Saturday, August 29, 2009

Camera Critters: Late August At The Meadow

Late August. Many morning are cool and there is a different feel in the air, autumn is just around the corner. While the taller grasses in the meadows are turning brown, there are wildflowers blooming in the understory of an unmown meadow.


Thistle

Vipers Bugloss

The whitetail fawns are still nursing from the does, but as time passes there is less nursing activity and the animals depend more on grazing and browsing for nourishment. Now does are less likely to stand for the young animals. If they do, it is usually for a short period.

Whitetail Fawn Nursing In Mowed Portion Of Meadow

The bucks' antlers are completely grown and the velvet is drying. Some of the larger bucks have already shed the velvet, but most have not.

2-Year Old Whitetail Buck With Fully Developed Antlers

This buck will likely shed his velvet soon. The very first stirrings of the pre-rut are occurring, and whitetail movement patterns are changing. Soon the deer will enter the most turbulent period of their lives as the combination of the rut and the advent of hunting seasons bring rapid and dramatic changes in their daily activity.


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26 comments:

Martha said...

Thank you for sharing your beautiful photos. The doe and fawn is so very sweet, and the thistle is beautiful. I love looking for wildflowers when I am out (although my walks don't take me too far off the beaten path!)

I am so looking forward to fall in PA after 6 years in FL with no real fall. The air really is changing, I forgot what it was like!

Thanks for stopping by!

bobshank said...

Hi Willard! This is a great post! I enjoy seeing and photographing the landscapes and wildflowers, too. It just all adds to the beauty of God's creation we are fortunate enough to be out photographing. I also really like the photos of the deer in this post. They tell the story well. I am curious about one thing: how do you know that buck in velvet is two years old? It looks like he will be an eight-point this year. I have been hunting since I was 12 years old, but only since I started photographing wildlife have I become much more interested in the lifespan and details of the wildlife. I keep learning but realize just how much I have yet to learn. Thanks for a great post!

Tulip said...

wonderful shots of different creatures. happy weekend.

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Carletta said...

Hi Willard,
I've been away a couple of weeks and it's always nice to see what you've found. Wonderful deer shots and I love the thistle - what a great background.
I've enjoyed the young fawns this summer and I too have noticed they eat the grass and my acorns. I dread hunting season coming. I'd hate to see them lose their moms.
Have a great weekend!
Carletta’s Captures.

i beati said...

Lots of activity in that meadow

Willard said...

Bob,
I have observed this particular deer from the time that he was a fawn. He was a small spike last year. He is living proof that the adage "once a spike, always a spike" is not true.

bobshank said...

Hi Willard! That's awesome that you have been able to observe this buck over the first few years of his life. I thought that old adage was incorrect about once a spike always a spike. Some of the old hunter's wise tales are just not so wise. I have been observing some very nice bucks here in the Poconos and hope to capture a few photos of them soon. They are absolutely beautiful creatures!

Hootin Anni said...

Nature!!! At its best!!! Love the deer photos.

My C C is posted now...scroll down, just below the Photo Hunt Meme entry. It's Tahoe again this week. Hope you can visit.

Have a super weekend.

Snap said...

Your photos are always so lovely. Beautiful plants and animals. Thank you so much. Your world is lovely.

Anonymous said...

What beautiful shots! Those antlers are very impressive.

EG CameraGirl said...

How interesting that this year's fawns are still nursing at the end of August yet at the same time some bucks' antlers are losing their velvet.

Beautiful photos and excellent information.

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Willard: What a neat look at the Whitetails of PA.

Chad Oneil Myers said...

Nice Thistle shot, Willard. The Depth of Field really works for that one.

Good coverage of the Elk story too. I'm glad he's ok now.

Anonymous said...

Oh my goodness, that's like an Animal Planet, or better yet, National Geographic shot w/ the baby deer nursing! Absolutely amazing photo & capture! Congratulations on that one

imac said...

Nature at its best Willard.
From Thistle to The Buck.

Dimple said...

Thanks! I enjoyed learning from your post.

sweetbay said...

The thistle is beautiful. We have at least one pair of fawns on our farm and they're growing like weeds. You have put together a beautiful post!

Louise said...

While most of us look forward to the color and coolness of autumn, the deer and elks deal with their most difficult battle for survival. Not at all peaceful for them.

Anonymous said...

Excellent photography as usual.


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Anonymous said...

The thistle color is so beautiful! The fawn is so precious. Amazing photo of the buck! Here is hoping all of these wonderful creatures will make it safely through the hunting seasons. It's awful that they always have to live in fear.

I am glad for the cooler mornings and the signs of autumn. I am tired of the hot, humid weather. Although, I will not enjoy the days getting shorter!

Adrienne Zwart said...

Beautiful shots, Willard.

Peggy said...

Great info as always! I always wish the bucks I see good luck! (...in this upcoming season.)

Anonymous said...

As always, beautiful series Willard. That thistle photo is just perfect.

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Anonymous said...

As always, beautiful series Willard. That thistle photo is just perfect.

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The Birdlady said...

Beautiful late summer photos - the doe looks a bit perturbed at her BIG baby.

Unknown said...

Very nice series Willard. The image of the mother nursing the fawn is extra special.

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