A Fox Tale

Hello all trail buds, seems like summer just started here and we are down to the last remaining days of August. As always if we don't find ourselves out on a road adventuring off to somewhere, I am always up early and scouting out what lies down the trail around the cabin. Earlier at the beginning of the month, I found myself up early and out of the cabin just after sunrise. I decided to check out an area close to home that I have neglected so far this year. Driving this particular road at sunrise, I have always been lucky to observe some sort of wildlife. I drove all the way back to South Rolly Lake seeing just a few birds along the way thus turning around and heading back towards the front, slowly scanning both sides of the road for anything of interest that might catch my eye. Over the hill around the bend just off in the distance laying on the shoulder of the road was...wiping my eyes in disbelief because I had just came through this area not more than a few minutes ago, was a small red fox kit.

Yes, the adrenalin was flowing and I was pumped as to how this situation would play out. Slowly driving past the resting red fox I pulled over off the road as far as I could. Got out of the truck thinking to myself the red fox would retreat into the woods. It did the opposite and stood up as I approached for a closer view. I had noticed a large kill spot on the road where it was obvious something had been hit just in front of where the red fox was laying.

The red fox slowly approached me as if to say "What do you have for me?" I found myself taking as many pictures as I could just in case the fox would run off. After quite some time had passed and several cars, driving rather too fast in my opinion, had passed between the fox and I not even noticing the fox, yet another fox kit appeared out of the woods. I was in fox heaven - this was a cross fox!

Cross foxes have darker colors of black and tan and red through out their body colors. These two little fox kits were all of about 2 pounds and were away from the den where ever that might be in the woods . Immediately the cross fox ran over and jumped on the red fox as if wanting to wrestle, show me what you got sibling red fox! Then he turned, checking me out coming while walking closer. Again I could not take enough pictures of this cross fox.

I had just been in Denali National Park in June and had taken pictures of several adult red foxes doing their daily wandering out on the road, but these were fox kit babies born not too long ago, out exploring their new world outside of the den. As the morning past, the park ranger had stopped to both say hello and tell me about the kill spot where the fox vixen had gotten hit by a car (probably going too fast through this area). I had observed several times, the red fox as well as the cross fox would go over to the spot where the vixen was hit and would lick the road. Knowing something about red foxes from my readings, they were licking both the blood scent and scent of the vixen. I had taken several pictures of the red fox laying just off the road looking down the road waitng for the return of the adult vixen. As the morning grew later yet another cross fox had made it's appearance as well. This day was getting better! I had to quit as the light was getting too high and dull for me. I drove home very fast to tell Destiny of my discovery and see my results of the pictures of the foxes I just had taken. Several weeks later of monitoring the situation, I have counted five fox kits, 2 cross fox and 3 red foxes. Sometimes finding them in the same spot just off the road, other times finding them farther down the road but still in the same area. Even Destiny had to get in on some of the action watching and photographing these little cuties. We did observe one adult fox that came in at a distance but didn't stay too long. The fact that the foxes are hanging around by the roadside told me several things, in my observations I have witnessed people driving way too fast in this state park heading towards the back to South Rolly Lake. Second, people passing by these little guys can't help but toss the foxes a little something to eat. I have tried not to get too emotional about these fox kits and let nature take its course. After the 3 weeks of monitoring the foxes and some 530 pictures later, I think we have covered every angle and fox personality as they moved about, sniffing and poking around along the roadside, always looking back and wondering when and where the fox vixen would return. I thought the whole idea of going camping was to leave your world of hustle and bustle behind you and slow your world down to a crawl. Maybe catch some glimpse of some wildlife as you passed through their world. It's way to obvious to me that on this stretch of five mile road that anyone is doing this. As I learned while talking with the state ranger in this park, so far some of the animals that have been hit include: moose cow, black bear cub, the fox vixen and lord knows what else that hasn't been reported. People do us all a favor and slow down. What is the hurry? You will have a more harmonious outcome. And your family as well as yourself just might get to see a part of nature that you miss by living in the cities. I guess this is why I live where I live. Right smack dab in the middle of da woods to observe nature at its best everyday and take some pretty neat pictures along the way to share with those who don't get to see as much of the wildlife that is a part of our everyday lifestyle. And as for the fox kits, watching them over that 3 weeks, we count our blessings that for such a short time, we got to be part of their lives as we were a part of theirs. So nature takes its course and we can only hope for the best that these 5 little fox kits will survive and go forth into their new world and grow into adults and carry on as most foxes will do. I hope where ever you might live, in your everyday travels, that you might slow down when in nature's yard and give the wildlife a chance instead of driving way too fast and regreting after the fact that you hit a deer, moose, bear or whatever it might be. Plus the damage it will do on both parts. It's just not worth it.

