tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76904226826649172372024-03-13T05:55:31.999-04:00Pennsylvania Wildlife PhotographerWillardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17059945499957721902noreply@blogger.comBlogger624125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690422682664917237.post-56953788665482517412021-09-08T13:03:00.005-04:002021-09-08T13:10:07.731-04:00August In Pennsylvania Elk Country<p>Here is a video from the August 2021 trip to Pennsylvania elk country. It was filmed with the Panasonic S1H with the Sigma 150-600mm lens. I am posting to the blog "Pennsylvania Wildlife Photographer" and sharing it to the time line in the hopes that will work. </p><p> </p><p><br /></p>
<div style="padding: 56.25% 0px 0px; position: relative;"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/597821937?badge=0&autopause=0&player_id=0&app_id=58479&h=d3cd92091d" style="height: 100%; left: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; width: 100%;" title="August Elk 2021.mp4"></iframe></div><script src="https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js"></script>Willardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17059945499957721902noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690422682664917237.post-38806988279670071312018-12-02T13:31:00.002-05:002018-12-02T13:35:08.814-05:00Bedford County River Otters-Another Page<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
After much thought I have decided that
my condition has improved to the extent that I will return to
updating The Pennsylvania Wildlife Photographer Blog on at least a
limited basis. If I continue long term will depend to a certain
extent on whether upcoming eye surgeries are successful. The first
is scheduled for December 11<sup>th</sup>, and the second sometime
later.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Since several of you like to photograph
the River Otter for today I am featuring “Bedford County River
Otters-Another Page”. This is a 21 minute film, which begins with
an overview of the Pennsylvania Game Commission's efforts to manage
the wildlife of Pennsylvania and to re-establish species that were
extirpated such as the elk, eagle, and river otter. of an otter
release in the Juniata River near Everett, Pennsylvania on February
19, 2002.
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="427" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/253808156" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe>
<br />
This was back when standard definition 4:3 aspect-ratio mini-dv camcorders were what most small video production companies used. Two of the favorites with wildlife film-makers were the Canon XL-1 and the Canon XL-1s, which had recently replaced it. From 1997 until early 2002 my front line video camera was a Canon L2, which recorded to Hi-8 video tape. This camera was a powerful tool for wildlife as one could mount any Canon EF mount lens on it by means of an adapter. If I recall correctly this camera had a 1/2” sensor which gave a crop factor of about 5.4X. As an example a 500mm lens attached to it gave an equivalent focal length of 2,700mm. The XL-1s had an even smaller sensor which increased the crop factor to 7.2X.
Since the XL1-s was a new camera it was used to document the events of the day, but the wildlife footage that is used was mostly taken with the L2 and the old Canon 35-350L zoom lens.. The video was edited on a Casablanca Avio stand-alone video editor, which looked much like a VCR. Its' main selling point was that it was guaranteed to work as it came and one did not have to configure it like one does a computer. I used this from about 2000 until 2005 or a bit later when I began using computers.
The video features several speakers beginning about 3 min. 35 sec. Into the video. Some of the speeches are lengthy so if you want to skip them and continue on to footage of the release, drag the slider under the video to about 15 minutes.<br />
<br />
I hope you enjoy the film.<br />
<br />
Willard Hill Willardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17059945499957721902noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690422682664917237.post-38475286270486789222018-11-01T18:21:00.000-04:002018-11-01T18:34:41.459-04:00Blog Will No Longer Be Updated-Videos No Longer For Sale<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<b>Videos no longer available.</b></h2>
<br />
The Pennsylvania Wildlife Photographer Blog will no longer be active and videos are no longer for sale. For the time being I will let the blog available for those who want to look at the wildlife photos and videos and read my thoughts on the issues.<br />
<br />
I wish to thank everyone who supported me through the years and I wish you all the best.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Sincerely, </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Willard C. Hill</div>
Willardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17059945499957721902noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690422682664917237.post-15433872418671772942018-03-18T21:20:00.000-04:002018-03-18T21:25:32.814-04:00Middle Creek 2018-Part 2It seemed that most of the Snow Geese were at Willow Point in the
mornings and evenings this year. Quite a few people were there on
Saturday and Sunday morning in spite of the strong wind and biting cold,
but I had no desire to subject myself to that degree of punishment. It
was a different story on Monday morning after the wind mostly died
during the night.<br />
. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU68iu9VEZaORzo0fTcZuYOP13ZDwvsNaM3amcO3V8iWuFSwSCMoDqIlX4y_Lk7x1B1bjcxI8i-x1ut5iinvie1Fz5yGQnQcUlAoHbzbWneP0s4JUwhgVrTPqxh0wV-IwwkYt_BIUbPGQ/s1600/_MG_9405+Dawn%2540Willow+Point.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU68iu9VEZaORzo0fTcZuYOP13ZDwvsNaM3amcO3V8iWuFSwSCMoDqIlX4y_Lk7x1B1bjcxI8i-x1ut5iinvie1Fz5yGQnQcUlAoHbzbWneP0s4JUwhgVrTPqxh0wV-IwwkYt_BIUbPGQ/s640/_MG_9405+Dawn%2540Willow+Point.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Dawn At Willow Point</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A
fairly large flock of Snow Geese was there, but they were mostly behind
the trees. When they left there were usually trees in the way of
getting good photos and as usual I concentrated on taking video so I
didn't get many still shots.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjbyWwWGw0iXxSGCoF8TBeuzv9RCXvJ19oLrv3x7J27Zu8URn6ephgGu9-bobmrPi8kiLmGoAedbvdSn-Ud5NX4EZkJeuVYOPhjkSP1WKPef-U5E-Zm0rGSugBKcuY9Fy7kydFDsg-y7k/s1600/_DSC0865+Geese+In+Flight.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjbyWwWGw0iXxSGCoF8TBeuzv9RCXvJ19oLrv3x7J27Zu8URn6ephgGu9-bobmrPi8kiLmGoAedbvdSn-Ud5NX4EZkJeuVYOPhjkSP1WKPef-U5E-Zm0rGSugBKcuY9Fy7kydFDsg-y7k/s640/_DSC0865+Geese+In+Flight.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Leaving </b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
That afternoon was a different story as a large
number of birds gathered to feed in a field near the viewing area at
Willow Point while others were on the lake directly in front of it.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWoaLdYL9iYan8UBFUaBHdcsSuQfcKr1yEnme8Azdn9VGZGVq_dfpRYWMCbU9S1myG9MkLRO8feEGX3LilaDAoNq_0O9nsad5ZUziFUt6ikgtV3c9yOKgNk3NejiUs-LbJuCVqfSM2BdY/s1600/_DSC0914+Flock+Near+Willow+Point.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWoaLdYL9iYan8UBFUaBHdcsSuQfcKr1yEnme8Azdn9VGZGVq_dfpRYWMCbU9S1myG9MkLRO8feEGX3LilaDAoNq_0O9nsad5ZUziFUt6ikgtV3c9yOKgNk3NejiUs-LbJuCVqfSM2BdY/s640/_DSC0914+Flock+Near+Willow+Point.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Gathering To Feed</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2oSfsqSHE7CfgLqsTmHmBqmLiksqydztiooERwf3f3eXJFUyB0bJd7Gn_WoWrEl2B7jindc0DX-S9nKM9ArZkZfYGgqJuNoTQFMpsw2Yr6WN0v4bf6KT-Ai4YM47rdB0AA4MxreAwcjs/s1600/_DSC0887+Flock%2540Willow+Point.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2oSfsqSHE7CfgLqsTmHmBqmLiksqydztiooERwf3f3eXJFUyB0bJd7Gn_WoWrEl2B7jindc0DX-S9nKM9ArZkZfYGgqJuNoTQFMpsw2Yr6WN0v4bf6KT-Ai4YM47rdB0AA4MxreAwcjs/s640/_DSC0887+Flock%2540Willow+Point.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Resting On The Lake</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Periodically the flock erupted into flight and then
settled back down for awhile before taking off again. All the while
smaller sub-flocks were continually arriving and leaving.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiuulsJ2t0cGygk8M6-tvGoOkxBFrPppLqwLaBAZBW5evVdgLpxSD-YVUVxx0_fHLEo-Q7BpievF49OpSIqgmakre9hfrtu2dlKgn4w68Tu2yuNPhQJZIzHLVGi8DXy8088swe6ZAxoIU/s1600/_DSC0915+Eruption.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiuulsJ2t0cGygk8M6-tvGoOkxBFrPppLqwLaBAZBW5evVdgLpxSD-YVUVxx0_fHLEo-Q7BpievF49OpSIqgmakre9hfrtu2dlKgn4w68Tu2yuNPhQJZIzHLVGi8DXy8088swe6ZAxoIU/s640/_DSC0915+Eruption.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Eruption</b></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkOmXFlGeBybBmWL7r2nk_1PM1XpSxDw203-1Y9jSRZkSPPQwX20xOXFPiLMqIyfvLr5vvirSnHdGS0R-zuCKxBUfisltrkKoDhBYfo53nbc2643gUnP6faLwHMwd2gJSnsbkZURy44Oo/s1600/_DSC0922+Lift-Off.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkOmXFlGeBybBmWL7r2nk_1PM1XpSxDw203-1Y9jSRZkSPPQwX20xOXFPiLMqIyfvLr5vvirSnHdGS0R-zuCKxBUfisltrkKoDhBYfo53nbc2643gUnP6faLwHMwd2gJSnsbkZURy44Oo/s640/_DSC0922+Lift-Off.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Leaving </b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX3Me8kM8bOPrwAVYD-m13fzfZFqdc0tw3fiyNs6UhaXzmocUpZLsTXS9Mj9150lEk_QueSjf81WOo_4Hv3LVTAf3RXlddZcUiatEVXBkqwjSLSupgfC-SAVHm6kd4zyrfFhQcB7toeds/s1600/_MG_9823+Snow+Goose+Landing.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX3Me8kM8bOPrwAVYD-m13fzfZFqdc0tw3fiyNs6UhaXzmocUpZLsTXS9Mj9150lEk_QueSjf81WOo_4Hv3LVTAf3RXlddZcUiatEVXBkqwjSLSupgfC-SAVHm6kd4zyrfFhQcB7toeds/s640/_MG_9823+Snow+Goose+Landing.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Landing To Feed</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSWF9HcKD0w5gjUfoWj3nPGdItwXJLfJMgc8qIv_YGj-ugnCQfN_cLVVzObK-ZAHniPiH2RLwqi6gXLR6NOxY1nI8vjdilybpmSSTzCok03klDVOqyDQ6jWSnMXfqAIwdghIBjZyRHICU/s1600/_DSC0937+All+In+The+Air.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSWF9HcKD0w5gjUfoWj3nPGdItwXJLfJMgc8qIv_YGj-ugnCQfN_cLVVzObK-ZAHniPiH2RLwqi6gXLR6NOxY1nI8vjdilybpmSSTzCok03klDVOqyDQ6jWSnMXfqAIwdghIBjZyRHICU/s640/_DSC0937+All+In+The+Air.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Another Take-off</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The main attraction of Middle Creek in late winter
