Post your lagomorphs! (rabbits, hares, and pikas)

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sandwedge wrote in post #19352989
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Yellowstone, Sheepeater Cliff, last May.
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That is so great to know that Pika still live there at Sheepeater!

The last time I saw them there, I believe, was 2013. . Have gone back many times since, waited for an hour or two, and not seen any Pika. I thought that the Sheepeater population had faded away to zero ... so great to know that isn't the case!
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sandwedge wrote in post #19352989
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Two things I found funny about photographing pikas there:

1) Standing there with my tripod and large lens, and having tourists walk up, look at me, then the rocks, then back at me with a puzzled look on their faces, and ...

2) later on one of the days, having six photographers with our thousands of dollars of camera equipment, all pointed at the rocks hoping the pika would re-emerge.
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Yeah, I notice the same thing. . Most wildlife photographers don't seem to be as interested in Pika they are in Wolves, Elk, Bears, etc., and I find that quite strange. . What is wrong with people?

I had a couple from France see me photographing at Sheepeater back in 2018. . They came there to find Pika, too. . In fact, Pika were one of the species they most wanted to see and photograph when they made their big trip to the United States.

Disappointed that there were no Pika to be found at Sheepeater, they asked me if they knew of anywhere else that they could find them with some reliability. . I was so excited that someone else cared so much about Pika that I packed up my gear and led them to my best Pika spot, about 8 miles from there. . As soon as we arrived we heard multiple Pikas cheeping, and over the course of the next 3 hours we found, observed, and photographed several Pika at very close range. . They were so excited to have had such an intimate close-up time with several Pika. . They even sent me an email when they got back to France some weeks later, to thank me for showing them where the Pika were.

Instances like that are rare. It was very encouraging to me to meet people who thought that experiences with Pika were even more desirable than experiences with Wolves and Grizzlies. . Great to see that there are at least a few other people who "get it". . We need more wildlife photographers who think and feel like wildlife biologists and naturalists, and less like common summer vacation tourists.

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sandwedge wrote in post #19352989
Yellowstone, Sheepeater Cliff, last May.

Two things I found funny about photographing pikas there: 1) Standing there with my tripod and large lens, and having tourists walk up, look at me, then the rocks, then back at me with a puzzled look on their faces, and 2) later on one of the days, having six photographers with our thousands of dollars of camera equipment, all pointed at the rocks hoping the pika would re-emerge.

IMAGE LINK: https://photos.smugmug​.com …1D-3053-5-XL.jpg&lb=1&s=A on Smugmug

IMAGE LINK: https://photos.smugmug​.com …1D-3844-3-XL.jpg&lb=1&s=A on Smugmug

IMAGE LINK: https://photos.smugmug​.com …201D-3889-XL.jpg&lb=1&s=A on Smugmug

IMAGE LINK: https://photos.smugmug​.com …201D-4670-XL.jpg&lb=1&s=A on Smugmug

Nice shots

Tom Reichner wrote in post #19353175
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That is so great to know that Pika still live there at Sheepeater!

The last time I saw them there, I believe, was 2013. . Have gone back many times since, waited for an hour or two, and not seen any Pika. I thought that the Sheepeater population had faded away to zero ... so great to know that isn't the case!
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Yeah, I notice the same thing. . Most wildlife photographers don't seem to be as interested in Pika they are in Wolves, Elk, Bears, etc., and I find that quite strange. . What is wrong with people?

I had a couple from France see me photographing at Sheepeater back in 2018. . They came there to find Pika, too. . In fact, Pika were one of the species they most wanted to see and photograph when they made their big trip to the United States.

Disappointed that there were no Pika to be found at Sheepeater, they asked me if they knew of anywhere else that they could find them with some reliability. . I was so excited that someone else cared so much about Pika that I packed up my gear and led them to my best Pika spot, about 8 miles from there. . As soon as we arrived we heard multiple Pikas cheeping, and over the course of the next 3 hours we found, observed, and photographed several Pika at very close range. . They were so excited to have had such an intimate close-up time with several Pika. . They even sent me an email when they got back to France some weeks later, to thank me for showing them where the Pika were.

Instances like that are rare. It was very encouraging to me to meet people who thought that experiences with Pika were even more desirable than experiences with Wolves and Grizzlies. . Great to see that there are at least a few other people who "get it". . We need more wildlife photographers who think and feel like wildlife biologists and naturalists, and less like common summer vacation tourists.

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Pika had been on my Yellowstone bucketlist for a while (trips in '16,'17, and '19). I made several attempts to see them at Sheepeater and the Hellroaring trailhead, and keeping my eyes open at other places. My first sighting was in 2020. It was a warm, sunny afternoon and I was hiking the trail that leads downstream from the "tourist" part of the cliff. It was such a nice day, I found a spot to just sit at the bottom of the cliff. I wasn't expecting to see anything when a pika popped up in front of me. I grabbed my camera, got a couple of marginal shots, and it quickly was gone.

The photos here were only my second sighting ever (and third if you consider they were taken on separate days) which made the experience even more special.