See you down the trail somewhere,

Buford T. Porcupine

Ptarmigan

Hello all trailbuddies, hope your summer adventures are going well wherever they may lead you. When I lived in another part of the country prior to moving to Alaska, U.P. of upper Michigan, I must admit I didn't even know what a ptarmigan was or knew the word existed. Now living here in rural Alaska continuing my advenutures, watching and monitoring the birds seems to be part of my everyday life style. In my travels over the years up here, I've seen the male ptarmigan both in summer and winter plumage. Back in the spring, driving a dirt road I had some luck on in the past, I came upon both the male and female ptarmigan still in their winter plumage, just starting to show spring changes in their feathers with snow still on the ground. Let me pause for minute, can some please explain to me how the P in ptarmigan even comes in to play. It makes the word Ptarmigan look funny like it's spelled wrong. there's no p sound in this word when you pronounce it. Just seems odd to me. I have spent a lot of time watching the ptarmigans when I could locate them and getting good photographs of them made it all worth while. The more I read about the ptarmigan the more intrigued I seem to be. Here in Alaska the ptarmigan is also a game bird for some; hunted in the fall and well into winter. While I don't have any interest in hunting as you would think of it, I stictly hunt with my camera. I love the end results when I can reflect back on the good memories I have captured. The ptarmigan is the smallest of the grouse family that lives at the sub-alpine level in the mountians. Over the winter months the ptarmigan is pure white with a black beak. In my reading about this bird in my rocking chair, yes by the fireplace, this is the most thermally efficient of all birds. Late spring arrives and the male ptarmigan takes on a whole new apperance. The female ptarmigan on the other hand goes from a pure white in the winter to a disruptive camflauge in the summer.

It displays a jumbled pattern of colors and tones that breaks up its outline to make it simply disappear into its surroundings. And this same pattern is displayed on the ptarmigan chicks as well. I was fortunate enough to be in the right spot at the right time to catch both the male and female as well as five ptarmigan chicks and record the summer camflauge.

Thus winter arrives and they turn back to an all white bird matching their winter environment. Truly an amazing bird that requires more in depth reading to fully understand it. Maybe you have a favorite bird that has captured your interest, my suggestion is to pick a detailed book on birds and learn all that you can while enjoying the beauty of birds wherever you may find them.