and early spring may be the awesome sight of the large flocks of Snow
Geese, but there are a variety of other subjects to see and photograph
as well.The fields along Hopeland Road and a number of smaller ponds are
ideal spots to see many species of waterfowl, birds, and other
wildlife.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS31IEPuhVaklQ6ySsgWa6RViVI4VE0gfmvZ1RT7w50bBDt16dS304AVvMBSlH4MSJ94pLQXVTe8Zfdfj4BAJEiYNdXAJpNUhHGvePAZ2OkTWo7mStNX8Jhs9sgIgNNR4jWw_cvv846KU/s1600/_MG_9428+Middle+Creek+Doe.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS31IEPuhVaklQ6ySsgWa6RViVI4VE0gfmvZ1RT7w50bBDt16dS304AVvMBSlH4MSJ94pLQXVTe8Zfdfj4BAJEiYNdXAJpNUhHGvePAZ2OkTWo7mStNX8Jhs9sgIgNNR4jWw_cvv846KU/s640/_MG_9428+Middle+Creek+Doe.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Whitetail Doe Along Hopeland Road</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPJGwYFJxjd7b-5yxs9vE_FrsQkH-EHIGgo_27bTFcD5_FBrql6uBJRFqhQgfiRVTMY7sN1qp8_PtwPfiZ21AR6FH37G9omwbs8mimpPXb3YckbHiLonlx3Dk7txLzBp_1a8q0E5Xg8G0/s1600/_MG_9385+Mallard+Drake.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPJGwYFJxjd7b-5yxs9vE_FrsQkH-EHIGgo_27bTFcD5_FBrql6uBJRFqhQgfiRVTMY7sN1qp8_PtwPfiZ21AR6FH37G9omwbs8mimpPXb3YckbHiLonlx3Dk7txLzBp_1a8q0E5Xg8G0/s640/_MG_9385+Mallard+Drake.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Mallard Male</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It is best to photograph from inside the vehicle if
possible as the ducks often shy away if you get out. They usually do not
fly, but simply get too far away for good photography. Even with
staying inside it can be hard to get them close enough and powerful
lenses and substantial cropping during editing are usually required.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3xQW1oBniNDoT8q4Qz2V1lmPkHikg1Oa7606rcHL9Lfiw0BLQHUt_W33SnUPT0Rt6iB6qZd9Y4wd6sscpOeR-6h6fi0pgo8TOCEWQ0z6Mx1ZmW2mqLZoXhg2XmZMYpTJOUPLhrOmViQ0/s1600/_MG_9387+Female+Mallard.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3xQW1oBniNDoT8q4Qz2V1lmPkHikg1Oa7606rcHL9Lfiw0BLQHUt_W33SnUPT0Rt6iB6qZd9Y4wd6sscpOeR-6h6fi0pgo8TOCEWQ0z6Mx1ZmW2mqLZoXhg2XmZMYpTJOUPLhrOmViQ0/s640/_MG_9387+Female+Mallard.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Mallard Female</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In addition to the ducks there are usually a few
Great Blue Herons hanging around. The shot below is across the big
pothole at Stop 1 of the tour route along Hopeland Road. It was taken
with a 150-600mm Sigma Contemporary at 600mm and then cropped to 2
Mega-pixels in Adobe Camera Raw.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0rz1I4OZbdWxMWDxxGWFhyRvmFIHrfrgvCV3Npv0W78XJV8muamaa3tfxVEH67IJuWK4RPKtmGt8vwEsDyIxn9FEjui-YVLTFuwMxrfW_ZuCOtOLZgiDBqERkT0QAPgURsJR05xB5Jfg/s1600/_MG_9595+Great+Blue+Heron+.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0rz1I4OZbdWxMWDxxGWFhyRvmFIHrfrgvCV3Npv0W78XJV8muamaa3tfxVEH67IJuWK4RPKtmGt8vwEsDyIxn9FEjui-YVLTFuwMxrfW_ZuCOtOLZgiDBqERkT0QAPgURsJR05xB5Jfg/s640/_MG_9595+Great+Blue+Heron+.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Great Blue Heron</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlPcUuVGIs-IShWs09aomSvzpA51YD5R1QJKO5k5IWQXKj71rHZIT4GF185rrBYLna052Q0uTYl1DyINF1o8QFasr9j7qwA1WDADJUpjuQh99glzZXpBPw8X_X9E76rsrSjfn1v1PqZl0/s1600/_MG_9900+Ring-neck+Duck+Female.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlPcUuVGIs-IShWs09aomSvzpA51YD5R1QJKO5k5IWQXKj71rHZIT4GF185rrBYLna052Q0uTYl1DyINF1o8QFasr9j7qwA1WDADJUpjuQh99glzZXpBPw8X_X9E76rsrSjfn1v1PqZl0/s640/_MG_9900+Ring-neck+Duck+Female.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Ring-necked Duck-Female</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHzXxYUtcIooiV-pYchoK6Z50av4XElTEhoZ27mVHbLzpstswbdzViwmsL_WTUZLlS8dDSHotexuNJeCcIoRh6wzi0lNAnts1ZemDkIEN9XxBPhV4083tcg57gVfR5MvPX9dcexhZC_k0/s1600/_MG_9912+Ring-necked+Duck.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHzXxYUtcIooiV-pYchoK6Z50av4XElTEhoZ27mVHbLzpstswbdzViwmsL_WTUZLlS8dDSHotexuNJeCcIoRh6wzi0lNAnts1ZemDkIEN9XxBPhV4083tcg57gVfR5MvPX9dcexhZC_k0/s640/_MG_9912+Ring-necked+Duck.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Ring-necked Duck-Male</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I also saw other species of ducks in a pothole that
is too far from Hopeland Road for close-up still photography so I took
video with the GH4 and 500mm Cannon FD lens. Species seen included
Northern Pintails, American Wigeon, Green Wing Teal, Gadwall, and
Northern Shovelers..<br />
<br />
My usual course of action was to
check the lake and potholes and then swing through the tour road
periodically. I didn't see nearly as much action there as in most
years. I did see an eagle flying once or twice and harriers hovering
over the meadows on several occasions,but they were too far to
photograph.A Ring-necked Pheasant co-operated one morning and I got
several still photos of him.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihAr5tSVgRc09CdUgQ9CQvZs77CLAFN8di1-JkcyJH7WJLx_XpW97yv2SfGe3wydgI72BAQMLY9dIs130hC-Grrex72tvFPU0mZTlcvjhiAcTE18dAg1Auq5wSzeAGHGA-kZ7G97oSQ48/s1600/_MG_9850+Pheasant.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihAr5tSVgRc09CdUgQ9CQvZs77CLAFN8di1-JkcyJH7WJLx_XpW97yv2SfGe3wydgI72BAQMLY9dIs130hC-Grrex72tvFPU0mZTlcvjhiAcTE18dAg1Auq5wSzeAGHGA-kZ7G97oSQ48/s640/_MG_9850+Pheasant.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Ring-necked Pheasant-Male</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There were usually Canad Geese in the fields along the road and I sometimes took a few photos of them.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK8YxweqcIthyrrJy9kb7gsxSWeAar3Y0LQtYvk2fODsyD97N7rFK_Fad2-neEVS2ECpQLZUVv0CLJQPefvsYNO83pDEjCPJY3AR2E-qBVx3chHoMFJ66zlGfcCFTaCjYDc3KlUx1bkKo/s1600/_MG_9857+Canada+Geese-tour+Road.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK8YxweqcIthyrrJy9kb7gsxSWeAar3Y0LQtYvk2fODsyD97N7rFK_Fad2-neEVS2ECpQLZUVv0CLJQPefvsYNO83pDEjCPJY3AR2E-qBVx3chHoMFJ66zlGfcCFTaCjYDc3KlUx1bkKo/s640/_MG_9857+Canada+Geese-tour+Road.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Canada Geese</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It was crystal clear and the wind wasn't blowing On
Tuesday morning when I pulled into the parking lot at Willow Point. I
was surprised to see and only one other vehicle was parked there. As I
app-roached the viewing area I could hear the chatter of a large number
of geese and as it grew light I could see a large flock resting on the
lake. To my surprise no one else was at the viewing area.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsJRNtY0fFnQh-VRTqfyC54wYiuGdRiHbJkBCpVnRrlbvZZm7nQ7MvP9RqAxjalcDjbCmC4KdC4MgWKeFIhbQ3cVUFaNzR70yoLPp1lHBZg74w7Cb21TJdOK9xUaf08AvyLnYhXP4sC3g/s1600/_MG_9414+Dawn%2540Willow+Point.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsJRNtY0fFnQh-VRTqfyC54wYiuGdRiHbJkBCpVnRrlbvZZm7nQ7MvP9RqAxjalcDjbCmC4KdC4MgWKeFIhbQ3cVUFaNzR70yoLPp1lHBZg74w7Cb21TJdOK9xUaf08AvyLnYhXP4sC3g/s640/_MG_9414+Dawn%2540Willow+Point.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Dawn At Willow Point On Tuesday</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
At times the many of the geese lifted-off and circled
the area before settling back down, but soon after sunrise many of them
left for the morning.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaFpDKC0XOkjaBmF6iBsPWi7CPM7h4DVNZtH30VoHKBUFoF3vWWbgteGOdJEJTcp9SW9Z9nZZx1ML8bre-LOjK-I2Zz2i_zHaFCojVxh0JAAY3MchiRlO-re9J28gJpa19jipY3REAt94/s1600/_DSC0986+Early+Am+Take-off.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaFpDKC0XOkjaBmF6iBsPWi7CPM7h4DVNZtH30VoHKBUFoF3vWWbgteGOdJEJTcp9SW9Z9nZZx1ML8bre-LOjK-I2Zz2i_zHaFCojVxh0JAAY3MchiRlO-re9J28gJpa19jipY3REAt94/s640/_DSC0986+Early+Am+Take-off.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Sunrise Take-off At Willow Point</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR8zEXK8yJ0n1Pu3sV0g4O9PS-4TCMsuC0_MMCk22IuUXgLeqaJrkbw8qutezPBmbfHOewmgvruGb_qIvALBiGW_hQ8ftZU3dbdYKJRo3xjL2nFbBBcDGyOyoYtCQbG5kj8fRqgvVxezQ/s1600/_DSC0974+No+One+There.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR8zEXK8yJ0n1Pu3sV0g4O9PS-4TCMsuC0_MMCk22IuUXgLeqaJrkbw8qutezPBmbfHOewmgvruGb_qIvALBiGW_hQ8ftZU3dbdYKJRo3xjL2nFbBBcDGyOyoYtCQbG5kj8fRqgvVxezQ/s640/_DSC0974+No+One+There.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>No One Was There</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieb3jX0PAOxmx_pfJVG_jSO5CMXsYxjIDIW3DaM1mZ-pfMa4RqtYSYo4tLxVxcAdkB096iTHWHlcEiANav46MeJRlfA3KRwN4IoVMuDo7vgvx9zFSTeNoE0gwusjfvswwcCLvRA6jJr6I/s1600/_DSC0990+Clouds+Of+Geese.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieb3jX0PAOxmx_pfJVG_jSO5CMXsYxjIDIW3DaM1mZ-pfMa4RqtYSYo4tLxVxcAdkB096iTHWHlcEiANav46MeJRlfA3KRwN4IoVMuDo7vgvx9zFSTeNoE0gwusjfvswwcCLvRA6jJr6I/s640/_DSC0990+Clouds+Of+Geese.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Leaving To Feed</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJRbCBPR97vHzMx8qO_VZ11vbqrs_ZFrSgpwLX8e44LNR3mHFjaHRFe845jhjgHgb8w7YLg_3hoJUQ6LfymuPfn7471WZcsJYUOlSnytO5NuI6nd2oknnWJBAypB_ZI0jbWjTTWqX5Mgc/s1600/_MG_9888+Canada+Geese+In+Flight.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJRbCBPR97vHzMx8qO_VZ11vbqrs_ZFrSgpwLX8e44LNR3mHFjaHRFe845jhjgHgb8w7YLg_3hoJUQ6LfymuPfn7471WZcsJYUOlSnytO5NuI6nd2oknnWJBAypB_ZI0jbWjTTWqX5Mgc/s640/_MG_9888+Canada+Geese+In+Flight.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Canada Geese</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I met another person walking to the viewing area as I
