Monday, July 30, 2012

Subtle

We're heading to Mt. Lemmon for the next several days at Las Aventuras.  This weeks feature will include another Chuparosa Challenge, wildflower report, update on the older fire damaged areas and much more.  But for today, let's play a game. 
NUMBER 1
Imagine we are going on a hike on Mt. Lemmon.  Most of us are wildlife nuts. Can you spot the Stellar Jay, Mule deer , and Turkey vulture in today's post?  I'll number the pics. Answers on bottom.
NUMBER 2

NUMBER 3

NUMBER 4

NUMBER 5

NUMBER 6

Good luck!!! 

Pic 1-Mule Deer  Pic 4 Stellar Jay and Pic 6 Turkey Vulture

30 comments:

  1. Sad pics but certainty a reality of the world we live in. Hardly any of those fires are of natural origin. But what can you say ? Count on things degrading further down hill. When I first visited Mt Lemon, it was far more heavily forested than it is today.

    On another note, what is the tree that is the center of attention in photo # 4 ?



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    1. Ohhhh, I'm going to pay for this today. I should be in bed but was watching a movie. I'm a nightowl naturally but when vacation is over, I'm going to have a difficult time getting back into a normal routine.

      I believe the tree there is a Ponderosa Pine. The Aspen are making a wonderful comeback while as are several pine varieties. I think some people have planted several other varieties such as their living Christmas trees. But things are making a comeback. I chose to do this shoot on the fire burned side because it was more open with some interesting sky views. Okay...it's time for bed:)

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    2. Actually I see what you are saying about the Ponderosa Pine trunk, but no that was not the one I was speaking about in the same pic. The Ponderosa is to the right. The tree I meant was the NON-PINE in the background in the middle which is bright green. Maybe it's a shrublike tree. Just curious.

      It was a tough look as the pics were a bit on the dark side in some. But I found I believe what you were shooting for.


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    3. Hola!!

      The pics were darker because we took this beautiful 5 AM walk and the sun was just coming out. So I tried looking at the tree in question. You have a great eye by the way! I can't tell in the pic because it's a little blurred but I remember the walk. A lot of the bright green leaves are coming from the new Aspen. I have several photos coming up this week and you'll be able to see them clearer. It was very hopeful.

      Time to get my day started. Bamboo needs moving:( This heat and humidity could be more forgiving.

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  2. You're good. I could only find the deer and the vulture. I should come down and drive up Mt. Lemmon. It's been years. Like the 80's. If memory serves, there was a 'something' at the top where lunch was eaten and I relished the cool air. And it was very forest-y at that time. I'll be sad if it isn't now.

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    1. Happily, there are restaurants and trees and things are making a nice comeback. The areas that were burned are still open but so much growth has taken place over the past 10 years. I would say half is forest-y and the other half is a growing prairie land full of young Aspen trees:)

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  3. Mule Deer -- #1

    Stellar's Jay -- # 4

    Turkey Vulture -- # 6

    although the Turkey Vulture in the photo # 6 could be easily taken for one of those burned out pine tree stumps.

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  4. Fun challenge Chris! Have a good few days at Mt Lemmon and Good Luck with your challenge :)

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  5. that was fun...
    i got the deer right away...and i THOUGHT i saw the Jay in #4...under that pine. and # 6, i wasn't sure if that was the vulture on a shorter stump, kind of in the middle...or farther back, perched on top of the tall tree trunk...near center. still not sure. ha!

    the clouds in #2, the rays in #3, the tall pines against the red sky in #5...awesome shots!

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  6. I spotted the mule deer, pretty easy to see amongst the burn. I'd agree that it's a Ponderosa in #4. Have fun on the Mt.

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  7. i saw the mule deer easily, and the vulture in flight. without enlarging, i did not see the jay. :)

    i like that pine photo.

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    1. That is one gorgeous jay on the mountain and it blended in really well with the landscape early morning. It was tricky for me to find it in the shots.

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  8. I still can't find the jay. Fun challenge. I love that tree in #5.

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  9. Hey what happened to all the comments ?

    I didn't notice the answers at the bottom in white block before. I must have entered the twilight zone. Maybe the episode on old Hwy 80 with all those old Neon Hotel signs on Miracle Mile.


    *smile*

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  10. Hello! I see gazelle in first photo!

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    1. Picture it. Sitting with a cup of coffee or drink of choice. As the sunsets, you see this deer on the horizon as the sun goes down. Beautiful!

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  11. I'm lost, but the photos are good, although rather sad.

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    1. Don't be sad:), life is restoring itself again. If it didn't, then I WOULD be sad. It was terrible when it happened, but life is coming back again.....and that is great news:) Fires are a shock to our system and threaten homes and lives....and memories. But Tucson came together and the mountain is looking great. There had been lots of old growth that had never been cleared over the decades and when the fire happened, it was like a big tin box and quite an explosion. We were sad then, but the word today is that we're hopeful:) And the wildlife has returned again.

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  12. I found them all! The Turkey Buzzard was the most challenging. On our way to Strawberry we pass a couple of areas that have fire damage, but it is always heartening to see the new growth and the forest finding it's way back.

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    1. Oh let me tell you! I was so frustrated with that dang bird! It was only this weekend that I was able to get some nice shots up close. And it was by accident! This bird is so ugly it's beautiful. And when it flies, I almost get into car accidents. It's so graceful and elegant.

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  13. Love a good sunrise! Excellent landscape shots Chris,

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    1. Thanks Laurence:) This were very very early at around 5 AM. There are some nice bird shots coming up.....I've never really observed wrens other than the Cactus Wren....but these were some cool little birds. Those may be tomorrow. It's a great place to bird though! One more week and then we go back to school:(

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  14. I can't think at this time of night, yawn. Fab photos.

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  15. I found the critters. Picture #5 is very interesting. The color is beautiful.

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  16. I found the deer and the jay. No luck on the culture. The sunrise shot is gorgeous. Lovely colors. Fun shots and post.

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  17. There's another place I keep saying I am going to visit.

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  18. I could spot out a deer in No.1 and a bird in No. 4. Burnt down forest is a sad sight to see. Wish that divine golden light of No. 3 give the forest magical energy to heal and come back sooner.

    Yoko

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Thanks for stopping by!