See you on down the trail,

Buford T. Porcupine

Doin' Denali

Rise and shine trail buddies, it's 4:00am in Denali National Park. On the road patroling by 4:30am. Once again this year I was offered another opportunity to camp and ride along with a old friend (a video photographer) on a film permit. A solid week of scouting for wildlife along the 90+ mile road that runs out to Wonder Lake. On a typical day, we rose at 4:00am and were on the road by 4:30am drinking our coffee and having dash board muffins to go. As sleep was optional, we put in 20 hour days. Some mornings we might encounter brown bears right alongside the road early in our day. Other mornings maybe a little later in the day. Maybe catching a red fox running with morning breakfast, heading for the den at the Polychrome Pass overlook area. Scouting along the road looking for brown bears with cubs, maybe catching a view of a wolf running not to far off the road looking for its morning meal as well. June is an exciting time to be in Denali National Park for a variety of reasons - from wildflowers blooming to the many brown bears both single brown bear boars and sows with cubs ranging from the smallest cubs weighing in at about 5lbs. Some of the brown bears would have just one cub while others would have two. Ranging in size and weight. Catching a view of a golden eagle soaring overhead, looking for an opportunity to snag one of the many snowshoe hares we encountered. When you are out here, you're looking for anything and everything along the road as well as far off the road that might prove to be photo worthy. If you have enough patience and are willing to wait for that chance. On one such morning in the Toklat River area along the road, a couple of magpies lead us to a lynx about 20 feet up in a tree sitting waiting for just the right chance to take a snowshoe hare (gallery picture in previous post). Taking several pictures of the lynx I'm sure that his dislike of the magpies sitting just above and below on the branches was enough to persuade it to move on. Some areas proved to be very good on the wildlife settings while other areas just didn't pan out. Move on . Midday sun, high in the sky was time to catch a catnap and refresh the energy we would need to finish out the rest of the day. Seeing Mt. McKinley (Denali) out in full glory is always a reminder of how big and beautiful this mountain is when you do get to see it. For many of you that have traveled up here to Alaska and making it to Denali National Park, it's a lucky day if you even get to see the full mountain. More times than not it is hidden in the clouds, so if you do get to see it - good for you! So, yes, I took another picture of Mt. McKinley from Stoney Hill overlook. Mid-afternoon when the sun is at the high point and light is dull, we found ourselves along the roadside somewhere sharing good conversations with other film/still photographers working the road on permit as well.

In conversations with many people I meet out in the field where ever I might be, work ethics on the amount of time spent in the field looking, searching, finding and waiting to photograph many of the wildlife is always an eyebrow raiser. Call me CRAZY! Odds of seeing and appreciating the wildlife you choose to view are far greater if you get up early, as we did all week. That's before sunrise for many of you who are still in bed (although sunrise at this time of the year in Alaska is about an hour or so after sunset!). Birds are calling, wildlife is out there moving, eating or searching for their morning meal. And yes, they do take mid-morning naps just like we did. On one such occasion, we parked beside the road and watched two brown bears, a sow and her cub take a nap not to far off the roadside, so we did the same, keeping one eye open just in case any action started to take place. Which later proved us right as the cub went to mom to start nursing (see picture in gallery). My list of wildlife subjects grew the very first day of being in the Park. Up early in the mornings, riding and scouting, going back to areas of the park I have previously been successful. See Buford's list of subjects below. All week, a lot of hours on the road, eating on the run, catching mid-afternoon naps, evening coffee, heading in just before midnight, with a lot of light at that hour it was hard to go in and catch a few hours of sleep. All of this proved to me once again why I continue to come back to Denali National Park at every opportunity I get. Don't over look your state and national parks by just merely going there once. Many wildlife opportunities are right out your back door. Your odds will increase dramatically by getting up early and going to your favorite park. Walking your favorite trail more than once. I constantly remind myself that my style of photography is always an education, learning about the world in which I live. From the time of morning/late afternoon well into after sunset, the subjects I am out to locate and photogragh are all about being out there in the peace and solitude that I seek. I hope you do the same.

Among the wildlife I saw on this trip were: brown bears (adults and cubs), snowshoe hare, caribou w/calf, golden eagles/nest, dall sheep (ram, ewes & kids), wolves, foxes, ptarmigan, ravens, northern harrier, bald eagle, lynx, magpies, Wilson's warbler, white crowned sparrows, wolverines, rock ptarmigan, long-tailed yaeger, moose cow, merlin/nest - just to name a few and I'm sure there are some that I can't remember!

As mentioned a couple times in this post, I previously posted some pictures from this Denali trip in a gallery. Take a look!

See you on down the trail somewhere...

Buford T. Porcupine

Doin' Denali Gallery

Hello all trailbuds, not going to beat around on the trail, pictures from my work week in Denail National Park. Enjoy!