left, but I never saw anyone from the vehicle that was parked there at
dawn. In one way it was good to be alone with nature without people
taking and children screaming in excitement, but in another way it made
me sad that no one else was there to enjoy the wonderful experience.<br />
<br />
I
went to Willow Point again that evening. It was so pleasant at the
parking lot that I almost didn't put on a heavier sweater, but as I
began walking the sun vanished behind the clouds and by the time I got
to the viewing area it was overcast and gloomy.. A good number of geese
were there, but a strong breeze was gusting off the lake and I was glad
I dressed as I did as it was slightly uncomfortable even with the
heavier clothing.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrIoA1RitLZSp3CXWVPpkAzr4rVZd_-0zeemDainqsz9XlKk1pwnQn09OIDT-k2uhmWRLgQGDVzAa00mzvGIfV1IwmBKUEWWc_xOfFfnYXK83chSq5nun-QXEKP07iqlvT34jWb2BSHOA/s1600/_DSC1021+Cloudy+Evening%2540Willow+Point.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrIoA1RitLZSp3CXWVPpkAzr4rVZd_-0zeemDainqsz9XlKk1pwnQn09OIDT-k2uhmWRLgQGDVzAa00mzvGIfV1IwmBKUEWWc_xOfFfnYXK83chSq5nun-QXEKP07iqlvT34jWb2BSHOA/s640/_DSC1021+Cloudy+Evening%2540Willow+Point.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Cloudy Evening At Willow Point</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Actually you can still see the blue skies to the
north, but the sun was gone and even that blue sky soon vanished. It
was snowing next morning. Since the weather forecasters were calling for a
major snow storm I did not go to Middle Creek, but the forecast was
wrong and there was only light snow with little to no accumulation, so I
should have gone that day as well.<br />
<br />
With that another
trip to Middle Creek was over. In retrospect it was an enjoyable
experience even though I did not film as wide of a variety of wildlife
as in the better years.<br />
<br />
Thanks so much for reading--I hope you enjoyed the photos and story.<br />
<br />Willardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17059945499957721902noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690422682664917237.post-75103795445990515382018-03-13T21:27:00.003-04:002018-03-13T21:30:09.143-04:00Middle Creek 2018-Part 1<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOEKnv9wXildl8DP3HOk-W0M-O70ERmdY5A8DZgqKx53egDzYNYCZzcLxIHeZQNX3MsbDdcbRTHVT3SFujWI_TTWQ-7P2lLa2g508cJL_-qesVakKX_9J4npeGbA5sAnJRGGXrzRjEUpo/s1600/_DSC0934+Take-Off+%2540+Willow+Point.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOEKnv9wXildl8DP3HOk-W0M-O70ERmdY5A8DZgqKx53egDzYNYCZzcLxIHeZQNX3MsbDdcbRTHVT3SFujWI_TTWQ-7P2lLa2g508cJL_-qesVakKX_9J4npeGbA5sAnJRGGXrzRjEUpo/s640/_DSC0934+Take-Off+%2540+Willow+Point.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Snow Geese At Willow Point</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area on the
Lebanon/Lancaster County line near Kleinfeltersville, Pennsylvania is a
premier spot for birding enthusiasts and outdoor photographers during
the spring waterfowl migration. Of special interest is the peak of the
Snow Geese and Tundra Swan migration as it is a stunning sight to watch a
massive flock of Snow Geese lift off.<br />
<br />
This year the
peak of the migration was sometime in late February. I usually wait
until the tour road opens on March 1st before going to Middle Creek so
the peak of the migration was over when I got there on Friday afternoon
March 2nd, with an estimated 20,000 Snow Geese, 5,000 Tundra Swans, and
2,000 Canada Geese remaining according to the March 1st estimate.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi09N7Pxsi3ucHwo2VURhRFMKvrtvx100DnyaefF_zu8G1P8mOXjn8G4ba7sGr1ebhvfFchpKBV7sM2mn51TDGsxZmszbI9A2TsslAc2FOjT8Mr7yq0Z2vyxyvaFyKtEY6q-Xv8LNnQ6So/s1600/_DSC0852+Closed.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi09N7Pxsi3ucHwo2VURhRFMKvrtvx100DnyaefF_zu8G1P8mOXjn8G4ba7sGr1ebhvfFchpKBV7sM2mn51TDGsxZmszbI9A2TsslAc2FOjT8Mr7yq0Z2vyxyvaFyKtEY6q-Xv8LNnQ6So/s640/_DSC0852+Closed.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Tour Road Opened From Dawn-Dusk on March 1st</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
While the website states the road is closed from dusk
until dawn it did not open until after 7:30 on the mornings I was there
and one morning it was almost 8:00 until it opened .As you enter the
tour road there is a sign that tells you to tune to 1620 AM for a brief
history of Middle Creek and what to expect to see at this time of year.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFSzzkFml7Sy01zPUrEjqRCQvCAksByZkY1JyZkGTSkzMAxCukeP_OV0V6ssFdZXCQPP4HZI-ojGBe0IVsC4b5TT5qA5s8tJzJbK9s1HXxA1XHaTeCuTyAAPhGaM9-EqJcjw8IZ5MpPso/s1600/_DSC1004+Tour+Sign.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFSzzkFml7Sy01zPUrEjqRCQvCAksByZkY1JyZkGTSkzMAxCukeP_OV0V6ssFdZXCQPP4HZI-ojGBe0IVsC4b5TT5qA5s8tJzJbK9s1HXxA1XHaTeCuTyAAPhGaM9-EqJcjw8IZ5MpPso/s640/_DSC1004+Tour+Sign.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4SgdWxEeESQYByLNP7M4XYyQNsm8y3pJDiTJTsEebKOgtSCdHDqvVVOxSeowKXp7jkyQBsMvuoPUgyzrl2c7kFIVnniaNll25AsBT41s8189taHFOKuYy7SfDfrTVFLcUeioEOaQiMyk/s1600/_DSC1010+Audio+Tour.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4SgdWxEeESQYByLNP7M4XYyQNsm8y3pJDiTJTsEebKOgtSCdHDqvVVOxSeowKXp7jkyQBsMvuoPUgyzrl2c7kFIVnniaNll25AsBT41s8189taHFOKuYy7SfDfrTVFLcUeioEOaQiMyk/s640/_DSC1010+Audio+Tour.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
As
one continues along the tour road they find signs encouraging you to
respect the small creatures that may be crossing the road and avoid
hitting them.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid4X1_cNKRszFJvV_N40Jko6OgLGQAhMn6b3Er12tWwGliTvKp2n55KEKLODzo7zLiVVuV-8FNXuAgj-2Gckw_sQg6CJRRKIp2egEd5tKTpfDAiro2mKevZMTcImsNZHyb2KlMV0MzV0U/s1600/_DSC1012+Amphibian+Crossing.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="720" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid4X1_cNKRszFJvV_N40Jko6OgLGQAhMn6b3Er12tWwGliTvKp2n55KEKLODzo7zLiVVuV-8FNXuAgj-2Gckw_sQg6CJRRKIp2egEd5tKTpfDAiro2mKevZMTcImsNZHyb2KlMV0MzV0U/s640/_DSC1012+Amphibian+Crossing.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />
Middle
creek seemed empty of people compared to what I was used to in
other years. It was amazing that only a few vehicles were on the tour
road in mid-afternoon on March 3rd. This may be because the peak of the
migration was past, but it also was likely influenced by the brutal
winds that were still blowing after a strong front passed through on
Thursday night.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSDOeg4iNPkCBoVLssi42DfvAmJxTnvL37TIREBuqpwK3ucjvYF4IHfX5EHQRnnG8akKjpguuvqYttzMgUUUq73PX_95oxkHMKUOrOh2D3c3NbuchDqYph-Dq0e851PDLCkopY-xudYV0/s1600/_DSC0826+Almost+Empty+Tour+Road.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSDOeg4iNPkCBoVLssi42DfvAmJxTnvL37TIREBuqpwK3ucjvYF4IHfX5EHQRnnG8akKjpguuvqYttzMgUUUq73PX_95oxkHMKUOrOh2D3c3NbuchDqYph-Dq0e851PDLCkopY-xudYV0/s640/_DSC0826+Almost+Empty+Tour+Road.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Tour Road-Mid-Afternoon Saturday March 3rd</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Things changed a bit shortly after 4:00 p.m. when
geese began landing in and along a plot of standing corn, but even then
most of the flock landed over the brow of the bank where they could not
be seen.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS4Yw3fC2aMvE6bTsgZVruxuyGR0fNQaKfnbiaGFn6ufLP29ZUqgPM8EsQG-U8sI_5TSWoEw5t5soh_49Kxai1WjyEYoQdU1o40KkM9S0nO0Zl_tLNd35sUiF_RSmglZ9r2lnUykVHNAg/s1600/_DSC0831+Flock+along+Tour+Road.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS4Yw3fC2aMvE6bTsgZVruxuyGR0fNQaKfnbiaGFn6ufLP29ZUqgPM8EsQG-U8sI_5TSWoEw5t5soh_49Kxai1WjyEYoQdU1o40KkM9S0nO0Zl_tLNd35sUiF_RSmglZ9r2lnUykVHNAg/s640/_DSC0831+Flock+along+Tour+Road.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Snow Geese Near Road</b></span></td></tr>
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I continued around the tour road and returned at
5:00. The late evening sun made dramatic lighting for photography as
some geese arrived while others left.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihkoPxyBdg0u5Mj3wd8-VZalEQgcVZAdyWa3l9RhJr3kHg37ftMUUhFZ_1ue3ubLn-o2ub47XTXyzQ5W5AsgApa0omcsllWE1iNoFMTZ21V-CFyTQu0uLGcpIIBa7-PQz-18oApYZGSk0/s1600/_MG_9531+Snow+Geese+In+Flight.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihkoPxyBdg0u5Mj3wd8-VZalEQgcVZAdyWa3l9RhJr3kHg37ftMUUhFZ_1ue3ubLn-o2ub47XTXyzQ5W5AsgApa0omcsllWE1iNoFMTZ21V-CFyTQu0uLGcpIIBa7-PQz-18oApYZGSk0/s640/_MG_9531+Snow+Geese+In+Flight.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Snow Geese In Late Evening Sun</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyJsCLaSF03EUtRESp-yAaGYytIfkoVQ1orEmJ0b9orjqjsHOA5ZYZs4lD7arcRKuXknsn7mDBDdVD2dmjIg5JFDOTH1CoJlGq-O-X6wuJrBhEgyHGRrVM1Z8kSAYy21_k9rlZYjRgp_o/s1600/_MG_9547+Geese+Over+Corn.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyJsCLaSF03EUtRESp-yAaGYytIfkoVQ1orEmJ0b9orjqjsHOA5ZYZs4lD7arcRKuXknsn7mDBDdVD2dmjIg5JFDOTH1CoJlGq-O-X6wuJrBhEgyHGRrVM1Z8kSAYy21_k9rlZYjRgp_o/s640/_MG_9547+Geese+Over+Corn.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Snow Geese Landing</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The lighting makes it seem the weather would have
been pleasant when these photos were taken, but the wind was so cold and
brutal that it was hard to remain out of the vehicle for long. The
weather improved over the next few days making it easier to photograph
the waterfowl.<br />
<br />
