Posted by bill meikle on January 2, 2009 at 10:05 PM
The temptation was to call this wild eyes! I only see these little guys about twice a year so today when I was enjoying a relaxing drive with my wife in Rocky I was surprised to see this guy. Shot at 1/60s with a 300mm f4 non-VR lens hand held! OK I leaned on the car window! And I got lucky!
Also saw those weird rainbow-edged clouds high up, are they called Nacreous clouds?
Posted by Kalin Wilson on January 2, 2009 at 10:59 PM
Great exposure to get the detail in the fur and the nice back lighting. Excellent shot!
Posted by John Klotz on January 2, 2009 at 11:03 PM
Hey Bill, I don't know about the clouds but that is one beautiful Aberts! We have a park near here that has many of them but I have yet to succesfully photograph one. Never got up to Weld today but planning on tomorrow since I rented a 400mm to even my chances.
I can't recall seeing this type of squirrel in RMNP. Looks like the kaibab squirrel that is found on the North Rim. Lucky find and not bad for a 1/60s shot at 300mm. But as often as you are out shooting I think you are "making" your luck.
I saw the wave clouds as well when I was out walking at lunch. I think nacreous clouds will work for me, but they were closer to being iridescent clouds as the "mother-of-pearl" coloration wasn't really strong.
S
Posted by Les Barstow on January 3, 2009 at 2:33 AM
Steven,
The Kaibab Squirrel is a subspecies of Abert's Squirrel, and is found only on the North Rim.
Great shot, Bill. Most of the time I see Abert's Squirrels, they're proving why they're so rare: they cross roads at a very leisurely pace!
Well I sure feel stupid now. Thanks for clarifying.
Posted by Stan Rose on January 3, 2009 at 11:22 AM
For a second i really thought you were in the GC! Nice shot, those clouds were probably irridecent.
Posted by Don Grall on January 3, 2009 at 12:23 PM
Beautiful shot, love the glow in the eye. Aberts's are quite common at my house, we sometimes have as many as 5 of them on our deck at the same time feeding on bowls of chipped sunflower seeds on a daily basis. Occasionally we'll have a rarer coloration, med.gray with white bellly version as well.
One of the best shots I have ever seen of an Abert's. I love that there is not only a catch light in his eye, but seems to be reflecting the sky. Great job.
Morris
Posted by Dan Walters on January 3, 2009 at 5:14 PM
Nice shot. I like the rim lighting around the squirrel.
Discussion
9 repliesAlso saw those weird rainbow-edged clouds high up, are they called Nacreous clouds?
I saw the wave clouds as well when I was out walking at lunch. I think nacreous clouds will work for me, but they were closer to being iridescent clouds as the "mother-of-pearl" coloration wasn't really strong.
S
The Kaibab Squirrel is a subspecies of Abert's Squirrel, and is found only on the North Rim.
Great shot, Bill. Most of the time I see Abert's Squirrels, they're proving why they're so rare: they cross roads at a very leisurely pace!
Les,
Well I sure feel stupid now.
Morris