Kudos for helping the people from France have a sighting. And yes, that's one thing I love about Yellowstone: you run into like-minded people, which most of us don't in our everyday photographic endeavors (especially wildlife). And it's not just photography: My favorite non-famous thermal feature is a really small geyser at Norris called Vixen Geyser, which frequently erupts right next to the boardwalk. In 2020, I went by there and there was a senior lady sitting on the boardwalk with a notebook, watching the eruptions and keeping a log book of them. I thought that was awesome.

Capn Jack wrote in post #19353323
Nice shots

Thank you.

sandwedge wrote in post #19353434
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Pika had been on my Yellowstone bucketlist for a while (trips in '16,'17, and '19). I made several attempts to see them at Sheepeater and the Hellroaring trailhead, and keeping my eyes open at other places. My first sighting was in 2020. It was a warm, sunny afternoon and I was hiking the trail that leads downstream from the "tourist" part of the cliff. It was such a nice day, I found a spot to just sit at the bottom of the cliff. I wasn't expecting to see anything when a pika popped up in front of me. I grabbed my camera, got a couple of marginal shots, and it quickly was gone.

The photos here were only my second sighting ever (and third if you consider they were taken on separate days) which made the experience even more special.
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Thanks for sharing your Pika experiences with us!

It's great that you have prioritized Pika, and put so much patience and effort into finding them. . I have a place in the park - the same place I took the French couple to - that has been 100% reliable for Pika sightings and photo opportunities. . It is not uncommon to see 8 or 10 of them in a few hours. . I will send you a PM with precise location as soon as I am finished submitting this post.

I also shared this place with a newlywed couple from Arizona, who were going to honeymoon in Yellowstone and messaged me, asking for info on where to find Pika. . The next week they messaged back and told me that they found the location easily, saw several Pika there, and thanked me. . Said it was one of the highlights of their honeymoon!

Just glad to know that not everyone is fixated on the iconic megafauna, and that some folks are able to appreciate the less obvious, albeit very special, smaller species. . I'll do whatever I can to help people who are like that.

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Tom Reichner wrote in post #19353505
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Just glad to know that not everyone is fixated on the iconic megafauna, and that some folks are able to appreciate the less obvious, albeit very special, smaller species. . I'll do whatever I can to help people who are like that.

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Thanks again for the PM. Looking forward to checking it out.

I'll admit that I'm also a big fan of the megafauna. However, Yellowstone has so many interesting things and I try to see them too. Last year, I was one of several photographers shooting Harlequin ducks at LeHardy's Rapids and a tourist couple walked up and asked about them. As I was telling them why the Harlequins are so special, I looked down at the water and mid-sentence exclaimed, "Look! A Dipper!". I immediately grabbed my camera but it was soon gone. So then, I had to explain to them why a Dipper is so cool.

Most of the time, I like interacting with the average tourist when I'm there. Any small part I can play in enhancing their visit hopefully will lead to another person that appreciates and wants to protect the park. My favorite is when there's a bear or wolf way off in the distance, and a family is standing near me trying to see the "dot". In that circumstance, I usually have my 80D in video mode, which can digitally zoom in on the subject. I always offer to let them look at my camera's screen and get a good look at the animal. They are always surprised and thankful. There's no telling how many times they've asked, "Can I take a picture of the screen? (with their phone)" and of course I always say yes.

sandwedge wrote in post #19353536
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I'll admit that I'm also a big fan of the megafauna.
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Oh, yeah, I am too. . I get just as excited as anyone when a grizzly or a wolf presents itself at close range for quality photos.

I just don't understand people who dismiss everything else like it doesn't matter, or like it's beneath them. . All of the wild critters there are cool, and worthy of our interest. . And the funny thing is, the few folks who care greatly about the smaller less iconic critters like sapsuckers and beavers and jackrabbits and ducks are the ones who do better with grizzlies, wolves, elk, moose, etc.

If I see someone spending a lot of time (hours) photographing ground squirrels or grouse, then I know that they will have an extensive portfolio with many great photos of bears, etc. . Far better bear photos than the guy who traipses around the park ONLY interested in bears or wolves ... they're the ones who never seem to get many high quality photos of any wildlife.

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Tom Reichner wrote in post #19353545
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Oh, yeah, I am too. . I get just as excited as anyone when a grizzly or a wolf presents itself at close range for quality photos.

I just don't understand people who dismiss everything else like it doesn't matter, or like it's beneath them. . All of the wild critters there are cool, and worthy of our interest. . And the funny thing is, the few folks who care greatly about the smaller less iconic critters like sapsuckers and beavers and jackrabbits and ducks are the ones who do better with grizzlies, wolves, elk, moose, etc.

If I see someone spending a lot of time (hours) photographing ground squirrels or grouse, then I know that they will have an extensive portfolio with many great photos of bears, etc. . Far better bear photos than the guy who traipses around the park ONLY interested in bears or wolves ... they're the ones who never seem to get many high quality photos of any wildlife.