In the next post we will look at some
photos from Willow Point as well as more taken along the tour road and
other areas of Middle Creek.<br />
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<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Willardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17059945499957721902noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690422682664917237.post-81395478896530015782017-10-09T11:13:00.000-04:002017-10-09T11:13:20.345-04:00A Mid-September Morning At The Winslow Hill Viewing AreaI have been back home for a little over a week since my annual trip to photograph and film the Pennsylvania elk rut and have finally got caught up enough to post some video and stills. A bit of morning fog is fine for elk photography, but this year it seemed most mornings were foggy and sometimes it was bad enough that filming was impossible. To make matters even more difficult, some of the evenings were so hot that the elk did not come out until almost dark.<br />
<br />
In spite of this I was able to film several bulls, but I didn't record any exceptional action such as fights. I only saw one short fight late one evening and I was unable to exploit the opportunity as I was carrying the 500mm F4 with the 1DXMKII and it was very dark and too far for good still photos. To top it off they went out of sight into a hollow before I could get a few frames off so even had I been carrying the video rig, there would have been no chance to record it. In light of the lack of a lot of dramatic footage, I plan on only posting a few short video clips and still images rather than making a more lengthy video of highlights of the entire trip and we begin today with a 1 min.-30 sec clip from the first week of the trip. The events of the morning will be described in detail in the story below.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="405" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/237162118" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="720"></iframe>
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Tuesday September 19th looked promising as I drove up Winslow Hill from Benezette as it was breaking day and the fog was patchy and not nearly as thick as usual. Several elk were around the parking area at the intersection of Winslow Hill Road and Dewey Road while even more were in the food plot in front of the viewing area. I drove on down Dewey Road and checked the area by the ponds and no bulls were there. I seldom film from the new viewing area, but considering there were not a lot of people there yet this morning and that is where the elk were, I drove back to the parking lot and prepared to go into action.<br />
<br />
While I was getting the camera set up I noticed a large non-typical bull crossing Dewey Road from the parking lot and heading south, while a small bull was standing just outside the rocks in front of the viewing area so as soon as the camera was ready to go I began filming from the parking lot. When he moved out of sight I moved on to the overlook and most of the elk had already left the food plot in front of it, but soon appeared on the hillside across the hollow shown in the photo below.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAJBdIOOfFb8LgtUsxdA9nvul9D5ePoiFmMHtt5XZ9dQY1BXZij8kbWvTALxxy44mVClFiPtEqIexUXmeBvOJcGjHVyFFT6vx50xWuhLkAkg7kyvQgeokCrxAlgrfeGp9Sbb4tzBX_YzE/s640/_MG_6721+Herd++In+Distance.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Distant Herd</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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This photo was taken with a full frame DSLR and a 17-40mm lens at 40mm so bear in mind when looking at the video how far the elk actually are away when I filmed them.</div>
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The filming was done with a Panasonic FZ-2500 camera, which has a fixed zoom lens. When shooting 4K video it has a zoom range of 36mm-720mm 35mm equivalent. In addition the camera has an intelligent zoom mode which will get you to an equivalent focal length of 1440mm on the long end and that setting is used a lot in this video. This performs much better than the better known digital zoom function, which I do not use because of quality loss. For the technical minded, the camera is fitted with a cage to support the external mike and the monitor. I don't think a cage is available that is specifically made for this camera so I modified one that was originally made for the Panasonic GH4 interchangeable lens camera. The monitor is a SmallHD 501 5" monitor. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqXM-qy4dLaf-FbzVK_f_DMC-eLgySii-bzjUqYPy0fNtFlmZy31viQym3Bd79_-_PlupiNNFdpf6l4_HPFqk7T02RQflnvi8QL2ltLivbyIAaXLs1qsdsQoENw45ZZiawAiGypXG-2tg/s1600/_MG_1969+FZ2500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="720" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqXM-qy4dLaf-FbzVK_f_DMC-eLgySii-bzjUqYPy0fNtFlmZy31viQym3Bd79_-_PlupiNNFdpf6l4_HPFqk7T02RQflnvi8QL2ltLivbyIAaXLs1qsdsQoENw45ZZiawAiGypXG-2tg/s640/_MG_1969+FZ2500.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Panasonic FZ2500</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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While I was filming the action on the hillside the non-typical bull came back and crossed the meadow in front of the viewing area and paused before going down the hill toward the elk on the hillside.. This was a good opportunity for still photos so I changed from the 17-40mm to the 100-400mm on the 1DXMII and got several shots of him before he went out of sight.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV35CBTrFvIGnOdCagC0jHBPMcbnkOnWLavsTxriKUZQ7tiClOlZPTp3moWWGfSDOMoCqouiF_E48HKr5aJyai_4lAfIR0n__6dHzN2zQaLmPwHghpVhYpAtNIWFD8dlX9N_8u4zE6feQ/s1600/_MG_6736+Mature+Non-typical+Bull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV35CBTrFvIGnOdCagC0jHBPMcbnkOnWLavsTxriKUZQ7tiClOlZPTp3moWWGfSDOMoCqouiF_E48HKr5aJyai_4lAfIR0n__6dHzN2zQaLmPwHghpVhYpAtNIWFD8dlX9N_8u4zE6feQ/s640/_MG_6736+Mature+Non-typical+Bull.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Non-typical Bull Pauses To Bugle</b></span></td></tr>
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I didn't see him again until after the other elk went in the woods and then he appeared on the far distant hillside. The video clip closes with him walking along the lower edge of the second row of trees that runs from left to right in the photo.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvPPsfa5LlyeScmwoRosiLyBfr1UGNFlon18OBY-XArAM00LFUuAWeYw-nFN1F2-OW33P-dnGKbGqPU8xsPHrPKmt1GCQPmOsR7BD1YUoQar4eXHtQOBGx-JgxIFa0vuKkTs8LJfYRK6E/s1600/_MG_6724+Winslow+Hill+Viewing+Area.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvPPsfa5LlyeScmwoRosiLyBfr1UGNFlon18OBY-XArAM00LFUuAWeYw-nFN1F2-OW33P-dnGKbGqPU8xsPHrPKmt1GCQPmOsR7BD1YUoQar4eXHtQOBGx-JgxIFa0vuKkTs8LJfYRK6E/s640/_MG_6724+Winslow+Hill+Viewing+Area.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><b>After The Action At</b></span> The Winslow Hill Viewing Area </b></span></td></tr>
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After this the action died down for the morning and did not see bulls again until almost 7:00 that evening.</div>
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I hope you enjoyed the post. If all goes as planned I will have a few more photos and short video clips to post in the near future.</div>
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Originally published at<a href="http://pawildlifephotographer.blogspot.com/"> Pennsylvania Wildlife Photographer </a>by Willard Hill. </div>
Willardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17059945499957721902noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690422682664917237.post-18805701397094447512017-08-25T20:54:00.000-04:002017-08-25T20:54:23.902-04:00Pennsylvania Bulls Shed Velvet<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSGE0RvROwZVFTa5KViRmAsg_FrzShYRmQ-lRZUyLGsBU0DT7xZA9aeqZto1fgtjG4U5XNOBh3ZD5g-e9szfZcK5_gY3zowXN4s8RpiY4xVjh3NoPTskm4ZSFLhNR6s8z3smnsl0ryxGk/s1600/_MG_6090+6x7++Starting+To+Shed.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSGE0RvROwZVFTa5KViRmAsg_FrzShYRmQ-lRZUyLGsBU0DT7xZA9aeqZto1fgtjG4U5XNOBh3ZD5g-e9szfZcK5_gY3zowXN4s8RpiY4xVjh3NoPTskm4ZSFLhNR6s8z3smnsl0ryxGk/s640/_MG_6090+6x7++Starting+To+Shed.jpg" width="512" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Early Stages Of Shedding: </b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Canon 1DXMKII- Canon 500mm F4.0 IS </b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Pennsylvania bull elk usually shed their velvet in a
time frame centered around mid-August. This is likely why the annual
Elk Expo is scheduled for mid-month as it is an especially good time to
visit the elk range.. As I did not plan on attending the Expo this year
I decided to avoid the large crowds that are there that weekend so it
was a question of whether to go the week before or the week after. I
finally decided on the week before and as we shall see it was good that I
did.<br />
<br />
I got there late in the afternoon on August
14th. There was only a slight chance of thunderstorms that evening, so I
took a long walk and checked out several remote food plots. As I did on
the last two trips, I carried the Panasonic FZ2500 on the tripod for
video and the Canon 1DXMKII with 100-400mm IS II lens in a shoulder bag
to take stills. It was hot as usual and the sweat ran freely, but I was
rewarded handsomely when I came to the edge of a back country food plot
and saw a fine 6x6 grazing. I filmed him for some time and when he
lifted his head I switched to the 1DXMKII for a few still photos. . You
cannot see it in the photo below, but when I looked at the video of the
encounter it was easy to see blood spots and several cracks in the
