Blue Jays

Not as confiding as most feeder birds, the Blue Jays will not visit the feeders unless I position myself some distance away.  Using a 400mm lens allowed me to take these photos with only a slight amount of cropping.

Slightly alarmed by the clicking of the camera shutter the Blue Jay gives me is undivided attention

And then crouches as it begins it's take-off.  Firing the camera on high speed continuous the next frame only contained the tips of the Blue Jays tail feathers.

The brilliant blue of the Blue Jay's plumage is the result nanostructures that form the feathers rather than actual pigment.  If you find a feather crush it between your fingers and you will see the brilliant blue change into an unremarkable gray.

Squirrely

The ubiquitous gray squirrel, loathed by some loved by others and hunted by a few, is a beautiful little critter that plants forest and never asks for a paycheck.

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David Grove Remembered

Adams County Pennsylvania Wildlife Conservation Officer David Grove, gunned down while protecting Pennsylvania's Wildlife.


Game Commision State Match 2004



Last night at around 10:30 pm David Grove 31 was shot and killed during a traffic stop involving poachers shooting deer. http://www.ydr.com/ci_16591021?source=most_emailed

The media nationwide is reporting the tragedy that occurred just two counties away near the historic Gettysburg Battlefield.  Googling David Grove WCO will provide up-to-date news of the incident.

I first met David when he was commissioned as a Deputy Wildlife Conservation Officer in neighboring Franklin County back in 2001.  During the following years we attended training sessions together.  My memories of David are of his fresh young face and his great sense of humor never missing a chance to good naturedly rib his fellow officers.

Our sympathies go out to David's family and to his fellow officers.

In Memory of Kisser, a Trusting Trophy

I first met Kisser during the 2007 rut

And again during the 2008 rut

2008

During the 2009 rut Kisser was King!

My last visit with him was in March of this year

Kisser never once showed any aggression or fear during any of these encounters.  I watched while he was approached by some, much closer than I would have felt comfortable with, and yet he was always the perfect gentleman.

Now he is gone, shot last Monday, the first day of the Pa Elk Season.  His antlers measured an amazing 14" circumference at the base.  A bull that was totally trusting of humans, spent time in the village of Benezette and thrilled elk viewers for a number of years is now a trophy.

Last year it was the 9X8, this year it was Kisser.  The sad legacy of killing the trusting Pennsylvania elk in the name of hunting continues.............

SNP: Third & Final Buck Encounter

Continuing from yesterday's post; after leaving the woods Willard & I decided to drive around some before bidding SNP farewell.  Some vehicles parked on the side of the road and a small cluster of people a short distance away alerted us to a very heavy racked ten point resting nearby.  He obviously was comfortable with people being nearby so we joined in. 

Moving around the buck allowed me to capture him along with the doe he was protecting.  When does become receptive it is common for the dominate buck to stay near her while keeping a sharp lookout for other bucks attempting to cut in.

A small eight pointer was staying close by and occasionly try to sneak in on the resting pair.  When this happened the big fellow would jump from his bed and with a rush and a grunt drive the amorous little fellow off.

After a few rebuffs the small buck took cover directly behind me and my tripod.  Whereas before he seemed very nervous after finding a measure of safely he relaxed and groomed himself extensively.   

The big buck, thankfully not wanting to plow through a photographer, stood his ground and watched.

Usually when taking a portrait shot I attempt to attain a clear unobstructed view of the subject but in this case I liked the added color of the red berries and intentionally set the shot up with a them falling across his nose and neck.  Do they add to the image or do they detract?  Tell me what you think.

In The Woods at SNP

After the rutting activity moved into the woods Willard & I decided that we would do likewise.  After hiking through a swamp and up a power line we intersected a gravel road.  Walking cautiously along the road suddenly Willard hissed "there he is"!  Standing to the side of the road was burly eleven point buck.

As we fired our cameras the buck kept watch over the woodland.  Just when I began thinking about attempting to move closer he suddenly whirled and bounded away.  As he disappeared over the rise I seen an even larger rack bounding away in front of him.

Moving in the direction that the bucks had ran we soon encountered this superb buck walking along with his head to the ground apparently following a doe's scent trail.  As I brought the camera into play the buck alerted.

A moment later, like a buck in hunting country, he wheeled and ran.

A blurry image taken as he was disappearing into the forest is the only shot that shows his eight long well formed points.  How I would have liked to have had a long photo session with this big fellow but on this day it was not meant to be.

SNP: Saturday Morning Bucks

Our first buck encounter began when we spotted three bucks chasing a doe far out in Big Meadow.  Trying to close the distance we walked at an unhurried pace moving at an angle to the deer trying to close the distance to a more suitable range.  This shot was taken from quite a distance and cropped.  This buck carries an interesting oddly shaped left beam.

The best of the three bucks gave me the best shot but even this was at long range and again requiring considerable cropping.  Reviewing the image I was impressed with how similar he is to a buck I photographed in this area last November.  His facial characteristics and antler conformation is much the same.

This image which I captured in 2009 graces the cover of the 2011 Pennsylvania Game Commission calendar.  I think there is a very good probability this is the same buck in the previous photograph.

The encounter with these bucks was cut short by a photographer who appeared to be unfamiliar with photographing wildlife.  When the rutting activity would move beyond the range of his equipment he would hurriedly try to close the distance by walking rapidly directly at the deer.  These park deer are acclimated to humans but a person hurrying towards them was too much for even these deer to stand for.

When working with wildlife it is imperative to never invade the animals personal space; carry enough lens to capture the image you want without getting too close.  Walking directly at an animal will alarm it much quicker than closing the distance by walking at a angle that brings you nearer but never directly at the subject.  A nonchalant pace is much less disconcerting to a animal than is a rapid pace and only glancing occasionally at the animal is less alarming than maintaining eye contact.  If the animal alerts to your presence stop and wait until it settles down before attempting to get nearer.  Following these few tips will increase your success in the field and as an added bonus will keep other photographers around you happier.

Autumn Ritual: SNP Morning

Continuing our annual autumn ritual Willard & I once again set out for a morning whitetail rut shoot in Shenandoah National Park.  When the alarm rang this morning is did not seem as bad as most trips for daylight savings time was still in effect, allowing us an extra hour of sleep.

Arriving at Big Meadows as the first dim rays of dawn began to brighten the eastern sky my anticipation of the day's rutting action was heightened when a nice 15"-16" six point walked through the parking lot at the visitors center.  The first hour of daylight however was somewhat disapointing for we had beautiful light but could not locate any good bucks.

With snow flurries drifting through the air I took advantage of a nearby herd of does who when pressed by a photographer, aparently unfamiliar with photographing wildlife, caused them to leave the meadow.

The new Kirk King Cobra gimbal head allowed me to follow the action as this doe burst into a trot.

Slowing down as she neared the woodline the backlighting illuminated her frosty whiskers.

After getting off to a slow start the morning's photo outing would soon improve but that will have to wait until another post.

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Mourning Doves

While watching a meadow this evening in hopes of photographing rutting whitetails a pair of doves lit in a nearby tree.  I was able to get a dozen or so shots before the doves dropped down into the high grass to feed.  The doves curious expression in this photograph is what made this image stand out above the other shots.

No whitetail rutting activity materialized this evening but these doves more than made up for it by posing for one of the very best mourning dove images in my collection.

Bird Feeder Photos

The male Northern Cardinal posed nicely for his photograph while perched among the poke weed 

This male Red-breasted Woodpecker is now allowing me to photograph him from about ten feet away.  His perch may not give away the fact that he is sitting on a natural bird feeder but the corn grain clutched tightly in his beak tells the rest of the story.