With the 20+ winds, the falling and fallen snow whipped about the truck putting us in a near whiteout! We were near Grizzly Point and going nowhere, way off in the distance we could see the NPS groomer slowly making its way towards us. All we could see were its two lights “floating” above the snow off in the distance, the only thing telling us what it was. There we sat parked. Then off to the left, a pair of infatuated Coyotes came up a rise and appeared out of the blowing snow a short distance out. The truck was white but I can’t believe they didn’t know we were there. It didn’t seem to matter to them so I put down my window. Snow came flying in coating Sharon & my lap with fresh snow. I stuck the 180-400VR with Z 9 attached out the window and pointed it at the pair. I was too late, they were already tied, it happened really, really fast (tied = copulating). By the time I had hit the AF-On button, the male was already celebrating. What could I do but take the photograph. As I rolled up the window, I asked, “got a cigarette”?

My first experience with the Forest Phantom was in the Canyon region of Yellowstone nearly forty years ago. The encounter lasted less than five minutes but I will never forget those five minutes. Shooting handheld with a Nikon F3 / 800f5.6, I came back with 3 frames, not one is even close to being in focus. I still have those 3 frames in the slide files. Next, we found ourselves closer to home watching The Phantom in the meadows of Yosemite’s high country. That took us to the Blue Mountains of Oregon to photograph them nesting. This was all in the days of film and while the desire and passion to spend time with The Phantom has never wained, the calendar just didn’t want to cooperate.
For the last three years I’ve ventured to Sax-Zim Bog in part to see The Phantom again, experience the calm and silence it brings to a forest. Last week, I finally was able to experience their presence again. The Great Gray Owl is our largest (but not heavest) owl in North America at thirty inches in height. The huge facial disk permits it to hear little creatures scurrying about under nearly two feet of snow one hundred feet away. It literally does face plants as it falls through the snow to snatch its meal. You can see here it giving the snow its full attention as it listens for its opportunity to eat. Why the title The Phantom? Its plumage allows it to be swallowed up in the hues of its forest home. It makes no sound, not a stitch when flies while easily hiding through the branches of northern forests.
I woke up the other morning to our two resident Great Horned Owls calling, one perched over our water feature. I think they were there for not only the skunks that were drinking but to remind me that owls, including The Phantom, are in my own backyard. Yeah, nesting Phantoms are just across the valley from The Ranch. It’s on to do list. But so is going back to Sax-Zim Bog next year. I can’t wait until my next encounter with the Foreat Phantom!

I’ve always thought of them as the panic attack of the forest, as the Pine Martin is the perfect adaptation of a pine forest predator! A member of the weasel family, they have that family speed along with their love of life and appetite they take to the trees in search of their prey. Specializing in squirrels, the Pine Martin has no shame and will take advantage of civilization for an easy meal. Because they really don’t fear us (had one once inside an auditorium while I was presenting doing a better job than I entertaining) you can find them around us pretty easily.
We’ve watched them around our home and others as they dart back and forth. Spent two winters on snowshoes doing a research project with them. Had them pop up next to us while we were enjoying a picnic. In a forest where they are present, you just never know when and where they will appear. That’s part of their charm. We had a circus of six of them perform for us through the trees and around a dumpster they had made into a condo for themselves the other week. They put the Z 9’s AF to the test (but they weren’t fast enough for it) as I tried to photograph the circus in the trees. It was kinda like being at a skit range where you heard the word pull over and over again within seconds. It was the most fun I’ve had with them in a long time and the photos that came from the session, are a treasure. You have the opportunity, look the up and spend time with them, you’ll soon discover why I call them the jokester of the pines!