velvet.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTujgZ36wh6cigMgaOY2fSLpGNz3TpXXyHCISF-BoQy4OnL2PvRe4e9nybgpPwC1YWRw04BzGivrX4s16LIdIQgWQhuWqbhrnWzWMZwu4WKjp0IzFQHXm8oTamp7ghNVo42tz1ibWe4Zk/s1600/_MG_5926+6x6+In+Velvet.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="517" data-original-width="720" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTujgZ36wh6cigMgaOY2fSLpGNz3TpXXyHCISF-BoQy4OnL2PvRe4e9nybgpPwC1YWRw04BzGivrX4s16LIdIQgWQhuWqbhrnWzWMZwu4WKjp0IzFQHXm8oTamp7ghNVo42tz1ibWe4Zk/s640/_MG_5926+6x6+In+Velvet.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>6x6 Before Shedding: </b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Canon 1DXMKII- Canon 100-400mm IS II</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Eventually a small bachelor group of young bulls came out and none of them had shed the velvet yet either.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEx_wbEwyX_2avH0_DlKakicGoGVFydr8lgHq_eYoausCGL_Jv4Uc_J88lFKCXbJ5jDxyXLWQeAs7JMqsHStC_0JYM1aHCqG2YWDWn0NQyOghizOUAnlFrWW4C3pywkbhgfsAMn8c0DVw/s1600/_MG_5932+Bachelor+Group.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEx_wbEwyX_2avH0_DlKakicGoGVFydr8lgHq_eYoausCGL_Jv4Uc_J88lFKCXbJ5jDxyXLWQeAs7JMqsHStC_0JYM1aHCqG2YWDWn0NQyOghizOUAnlFrWW4C3pywkbhgfsAMn8c0DVw/s640/_MG_5932+Bachelor+Group.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Bachelor Group: Canon 1DXMKII- Canon 100-400mm IS II</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Next evening I repeated the walk. The 6x6 was with a group of smaller bulls and now his velvet was hanging in strips. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhla91dNlzFe1MPV0o155hFRihnP3L4bjz-3iOtlRK2vvqPZR7y1hbhPYLCNH2u0-ABn9Yb7ZnEisT_ng5YeqHIhyom3K4wlXuM_pX-eIKURPge0EsB8zv6ZX0VFhAFik3qXloeiCT5JAw/s1600/_MG_5944+Bachelor+Group.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhla91dNlzFe1MPV0o155hFRihnP3L4bjz-3iOtlRK2vvqPZR7y1hbhPYLCNH2u0-ABn9Yb7ZnEisT_ng5YeqHIhyom3K4wlXuM_pX-eIKURPge0EsB8zv6ZX0VFhAFik3qXloeiCT5JAw/s640/_MG_5944+Bachelor+Group.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Bachelor Group: </b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Canon 1DXMKII- Canon 100-400mm IS II</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd2eR0t-g5cF6LXh1Eo-N-XEACIh2ncW4ya19CcqjPO2ehg2Ulc7Q6kzN45eL7TeGWSf7oOFlv5q_y8Hy-hRrKjKrSDPHE-2kRD1w4ns97_X6L1-i-sWqggmR8acen10jzcjqX9nDppVg/s1600/_MG_5960+6x6++Shedding+.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="720" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd2eR0t-g5cF6LXh1Eo-N-XEACIh2ncW4ya19CcqjPO2ehg2Ulc7Q6kzN45eL7TeGWSf7oOFlv5q_y8Hy-hRrKjKrSDPHE-2kRD1w4ns97_X6L1-i-sWqggmR8acen10jzcjqX9nDppVg/s640/_MG_5960+6x6++Shedding+.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Velvet Hanging In Strips: </b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Canon 1DXMKII- Canon 100-400mm IS II</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I didn't make that walk again during the August trip, so I didn't get to record this bull once his antlers were completely bare.<br />
<br />
A
few large bulls showed no signs of shedding yet which was the case with
a fine 6x7 that I photographed shortly after dawn on Wednesday
morning. As is usually the case in Pennsylvania Country, it was a foggy
morning and I saw several other bulls but got no more good still photos.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCyZF9T4bmZHva4h__nfGW-bgt6qwaItPEJnqPuKYzo0HYkao1e7YX9_MzB0vOvza3g28ztPNlRJ3WDvfSPvPzh6OHcPUwTxhtEwDlZgZ7VA8WlYoShH9TS8uCy7XV5sRed9hmteL1KD0/s1600/_MG_5964+6x7+In+Fog.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCyZF9T4bmZHva4h__nfGW-bgt6qwaItPEJnqPuKYzo0HYkao1e7YX9_MzB0vOvza3g28ztPNlRJ3WDvfSPvPzh6OHcPUwTxhtEwDlZgZ7VA8WlYoShH9TS8uCy7XV5sRed9hmteL1KD0/s640/_MG_5964+6x7+In+Fog.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>6x7 On Foggy Morning: </b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Canon 1DXMKII- Canon 70-200mm IS II</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Thursday morning was also foggy and I saw several bulls in a meadow shortly after dawn. A large 7x7 had not yet shed.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Tnus7GMmH6jsmcwx3ei8b2t2DhJu6Qm91LwL_l1CUYQbbSQJabcY45viZVm5WwEilYBI95HQwS7CpDyUjW68XCxV5DUqmUz8rR6bRoT0ED9fU0u9a0-pWpuzxQBV_OcroVBCbzLV6II/s1600/_MG_5998+6x7+In+Fog.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="720" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Tnus7GMmH6jsmcwx3ei8b2t2DhJu6Qm91LwL_l1CUYQbbSQJabcY45viZVm5WwEilYBI95HQwS7CpDyUjW68XCxV5DUqmUz8rR6bRoT0ED9fU0u9a0-pWpuzxQBV_OcroVBCbzLV6II/s640/_MG_5998+6x7+In+Fog.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>7x7 In Fog:</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b> Canon 1DXMKII- Canon 100-400mm IS II</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYU9hpUCI9GLJ2aIfLVfdsl-mMLHx6Akd9jBHTrn9h4OjBqoiPdCGkBdP0GwCjugrXpJMWg_QcwskikFvm-kCim2F9gzHCB-4a-3h2OI5M-wLyKmL9aDLmn6nwjaCjcTXZE41PtKtXNQ0/s1600/_MG_6003+6x7+In+Fog.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="720" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYU9hpUCI9GLJ2aIfLVfdsl-mMLHx6Akd9jBHTrn9h4OjBqoiPdCGkBdP0GwCjugrXpJMWg_QcwskikFvm-kCim2F9gzHCB-4a-3h2OI5M-wLyKmL9aDLmn6nwjaCjcTXZE41PtKtXNQ0/s640/_MG_6003+6x7+In+Fog.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>7x7-Another View: </b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Canon 1DMKII- Canon 300mm F2.8 IS</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The 7x7 was with a large group of bulls which were
in various stages of shedding. At one point two squared off in a
sparring match, which gave a good photo opportunity.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJCVy_lPhR4Zj1LLZeq-Yxd6wD3bGEQLpLTHlqUpIvPZWiy7MrXPjGq_tJZVS3Iru2qhtvTt2in3_R4G0CBUyRB-n6yxMJWJ7Eqi2-mmCCuTtwzRbvAN5aTmeAIiEihFiqfPVpycrvRgQ/s1600/_MG_6000+Sparring+At+Dawn.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJCVy_lPhR4Zj1LLZeq-Yxd6wD3bGEQLpLTHlqUpIvPZWiy7MrXPjGq_tJZVS3Iru2qhtvTt2in3_R4G0CBUyRB-n6yxMJWJ7Eqi2-mmCCuTtwzRbvAN5aTmeAIiEihFiqfPVpycrvRgQ/s640/_MG_6000+Sparring+At+Dawn.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Bulls Sparring As Dawn:</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b> Canon 1DXMKII- Canon 300mm F2.8 IS</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQUEDc_MnibM1cs-kUkl2cNEaIxk9jHn2BNignW8Cj0WyMzo7OLnXaTMAyEZIyTDlk3l62mPW461nWjE7qFiKpoF6H7t4Kkxvc-DraNhc-BPHVLftLoXq3StQDG80W2sQ4f4bbroDhmsI/s1600/_MG_5986+Sparring+.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="720" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQUEDc_MnibM1cs-kUkl2cNEaIxk9jHn2BNignW8Cj0WyMzo7OLnXaTMAyEZIyTDlk3l62mPW461nWjE7qFiKpoF6H7t4Kkxvc-DraNhc-BPHVLftLoXq3StQDG80W2sQ4f4bbroDhmsI/s640/_MG_5986+Sparring+.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Bulls Sparring As Pre-rut Begins: Canon 1DXMKII- Canon 100-400mm IS II</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After sunrise I found more bulls sparring in a meadow quite a distance from where I photographed the other bachelor group.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdJwnODwXFom5HCha2cdF0mkj7u6RRei8F98wpkNuD0FB6ZiU6pI2ZjyqzCnVcIaAN3m4rmoWrpDuH9S2VP0wyffBs93fN7_JRBDlHCyUd89Ve1mbz_TOo7H1GuvQOTPwwpmzyWXsGTvs/s1600/_MG_6038+Sparring+In+Fog.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdJwnODwXFom5HCha2cdF0mkj7u6RRei8F98wpkNuD0FB6ZiU6pI2ZjyqzCnVcIaAN3m4rmoWrpDuH9S2VP0wyffBs93fN7_JRBDlHCyUd89Ve1mbz_TOo7H1GuvQOTPwwpmzyWXsGTvs/s640/_MG_6038+Sparring+In+Fog.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Sparring After Sunrise:</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Canon 1DXMKII- Canon 500mm IS-1.4x extender</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD0zTgaKXiqrmNefI4xyP0GHm8HB1zeIMzRXtXKPiS-bopUdNZuERaMxbDhHMd_JPd0vS25DzDCCDSFe002j_zH33t7Z0CFcsXxTtriozGn0m4PlTxzeVR7hJ-aus_GUeo4zfDRNPeCRs/s1600/_MG_6048+Sparring+In+Fog.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD0zTgaKXiqrmNefI4xyP0GHm8HB1zeIMzRXtXKPiS-bopUdNZuERaMxbDhHMd_JPd0vS25DzDCCDSFe002j_zH33t7Z0CFcsXxTtriozGn0m4PlTxzeVR7hJ-aus_GUeo4zfDRNPeCRs/s640/_MG_6048+Sparring+In+Fog.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Sparring After Sunrise</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>:</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Canon 1DXMKII- Canon 500mm IS-1.4x extender</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
On Friday morning there was time for a short trip
around the Benezette area before leaving for home. I found the bull that
is shown at the beginning of the post and he was just beginning to lose
the velvet. A bit later I photographed one that was completely shed
and had a branch caught in his antlers from polishing his antlers in
trees and branches.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUbblEDeEmbuVPD_-krLS-pFqecE-Rn8NJsnmrHFP-T1Jfx053kn6N9fu6Y92bowmomdGGNvGlyulaC0nf3RQdYL_62kZCa7YLOPQc8JCpyJEW6I5Ngd_5pdAnK9erxCs9p3pNPFoUOIw/s1600/_MG_6094+Branches+In+Antlers.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUbblEDeEmbuVPD_-krLS-pFqecE-Rn8NJsnmrHFP-T1Jfx053kn6N9fu6Y92bowmomdGGNvGlyulaC0nf3RQdYL_62kZCa7YLOPQc8JCpyJEW6I5Ngd_5pdAnK9erxCs9p3pNPFoUOIw/s640/_MG_6094+Branches+In+Antlers.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Completely Shed:</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Canon 1DXMKII- Canon 500mm F4.0 IS </b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As it turned out choosing this week was the right
decision as few of the bulls had shed when I arrived on Monday, but by
Thursday and Friday mornings most were well along in the process. Had I
waited until the week after the expo, opportunities for getting velvet
shedding photos and film clips would have been mostly over.<br />
<br />
With
the velvet shed, the bulls are sparring as the pre-rut gets underway.
