Daily Dose

Is it just me or does social media seem to have an overabundance of grievance?

Since the beginning of this year I have endeavored to be a better person.  Not a Mother Theresa - just better.  And as a consequence I truthfully don't have very many grievances.  I have opinions; but that's not the same as full-blown grievance.

As a public service and in the interest of spreading positivity on the interweb here are some recent trail camera photos from our woods.  

A daily dose of happiness and cuteness....

It's All About Composition

The thing about trail camera photography is it's all about the composition.

This camera has been hanging out at this position since last winter.  I located it there as a consequence of game trail.  As the months have passed everything has gotten quite overgrown with the forest understory crowding out the field of view.  I've been thinking about relocating the cam to a location that is less cluttered.

Of course, just about the time I get these thoughts the camera takes some nicely composed photos.

 

Like this close-up of a hen turkey

click on images to enlarge

And can you spot the whitetail fawn in this picture?  Their camouflage is really quite effective.

Look Ma - No Spots!

Almost no spots.

This doe fawn is growing into her adult coat.  The spots that constituted her little girl camouflage are fading rapidly and should be gone for good in short order.

 click on image to enlarge

In case you're wondering how I know this is a girl deer all you have to do is look at the head. The top of the skull in particular.  A dome identifies this deer as a female.  A flattop would identify it as a male.

Look Ma - No Spots!

The fawns have been putting on some size and have almost universally lost their spots.

This series of images includes a doe (entering stage right), joined by her fawn and both of them exiting stage left...

 click on images to enlarge

That fawn is almost fully-grown.

Little One

Little one isn't so little anymore.

click on the fawn to enlarge

Putting-on some size but still sporting his spotted camouflage.

Deer

Seeing a bunch of deer this year.  Both up-close and personal and captured electronically by the ever vigilant and ever patient trail cameras.

I might even be seeing more deer than ususal.

Or maybe it's because there are four cameras doing their job 24/7, 365 days a year.

click on the doe and fawn to enlarge

Rick's Deer

My pal Rick was turkey hunting earlier this year and came across a brand-spanking, new-born, whitetail fawn.  He even video-taped his encounter.

Ever since then I've been posting periodic updates of the progress his baby is making to his facebood page.

As of last week she is about as big as my black Lab...

click on the girl fawn to enlarge

 

Coy

Moved a camera to another location.

A quarter mile west of the house on a trail that is much like a tunnel with tall trees and cool woods on either side.  

It's a nice place for the critters to sneak thru and already I've gotten pics of does, fawns and velvet bucks.  And raccoons moving thru on three consecutive nights.  (We'll see about that before too long).
 
I really, really hate to dip into the well of anthropomorphisms.

But check this out.  

A girl fawn being coy and shy while checking-out the camera...

By now you should know what identifying feature proves that this is a girl whitetails...

 click on image to enlarge

Trail Camera Art

If you leave a trail camera out long enough and keep it's batteries charged and the SD cards fresh then before too long you  might just capture a 'keeper' picture or two.

Mind you this is rather low-end camera technology but they are patient and diligent sentinels - these motion-activated devices.

And once and awhile they'll take a picture like these when the lighting and shadows are just right...

Whitetail Deer Behavior

Sometimes you see dogs doing this to assert their dominance over other dogs. 

I've never seen deer do this. 

It's a fawn for sure.  Rearing-up and placing its front foot on mom's back.

Spotted Fawn

Spotted fawn - a small one at that - is unusual to see this late in the year.

Must be the offspring of a late-bred doe.

Family Life

A doe and her fawn...

click on image to enlarge