Even though it's 4-20 it doesn't look like the temperature will get very high today. I woke up to a couple inches of fresh snow and more is on the way.
Have a great Saturday out there!
Colin
Feather Detail
After photographing this pair of swans in the same small body of water for five consecutive springs, it can be difficult to come up with new and interesting compositions. In this instance, I decided to let go of the big picture and just appreciate the exquisite detail in the feathers.
Have a great day out there and maybe try look at a familiar scene from a new perspective...
Colin
Drooling Swan
Here's a new swan image to start out the new week! This is one of the last photos I took of the pair before they continued northward on their migrational journey. Have a great Monday out there and thank you for following along!
Colin
Farewell, Swans...
Fun Friday Fact: More than half of North American trumpeter swans breed in Alaska, Northern British Columbia, and the Yukon Territory during summer months. It appears that this pair has left the Nature Center and moved on toward their summer nesting grounds. Typically they stay here from 2-4 weeks and I have to assume it is the same pair that returns each spring. They're always a welcome sight and I look forward to their return next year.
Have a great weekend out there!
Colin
Bathing and preening shortly after their arrival two weeks ago.
Young Lynx
Here's a bit of cuteness for your day - young female lynx, March 2019.
I just can’t get enough of these creatures!
Colin
Classic Car and Horse Carriage, Havana, Cuba
Hola!
I have gotten around to editing through my images from Cuba and added them to my website, if you'd like to peruse: https://www.colintyler.com/travel#/cuba-2019/.
Also, I will soon be posting my 2020 Cuba photo tours once I have worked out all the details! I will likely offer a 7-day tour as well as a 10-day tour with an optional day of yoga before going to Viñales.
Finally, I have an update on the camera gear that was damaged in the river near Trinidad, Cuba this past February. I sent it all to Nikon for evaluation and it turns out that both camera bodies and one of the three lenses are repairable. I received my D850 back yesterday and it seems to be working great! Not knowing what the status would be, I had arranged for another D850 to be brought down to me in Cuba so I now have two of them.
That is all for now. Have a great day out there and thank you for following my adventures!
Colin
Happy Unicorn Day!
It has come to my attention that April 9 is Unicorn Day (it's a real thing, check it out: https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/unicorn-day/). I've said before that I believe in love, I believe in magic, and I sure believe in unicorns, which is why I was able to capture this image near Hofsós on the northern coast of Iceland last year.
Have a magical day and be sure to mark your calendars for the next big holiday - Hug a Sheep Day, celebrated annually on the last Saturday in October (also a real thing: https://happydays-365.com/…/national-hug-a-sheep-day-octob…/)
Colin
Fourteen Hours!
We have officially passed 14 hours of daylight in Southcentral Alaska! Less than three months ago, the sun did not rise above these mountains; soon they will be glowing in the evening sun until almost midnight.
Have a great Monday out there and thank you for following along!
Colin
www.colintyler.com
More Lynx Photos
I have come to the conclusion that I could never have too many lynx images. Here is another from last month. Judging from his expression, I do believe he was just as enthralled with me as I was with him.
Happy Wednesday out there. We're halfway to the weekend!
Colin
Wildlife Morning
Last week I had one of my most memorable wildlife encounters since taking up residence here at the Nature Center. I watched a bull moose cross the creek between the viewing decks while a pair of trumpeter swans was upstream and moving toward the Salmon Viewing Deck, where I was standing. Just as the swans turned a corner and headed my way, I heard something behind me and looked back to see a lynx run across the entire length of the viewing deck and off into the woods past the moose! Unfortunately the lynx didn't present an opportunity for a photo but the memory of the event will always remain with me.
All in all, it was a nice start to the day and a solid reminder of why I choose to live here!
Colin
Bull Moose crossing the creek at the Eagle River Nature Center
Trumpeter swans at the Eagle River Nature Center
Twenty Three Years...
Looking back, I have to wonder if penguins ever regret not developing the ability to fly. In any case, I guess it's a bit late at this point...
Happy Monday out there! Here's a tidbit of information for you - it was 23 years ago today that I loaded up my Toyota pickup and began the drive from my home state of Minnesota to my soon-to-be new home, Alaska. That was literally half of my life ago and because of that move, I have experienced more than lifetime's worth of adventures and wildlife encounters- no fooling!!
Colin
Return of the Trumpeters
It's a sure sign of spring when the swans return on their northward migration. The weather forecast in south central Alaska is looking great for the days ahead. Have a wonderful weekend and get out to enjoy the sunshine if you can!
Colin
Happy Spring!
Well the last day of winter brought us an inch of fresh snow followed by a break in the clouds - a nice change from the grey days we've had recently. Let's see what the first day of spring has in store.