In a short time the full-blown rut will begin and it will peak sometime
after mid-month and then wind down in October.<br />
<br />
Originally published at<a href="http://pawildlifephotographer.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"> Pennsylvania Wildlife Photographer </a>by Willard Hill.Willardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17059945499957721902noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690422682664917237.post-67313511502247287572017-08-07T15:46:00.000-04:002017-08-07T15:46:53.230-04:00Mid-July Trip To Pennsylvania Elk Country<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1Ghgt3U6SdkeBUCbyMzmZLlvD_3nijtGRmE9uamDxruvzvJROftHZm9h_LnvUiMefQoEFIXDUoLMDgjYMtz51HGnz-P6CyZr4Jjg9gW5xw6IkDl5JM8VKRaea0dowVfe1P4qtRpF7f0/s1600/_1340829+The+River.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1Ghgt3U6SdkeBUCbyMzmZLlvD_3nijtGRmE9uamDxruvzvJROftHZm9h_LnvUiMefQoEFIXDUoLMDgjYMtz51HGnz-P6CyZr4Jjg9gW5xw6IkDl5JM8VKRaea0dowVfe1P4qtRpF7f0/s640/_1340829+The+River.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>The River</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Temperatures were hot and humid when I arrived in
Benezette in mid-afternoon on Monday July 17th for several days of elk
filming and photography. Reports indicated that few elk were being seen
in town or on Winslow Hill, but in spite of this I felt optimistic of
success.<br />
<br />
Even though it was stifling hot, there was
little haze in the air with only a slight threat of a thunderstorm and
it was a good evening to take a walk with the cameras if you didn't mind
being soaked with sweat. Since I usually concentrate on taking video, I
carried a Panasonic FZ2500 fitted with a 5" Small HD monitor on the
tripod for that purpose and a Canon 1DKMKII with the Canon 100mm-400mm
IS II lens in my camera bag for still photography. I saw several small
bulls that evening and one was close enough for good still photos.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn5LLATP245Mhsev4FRjp9tYH5kgEC22P_f22NgmPzmmlak7YpyKjKM6YCLqDlahPB6KW3VlNo5P-BCnW4fXnLA5ECWWFHcIpUCc7eDYMtcERVvCIHQkZnfmNuWtDi9kQmajHm6u_3g3E/s1600/_MG_5491+5x5+.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="720" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn5LLATP245Mhsev4FRjp9tYH5kgEC22P_f22NgmPzmmlak7YpyKjKM6YCLqDlahPB6KW3VlNo5P-BCnW4fXnLA5ECWWFHcIpUCc7eDYMtcERVvCIHQkZnfmNuWtDi9kQmajHm6u_3g3E/s640/_MG_5491+5x5+.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Alert 5x5</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1M56748sPSLr3FXa0CpmTw9mUex1W8oHGGquxRIL_BU8sRdUts2f-Vei2zAkqpgSpJdtFQ3gfFZZqh23VcGTJAOTH7Co2gGycIXrVN83biFYY-S6o2TZO2-_0-Vv1Ddfd_gIAghMbrk8/s1600/_MG_5513+5x5.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="720" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1M56748sPSLr3FXa0CpmTw9mUex1W8oHGGquxRIL_BU8sRdUts2f-Vei2zAkqpgSpJdtFQ3gfFZZqh23VcGTJAOTH7Co2gGycIXrVN83biFYY-S6o2TZO2-_0-Vv1Ddfd_gIAghMbrk8/s640/_MG_5513+5x5.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">5x5 Looks At Distant Bulls</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The best bull of the evening was a decent 6x6, but
unfortunately he was in short grass, which provided a less than deal
setting and he was always looking directly at me when I was taking
stills.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrdEdB5k6OXMjCvDXMn3AzEcve0tw03bY9YgZvbVrPDL9aOvgMhR2-N7l20va7OzzMdej-w20aIcYD_b3hRE9yC9NW8QU2JX1-t9q-xgMiksthEj_F1dFPeTa62d5LWpL8b2IwV27IZwA/s1600/_MG_5522+6x6.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="720" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrdEdB5k6OXMjCvDXMn3AzEcve0tw03bY9YgZvbVrPDL9aOvgMhR2-N7l20va7OzzMdej-w20aIcYD_b3hRE9yC9NW8QU2JX1-t9q-xgMiksthEj_F1dFPeTa62d5LWpL8b2IwV27IZwA/s640/_MG_5522+6x6.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>6x6 Pauses From Grazing</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Three of the most important parts of elk photography
in the summer is being out early in the morning and staying late in the
evening. When I walked I never got back to the vehicle until after
dark. The down side to this of course is that lighting conditions are
often less than ideal when you encounter the elk. I
prefer the mornings if it is not too foggy, but that is a big problem in
elk country as it seems most mornings are foggy--some of them so bad
that photography is almost impossible. Fortunately the morning I
encountered a fine 6x7 with a bachelor group of smaller bulls, the fog
was spotty and there were relatively clear periods at times.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR7JpuS_vW0fBIuMAnX6UfXMj1w1BGHhkCG2ZZH_rbXj1NGmJ-jHyTr4I_h7z2i2sVgS5H_6IKGq6XpEupxCTQB_-s8qLZ7yXlRzU0R60GzkmFjO44WFvlFYwo3XmjSXa8b_0-DRoRu-U/s1600/_MG_5555+Foggy+Morning+6x7.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR7JpuS_vW0fBIuMAnX6UfXMj1w1BGHhkCG2ZZH_rbXj1NGmJ-jHyTr4I_h7z2i2sVgS5H_6IKGq6XpEupxCTQB_-s8qLZ7yXlRzU0R60GzkmFjO44WFvlFYwo3XmjSXa8b_0-DRoRu-U/s640/_MG_5555+Foggy+Morning+6x7.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>6x7 On A Foggy Morning</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Dq9U3TmCRqoiP0J1OalwtW-XJg3QxqSQoslBPw_V4gFViWbR5GNy2gRXmjhwm8Lbmbl8GhHERubRcugXAwQDwWUVdqr0p2VdBnRiVjkxa5us-OcSmqB9GuzUpU_izZUAFJcFdYZM9UU/s1600/Bachelor+Group.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="720" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Dq9U3TmCRqoiP0J1OalwtW-XJg3QxqSQoslBPw_V4gFViWbR5GNy2gRXmjhwm8Lbmbl8GhHERubRcugXAwQDwWUVdqr0p2VdBnRiVjkxa5us-OcSmqB9GuzUpU_izZUAFJcFdYZM9UU/s640/Bachelor+Group.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>4K Video Frame Grab of Bachelor Group</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
On Wednesday morning another fine 6x7 was grazing in a
meadow of tall grasses and I photographed him with the 1DXMKII and
500mm F 4 lens.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2JflNW-ehtxOuEmTxldlz94WHzTutCT0r6293VumlmtCc3cr6epJ7BbUUbE2S-9RWutZz3xpIwdgpv9ivs5ha9kD_yQhxFAMUtkN-H1RhiFH8-yopDAm11tVzZ7q5mhS07wpV1X48sVg/s1600/_MG_5609++6x7.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2JflNW-ehtxOuEmTxldlz94WHzTutCT0r6293VumlmtCc3cr6epJ7BbUUbE2S-9RWutZz3xpIwdgpv9ivs5ha9kD_yQhxFAMUtkN-H1RhiFH8-yopDAm11tVzZ7q5mhS07wpV1X48sVg/s640/_MG_5609++6x7.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>6x7 Looks To Distant Hill Side</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM0thEa7D5TKkUyg8qUoTZxbyMqmBmPDBIzrSjOPKoP5SUcoucG3N_Mp_nJ394W_StGnmXhWQomrivx_Bxtl4yaG0ACDgNBkfRoBR1FQR_3u_AJV_CzIA85WtO3atPfCXZVpAtgjrMA98/s1600/_MG_5635++6x6+.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="720" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM0thEa7D5TKkUyg8qUoTZxbyMqmBmPDBIzrSjOPKoP5SUcoucG3N_Mp_nJ394W_StGnmXhWQomrivx_Bxtl4yaG0ACDgNBkfRoBR1FQR_3u_AJV_CzIA85WtO3atPfCXZVpAtgjrMA98/s640/_MG_5635++6x6+.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Another View</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Eventually he returned to feeding and worked past my
position and I used the 5DMKIII with the Canon 100-400mm IS II to
photograph him with a bit more of the surroundings included in the
photo.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju8A4DDVFs1LoI4Xn_xbXIFjJkILTANwcF9ETcyXGXYufLJFS3NbK79zB2Dzyeejas8MuODoEL5u6erT6casty1uH5w_3ObZE1nKrpo3pgqtOdYGK_fjxCJZHeGNvMfYGPFZ3CRRC47h4/s1600/_MG_8254+6x7.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju8A4DDVFs1LoI4Xn_xbXIFjJkILTANwcF9ETcyXGXYufLJFS3NbK79zB2Dzyeejas8MuODoEL5u6erT6casty1uH5w_3ObZE1nKrpo3pgqtOdYGK_fjxCJZHeGNvMfYGPFZ3CRRC47h4/s640/_MG_8254+6x7.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>6x7: Taken with 5DMKIII and 100-400mm IS II at 371 mm</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I spent very little time driving around Winslow Hill. I did check for the bulls that I saw last month along the road at
the upper end of the hill, but I only saw a small one and didn't film
him. Late on Tuesday morning I played tourist and photographed a herd of
elk in a camp lawn with the Panasonic FZ1000, which I usually use for
close-up video filming when I am not able to set the tripod up. I also
used it to take the river photo at the beginning of the post and it does
a creditable job with stills as long as one keeps at the lower ISO
settings.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfygqGQZz5kcxkKpZmLAa3ctvnALYy3CPCMqr2Q0s7769Jt7-Xep_KEM7eazAO5Reiwu5CtnZlIYa4Udcgf_nRnlSskrg8HwAMyoKOckY2s3dmfBdfyEopFTFi3gkT6Wfaa4Im7b13t8E/s1600/_1340835+Elk+In+Camp+Lawn+Winslow+Hill.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfygqGQZz5kcxkKpZmLAa3ctvnALYy3CPCMqr2Q0s7769Jt7-Xep_KEM7eazAO5Reiwu5CtnZlIYa4Udcgf_nRnlSskrg8HwAMyoKOckY2s3dmfBdfyEopFTFi3gkT6Wfaa4Im7b13t8E/s640/_1340835+Elk+In+Camp+Lawn+Winslow+Hill.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>A Typical Sighting On Winslow Hill</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
All in all I have had better July trips to elk
country, but this one still gave a lot of photo and video
opportunities. The summer has moved so quickly and it seems impossible
to think that very shortly most of the bulls will shed the velvet and
soon another rut will begin.<br />
<br />
Originally published at <a href="http://pawildlifephotographer.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Pennsylvania Wildlife Photographer </a>by Willard Hill.Willardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17059945499957721902noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690422682664917237.post-77020688466121893742017-07-09T16:49:00.000-04:002017-07-09T16:49:05.485-04:00June Bulls In Pennsylvania Elk Country<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgid6BVIJb4fu1jPmIqvRb0Ryp91C-AXS_-MZxy789LQLCpG161lDJDfVdQp6b126vaYbsAvJiG-DpwUqJHG9nvIHOIel7qwoPWwigBU-G0HyTkJqTscGK7RrmFtOnvDxiIx6oKYV5gTjI/s1600/_MG_4746+5x6.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgid6BVIJb4fu1jPmIqvRb0Ryp91C-AXS_-MZxy789LQLCpG161lDJDfVdQp6b126vaYbsAvJiG-DpwUqJHG9nvIHOIel7qwoPWwigBU-G0HyTkJqTscGK7RrmFtOnvDxiIx6oKYV5gTjI/s640/_MG_4746+5x6.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Winslow Hill Bull</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
When I first began going to Pennsylvania Elk Country
in 1995 it was a much different place than it is today with little in
the way of food plots planted for wildlife. There was some planting at
the Dents Run Viewing Area and a portion of The Saddle and the plot
