Monday, March 31, 2008

A little close for a Blue Heron


This setup was for ducks or anything walking along the trail on the far side of the creek, so was suprised when the Blue Heron got so close to the camera. I changed angles on the camera to allow for the heron if it comes back. At least it lowered its head .

Sunday, March 30, 2008

Another Nutria on the duck pond


Every now and then I get a picture of a Nutria crossing this log in the pond. Seems to me this is a large Nutria, much larger than a muskrat. They mainly feed on grass and weeds.

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Raccoon likes the trail camera


I get quite a few raccoon pictures with my game cameras and once in a while they stand up and walk to the camera. This one had it's photo taken several times on this occasion without being bothered by the flash.

The Sony P41 does a good job on a closeup even when the setting is 4oo iso and flash on high. This camera was not set for closeups but the camera adjusted fine.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Wild birding with a trail camera


I enjoy this time of the year setting the trail cameras around creeks and ponds to photograph a variety of birds. It's more than a challenge to get the correct lighting and a nice background to show off the great color of some of the ducks.

Was lucky with this photo showing several ducks up close, a pair of wooducks and a male Ring-necked duck. I try to get the ducks less than 8 feet from the camera by narrowing the open water in front of the camera.

Monday, March 24, 2008

Sad looking coyote


I placed a little scent on top of this mossy boulder where I had seen sign of animals resting. They like to lay in the moss on a warm day to get a better view of the area. This hungry looking coyote climbed all the way to the top and I got 5 pictures of it looking for food.

Almost felt sorry for it having to climb looking for food when all I had placed was scent. This was the best picture showing how sad it looked.

Saturday, March 22, 2008

Male Ringneck ducks on the pond


I moved this camera because it was aimed almost due south which made the lighting very bad. The ducks were where I wanted them but needed the light to come from behind the camera for a better picture. Sometimes I just take a chance and hope for a cloudy day or rain so the lighting is less of a problem.
Wooducks and Ringnecks are very colorful birds and well worth the trouble of getting wet everytime I check the cameras.

Friday, March 21, 2008

Camera set for birds on the ponds


This was a fun picture to get because I frightened the geese off the pond as I approached through the swamp. Wasn't sure if I got a picture of them or not, but was lucky to get the one taking off from the catails.

This is a good time of the year for geese and ducks on the ponds. Biggest problem is the sun is still low in the sky and ruins lots of pictures with the glare. Not easy to keep the cameras aimed away from the sun when the water is deep.

Monday, March 17, 2008

Last years fawn with hairloss


This yearling has been hanging around several of my cameras and looks like it might make it into the summer with hairloss problem. Usually if it can get into the drier and warmer weather of summer they can survive, but this problem takes a toll on the fawns. Didn't seem too bad last year but I've seen quite a few this year.

Wednesday, March 05, 2008

Bobcat spotted the game camera


It took an hour to hide this camera by making a small cave with rocks, setting the camera inside and then placing moss around the front and sides. This setup was to get animals into the center of the picture without them knowing the camera was there. I have lots of animals walking past my cameras without looking at it, but this location was by a sandy trail so I new what animals past by and if the flash startled them.

Much to my suprise this bobcat was sneaking up on the camera as the picture was taken. You just can't fool these animals, they still amaze me.