Wild Ride on the Little Su

Hello all trailbuds,

Hurray!! Summer is here and that means more adventures of the green kayak. Canoe or kayak, it's a boat and that means water fun. Whether you prefer to canoe endless lakes or like Destiny and Buford, kayak the many lakes and rivers both for adventure and seeking out waterfowl. Kayaking is a great way to to excerise the upper body and get away from it all for some peace and solitude on the water. Another kayak I hadn't thought much about until I actualy saw it in use, is a little short sporty kayak used for running fast rivers especialy in the spring as melting snows make their way down out of the mountains running into a river in one of my favorite state parks. On this paticular day I was sitting on the edge of the Little Su River observing a pair of harlequin ducks resting on a rock in the middle of the river. Eventualy spooked off as a young man walked by along the roadside dressed in a short style wet suit. I knew right off what he might be doing as I found out through conversation with him, kayaking the fast Little Su River. Really!

And he was about to start just a little ways up from me. Umm this ought to be interesting as the ducks had flown off, why not get some pictures of someone actualy kayaking down the Little Su while it's high from melting snows. Thus the show began and for the next couple of hours I was able to observe and photograph a young man enjoying himself in his kayak on one of the wildest rides I have ever seen. The entertainment was so good following this kayaker down the river taking only pictures from the edges, then quickly hopping into the truck and speeding down to another spot to catch him before he passed me. When the run was over I had asked the young man if he was tired? No, he replied and I had offered to take him and his kayak back up the river to start again. This time I was more than ready to capture twice the pictures from the first run down. Watching this young man at work, how he picked his path through the rocks and the white water was amazing. I had watched from shore how he started down twisting and turning dropping down hitting the splashes, the power of the river engulfing him and spitting him out.

This looked totally fun, though this type of kayaking is only for those who are a bit of a risk taker and adrenaline junkies. Both runs down through the rocks and white water was just stunning since I have never watched anything like this before. The results of shooting very rapidly captured intimate moments that even in a blink of the eye and you would have missed how this young man rode, bobbed his way in an out of the white water. When the river is this high in the spring it is considered a class 4 river to run.

Somehow I could see myself doing this type of kayaking but then reflect on memories of the way I choose to kayak on a calm lake early in the morning, maybe listening to the call of the loon and the sun rising - feet kicked up on the kayak deck just drifting along soaking in my surroundings. I would have liked to capture more of this kind of kayaking and may do so in the future. At one point in my life I did have a canoe - Oldtown 17 foot and it had to be a green canoe! This canoe took me on many adventures and I wish I had it here with with me today. Most of the people I know who have had a canoe then a kayak don't go back to the canoe, simply said the kayak is much nicer to ride in, with good lower back support from the seat and you are able to pack some gear both in the front and back of the kayak for that weekend adventure get away. Thinking on the shorter, sportier kayak, where you must think quickly while bobbing down the boiling, churning white water avoiding rocks and drops that could turn you over and make for a not so pleasant kayak adventure. Umm, I think I will just stick with my style of kayaking adventures, cruising the lakes and rivers and still getting some darn good photos along the way. If you have never been in a kayak or tried one you just don't know what you are missing, as it is very popular here in Alaska. Next will be sea kayaking, trying for pictures of seals and floating sea otters and well whatever the sea adventure produces (whales). Give it a try I'm sure you too will like it as much as we do over the summer months. Well it's off to the next adventure, Denali National Park to work the road for 10 days of adventure seeking out the wildlife that roams through out the park. I hope all your summer adventures are just the best, taking pictures along the way to record and share with others who are not as lucky as you!

Hey see you down the trail somewhere

Buford T. Porcupine

Scouting Signs of Spring

Hello all springtime trail buddies.

I thought winter was just never going to leave us up here. When spring finally did arrive, everything was just a buzz with activity. It only took about a week for the buds on the trees to start popping and turning green. Much of April was spent scouting out old locations, and of course timing is everything right now. Trying to be in the right spot at the right time is a difficult thing to accomplish when there are so many places to look! While scouting along the Little Su (a river that flows out of the mountains), I suddenly came across a great find – a pair of common mergansers resting on some ice along the river.

I pulled the truck over and exited quickly, grabbing the “big lens” and took off on a fast walk to get whatever pictures I could. It has been my experience in the past with these ducks that the only time you get to see the male is strictly in the springtime. The male, as well as the female, are very skittish and don’t really like the company of the two legged variety, whether you want to just watch them through binoculars or take photographs of them. Many times they will fly off well before you even get remotely close enough to get a good shot. So one just has to use all their instincts and sneak up to get as close as you can before being detected. When I have been in my kayak I still encounter the same problem, trying to float in as quietly as possible before they fly off. Well, as you can see, I was successful this time and was extremely happy with the end results.

