted in ACR).

Although Yellow-Bellied Marmots are common in the park, many visitors never see them.  One reliable location for spotting these critters is along the Northeast Entrance road at the junction of Blacktail Plateau Drive.  There is an exposed basalt formation nearby that is a favorite environment of the YNP marmots.  Early morning is the most likely time to view marmots here.  The image below was recorded at 08:35 MDT using the D4 and the AF-S NIKKOR 200-400mm f/4G ED VR II at 400mm.  Exposure was f/5.6 and 1/800, ISO 400 (+0.67 EV, adjusted using ACR).

Pronghorn are common along the Northeast Entrance Road near the area that lies below Specimen Ridge, where the landscape flatten out along Slough Creek (following three images).  We have sometimes seen newborn animals along this section as well as small bands of adults.  Images recorded at 10:15 MDT, using the D4 and 200-400mm f/4G ED VR II at 400mm.  Exposure was f/5.6 and 1/1600, ISO 400 (+0.33 EV, adjusted using ACR).

 

One of the major attractions in the YNP during spring is the presence of newborn Bison calves.  The distinctive coloration and boisterous behavior of these youngsters is impossible to resist.  One could easily spend an entire day watching them.  The image below was recorded at 10:30 MDT at the same location that we shot the Pronghorns above, using the D4 and the 200-400mm f/4G ED VR II at 400mm.  Exposure was f/8.0 and 1/640, ISO 1000 (+0.33 EV, adjusted using ACR).

The coat of black bears display a remarkable range of hues, from jet to light cinnamon.  The lack of a shoulder hump is a clear indication that this is not Griz.  The image below was recorded along the Northeast Entrance Road at 10:55 MDT, using the D4 and the 200-400mm f/4G ED VR II at 400mm.  Exposure was f/8.0 and 1/800, ISO 1600 (+0.33 EV, adjusted using ACR).

We encountered a very bold coyote near the Mud Volcano area.  This coyote strutted about the parking area like it owned the place.  The image below was recorded at 13:25 MDT, using the D4 and the 200-400mm f/4G ED VR II at 400mm.  Exposure was f/8.0 and 1/3200, ISO 1600 (+0.33 EV, adjusted using ACR).

Near the end of the afternoon we revisited Swan Lake Flat, and found the sow Griz and her two cubs still on patrol.  Similar setup as in the AM session, but this time shooting the Nikon D800.  Exposures were at f/6.7 and 1/1250s, ISO 1600 (+0.67 EV).  Images from the D800 at ISO 1600 contain much more noise than do either the D3 or the D4, but is entirely manageable (I used Nik Dfine on these images).

Copyright 2012 Peter F. Flynn.  No usage permitted without prior written consent. All rights reserved.

Yellowstone Diary: May 16, 2012

We work hard at getting lucky.  Although Yellowstone is home to a grand abundance of wildlife, this is not a zoo.  Viewing the park’s animals takes knowledge of their behavior, both as species and individuals, perseverance, and luck, lots of luck.  The result, recorded here, is an example of  just how much can be seen in a single day when all elements of the effort are working in your favor.

We began the day with a plan to revisit the area between Mammoth Hot Springs and Norris.  Just south of the Grizzly Lake Trailhead we found the black bear that we had seen on the previous afternoon.  A bit further along the Grand Loop Road along the way we encountered a small group of bison near Obsidian Creek.

The images above and below were recorded at 07:40, using the Nikon D4 and the AF-S NIKKOR 200-400mm f/4G ED VR II at either 270mm (above) or 330mm (below).  Exposures were at f/8.0 and either 1/800s (above) or 1/1250s( below), with ISO at 1600.

From the Norris Junction we headed east to Canyon Village to shoot the Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River from Artist’s Point in the morning light.  The two images below were recorded 08:30 MDT using the Nikon D800E,  and either the AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED at 82mm with and exposure of f/11.0 and 1/100s (+0.33EV), ISO 100 (top) or the AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II at 200mm.  Exposure were f/11.0 and 1/100s (+0.33EV), or f/8.0 and 1/320s (+0.67EV).  ISO in both cases was 100.

I’ve shot the falls many times in all kinds of light and atmospherical conditions.  Two elements are required for a memorable image – the direction and quality of the light are key of course, but of nearly equal importance is the sky region along the plateau at the top of the image.  It’s not bad here, there is at least a bit of color and texture, but not too spectacular either, and thus the relatively tight crop.

From Canyon we headed south through the Hayden Valley to Fishing Bridge – no animals along the route.  We then set out eastward towards the East Entrance, and found a small group of Bighorn Rams along the north side of the road where the East Entrance Road tracks along Middle Creek.  There were approximately six animals in this groups, foraging just 30-50 meters above the roadway.  They wouldn’t have given us the time of day…

The five images below were recorded using the D4 and AF-S 200-400 at various focal lengths.  Exposures were all at f/8.0 with shutter speeds clustered around 1/1600s, with ISO at 1600.

I also shot this same group of rams with the D800 and the 200-400mm (the original VR) at 400mm, with example images shown in the three shots below.  Exposures were at f/5.6 and 1/1600s, ISO 1600.  Although I hesitate to reveal it since it seems unlikely, but head-to-head at ISO 1600, the D800 has a clear IQ edge over the D4- the dynamic range of the D800 sensor is stellar.