behind Busy Bee Campground were usually mowed sometime during the
summer. Back then my summer elk filming usually consisted of taking a
tour around Winslow Hill and out to Hick's Run or Driftwood and to Medix
Run in the mornings and evenings. Since many fed elk and there were few
food plots, the elk were attracted to the feeding and the green lawn
grass. As a result many of the bulls were to be found in the lawns
eating the grass and nibbling on the flowers.<br />
<br />
Today
there is a lot of high quality forage in elk country and there are a lot
more elk than in 1995. Now it is relatively common so see large
bachelor groups of bulls feeding in the food plots while they are less
likely to be seen in town.<br />
<br />
During my June trip, I saw
two bulls along the road on Winslow Hill every day. The first was the
6x6 at the beginning of the post and the second is the bull below.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg30cn5ILngH2m-eS6uJou90ROPzrmlcYtBRAQYC0iFTa7fV1i6lWdL1Va-wdc_5tWmpxLeZafpF0njRM4-1DcokzSawq2xUciJ1IjY0T6GlFwYVHUKeF-hIN2w9cqYqG8Zm_GMtChIWj4/s1600/_MG_4724.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg30cn5ILngH2m-eS6uJou90ROPzrmlcYtBRAQYC0iFTa7fV1i6lWdL1Va-wdc_5tWmpxLeZafpF0njRM4-1DcokzSawq2xUciJ1IjY0T6GlFwYVHUKeF-hIN2w9cqYqG8Zm_GMtChIWj4/s640/_MG_4724.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Largest Bull Seen on Winslow Hill</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
At this juncture I am not going to speculate on the
number of points on the rack. A point must be at least an inch in
length to be counted and this bull has a lot of points that are still
too short to meet that criteria. Some are on the borderline and may
become long enough or they may not.<br />
<br />
I spent most
evenings on foot in remote areas and sometimes did not get back to the
vehicle until well after dark. As usual I concentrated on taking video
and carried a Panasonic FZ2500 on the tripod for that purpose, and a
Canon 1DXMKII with the Canon 100-400mm IS II in a camera bag to take
still images.<br />
<br />
One evening I walked back a field road
and came upon a fine bull. After taking video I put the still camera in
action and captured several frames.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5rdRZAxZVpCTDs26uESUnvg6iTupZywxOr1lWmPi4HnFb3vi5HPcm1wiAx6bAH0bmD3MA7QaULMPBpAlfNw6poO-7NediYKeWiHFhCTogKJn00OA-pXl_VX4JBY1e0KWVRDWuUI4h8cA/s1600/_MG_4652+5x5.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5rdRZAxZVpCTDs26uESUnvg6iTupZywxOr1lWmPi4HnFb3vi5HPcm1wiAx6bAH0bmD3MA7QaULMPBpAlfNw6poO-7NediYKeWiHFhCTogKJn00OA-pXl_VX4JBY1e0KWVRDWuUI4h8cA/s640/_MG_4652+5x5.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>5x5 Bull Pauses From Feeding</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSZ1YK0pJwZnZOb6QhJNjk-U3skfEl2MLJxsICZg8k4lCLXDwGaWA4BYLGgDA0Eg68sLSIsLQxwsvfAWJQSYjqKIuBmTV6UZLI_-QHaGrrMngVRINnEPksGUlo3mXrjfPXs1V2UHZ6p6w/s1600/_MG_4661+5x5.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="720" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSZ1YK0pJwZnZOb6QhJNjk-U3skfEl2MLJxsICZg8k4lCLXDwGaWA4BYLGgDA0Eg68sLSIsLQxwsvfAWJQSYjqKIuBmTV6UZLI_-QHaGrrMngVRINnEPksGUlo3mXrjfPXs1V2UHZ6p6w/s640/_MG_4661+5x5.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>5x5 Bull Scents For Danger</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2yVrHugv39Ge2t-VByy6LiGLz858iVw0HACtihMlz0i_FkUc_Xa-AAi3sSJbEOLJ3Z83XsXE3BcreLz8oFbVyIQ6LmoWpEX98y_7NblMz0TLy48TTzyUNQv_ocLZhFt_abCRDWE2DYck/s1600/_MG_4667+5x5.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="720" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2yVrHugv39Ge2t-VByy6LiGLz858iVw0HACtihMlz0i_FkUc_Xa-AAi3sSJbEOLJ3Z83XsXE3BcreLz8oFbVyIQ6LmoWpEX98y_7NblMz0TLy48TTzyUNQv_ocLZhFt_abCRDWE2DYck/s640/_MG_4667+5x5.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>5x5</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This bull is currently a 5x5, but looks like he will
be at least a 6x6 and possible a 7x7 when antler development is
completed. A bit later I found a bachelor group sharing a food plot
with a solitary cow.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJmpQK2O9UPNyZ60Z8YiRq5pLpabith4tqtUMW83IhkFuwVhvbEHXsGC_ohyphenhyphenT6gz1IQJrHjvQmMFRchwNTwRiekn11kQKtTCNOOj434bI7BCF27EBBAGVr-UZDbTRe1xmWGKDAgEiT4Yk/s1600/_MG_4672+Bachelor+Group.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJmpQK2O9UPNyZ60Z8YiRq5pLpabith4tqtUMW83IhkFuwVhvbEHXsGC_ohyphenhyphenT6gz1IQJrHjvQmMFRchwNTwRiekn11kQKtTCNOOj434bI7BCF27EBBAGVr-UZDbTRe1xmWGKDAgEiT4Yk/s640/_MG_4672+Bachelor+Group.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Bachelor Group and Cow Share Food Plot</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I saw two more similar bachelor groups that evening,
but the photo below was taken on the following evening when I didn't
find nearly as many bulls overall on the same walk, but found more of
them together so I suspect these were some of the same bulls
concentrated in one place.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg56jtrl4_zFUazoVdAe-w2mPuRWhqW5ahFcEDRw_hpUaSfLNw1r6HCIGzVDEHWu-6Uu6cHwQtdsqkm0qPS-gr-fZGsJG-ZV3R_cN_jraA7K6tcFi5yj9Hoi6msHV2rDQCG1LHp2nV7jlA/s1600/_MG_4742+Bachelor+Group.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg56jtrl4_zFUazoVdAe-w2mPuRWhqW5ahFcEDRw_hpUaSfLNw1r6HCIGzVDEHWu-6Uu6cHwQtdsqkm0qPS-gr-fZGsJG-ZV3R_cN_jraA7K6tcFi5yj9Hoi6msHV2rDQCG1LHp2nV7jlA/s640/_MG_4742+Bachelor+Group.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Seven Rack Bulls-One Spike</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
On Friday morning the last day of the trip I drove
the roads around Benezette before leaving for home and photographed the
largest bull of the trip. In this case the images were taken from the
tripod with the old Canon 500mm f4.0 IS and the 1DXMKII. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoQ9v6nxeG8vEvZ4V8go2sdo49a-hHmoMoluh31M-O34_m5sdfs_BLLgtVZY8lmR4GyUoYhFBUUfDYecWFL6So33PjEXgdbAGhafPkECgu58B9NhXgG2zHjTZzKl0FyFaK2HLVhJR0M3Y/s1600/_MG_4922++Mature+7x7.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="720" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoQ9v6nxeG8vEvZ4V8go2sdo49a-hHmoMoluh31M-O34_m5sdfs_BLLgtVZY8lmR4GyUoYhFBUUfDYecWFL6So33PjEXgdbAGhafPkECgu58B9NhXgG2zHjTZzKl0FyFaK2HLVhJR0M3Y/s640/_MG_4922++Mature+7x7.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Mature 7x7 </b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCBy1vAdijjr7YLvuD2RYqFd9d2o_TtqadiTghXZxOTPrv20ObCl6otnEefqk-CBmXGBfx2qze_FXAn7v1bxkWcdX7ZGm_DxTYKjhhQtCYs8msX3hWsrzJBGCL6_uPZZ9hTP2rnNgmEeI/s1600/_MG_8162+Gaswell+7x7+v2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="720" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCBy1vAdijjr7YLvuD2RYqFd9d2o_TtqadiTghXZxOTPrv20ObCl6otnEefqk-CBmXGBfx2qze_FXAn7v1bxkWcdX7ZGm_DxTYKjhhQtCYs8msX3hWsrzJBGCL6_uPZZ9hTP2rnNgmEeI/s640/_MG_8162+Gaswell+7x7+v2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Mature 7x7-A Different Angle</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It will be interesting to see how much larger the bulls have grown if I am able to go back this month. <br />
<br />
Originally published at <a href="http://pawildlifephotographer.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Pennsylvania Wildlife Photographer </a>by Willard Hill.<br />
<br />Willardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17059945499957721902noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690422682664917237.post-33407713561848704822017-07-02T15:02:00.000-04:002017-07-02T15:02:40.642-04:00 Pennsylvania Elk Calves In Late June<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKorrEaxwIJxqKZD_ymPSqw_BPuEb51uaU84qOU-0SXoRKO1nn8jlhBGLNfs7JK1aGMkAlHGP6U2RgjNj7QbmBXdSfXPVousuHUNoeB1xTs_OuTXag5ntNRUr9QyjHvI48BZIJimeqTjc/s1600/_MG_4817.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="720" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKorrEaxwIJxqKZD_ymPSqw_BPuEb51uaU84qOU-0SXoRKO1nn8jlhBGLNfs7JK1aGMkAlHGP6U2RgjNj7QbmBXdSfXPVousuHUNoeB1xTs_OuTXag5ntNRUr9QyjHvI48BZIJimeqTjc/s640/_MG_4817.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Elk Calf In The Rays of The Early Morning Sun</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Most
elk calves are born in the period from mid-May through mid-June with a
few being born later. I seldom go to Pennsylvania Elk Country during the
peak of the birthing period because I concentrate on whitetail fawn
photography at this time, and go to elk country only after most of the
fawns are born.<br />
<br />
This year was no exception, and I
didn't get there until June 19th through the 23rd.. I saw plenty of
calves, but they were mostly too far for good still photography or they
were in situations where it was difficult or impossible to get the
camera in action.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFx-KEztGKv-DGHireYCDQUs3bhDOH-RMLK_sYuZ2Fs5U2er8BaL0U5Q-Afv6ov4VyWTRBxzMulKE2XocCMQ3ZepIl4wenyFpgevrkhS5WtK0UGFZyDcEH-CXabvpai-_41BpSJ5znBew/s1600/_MG_4639+Crossing+Road.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFx-KEztGKv-DGHireYCDQUs3bhDOH-RMLK_sYuZ2Fs5U2er8BaL0U5Q-Afv6ov4VyWTRBxzMulKE2XocCMQ3ZepIl4wenyFpgevrkhS5WtK0UGFZyDcEH-CXabvpai-_41BpSJ5znBew/s640/_MG_4639+Crossing+Road.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Cow and Calf Cross Road At Woodring Viewing Area</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This is mostly because the elk are very protective of
the newborn calves when they are most vulnerable within the first weeks
of life. Also the annual calf capture and tagging program to gather
biological data is still underway or just finished recently so the elk
may be expecting to be pursued when they see humans, which contributes
to their skittishness.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLJpk0HSak0MV6zwOtiPfZbZySP8tJ6fol3oE89f-PxBIYhtn_38y2jN3KeUA_2r1j9G7TxL4deZQONmCzgYI5NPHCW5O0HhfDPSNf2tua3MT2twA5dCdB4L1g8h3v36FEMI_LKVcfA58/s1600/_MG_4633+Alert+Cow.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLJpk0HSak0MV6zwOtiPfZbZySP8tJ6fol3oE89f-PxBIYhtn_38y2jN3KeUA_2r1j9G7TxL4deZQONmCzgYI5NPHCW5O0HhfDPSNf2tua3MT2twA5dCdB4L1g8h3v36FEMI_LKVcfA58/s640/_MG_4633+Alert+Cow.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Alert Cow Looks For Danger</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It didn't help the calf photography either that I
mostly concentrated on taking video and spent a lot of the time in
areas where one was more likely to see bachelor groups of bulls.
