Sunset--9:45pm
The long days and vivid sunsets are back. It's wonderful.
Sometimes you just get lucky!
...and look out the back window at the right time. We've had a lynx family hanging around Bear Valley all winter, with lots of sightings. I've had people call to tell me they're in their yard and I've grabbed the camera and rushed out a couple of times, but never have caught sight of them. About 1 pm, Devany yells from downstairs "grab the camera, backyard!!!" I got out on the deck just in time to see this little female sitting in the trees right behind the house. From a pure photography standpoint the conditions were terrible, but who cares. It's a freaking Lynx in our backyard. How cool is that? I managed to grab a couple of shots before she headed off into the woods. What a treat!
Hello Moose!
The first moose we've seen in the yard this winter, which is rare, but it's been a tough winter on them, and there's really not that much to eat around the house that's easily accessible. There's much deeper snow than the past couple of winters and it's been colder, so glad to see a healthy cow that has made it this far. Now comes the toughest month for them; they've gone through almost all of their fat reserves and are just hanging on until things start to green up. Hopefully she makes it and gives birth to two or three little ones in May.
It feels just a bit Spring-ish :) Pretty sure it won't last.
We've warmed up into the mid-40s and the melt is on! We're far from over winter yet, but there's definitely been a change. Dramatic clouds this afternoon that look more Spring like than Winter snow-like :)
Oh, what a heavenly light--and night!
By far, the most intense, most active, and longest lasting aurora display of the season here in Anchorage. She started showing around 10:30 pm and then at 2 am this morning the aurora just exploded! At times the sky was completely filled with aurora from horizon to horizon in all directions. Wave upon wave of color, curtains, and spikes. Corona exploding directly overhead and raining sheets of colors.
Around 3 am, some puffy clouds began moving in, but they just added to the drama of the night. I finally had to give up around 3:30 am--just couldn't shoot anymore. As usual, I'm going to post way too many pictures, but I hope you like them. Trust me, you want to see these on a big monitor :)
