Must Be Coming for Thanksgiving

The quality of the images from the game cam that I own isn't the greatest but it is so much fun to see what passes by on our driveway when we aren't around. There is a Gray Fox that goes by quite often, usually around 5:30 a.m. many mornings. During the day there are Western Gray Squirrels and Jays and deer. At night we often get a lot more deer, sometimes the neighbors cat, skunks and the stray raccoon or two. On Monday night earlier this week we got a really nice Black Bear! The best one had to be a flock of about seven Wild Turkeys. I think they were coming a little early for Thanksgiving to check out the menu! God bless, chris

Unseen Creatures

Much of the wildlife that passes my house goes by unseen. Mostly because they pass by at night when I can't see them or when I'm not looking. Last spring I purchased a cheap trail cam but I hadn't really put it to use until three days ago. Yesterday afternoon I uploaded the thousand plus images it had taken over three days and I was quite pleased to see what it had captured. There were plenty of images of Lenore and I, the dog and the family cat etc. But there were also images of a really nice black bear, gray foxes, turkeys and several deer. The image quality is pretty poor but it was pretty exciting to see what is out there going by unseen at night and during the day. God's blessings upon your weekend, chris

Macro or the Gray Fox Won

This morning I got outfoxed by the Gray Fox. I went out to the ranch and sat in the new blind I put up to photograph it. Twice it came less than twenty feet from the photoblind. The first time I was totally unprepared and my movements in the blind startled it. The fox ran off up the hill. Wow, does that sound familiar? The second time it came from the side of the photoblind. All I could do was watch it as any attempt to move the camera over to the side viewing port would have scared it off. I had to be content to photograph it from a distance. Still it was really cool to watch.I'm determined to get a nice close up of it.





When I got home today there was a package waiting for me. I was like a little kid at Christmas as I tore the package open and went into the back yard to try out my new 100 mm macro lens to replace the one that took a tumble off of my tripod last week.
I really liked how well it works.My favorite image was the one of the honeybee.

God's precious love and blessings to all,

chris

Me and the Little Junk Yard Dog

Lenore and I spent the last two days over on the coast celebrating our anniversary so when I woke up this morning I was pretty tired. It was misting outside. Perfect day for some bird photography! But I knew that would have to wait because I had other plans. First I wanted to set up a portable blind in an unused pasture on the north side of the Burris Ranch to see if I could get an image of the Gray Fox I have been seeing in a more natural setting. I set the blind up next to the pond and I was shocked to see that the pond was already dry. So much for my thoughts of photographing animals when they came for a drink. Oh well. I left the blind there and walked over to snake heaven in the junkyard where my photoblind was set up.I was excited to see a flock of Goldfinches at the feeders when I arrived. I never saw them again! I did the mundane task of restocking the bird feeders and then climbed into the blind.A few House Finches came and went and then an Acorn Woodpecker arrived of which I got a great photograph. Then I heard the fox barking in the creek not far from my blind. It got closer and then stopped. About ten minutes went by and then I heard the high pitched screams of some animal being killed up the hill. The hair on the back of my neck went up.It got quiet again and then the fox started barking on the other side of the fence from me. I finally decided to get out of the blind and take a look. The fox was sitting on it's haunches in the grass looking at me.The big problem was that there was a fence post between us.I took a couple of images and then it ran up the hill into the forest above the ranch. That little dog and I have a photo date in the near future.I'm going to keep trying.I never did find out what got killed up the hill from me.

God's love and blessings to all,

chris

Gray Fox

I heard the fox barking as soon as I got out of the pickup. Sporadically during spring I have been hearing the short, harsh bark of a fox somewhere up the hillside from my photoblind on the Burris Ranch. This morning though it sounded closer. I cautiously made my way up the hill still hearing barks now and then. When I got to the gate I slowly scanned the area beyond the fence from the junkyard. Finally I caught some movement near an old pick up bed. The fox was sitting there looking my way trying to figure out what sort of creature I was. This morning before heading out the door I had randomly grabbed camouflage shorts, shirt and jacket. Not attire I wear all of the time. Finally it figured out I was human and took off. Quickly I made a few squealing sounds with my mouth. The fox stopped dead in its tracks and came back close to where it was before. I took a few images slowly working my way forward. Finally it had enough and it dove under the pickup bed and that was the last I saw of it. Maybe it was denning under there. I'll have to keep a closer eye on that area in the future. As soon as I finished with the fox I looked down by my feet and saw a section of shed skin from a large rattlesnake. Something else I had better keep a wary eye out for.

God's precious love and blessings to all,

chris