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I agree. And on a side note, photographing a grouse led to my all time favorite Yellowstone memory. I had been to the park a few times before, but 2016 was the first time I was really photographing the park. After 3 days in GTNP and no luck seeing grizzlies, I was in Yellowstone feeling a little disappointed. I was at Lake Butte Overlook and there was nothing going on, until I saw a grouse. I spent a good while following and photographing it. That delayed me long enough that as I was about to get in my car, I overheard a man say to his wife, "Are those grizzlies down there?" It was, and I spent the next hour shooting the bears known as Raspberry and Snow as they topped out the hill right next to the overlook sign display. It was an absolutely incredible experience, and I was instantly hooked on Yellowstone.

sandwedge wrote in post #19353536
Thanks again for the PM. Looking forward to checking it out.

I'll admit that I'm also a big fan of the megafauna. However, Yellowstone has so many interesting things and I try to see them too. Last year, I was one of several photographers shooting Harlequin ducks at LeHardy's Rapids and a tourist couple walked up and asked about them. As I was telling them why the Harlequins are so special, I looked down at the water and mid-sentence exclaimed, "Look! A Dipper!". I immediately grabbed my camera but it was soon gone. So then, I had to explain to them why a Dipper is so cool.

Most of the time, I like interacting with the average tourist when I'm there. Any small part I can play in enhancing their visit hopefully will lead to another person that appreciates and wants to protect the park. My favorite is when there's a bear or wolf way off in the distance, and a family is standing near me trying to see the "dot". In that circumstance, I usually have my 80D in video mode, which can digitally zoom in on the subject. I always offer to let them look at my camera's screen and get a good look at the animal. They are always surprised and thankful. There's no telling how many times they've asked, "Can I take a picture of the screen? (with their phone)" and of course I always say yes.

I generally enjoy having a chat with other photogs when we're out somewhere and watching something or looking for it; but, it's the casual passersby that can really make my day. On the day that I shot the images I posted earlier in this thread, a family that was hiking past our spot on the trail actually stopped to watch with us once we told them what we were watching for; so the whole family got to see 2 or 3 Pika come out and bound around between/through the rocks.

Another time, I had found a young (2-3yr) Bald Eagle, *very* calmly sitting at head height, and maybe 8-10ft off the opposite shoulder of a 2 lane back road. So, I drove past and made a U-turn to go park on the shoulder across to take some photos. A mini-van Mom, with a whole LOAD of kids drove by and slowed/stopped when she saw that camera to ask what had my attention. She, also, drove on ahead and then quietly looped back and bundled all 6 or so kids out of the van to come back and watch it with us. Everyone was respectful of the bird and quiet; and got to enjoy a very 'personal' time with a great bird, close enough to not need binos.

The "digital spotting scope" is one of my favorite field tricks, as well. Particularly for getting the younger crowd a better look at things, since they usually get roped in to trying to see "that little spot back there in the trees? That's an OWL". They love it and the parents/adults usually quite enjoy it as well. If they take the extra effort to ask about taking a pic of the rear screen, I ask for an email addy and will choose one of my better pics of the subject to send them after the fact [assuming pics are in the cards that day].

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Snydremark wrote in post #19353564
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..... so the whole family got to see 2 or 3 Pika come out and bound around between/through the rocks.
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That is so great!

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I just discovered this thread. I have a few pics that I had no idea where to post.

A hare. These are really big animals!
He came running my way. Didn't seem to see me at first.

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And a rabbit shot that I like. I took this outside the city. The place was crammed with them, rabbits everywhere I looked. But as always skittish. Except this fellow.
Taken last year with the R6.

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I am not a wildlife photographer and when I photograph a rabbit or hare it's always a kind of afterthought, because they're suddenly there and I have this camera. However, being aware of this thread now, I paid more attention to these critters, trying to shoot them more consciously, wanting to do a better job. So I was out shooting a few days ago and at a location that has lots of rabbits. And sure enough, they showed. Of course none of them would leave the comfort of the cluttered grass/tree line...

This one seems to have been in a fight.

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Levina de Ruijter wrote in post #19359094
I am not a wildlife photographer and when I photograph a rabbit or hare it's always a kind of afterthought, because they're suddenly there and I have this camera. However, being aware of this thread now, I paid more attention to these critters, trying to shoot them more consciously, wanting to do a better job. So I was out shooting a few days ago and at a location that has lots of rabbits. And sure enough, they showed. Of course none of them would leave the comfort of the cluttered grass/tree line...

This one seems to have been in a fight.

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forum: Wildlife

Fun, new contributions, Levina; thanks!

Levina de Ruijter wrote in post #19358388
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The place was crammed with them, rabbits everywhere I looked.
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That would be heaven for me! . Love them rabbits!

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Tom Reichner wrote in post #19359223
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That would be heaven for me! . Love them rabbits!

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Yeah, one problem though. They are very skittish. They don’t like humans. I will have to come up with a strategy to approach them without them fleeing into the cluttered mess from the photo.