Unplanned Captures during the Whitetail Rut

How often do we go shopping for one item only to return with another?  Or take a trip to a particular destination only to make a side stop that becomes the highlight of the day.  The same happens to the wildlife photographer.

For the past few weeks I have been concentrating on photographing the whitetail rut, spending every available morning and evening setup and waiting in spots where I can expect a good possibility of a whitetail buck encounter.  While the encounters do happen there is also much more happening around me; so instead of ignoring the other wildlife activity I swing the camera into action and make some "unplanned" captures.

Carolina Wren

 

One evening as the sun was nearing the horizon a little Carolina Wren flew into a nearby tree and began singing.  Still photography cannot record the little bird's song but it can capture its beautiful form.

 

Carolina Wren Scolding

 

Another evening, cloudy this time, a wren perched nearby and began scolding.  The blur of motion in the wings and tail tells the story better than if the bird had posed for a sharp portrait.

 

 

White-breasted Nuthatch

 

A white-breasted nuthatch landed nearby and sat motionless as it eyed me closely.  These little birds seldom stop for more than a moment.  This close encounter allow me to discover something unique about this individual bird.  Look closely and you will see that it has a crossed beak, something I did not notice until I was processing the image.

 

 

Downy Woodpecker

 

Here a downy woodpecker feeds on poison ivy seeds.  For years I though of poison ivy as just an obnoxious plant to be avoided.  Now after a few years of wildlife photograph I have learned that a number of wildlife species feed on its seed in late autumn and winter. 

 

 Just off the top of my head I can think of watching nuthatches, pileated woodpeckers, tufted titmice, juncos and flickers feeding on poison ivy.  Just this morning I was able to add wild turkey to the list as I watched a gobbler fly up into the low branches of a pine tree to feed on a vine that had grown up into the tree.

 

 

 

And no post about the rut is complete without a deer.  Since rutting bucks are the game a photo of a fluffy little fawn trotting through a frosty field is an unplanned capture as well.

In short, don't get hung up on a single subject when there is so much more happening around you.  Take the "unplanned" or "unexpected" shots when they avail themselves.  They may very well be the best captures of the day!

Incidental Subject: House Wren

As happens so often while trying to photograph one species another ends up giving the photo op of the day

House Wren scolding

I had noticed an old snag standing near a back road where I frequently spotted meadow larks singing.  Deciding to use the car as a blind I parked the car in a position where I could rest the lens on the window sill.  After waiting for a few minutes a house wren began scolding me from the top of an old fence post.

It soon became evident the wren had young inside the post.  Over the next hour the wrens carried insects and spiders to the young birds at the rate of 1-3 per minute.

Each time the wren arrived it perched momentarily checking out its surroundings

Before disappearing inside to feed the ravenous mouths impatiently waiting

The Meadow Larks refused to perch while I was there.  Twice a bird flew up about to perch and then wheeled away; apparently not trusting my auto parked nearby.  However the little wrens more than made up for the larks lack of cooperation.

Carolina Wren

After posting "travel" photographs for the past couple of weeks its time to post a local bird. 

The Carolina Wren seldom lingers in a one spot for long and is usually found flitting about on the ground under a canopy of low growing bushes.  When they do appear in the open it is usually at a bird feeder and even there they do not sit still for long.

I always strive to make wildlife photographs which contain only natural elements but even with our naturalized bird feeders these little birds normally elude me by flitting away as I am attempting to aquire focus.  After many missed tries this wren finally stayed put just long enough for one photograph.