For the past six weeks or so we have been delighted by the nocturnal trilling song of a little boreal owl. I believe the male has claimed our little forested yard as his own. He sings almost every night from one of the old northern flicker cavities in the black spruce stand surrounding our home. With his little round head filling up the hole he serenades the darkness, or sometimes accompanies the glow and flicker of the aurora.
Click on the left side of the audio bar to hear the song of the boreal owl.
The boreal owl is a nocturnal hunter of voles, shrews, flying squirrels and small birds.
Once again I have made the trek into the sheep hills to photograph the majestic dall sheep. Its getting tougher, the mountains bigger, but fear if I ever quite, I’ll probably just keel over.
As I struggled up the mountainside towards the distant white dots, I paused on the edge of a deep canyon to catch my breath. From across the canyon and out of the deep green of the spruce forest came a shrill screaming. Sounding like the death scream of a snowshoe hare, just not quite. I had an idea what was making that sound. An hour later I stood among a group of ewes and lambs. Suddenly the whole herd spooked. They dashed to a ridge top and stared back down. Continue reading →
Overflow ice floods Rufus Creek as Aurora Borealis dance.
Rufus Creek flows through our ten acres of black spruce forest on its way North to the Slana River. The northern boreal forest is a patchwork of dynamic land forms and plant communities, niches that a few hardy species of wildlife can exploit. Diversity of life here is low but the species and settings are spectacular. Continue reading →
This post is in support of the recent story that appeared in the February 2016 issue of Country Magazine. The story is about our families life in Alaska. The following photographs are some that did not make the final layout in the magazine. Several Country Magazine readers have requested to see more photos. This is for you. Continue reading →
All summer and fall dall rams have shunned the groups of ewes and lambs. The rams prefer the high country where they hang out in small bachelor bands. With the approach of winter their association begins to fray as they begin to sort out a pecking order. The rams stand in tight groups, displaying their massive curls trying to intimidate. They kick, growl, shove, and finally engage in dramatic displays of head butting. For the most part dominance has been been sorted out when they join the herds of ewes and lambs already on the winter range.Dall rams Continue reading →
The aurora borealis displays are really picking up this year. After a few years of slow aurora activity its an exciting change and a great excuse for stay up late and snapping a few photographs. With todays wonderful digital cameras getting great aurora photos is easier than ever. I remember the day when I had only Kodachrome film with an ASA speed of either 25 or 64. Living in Alaska it could take more than two weeks just to get your processed film returned and check your results. Today you can snap a shot or two check the exposure using your histogram display, adjust your exposure if necessary and shoot away . You can be confident of what you’re getting. Continue reading →
Red squirrel carries mushroom which will be added to its growing winter larder.
Each fall in preparation for a long, cold winter red squirrels here in Alaska begin a frenzied gathering of food. Their hoarding behavior has very important survival benefits. Gathering food in the fall, before snows arrive will save time and energy. During the short days of winter red squirrels need to conserve their energy. When snows cover the forest floor red squirrels are more exposed to predation and the less time they must spend searching for food the better. Continue reading →
Red squirrels work overtime in late summer/early fall gathering mushrooms. I spent several days this week photographing them. Though red squirrels can be a nuisance around our wilderness home I try to tolerate them. Our current red squirrel seems to be satisfied living a life in the wild so as long as he minds his own business he is on the payroll. I discourage bad squirrel behavior such as chewing on the house and if they persist, they get that one way ride up to my mean old neighbor ladies place. And she handles red squirrels just like most of my neighbors do. Continue reading →
Fred Rungee, everyone’s favorite mountain man in these parts, passed away on March 27, 2015 after spending more than 70 years in the Alaskan wilderness. He was ninety-three. After retiring from the BLM as a fire management officer, he moved to a remote valley near Slana, Alaska and built a cabin. His cabin, “a short two and a half mile hike up the creek and then another half mile of side-hilling along the lake”, kept Fred fit and ever young at heart.
Fred’s beloved Lake in winter. He loved the solitude of those long winter months.
Fred’s’ cabin, perched on a bench of bedrock overlooking a wilderness lake, is bear-proof and beautiful.
One of Fred’s’ final days at his wilderness cabin.
The old cross-cut saw kept the bears out of a small outbuilding.
Fred’s bear story. To listen to the audio clip, click on left side of the bar. Volume on right side.
Fred loved his gray jays.
Walking the trail near his cabin.
“Sit down and have something to eat.” Guests were always welcomed with a bite to eat. Living mostly out of tins of food, Fred claimed to have “traveled several miles” around the tops of those tin cans with a can opener.
Our home in the wilderness.
