It's Video Time!

Looking for wildflowers gets one outside. Out to areas where there are lot's of different living things. Creatures without green, shiny, hairy, or sticky leaves, or stickers that try to come home with you. Here are some fun video clips of otherly plant 'neighbors' we've seen in our plant seeking wanders.

 

The COOLEST thus far critter sighting in Roxborough Park on July 10, 2010 - 4:30pm. A less common species of fox, rare for Roxborough, with freshly caught dinner in it's mouth - and then some. Watch the clip in full screen and look closely. Do you see TWO critters in this fox's mouth?

Notes from WIKIPEDIA: The gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) is a mammal of the order Carnivora ranging throughout most of the southern half of North America from southern Canada to northern Venezuela and Colombia.This species and the closely related Island Fox are the only living members of the genus Urocyon, which is considered to be among the most primitive of the living canids. The gray fox is monogamous..

 

 

We saw this cool grouse-like bird at about 12,000' elevation coming down from the summit of Mt. Evans - June 24, 2010 - 7:00pm. It almost sounds like small yips instead of bird noises. Full screen not recommended for this clip.

September 16, 2010 update:

Thank you, Alexandria Zerbe, for giving us the identity of this species, and other interesting facts about it:

The grouse-like bird on your video section is a White-tailed Ptarmigan, Lagopus leucura.  You can recognize it because it is smaller than other grouses and always has a white tail and feet.  The birds turn entirely white in winter and are the only type of ptarmigan in the lower 48.  I took my photo on Mt. Chiquita in Rocky Mt. Nat. Park.  The birds often let you get quite close, because they trust to their camouflage. 

 

 

 

We were surprised by this quite tame Red Fox hanging out in the front yard of a small cabin on our way to Mt. Evans - June 24, 2010 - 4:46pm. Full screen not recommended for this clip.

Notes from WIKIPEDIA:

The Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) is a small canid native to much of North America and Eurasia, as well as northern Africa. It is the most recognizable species of fox and in many areas it is referred to simply as "the fox". The red fox primarily forms monogamous pairs each winter, who cooperate to raise a litter of 4–6 kits (also called pups) each year. Young foxes disperse promptly on maturity (approx. 8–10 months).