Another scouting adventure led me up into the mountains. Though there was still a lot of snow on the ground, I was hoping that a few of the beaver ponds would have some openings in the ice. Turns out, my timing was just about right! Approaching one of the beaver ponds by way of the bumpiest road that one could possibly find, I could see a pair of ducks. As I drove closer I was ecstatic to find they were Barrow’s Goldeneye ducks.

These ducks are bottom-feeders, diving underwater to capture prey on the bottom of lakes and ponds. A good practice to get in is to research the wildlife that you are going to photograph. This will let you know where to look for them, their behavior and other important things that you might like to know. Also knowing how to photograph the Barrow’s Goldeneye is a big advantage. I drove past the beaver pond and turned the truck around and headed back toward the pond so I could shoot from the truck window. Now, like I said, this type of duck is a bottom-feeder, so I took a few shots from the truck window for identification purposes then I would watch and wait until they would dive underwater and I would move quickly as possible from the truck to get in closer for a better shot. Once the Barrow’s Goldeneye returns to the surface, if you have planned and worked it just right, you should find yourself in a much better position. I find these ducks are much more acceptable to people than the common mergansers, but restricting your movement is still a good practice. This pair of ducks performed wonderfully for me as I continued to record their every movement. After some time well spent observing each other, the show was over and the ducks flew from the pond. I, too, left – grateful for the opportunity they had given me.

So back to the truck and on down the road I went, searching for more signs of spring. Moving into higher elevations, snow still covering most of the ground with some signs of brush poking through the snow, I once again came upon another great photo opportunity. When scouting, it always helps if you drive slowly and listen to the sounds of nature. As I rounded a bend in the road, there to my right was a pair of Willow Ptarmigan just off the road.

This is the time of year when the males are chirping for the females to try and find a mate. Both the male and female still had their winter plumage with signs of spring feathers coming through. The male was still mostly white, the neck had changed to brown and he had the red eye patches above the eyes. The female, was a little further off the road, but still within good shooting distance was still dressed in her white winter plumage with a few brown feathers coming out around the neck. Once again, I had the opportunity to record more signs of spring. Slowly moving from the truck and laying my lens across the hood to photograph this wonderful sight. I chose the male first, shooting off several frames. Then angling toward the female – which I actually found more interesting, took many shots of her. Then it was time to really work these birds; I went back for the tripod, mounted the lens and shot to my heart’s content. After about 20 minutes with these birds, the male pushed toward the female, moving her back, too far for me to get anymore good shots and eventually flying off in another direction. I always tell myself, “Count your blessings”! The fact that I even got to see the ptarmigans was amazing, as I didn’t see any all winter long.

Well, the sun is getting high in the sky and the light is getting too flat for me – time to head home. I slowly made my way down off the mountain, riding alongside the swollen Little Su (from the melting snow), searching for maybe another waterfowl opportunity or signs of any other birds. Bouncing down the rough weathered road that had been covered by many months of snow and ice, I reflected on what a wonderful morning I had just encountered on my scouting adventure. With the longer hours of light that comes with the spring, I always seem to get up early. As was the case on this day, I rose at 4am and was out of the cabin by 5am to go on my early morning scouting adventure. The early mornings are a great time to get out and listen and watch whatever wildlife I can find. I hope all of your springtime adventures are keepers like mine. In the end, the memories in the pictures you bring back to share are well worth the effort and knowing that those people who can’t get out and get into the wild will appreciate the work you have done (they may not be as dedicated to getting up at such crazy hours as I am!!)!

