It’s been a busy week here on the mountain. A change in weather tends to bring the animals in, and this week they have come.
We have had a javelina family, and fox.
Big bull and little buck…
Now all we need is some snow!!!
Visitors
The Bucks Have It
While I love when we see any animals, the most coveted are the most unique and least often seen. Big animals, boys (bucks and bulls), and babies bring the most attention due to their illusiveness.
Aside from that, gestures and action, garner more interest, like this floppy eared buck.
I try to capture their personality and individualism in their environment to share.
These animals are here and gone, so it’s important to me to make their moment shine. I keep telling ’em, smile pretty for the camera – sometimes they actually listen.
Snow Critters
This last storm met the predictions of the weathermen who projected 2′ of snow.
With it, brought animals looking for food.
It was great fun to see this little baby deer enjoying it’s first snow. It reminded me of Journey when we get snow, as she runs around and loves to ‘snorkel’ in it.
There is something so pristine and beautiful about the new fallen snow… apparently the animals think so too.
I suppose the cold white stuff is a novelty for them, something they don’t see often… so it’s new, fun, and refreshing as they walk through the cool stuff. Like a new toy, it’s invigorating and exciting. Whatever it is… it’s a pleasure to see happiness at any time or place. Bring it on.
Twin Fawns
I wrote about the ‘Late Arrival’ of a small fawn with spots, our first we have seen of the year, back here… https://kritterspaw.com/2019/09/12/late-arrival/
That was month ago. Fast forward to this past week, first week of October, and we were entertained by these fantastic little cuties.
At first, I was delighted to see just one little spotted gem… then, came another; the spots along their back almost identical.
This precious couple laid down beside each other and cuddled and ‘fawned’ over one another like baby new borns.
They rested as their momma grazed, and relished in their environment and their natural surrounds.
It was such a tremendous joy and gift to see this special sight.
What a treat!
The calm before the storm
Now that our snow is all melted, and soaking into our forest… it’s time for some more. We are forecast to get snow for the next 3 days. Never knowing quite what to expect, irregardless of the forecasts, we prepare ourselves for what might come.
While some might stock up on groceries, gasoline for vehicles or generators, or perhaps ready the snowplows…. we see it as an opportunity to see if we can catch some animals in transit.
Animals can sense when a storm is afoot better than any Harvard grad. They tend to move around during a storm… so we set out to see if we could catch some animals.
Unfortunately, it was pretty slim pickin’s out there. But it made for a fun morning outing nonetheless. Bring on the snow.
Twin Bucks
We have been getting some much needed snow fall this week… just in time for Christmas. It’s hasn’t amounted to much accumulation, but we’ll take what we can get.
The snow has brought in this pair of twin bucks, who are just, pardon the pun, endeering.
They have brought a smaller little buck with them, and they seem to be hanging out together in their own little pack.
The little one has smaller antlers, but is definitely a new buck… and just as cute.
He seemed to be enjoying his first snow and the wonder of this cool white stuff dropping from the sky.
We so enjoyed their visit.
It’s A Boy
If you remember a post I did a little while back about Pat’s Fawn (https://kritterspix.com/2018/09/17/pats-fawn/), we’ve been fortunate enough to see it a few times and kinda watch it grow up, which has been a real joy. It’s starting to loose it’s spots.
But it’s still playful and skittish… and wonderfully fun to watch. Mom still dotes on her… except, apparently it’s a him.
I caught a glimpse of a little bump on his head where his antlers will be soon.
We can still call him Spots though, right?!
Pat’s Fawn
My neighbor and friend, Pat, saw this little fawn when it was first born… maybe hours old. It was the tiniest thing… so we have been watching out for it, hoping it would survive the wild.
With a lot of support and love from its doting mom, it seems to be a happy, healthy little one.
Two Bucks
You’ve heard of giving your two cents worth… well, here are my two bucks worth!
Sorry… just couldn’t help myself. Ha!
This one buck, we call ‘Slash’ had what looked like a deep cut, slash, ripped into his back. The other buck seemed to be lovingly watching over him. It checked out to the right… and to the left, before alerting Slash to proceed in that direction. Slash’s caretaker would rub along his healing cut, and nose him repeatedly. Maybe they are brothers.. or just good friends. We should all have such a great friend to help get us through our difficult times, particularly in the wild, where it can get quite ‘dicey’ with lots of predators out there!
Leave room to Run
While I like the action in this photo, as this buck was spooked. It is not a great photo because it is too constrained. It is instead, a perfect example for what not to do. I have left no room for the buck to run. Since I cut off the action, the viewer is left to wonder what spooked him… or where he is going. It lacks that sense of place.
A better photo that shows a sense of place, and includes the subject (my buck) and his environment – the forest and trees. One where the subject is looking at you, and it’s eyes sharp are a bonus. Having the subject well lit, and not in the shadows help to draw the eye to your subject…. albeit often hard to get everything to line up, particularly when working in the wild.
