 |
posted: May 9th, 2025 |
This page begins with 9 photos taken from about the same spot, on either April 30th or May 1st, for the 9 years that Kazuya and I have been here. Click on any thumbnail to begin.
|
| Begin April 30th or May 1st Comparison Photos |
Perhaps you recall that I post this series of April 30th or May 1st photos, taken each year at about the same spot. Here are the photos for 2017, 2018, and 2019.
|
 Apr30Adj_iPhone _THE THAWRC |
 Apr30_1_2_3_AutoPano _Driveway_Yard_SnowRC |
 May1_1_2_3_AutoPano_ AtHome_2WebRC |
Here are the photos from 2020, 2021, and 2022.
|
 Apr30_3_ FromPorchRC |
 May1_2_3_SIPCrop_AutoPano_ FromPorchLookingSouthRC |
 Apr30_iPh_CropSIP_ ComparisonPhoto_PreviousYearsRC |
Here are the final 3 photos. They show 2023, 2024, and 2025.
|
 Apr30_iPhone_ AnnualPhotoUpDrivewayRC |
 Apr30_AnnualSouth LookingPhoto_CropRC |
 043025_65_66_SphPano_ SnowRemaining_TheThawRC |
| End Comparison Photos, Begin April 17th |
On April 17th we visited Creamer's Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge. It was not our first visit of this year, but it was our first visit when there were an abundance of birds. The first photo in this row shows Canadian Geese (Branta canadensis) and Trumpeter Swans (Cygnus buccinator). The second photo shows a group of Canada Geese coming in for a landing.
|
 041725_1_ CreamersFieldBirdsRC |
 April17th_020_ CreamersFieldRC |
Both photos in this row show Trumpeter Swans (Cygnus buccinator) in flight.
|
 April17th_080_ CreamersFieldRC |
 April17th_116_ CreamersFieldRC |
| End April 17th, Begin April 21st |
On April 21st we decided to drive up the Elliott Highway to Grapefruit Rocks to see if any Pasque Flowers (Pulsatilla patens) were yet in bloom. First of all, we looked up and down this short road into the area. This is the area of the Grapefruit Rocks Wildfire that burned through here in 2024. In the past one has never been able to actually see most of these rocks in the third photo, as there was a forest on the mountain and the rocks were mostly hidden.
|
 042125_01_ GrapefruitRocksAreaRC |
 042125_02_ GrapefruitRocksAreaRC |
 April21st_052_ GrapefruitRocksRC |
Here is one more shot that shows one of the largest Grapefruit Rocks. The second photo shows Wickersham Dome (at the tower that is barely visible) and was taken from the highway as we walked to the spot where we found Pasque Flower buds shown in the third photo.
|
 April21st_059_ GrapefruitRocksRC |
 April21st_060_ GrapefruitRocksRC |
 042125_03_GrapefruitRocks Area_PasqueFlowerBudsRC |
This was the earliest we have ever found any early indications that Pasque Flowers would soon be in bloom. The second shot shows Daniel taking photos of the buds.
|
 042125_04_GrapefruitRocks Area_PasqueFlowerBudsRC |
 April21st_012_GrapefruitRocks _PasqueflowerRC |
Here are two final photos that show these early Pasque Flower buds.
|
 April21st_028_GrapefruitRocks _PasqueflowerRC |
 April21st_036_GrapefruitRocks _PasqueflowerRC |
| End April 21st, Begin April 24th & 25th |
Now we are back at Creamer's Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge on April 24th. The first two shots show Trumpeter Swans (Cygnus buccinator), and the third photo shows a single Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis). A local bird guy told us that this scientific name may soon be changing.
|
 042425_3_Creamers FieldSwansRC |
 042425_5_Creamers FieldSwansRC |
 042525_02_CreamersField _SandhillCranesRC |
Here is one more Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis) and that is followed by a photo of some Canada Geese in flight. The third photo shows an abundance of birds.