Hey, take care all, see you on down the trail somewhere…

Buford T. Porcupine

End of an Era

Hello all trail buddies,

End of an Era. All good things must come to a end sometime. Homer, Alaska down on "The Spit" is where a lot of photographers from the lower 48 as well as abroad have made many trips to see and view bald eagles at their best. With that being said, the lady everyone knew down on the spit, Jean Keene, also known as the "Eagle Lady" passed away in January due to failing health. She was in her mid 80's. Jean started feeding the eagles over 30 years when she first arrived in Alaska. She lived in a very small house trailer off a campground that over the summers was used for the return of the summer RV'ers. As the season ended and winter set in, bald eagles from all over would return for the winter where Jean would provide daily feedings for many eagles each day. Feeding shortly after sunrise. She was licensed to feed the the bald eagles up to the year 2010, but due to her failing health and her death, the feeding has, as of the end of March, come to an end. I first read about the Eagle Lady in a book written about her and her life by another photographer (The Eagle Lady).

Chances are that many of the pictures that you see of bald eagles were taken up here in Homer, down on the spit. Year after year the eagles would return to Homer for the winter months. Jean was quiet about her life, preferring to be left alone and go about her business of feeding the eagles over the winter. Over time I'm sure, as word got out slowly over the years, photographers from all over would make the trip up to Alaska visiting Homer with one thing on their mind. To photograph all the bald eagles that would make their daily visit waiting for herring to be tossed out to the waiting eagles.

If you were one of the lucky ones asking permission prior to the feeding, Jean would grant you permission to photograph the ealges from within her fenced area, placing you very close to the action once the feeding began. For all other's you would have to stay in your vehicle and take picture's that way. Many photography groups from all over have come up for some of the best viewing that there will ever be. I personally made the trip down to Homer serveral times. As morning would break, eagles magically apprear sitting on everything from lamp posts to many of the buildings waiting - knowing when to fly in once the feeding began. Imagine seeing upwards of a couple hundred bald eagles all up and down the beach as well as sitting on many of the stumps placed waiting for the daily feeding to start. Once the feeding begain, eagles flew in from every direction. Eagles of all age groups would be in a frenzy to get their share of the herring. Many times I witnessed eagles fighting over a fish, chasing each other out over the ocean trying to get the fish from another eagle.

The eagle feeding would last about one hour after that one could take advantage of up close eagle portraits sitting on many of the parking stumps. Some days you had good light other days came with the overcast morning and you would just have to make the best of the situation. So, Destiny and I had to make one more trip down to Homer and take in the last best premeire viewing of bald eagles that will ever be. Rules were a little more relaxed with Jean gone, as we were able to stand off to the side in a line of many, many other photographers from all over. I met a younger man named Rene', who came from Holland, first time ever to Alaska, I'm sure he will come back for more adventures. Thirty years later, eagle feeding as most of us have known it, has come to a complete stop, never to be repeated. Sadly, throughtout the Homer community Jean will be missed and mixed emotions felt as all the photographers that visited over the 30 plus years brought money to the restraunts and hotels over the winter months when tourism was at its slowest. Jean's trailer is being moved and all remaining fencing and some of the stumps many of the eagles sat on were to be bonfired on Friday the 27th of March. Over the four days of, we shot every morning and into late Saturday evening well into sunset - totaling 2844 images of the bald eagles. It was extremely hard to find just the right pictures to go along with this story with so many taken. Well to say the least it has improved my eagle stock of pictures. Jean will be sadly missed, though I'm sure after 30 years, she found all the photographers to be a odd bunch of people who came to see her feed the bald eagles.

I hope all is well for you all and that your Spring is well on its way, as our Spring will not be far off either.

See you down the trail,

Buford T. Porcupine

Breaking the Ordinary

In the midst of our present situation I feel perplexed sitting in my rocker by the fireplace listening to all of what this country is going through. If you are one of the fortunates and still working congratulations. For others their future seems bleek with no direction. Though many of you are seeking to stay afloat by whatever means. As bad as these times my be, taking a little time out of your ordinary day for yourself might be just what the doctor ordered.