Happy Vernal Equinox to those north of the equator and Happy Autmnal Equinox to those in the Southern Hemisphere!
Colin
Kia Ora, New Zealand
"People make magic happen." Graffiti with a positive message. Today my thoughts go out to the people of New Zealand after yesterday's senseless act of violence. I took this in Christchurch five years ago and it's a good reminder the resilience of the Kiwis. This was taken in one of the cordoned-off sections of the city following the 2011 earthquake. Despite the loss and damage, the people of Christchurch came forth to rebuild and move forward after that tragedy and I have not doubt they will do the same now.
Kia ora,
Colin
Signed & Numbered Lynx Prints with 2020 Aurora Calendar
It's been a monumental week here at CTP after returning from an adventurous month in Cuba - my Facebook page just surpassed 4,000 likes, thanks in large part to the lynx photos I've shared over the past few days! I'm also happy to announce that I landed a photo in the 2020 Aurora Borealis Calendar from Todd Communications. I've had some inquiries about purchasing copies of the lynx photos so I am making an offer for the first ten Artist Proofs of two different photos, signed and numbered, "Sitting Lynx" and "Yoga Lynx" - a 12x18" glossy print AND a signed aurora calendar (my photo is on the month of January) for $95 OR you can get both lynx prints and a calendar for $170.
Below are the links for the lynx😄😄 - click the title or the image to reach my online store. Thank you all for following my journeys, sharing my photos, and allowing me to continue to do what I do. Feel free to share this email!
Colin
More Lynx Poses
Here are a couple more lynx photos from last Sunday - “Resting Lynx Face” and “Yoga Lynx.” Fun fact: Many yoga poses were learned (and named) from observing animals. Here a lynx demonstrates a nearly perfect "Downward Dog" pose. If I were to critique this lynx, I'd say drop the shoulders, lower the head, and keep pushing those hips toward the sky!
Namaste,
Colin
Resting Lynx Face
Yoga Lynx
Welcome Home Lynx
No matter where my travels take me, it's always nice to return to Alaska and even nicer to be welcomed home by one of my favorite animals. We had some lynx activity over the weekend - what appeared to be an adult male (pictured here) who was trailing an adult female with two kits in hopes of mating. So far she seems to have resisted his advances.
Happy Monday!
Colin
“Mi amigo primero y mi guía siempre.”
“Mi amigo primero y mi guía siempre.”
“My friend first and my guide always.”
I’m currently on my way home from Cuba and during my time there, I absorbed enough Español to create at least one meaningful and grammatically correct statement; a tribute to my guide and good friend, Gelin Eguinosa. He was our guide on my first trip to Cuba and I was sure to request him for both of my photo tours this year. You’d be hard-pressed to meet a kinder man who handles every situation, even the inevitable moments of adversity, with his level of thoughtfulness and professionalism. He’s knowledgeable in La historia de Cuba (Cuban History) and, of course, always knows the best cliff-jumping spots! As long as he is available, Gelin will guide my tours.
Speaking of tours, there are a number of people interested in registering for the “2020 Cuba Photo Tour.” Once I am home and settled in I will work out the details of next year’s trip and share the information. My plan is to continue leading these tours in Cuba while my hope is that we will be able to continue to visit and become acquainted with one of our closest neighbors. When governments fail to negotiate, citizens on both shores suffer. This leads me to my second meaningful statement en Español: “Puentes no muros.” or “Bridges not walls.” May we continue to build bridges by removing societal barriers and increase the exchange of ideas, goods, and goodwill.
Until next time, Cuba,
Hasta pronto!
Colin
Viñales Sunset
The sun is setting on my time here in Cuba. Four weeks of leading tours, embarking on new adventures and visiting old haunts, making new friends and dealing with occasional adversity goes by pretty fast. I have every intention of returning and already have a number of people ready to sign up for next year’s tours.
This was taken in Viñales last night, where we were treated to a tour of local farms and finished up with a beautiful sky to end the day. Today we returned to Havana and I fly out tomorrow, along with the last of my second group. I’ll have more to share as time allows. Until then, hasta pronto!
Colin
Cuba Farm Tours
Hola, amigos! My second group arrives mañana and it will be back to business for the rest of my time here. Aside from seeing the sights and scenery, my tours include visits to local farms where you can sample and acquire locally made honey, coffee, and of course, cigars and rum (if you're into that). These were taken in Viñales last week at our hosts' family farm. I have every intention of scheduling photo tours in Cuba again next February and already have a number of people who are ready to sign up. I'll work out the details and post them after I return. Until then, hasta luego!
Colin
