It may have been an end to the day, but for the coyote it's probably only the beginning of another shift of hunting.
And although there may have been some "negotiations" between two coyotes as to which direction to take, eventually the second coyote won the debate and the first (and larger) one followed back into the meadow from which it came.
A coyote's coat in colouring & thickness can change between Winter & Summer. However, I have observed from the photos that depending upon the type of light whether it be from direct sunlight or cloudy days, during the same season the coat colouring can appear different. For example at sunset, the coyote's coat is truly golden (Photo #1 through 6).
I have included a photo of a coyote taken on January 16, 2024, on an overcast & snowy day, late afternoon. And now the coyote takes on an almost ghostlike appearance, with only some highlights of brown (Photo #7).
PHOTO #1
PHOTO #2
PHOTO #3
PHOTO #4
PHOTO #5
PHOTO #
PHOTO #7 - Taken on January 16, 2024