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Animals "Wild animals in the wild"
- Thread starter stillshunter
- Start date
- Location
- Northern California
One out of three ain't bad!
So I went out at Golden Hour to see what I could see. I looked up the hill...nothing. I looked down the hill...nothing. Finally I looked straight ahead of me and what do I see but three fawns among the trees. By the time I could even bring my camera horizontally the first one was gone. I was zoomed in too far to follow the second one (having set up the camera for birds), but when the third sprinted down the hill I was sort of finally ready.
They actually run (more like bound) just like Pepe Le Pew in those old cartoons!
So I went out at Golden Hour to see what I could see. I looked up the hill...nothing. I looked down the hill...nothing. Finally I looked straight ahead of me and what do I see but three fawns among the trees. By the time I could even bring my camera horizontally the first one was gone. I was zoomed in too far to follow the second one (having set up the camera for birds), but when the third sprinted down the hill I was sort of finally ready.
They actually run (more like bound) just like Pepe Le Pew in those old cartoons!
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- Location
- Northern California
- Location
- Northern California
- Location
- Northern California
I had to use all my wiles and software to get this one into decent condition. This was taken just at the beginning of blue hour, except the sun gets blocked by a nearby hill so our "actual" sunset time is between 12 and 15 minutes before "real" sunset, so it was a lot darker than it looks. These guys usually come in the middle of the night, but occasionally you get one who read the Wikipedia article and saw they're crepuscular lol. Ignore the EXIF, I used my only longish fast prime, an ancient Vivitar 135/2.8 that I bought for my Nikkormat in 1970. I could barely see the yellow focus peak indication.
Original image:
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Original image:
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I took the kayak out with a plan to scope out a waterfall that I had never been to, and was only accessible by the kayak. After paddling for 20 or so minutes I landed at on the rocks where the stream turned into the lake. I got out and started the short hike to the waterfall. Only a minute or two later and I see the tiny round ears of a bear cub rustling up the hill to my left. A little cub means there is a protective momma bear nearby. So that ended my pursuit of the waterfall...
I got back into the kayak and headed back out to the main channel. On my way out I came across this beaver. We were going in opposite directions, but were able to pass by each other. After making its way past me, it gave a slap of its tail and disappeared.
I paddled on eventually coming across this juvenile bald eagle.
It flew off down the river ahead of me. Eventually I came back across the eagle. This time it was a bit further up the hillside and seemed to be less wary of the monkey in the blue boat.
I decided to sit still for awhile, enjoying the same sights and sounds as the majestic bird sat high in the pine tree over my head. After a few minutes I heard a splash on the far shore. I quickly turned to see what was happening and caught just a small glimpse of an animal climbing a rock. I continued to sit as still as I could. Eventually this little mink showed its face along the shore. It was still a bit of a distance, but I was able to capture this series of shots:
While I wasn't out for the wildlife action, I am more than pleased to have experienced it!
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I got back into the kayak and headed back out to the main channel. On my way out I came across this beaver. We were going in opposite directions, but were able to pass by each other. After making its way past me, it gave a slap of its tail and disappeared.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
I paddled on eventually coming across this juvenile bald eagle.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
It flew off down the river ahead of me. Eventually I came back across the eagle. This time it was a bit further up the hillside and seemed to be less wary of the monkey in the blue boat.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
I decided to sit still for awhile, enjoying the same sights and sounds as the majestic bird sat high in the pine tree over my head. After a few minutes I heard a splash on the far shore. I quickly turned to see what was happening and caught just a small glimpse of an animal climbing a rock. I continued to sit as still as I could. Eventually this little mink showed its face along the shore. It was still a bit of a distance, but I was able to capture this series of shots:
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While I wasn't out for the wildlife action, I am more than pleased to have experienced it!
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Alas, all I can think of is seeing a bear and getting the hell out of there.
Black bears are usually easy to manage. Make some noise and they will move on. But a small cub with no momma immediately seen means heightened caution. The mom is nearby and will defend her cubs. It’s best to not interact.
- Location
- Northern California
Great story and the pix to go with it!
- Location
- Salish Sea
Pika
getting ready for winter. There will be howling winds and many feet of snow in a couple of months...or less. Hopefully the snow cover first as this is very exposed on top of a mountain.
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getting ready for winter. There will be howling winds and many feet of snow in a couple of months...or less. Hopefully the snow cover first as this is very exposed on top of a mountain.
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- Location
- Northern California
will focus
All-Pro
- Location
- Traverse City, Michigan, USA
Nice shots. I'm wondering if your mink is actually an otter. I've been trying to get a decent shot of a local mink the last few years and I finally got it the other day, which I posted in "animals wild or domestic". Your critter seems to be bigger than mine with a more powerful tail, and ears that are flat against it's head, which also seems to be a little different shape than the mink I photographed the other day. The irony is I've been hearing people say they've been seeing otters in the lake here for years now but I have never seen one and have wondered if they actually saw a mink, not an otter.