Hello all trail buddies, Febuary now past us, winter from here looks like it will go on forever by the amount of snow I have around the cabin. Try shoulder high lined on both sides of the drive going out. Over this winter it has seemed all I have done around this cabin is photograph the birds with little venturing out anywhere else. The birds over this winter since the beginning of snow fall, which was back in October, has been something more than spectacular. Now into the first few weeks of March, the few red polls that came for a daily visit back in the beginning of the season have multiplied into outragous numbers that have made the other varieties of birds go else where. Although I still photograph the red polls I just got to a point I couldn't take another picture of them!

One sunny Sunday at the tail end of Febuary, I just had to take a break out of my ordinary day and go on a road trip out of the area for the day. Packing the camera and snowshoes, we were gone. The problem is in any direction adventure awaits you, depending on what it is one would like to do. So as always, head...north. On down the road we went. Making our way towards and into the bounaries of Denali National Park. The more north you go the deeper the snow gets. What a sight to see Mt.Mckinley on a warm sunny day at 26 degrees. Days like this one seemed to go on forever. We came upon the only "real" rest stop on the Parks Highway and at this point in our venture it was a good place to stop and photograph some of the landscape and experience some of the deep snow. So one can only wonder why you would bring snowshoes and not use them right away. This was my experience following what I thought was a trail past the outhouse slowly creeping out only to suddenly find snow giving away, sinking waist deep in snow. We had a good laugh about it and Destiny tho't it was picture worthy. I retreated for the truck with snowshoes on my mind. Once back out onto the snow, taking pictures of the lanscape, Destiny moved around me over by the visitor building where she stood, her head higher than the roof line. Most of the time I don't miss a beat, this time I did as Destiny's eyes had lead her to a white birch tree where she noticed an owl of sorts up at the top. Oh! look she says: an owl, well now, how do you know that's an owl? How many birds do you know where the head turns almost all the way around? Well at this point I had taken 3 shots of Destiny, so more shots of Destiny or the owl? Sorry, but you all know where I headed - back to the truck to check out the previously unnoticed owl. Binoculars in hand looking at the owl, to much amazment it was a Northern Hawk Owl! Oh was this exciting - the first time ever for seeing such an owl as this. The fact that the owl was out during the early afternoon with a slate blue sky (a little windy) sitting in the top of a birch tree - was beyond anything I could have wished for on this day. I dared not to miss a second. Getting the camera out and get everything I could to record this wonderful owl opportunity. Long story short, some 145 pictures later from 3 different spots I was just ecstatic! So as bleek as our present situation may be, maybe taking a day out of the ordinary and conditioning your mind and body both mentally and physically, somewhere out of the area just might put you in a better frame of mind. He did for me. And spring isn't that far off with new opportunites as each month passes.

Wishing all you trail buddies a glorious Spring, with many outdoor adventures to come.

Buford T. Porcupine

Minus 22 Degrees

Burrr...the last week of December well into January left us with very cold temperatures. I suppose I should be used to it by now. One sunny afternoon I just had to go out for a walk, watch a few birds as well as take in some scenery. Everything at minus 22 degrees is frosted including myself.

Frost seems to attach itself to everything when it is well below zero; making the landscape a sight to behold. The farther north you go, the colder it gets - temperatures reach minus 50s in Fairbanks to minus 60s in remote villages in Alaska. When does one ever get used to it? I guess it's something you have to deal with if you choose to live the Alaskan life. Life goes on though, one blessing I can count on at these temperatures is the birds. They have to eat more but don't move too much, rather sitting on the branches puffing their feathers out to stay warm and there I am out there in the cold taking a few pictures. Honestly camera batteries at those temps don't last that long either, changing out the battery every half hour placing it inside a deep pocket to warm up and pulling out another one to get a few more shots of the birds. Is it worth it - standing out there, experiencing those temperatures? Na, but I have done it repeatedly.