|
 April25th_006_ CreamersFieldRC |
 April25th_021_ CreamersFieldRC |
 April25th_027_ CreamersFieldRC |
Here are 3 more photos of Trumpeter Swans (Cygnus buccinator). The third shot shows a pair of Trumpeter Swans in the act of mating.
|
 042525_07_CreamersField _TrumpeterSwansRC |
 042525_01_CreamersField _TrumpeterSwansRC |
 April25th_076_ CreamersFieldRC |
Here is one more shot of Trumpeter Swans mating and that is followed by a nice photo of the pair after they finished.
|
 April25th_077_ CreamersFieldRC |
 April25th_148_ CreamersFieldRC |
| End April 24th & 25th, Begin April 30th |
Now it's April 30 and we are again on the Elliott Highway at Grapefruit Rocks searching for Pasque Flowers (Pulsatilla patens). As you can see, we found them. This precise area was also inside of the Grapefruit Rocke Wildfire perimeter, but due to its steepness and lack of vegetation, the fire went through this area very quickly, basically burning the grasses and that was all there was to burn.
|
 043025_01Crop_043025_02Crop_ GrapefruitRocksPasqueFlowerRC |
 043025_05_GrapefruitRocks PasqueFlowerRC |
 043025_09_GrapefruitRocks PasqueFlowerRC |
Here are three additional Pasque Flower photos.
|
 043025_13_Grapefruit RocksPasqueFlowerRC |
 043025_16_Grapefruit RocksPasqueFlowerRC |
 043025_23_Grapefruit RocksPasqueFlowerRC |
And here are another 3 photos of Pasque Flowers. These shots were mostly taken with a telephoto lens from somewhat far away from the actual plants. That makes it easier to get these interesting shots.
|
 April30th_002_ PasqueflowerRC |
 April30th_004_ PasqueflowerRC |
 April30th_010_ PasqueflowerRC |
Here are 3 more amazing shots of Pasque Flowers taken with the zoom lens.
|
 April30th_019_ PasqueflowerRC |
 April30th_027_ PasqueflowerRC |
 April30th_051_ PasqueflowerRC |
In the first photo is Kazuya on a steep slope - these flowers only grow on steep south-facing slopes. One has to be extremely careful about slipping and falling here. The second shot shows Daniel, while the third shot again shows Kazuya.
|
 043025_50_Grapefruit RocksPasqueFlowerRC |
 April30th_078_ PasqueflowerRC |
 043025_53_Grapefruit RocksPasqueFlowerRC |
The first photo in this row shows the trail inside the intense fire area. Can you see how deeply this fire burned? The second and third shots again show Pasque Flowers.
|
 April30th_131_ PasqueflowerRC |
 April30th_048_ PasqueflowerRC |
 043025_11_12_AutoAlignAuto Blend_PasqueFlowerRC |
Here are the final 2 shots of April, more Pasque Flower shots.
|
 April30th_055_ PasqueflowerRC |
 April30th_066_ PasqueflowerRC |
| End April 30th, End April 2025's Photos, Begin Our Publications Links |
|
We'd be thrilled to have you buy one of our books. For additional information regarding any title please click the "General Information" tab on the "Our Books" button down at the bottom of this page. Click on any thumbnail to go to its Amazon.com webpage. |
|
| End Our Publications Links, End Page 1 of 1, April 2025 |
| Thanks so much for taking the time to look at the website this month. We hope that you found something which you enjoyed. You can use the e-mail link below to respond with any feedback you might have. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Link to Amazon.com (new window).
We get 2% of whatever you spend if you go to Amazon from this link!! Please shop on Amazon from here.
| If you would like to donate to our hiking & traveling fund or show your appreciation for our efforts you can donate through PayPal. A single donation will entitle you to request a single full-sized photo IN THE DONATION MONTH - which you may then use as a desktop wallpaper or whatever. The copyright will be retained by us and the photo will be inconspicuously marked with the copyright symbol (©), year and photographer's name. (Donation probably not tax deductible.) |