Tag: Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge

Twelve-Years Ago (29-July-2007) — Colorado

Summertime Nature in Colorado. Arapaho National Wildlife Preserve.

While visiting Arapaho National Wildlife Preserve in central Colorado, I heard what I thought was a hummingbird. But when I finally saw it discovered that it was a very large White-lined Sphinx Moth (Hyles lineata). It was feeding on the Purple Nettle Flowers. It never landed, and kept flying while feeding, and thus the hummingbird sound of rapidly flapping wings. I’ve been told that the large catepillars that the Sphinx Moth come from are voratious eaters that farmers hate.

Hummingbird Moth (also known as the White-lined Sphinx Moth, Hyles lineata). It is as large as a real hummingbird. Extracting nectar from a Nettle Flower. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs Camera and 70-200 mm lens with a 1.7x Teleconverter. (ISO 100, 340 mm, f/4.8, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)
Hummingbird Moth (also known as the White-lined Sphinx Moth, Hyles lineata). It is as large as a real hummingbird. Extracting nectar from a Nettle Flower. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs Camera and 70-200 mm lens with a 1.7x Teleconverter. (ISO 100, 340 mm, f/4.8, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)

Eleven-Years Ago (17-November-2007) — Colorado

Colorado Autumn Road Trip: Big Horn Ram Huddle.

I spotted several Big Horn Rams along Colorado 14 while driving back to Boulder from Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge. One day later I was on the Big Island of Hawaii attending a workshop run by Thom Hogan.

Big Horn Ram Huddle. Along Colorado 14 near Sheridan in Roosevelt National Forest. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 200-400 mm lens (ISO 100, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)
Big Horn Ram Huddle. Along Colorado 14 near Sheridan in Roosevelt National Forest. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs camera and 200-400 mm lens (ISO 100, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)


Individual images in the slideshow can be viewed here.

Ten-Years Ago (29-July-2007) — Colorado

Summertime Nature in Colorado. Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge.

Hummingbird Moth (also known as the White-lined Sphinx Moth, Hyles lineata). It is as large as a real hummingbird. Extracting nectar from a Nettle Flower. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs Camera and 70-200 mm lens with a 1.7x Teleconverter. (ISO 100, 340 mm, f/4.8, 1/1000 sec).

Hummingbird Moth (also known as the White-lined Sphinx Moth, Hyles lineata). It is as large as a real hummingbird. Extracting nectar from a Nettle Flower. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs Camera and 70-200 mm lens with a 1.7x Teleconverter. (ISO 100, 340 mm, f/4.8, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)
Hummingbird Moth Extracting nectar from a Nettle Flower. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs Camera and 70-200 mm lens with a 1.7x Teleconverter. (ISO 100, 340 mm, f/4.8, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)

Nine-Years Ago (04-May-2008) — Colorado

Springtime Nature in Colorado.

In addition to Rocky Mountain National Park, I also liked to go to Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge. It is a longer drive from Boulder, especially when the pass across the National Park is closed due to snow. The 23,464-acre wildlife refuge was established to provide suitable nesting and rearing habitat for migratory birds. Spring is a great time to visit as the migrating birds arrive when the snow in the wetlands is melting. There were a lot of birds, some I could identify and others that I need to identify. There were also a lot of prairie dogs, and a blind set up for a biologist to observe and study the prairie dogs.

Horned Lark in the wetlands of the Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/8, 1/1250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Horned Lark in the wetlands of the Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/8, 1/1250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Prairie dog in the wetlands of the Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/11, 1/200 sec). (David J Mathre)
Prairie dog in the wetlands of the Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/11, 1/200 sec). (David J Mathre)


Individual images in the slideshow can be viewed here.

Nine-Years Ago (17-November-2007) — Colorado

Autumn Nature in Colorado.

Eight Tundra Swans on a Windy November Day at Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D2XS camera and 200-400 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 400, 400 mm, f/8, 1/2000 sec).

alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Tundra Swans. Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D2XS camera and 200-400 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 400, 400 mm, f/8, 1/2000 sec). (David J Mathre)