Sparky the Alaskan snowman, born at the end of November, helped us feed our birds until a recent weather warm up, in which he was partially lost. The full moons in December and January made the night-time look like daytime. The moonlit landscapes at night almost come off as eerie, casting long shadows drawn out from the trees as the moon moved throughout the night. The moon in both December and January was the closest that it will be to the earth this year. So naturally I just had to go out at night, mind you - full moon, stars out, temps well below zero and get a few moonlit pictures of Sparky the Alaskan snowman. Now all that cold weather has left us (for now) and you all have it down in the lower 48, as well as the snow hanging out in the Midwest area. I must admit it sounds comical listening to people from Chicago to the eastern states complaining about the wind and weather at 3 degrees and the amount of snow. Try visiting Alaska when first snowfall is in October, staying well into April with snow still on mountain peaks. People - it's winter for heaven sakes. What ever complaining you should do isn't going to change it. Living here in Alaska at some of the coldest temperatures I guess has toughened me up around the edges and one just puts up with it even at minus 22 degrees in my neck of the woods.
I hope all of you are staying warm and surviving your winter where ever you may be. Throw another log in for me as I love the smell of wood burning in the ole fireplace.

See you on down the trail...

Buford T. Porcupine

2008 My Year in Review

Hello all trailbuds, I hope you all had as wonderful a Christmas as I did. Now on to the next one - about to turn a new year. Giving much thought as to what to write about ending this year and looking forward to the next year about to arrive, I threw another log into the fireplace and sat back down and drifted back and thought about what 2008 was all about for me here living in Willow, Alaska.

Looking back at all the adventures I went out on and reflecting on those memories through all the pictures taken. Some great memories as well as some great times. Over winter, as always, there are my friends I feed daily as well as watch and observe, photograph...the birds. Then spring came and I was allowed the opportunity to watch and move with 2 of the biggest bull moose, well into their spring antler growth, over several days of hanging around the cabin finding them both in the woods and again out in the meadow. Although I never felt endangered being so close to these big bulls, I found by talking to them in a quiet voice seemed to disspell any harm they might have felt by my presence. At one point following them out in the meadow, one of the bulls had turned to look at me as If I was lagging behind and needed to catch up to them. A great experience, well remembered. Spring into summer also brought a lot of rain for us up here in 2008. Which was disappointing, thus keeping us off the lakes pursuing the many variety of waterfowl, from the loons to other types of ducks. We did get some breaks here and there where I was able to catch up with the loons, both common and pacific loons, and get some darn good pictures out of them. Other adventures lead us down to the Valdez area and into a National Park larger than Denali, a place called Wrangel-St. Elias Nantional Park. One could realy get lost down there as the town of McCarthy has no goverment. More land than one could imagine. Still most of the summer up here was more rain than we cared to deal with. And with all that rain, the leaves stayed on just a bit longer before falling to the ground. Denali National Park was nice to drive the 90 plus miles seeing the interior of this park as well as some of the caribou and dall sheep along the way. With all the rain I knew we would be getting early snow and we did the first week of October. 2008 I could honestly say was about all the rain we received as well as the amount of snow, judging the snow depth around the cabin - snowshoes should seriously be considered before venturing out for the day's adventure. I have encountered friends diagnosed with prostate cancer to losing an aunt to cancer as well. I count my blessings everyday with living my dream here in Alaska. While the lower 48, as well as the Nation, seemed to have its own set of problems, I am sure it will slowly catch up to us up here in Alaska. These past couple weeks around the state of Alaska have been hit with some very cold record temperatures. As always, I record the daily temps and compare them to those from last year. It realy isn't that much fun at minus 18 degrees, waiting to minus 11 degrees to go out and photograph the birds.

Ah yes, it too may be about the birds in 2009 as well! Since October the birds up to now have been a lot of fun to work and watch. Now as I put my thoughts into the remaining day of 2008, the temps are dipping down into the minus 25 and minus 30s range around the cabin, thus putting more logs on the fire, umm...the warmth. Well I hope for all of you, the ringing in of the New Year will get better for each of us.

I have to apologize to all my trail buds as I have kept a secret from you! Over the past 3 years I have been sharing many of my adventures with an Alaskan gal who also has the same interests and love of the outdoors as I do. Her name is Destiny! There are now 2 rocking chairs by the fireplace. Destiny and I finally took the leap and got married after 2 adventure filled years and as of August we have been married just over one year. Here's to more fun and outdoor adventures down the trail.

Wishing you all just the best where ever you might be. See you on down the trail...

Buford T. Porcupine