We returned along our outbound route north though Canyon Village, and westward to Norris Junction, and back north to Mammoth.  We then turned west again to investigate the Blacktail Deer Plateau and the Lamar Vallay on the way to the northeast entrance of the park.  Along the way we found a very-well habituated Coyote at around 14:20 MDT.  The three images below were recorded using the D4 and the 200-400mm VR II at 400mm.  Exposures were at f/8.0 and 1/1600s, ISO 1600.

We continued on eastward and found the young moose from the previous day near the Icebox Canyon signpost – right out along the northern side of the road out in the open.  The image below was recorded at 15:42 MDT using the D4 and the 200-400mm VR II at 400mm.  Exposure was f/8.0 and 1/250s, ISO 1600.

 On our return back to Mammoth through the Lamar Valley, we encountered two rangers in the process of relocating the carcass of a bison calf from a spot about 50 meters from the road up over a bluff so it would be out of direct site of the highway.  We watched as the two rangers went up the hill – one ranger lead the way up the hill armed with a shotgun, and the other carried the carcass.  More on this rarely observed ranger activity in a future entry…  The image below was recorded at 16:30 MDT using the D4 and the 200-400 VR II.  Exposure was f/8.0 and 1/2500s, ISO 1600 – yeah the light was changing really fast at this time, thus the kooky exposure parameters.

Traveling further west along the Northeast Entrance Road we found a small group of pronghorns crossing the road near the base of Specimen Ridge.  I am uncertain about whether the roads in Yellowstone are de-iced with salt, but this would explain the curious behavior of the three animals in the second image below.  Images of the pronghorns were made at 16:50 MDT using the D4 and the 200-400 VR II at 220mm (top) and 400mm (bottom).  Exposures were at f/8.0 and 1/1250s, ISO 1600.

We continued westward to Mammoth Hot Spring, and then south with the idea to make one last visit to Norris that day.  Lounging bears in Swan Lake Flat caused us to change our plans…  Images of bear recorded at 17:50 MDT using the D4 and the 200-400mm VR II at 400mm.  Image of photographers made at 200mm.  Exposure were made at f/5.6 and 1/320s, ISO 1600.

 Copyright 2012 Peter F. Flynn.  No usage permitted without prior written consent. All rights reserved.

A Trickster in Hayden Valley

A number of native American Indian cultures have identified the coyote as The Trickster.  A trickster is a sort of cunning character who makes use of subterfuge, i.e., illusion, misdirection, etc., usually with the goal of committing some sort of fraud.  Accepting for the sake of discussion that it is valid to anthropomorphize wild animals, then to my eye, the suggestion that the coyote is a trickster is an apt judgement – they always seem to be up to something slightly sketchy.

This trickster nature is apparent in the way the coyote carries itself, which a bit shifty, moving through the sagebrush or tall grass like a pickpocket working the crowds at a carnival.  The short, persistent gait of the coyote is distinct from that of the wolf, which has longer legs and a resulting much more open stride. Parenthetically, although there are several ways to distinguish wolf and coyote, the difference in gait is the thing that I notice first.

And of course that Coyote face, which is so full of mischief…  Is it my imagination, or are these guys always squinting?

Perhaps it is their opportunistical feeding behavior that impresses me most.  Unlike wolves that hunt large prey in organized hierarchical groups, the coyote bounces around solo or in pairs, and will eat anything it can.  Voles seem to be a staple food of the coyote.  We have watched coyotes consume half a dozen voles in a single episode – in fact I cannot recall seeing coyotes eat anything but voles!

Leaving out the anthropomorphic judgements, there is no doubt but that the coyote is a highly adaptable and highly successful creature.  The Trickster even adapts relatively well to urbanization.  Although it is most common to observe coyotes hunting solo or in pairs, within Yellowstone, coyotes live in packs of up to seven individuals.

Prior to the reintroduction of wolves into Yellowstone in 1995, the coyote population grew to relatively large numbers due to the lack of a major predator.  In the years immediately following restoration of a stable wolf population, coyote numbers fell 30-50%, but the population has now stabilized.  The Yellowstone Resource and Issue 2011 report* does not provide a specific population esitmate for coyotes, and lists the population only as ‘numerous but unknown’.

Images in this entry were recorded in the Hayden Valley, Yellowstone National Park, at around 13:30 MDT on September 21, 2011, using the Nikon D7000 and the AF-S NIKKOR 200-400mm f/4G ED VR II  at 400mm (600 mm FX equivalent).  Exposures were made at f/5.6, f/7.0, and f/8.0 with shutters speeds at either 1/1000s or 1/1250s.  Tripod setup was the Gizto GT5541LS and the Wimberly WH-200 gimbel head.

*The Yellowstone Resource and Issues 2011 report is issued annually, and is produced by the Division of Intepretation, Yellowstone National Park, Mammoth Hot Springs, WY.  The report is available at the park bookstores and online at the followstone site:

http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/resourceandissues.htm

Copyright 2011 Peter F. Flynn.  No usage permitted without prior written consent. All rights reserved.