Coyote on the shore of the Great Salt Lake 1 – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/2500, ISO 640, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 242mm, natural light, not baited or called in
Not long after arriving at Antelope Island yesterday I heard the sound of Coyotes singing, it is a sound that always brings a smile to my lips and delights me. I couldn’t get any decent images of the pair of singing Coyotes on the island because there was too much dried vegetation in the way but it was fun to watch them even though they had stopped calling by then.
Later on; after leaving the island, I spotted another pair of Coyotes along the causeway and photographed them for a while. They were probably going to look for the leftover bits of ducks that the falcons leave on the shoreline of the Great Salt Lake.
Coyote on the shore of the Great Salt Lake 2 – Nikon D300, f7.1, 1/2500, ISO 640, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 257mm, natural light, not baited or called in
I enjoy photographing the Coyotes along the causeway because the setting there is so different from the prairie grasses and sagebrush habitat on the island itself.
Coyote on the shore of the Great Salt Lake 3 – Nikon D300, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 640, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 257mm, natural light, not baited or called in
The Coyotes look beautiful in their fluffy winter coats and the warm morning sunlight. I can’t wait to hear the Song Dogs sing again, it is a sound that should never be silenced.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to view more of my Coyote photos plus facts and information about this species.
Coyote is known as Iktomi, the trickster (also “teacher”….as a retired special Ed teacher, I’m not sure how I feel about that…should probably feel complimented). When they are on the chase, it sounds like there are a whole lot more than there really are…they can really “sing” up a storm! When I was traveling, they always played a important role in letting me know what was going to happen next…or so it seemed, anyway. Coincidence? Who knows. Sure happened a lot….
Tales of Coyotes are abundant in Native American lore, I enjoy reading those stories. When I head out into the wilderness I feel disappointed if I don’t hear them sing. Once a Coyote tuned me into a Short-eared Owl with its chicks in a field, I was grateful that the owl and a harrier were dive bombing the Coyote or I would not have seen the owl fledglings. The Coyote was chased away and the owls were fine.
Our singers tend to be bigger and huskies than their western brothers…and ave more wolf DNA. We hear thenpm sing on moonlit nights and when the fire whistle sounds. We used to have a lot of woodchucks, especially along the highways. I’d get the kids to see how many they could count when we”d go somewhere…seldom see any now”..
Oddly enough Patty I hear from my friends in AZ and NM that our Coyotes look larger and certainly fluffier than the ones there. With our cold and sometimes harsh winters Coyotes would need to put on heavier coats than in most places in AZ or NM. I adore hearing Coyotes sing and love seeing them in the field, especially when they are wagging their tails.
Wonderful post, beautiful coyote
Thanks Susan, they do look especially beautiful in their winter coats.
Mia, that facial expression in the second shot! Like a ‘wink, wink’ wile coyote. 🙂 What gorgeous animals and representations thereof!
Ingrid, I thought the Coyote looked like it was giving a ‘wink, wink’ wile coyote look too! Thanks so much for commenting.
Hi! I reached out and touched the picture! It’s fur and color and love the eye’s. It is so life like! I sure love your photo’s. And feel like it is in the room with me!!!!
Hi! I reached out and touched the pictgure! It’s fur and color and love the eye’s. It is so life like! I sure love your photo’s. And feel like it is in the room with me!!!!
I love those eyes too Mom, the color is very striking. I can picture you touching your screen! 🙂
Magnificent photos!
So perfect I cannot make a long comment!
Thanks Noushka, Coyotes are such wonderful subjects
What a handsome fellow (or gal??)! You’ve really captured his smile there… Beautiful creatures!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!
Thank you for your comment on these Coyotes images Nicole, they are beautiful creatures and such fun to photograph.
Are they beautiful, they have a cheeky look on their faces. Brilliant photography Mia.
Yes, they can look rather cheeky Bob! Thanks.
Azstu took the word out of my mouth… They surely are a handsome pair.
Thank you Merrill.
Really nice! The morning sun certainly highlights their beauty!
Thank you Wally!
Wow.
Outstanding!
Thanks Judy, I’m so grateful we get to see and photograph Coyotes as often as we do.
Awesome pics of the’yotes, Mia!
Thank you Matt, Coyotes are awesome!
Such handsome animals.. great start to my day to see these. thanks mia.
Thank you Stu! They really are quite handsome.