Nonetheless,I did spend most mornings looking for calves and it paid
off on Thursday morning when I found a nursery group and they gradually
drifted my way and came close enough for good still photography.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ1XYWjBrc_D_EZxMA1_64az-tZq2Odcjj1M90EPNjP4PUHClqT_-p84atZS121F3KZn1DTf7bb7pYjQIgnFhn0KK_rd_R2re14Y_ivDZfS0DS-7HliTjztN6VdKv-Linxn2Qf-Bnyb4g/s1600/_MG_4768+Nursing.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="720" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ1XYWjBrc_D_EZxMA1_64az-tZq2Odcjj1M90EPNjP4PUHClqT_-p84atZS121F3KZn1DTf7bb7pYjQIgnFhn0KK_rd_R2re14Y_ivDZfS0DS-7HliTjztN6VdKv-Linxn2Qf-Bnyb4g/s640/_MG_4768+Nursing.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Cow Nurses Calf</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP9pTDf6GCSRjgy8ycXlgDs1Tx4QSpGndym1XkRJmahIa7A9Xj0f2sWO4H2GVujlJ0QFts20gSQxuKEQ8b6O6rH7udtGlELVKjM61heMnWdme9a31MRjB7c7OkksLb4PFsGsTjPT8RXNw/s1600/_MG_4793+Cow+%2526+Calf+Nuzzling.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="720" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP9pTDf6GCSRjgy8ycXlgDs1Tx4QSpGndym1XkRJmahIa7A9Xj0f2sWO4H2GVujlJ0QFts20gSQxuKEQ8b6O6rH7udtGlELVKjM61heMnWdme9a31MRjB7c7OkksLb4PFsGsTjPT8RXNw/s640/_MG_4793+Cow+%2526+Calf+Nuzzling.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Cow And Calf Nuzzle</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5IOlHvxz6nUxgClwqX9yDb3jXCTeh4hpH2jD8T6AhNpt0966vn26DgeX_ajEjRB9mcq7-7FsN1f56u7QmHh9Cnqgaame4hVNG7mgs4MX55KSxAqweJYhKEj40K_LQXVeobJHztD6NaB8/s1600/_MG_4788+Cow+and+Calf.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="720" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5IOlHvxz6nUxgClwqX9yDb3jXCTeh4hpH2jD8T6AhNpt0966vn26DgeX_ajEjRB9mcq7-7FsN1f56u7QmHh9Cnqgaame4hVNG7mgs4MX55KSxAqweJYhKEj40K_LQXVeobJHztD6NaB8/s640/_MG_4788+Cow+and+Calf.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Cow And Calf In Early Morning Sun</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As regular readers are well aware, I have not posted
since October 23, 2016. When I made that post I expected to continue
full-bore, but then days turned into weeks and weeks into months and it
was very difficult to begin posting again.<br />
<br />
I am not
sure if I will continue to post regularly, but I do hope to make another
post in the near future about the bulls I filmed and photographed
during the trip and perhaps make a short video. This post is dedicated
to Ron and Gail Thoma for encouraging me to continue.<br />
<br />
Originally published at <a href="http://pawildlifephotographer.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Pennsylvania Wildlife Photographer</a> by Willard Hill. Willardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17059945499957721902noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690422682664917237.post-19822959188728145202016-10-23T21:21:00.001-04:002016-10-23T21:21:04.334-04:00 Whitetail Pre-Rut Gives Excellent Photo Opportunities<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdkoXkiSI4yhxL3z7mwWnP1C7nNm4M4x-57doNf8dSVP4nUlBLxN1vN9mR1sUagPfOs32-Zxqg1ywfE4LMqaONMrZ8C7rOvo_5juRdQ3rPNKzdWZ0deA8yWfghtscWZstbVbVuWCZ0-W8/s1600/_MG_0564+Lip-curl.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdkoXkiSI4yhxL3z7mwWnP1C7nNm4M4x-57doNf8dSVP4nUlBLxN1vN9mR1sUagPfOs32-Zxqg1ywfE4LMqaONMrZ8C7rOvo_5juRdQ3rPNKzdWZ0deA8yWfghtscWZstbVbVuWCZ0-W8/s640/_MG_0564+Lip-curl.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Whitetail Buck Performs Lip-Curl In Early September</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
For today's post we shift our attention from the
Pennsylvania elk rut to the pre-rut of the Pennsylvania whitetail
deer. The pre-rut begins about the time that the bucks shed their
velvet in late August to mid-September. One may see bucks lip-curling or
sparring with other bucks while still in velvet, but this activity
increases greatly once the velvet is shed and the pre-rut begins.<br />
<br />
The
pre-rut intensifies in October and whitetail movement patterns
change.If you watch the same area on a regular basis, it seems that you
mostly see the same bucks throughout the late summer and into early
fall. In many cases these are young bucks that were born in that area
and have not yet dispersed.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjjH6t_9QwGz0Vf-3W3zpi49i1gu20D8tjrmqrSwEeZM_4QJefS0GnFCJBJBAxh8An9t_MWvyBRoKzwwgTP2oCYcP4YPt6XAzf6udFlxE6kTmKRY8mudYOngZwDV6N66Q2X8mbebOYub0/s1600/_MG_0016+Lip-curl.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjjH6t_9QwGz0Vf-3W3zpi49i1gu20D8tjrmqrSwEeZM_4QJefS0GnFCJBJBAxh8An9t_MWvyBRoKzwwgTP2oCYcP4YPt6XAzf6udFlxE6kTmKRY8mudYOngZwDV6N66Q2X8mbebOYub0/s640/_MG_0016+Lip-curl.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Resident Buck Scenting For Does</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As the pre-rut progresses, it becomes more common to
see different bucks, some of which are only seen a time or two before
moving on to another area, and others which end up spending most of the
rut there. Featured below is a series of photos of a fine eight-point
that I have seen one time so far this fall. It will be interesting to
see if he returns or if this proves to be the only sighting.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGSLden-cBAPTxufEQ6VTWKp_efoLnzPn-owUrKmrDkmwzgSuyepFFThVTXgO_WCpDhYmPQ1MTP3RWho_frLG5ocTDh5rZCKnqIKuU5miQBgUd3Kp-lkR96ZyJRArcqc3XfPfPYwFKYYo/s1600/_MG_0032+8P.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGSLden-cBAPTxufEQ6VTWKp_efoLnzPn-owUrKmrDkmwzgSuyepFFThVTXgO_WCpDhYmPQ1MTP3RWho_frLG5ocTDh5rZCKnqIKuU5miQBgUd3Kp-lkR96ZyJRArcqc3XfPfPYwFKYYo/s640/_MG_0032+8P.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1pi4kjJxnOd0UOjBrwsyXeuUKvFo7ysOgWyqOGxJGz-GvY66zr0lzjpiQeZSKRXWYgpk5ujIY-Pem7q2oEYgdL4H8tdn9ohk3z67xIKP7Xm5UnN9TobxxgeTQM9JIld4VBhY-kjxbD8/s1600/_MG_0035+8P.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1pi4kjJxnOd0UOjBrwsyXeuUKvFo7ysOgWyqOGxJGz-GvY66zr0lzjpiQeZSKRXWYgpk5ujIY-Pem7q2oEYgdL4H8tdn9ohk3z67xIKP7Xm5UnN9TobxxgeTQM9JIld4VBhY-kjxbD8/s640/_MG_0035+8P.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhObL8LJ5Lv7o8Qb4x6EIfm02XOwgU1PFYAiu-WIZx7y3BundqOVBNS-MvVKURXEyBFHLmVQWv5BTineUndoxQfen1ikw9TYH7m1ICmzOKnT7G2P_U0QEd0FCVrtts3s5HjB9S4ncjs8zk/s1600/_MG_0028+8P.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhObL8LJ5Lv7o8Qb4x6EIfm02XOwgU1PFYAiu-WIZx7y3BundqOVBNS-MvVKURXEyBFHLmVQWv5BTineUndoxQfen1ikw9TYH7m1ICmzOKnT7G2P_U0QEd0FCVrtts3s5HjB9S4ncjs8zk/s640/_MG_0028+8P.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Exciting
photo opportunities can develop when more than one buck is present. No
other buck was there to challenge the large buck as he passed through,
but on another day a seven-point arrived and challenged a six-point that
was already there.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit3H2sOnyy0PZwT6RiEsp8g15qRmBY7CWhMrsZyENrQMP87RI4GzBkxEbI2w_oxeuybyiXirqnLNSlCULA0DcTb5mmmd74D875qr3ybvgsujoR1apstp43Jjzg-AdEnYY0Vk6Oq1TIQlo/s1600/_MG_0280+Faceoff.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit3H2sOnyy0PZwT6RiEsp8g15qRmBY7CWhMrsZyENrQMP87RI4GzBkxEbI2w_oxeuybyiXirqnLNSlCULA0DcTb5mmmd74D875qr3ybvgsujoR1apstp43Jjzg-AdEnYY0Vk6Oq1TIQlo/s640/_MG_0280+Faceoff.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuwRtztFQjgrg78GZpOO2TwoIJ-bkpA08ntINWlN3UwxkwYfLN1H9J65W0tDITebR64A9m2PZaxj9W3JwyeStj3w6nyh8L6rJcFMHHn_5DwskL0k_ev-xAVcJYeX1VGCjUACIZS0t0K4k/s1600/_MG_0289+Sparring.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuwRtztFQjgrg78GZpOO2TwoIJ-bkpA08ntINWlN3UwxkwYfLN1H9J65W0tDITebR64A9m2PZaxj9W3JwyeStj3w6nyh8L6rJcFMHHn_5DwskL0k_ev-xAVcJYeX1VGCjUACIZS0t0K4k/s640/_MG_0289+Sparring.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
After a brief tussle the bucks broke contact and looked about for danger, before resuming the contest.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOJtDFHoucUNri3BDouJ5WMOuPrE47fNbhUK5DUgCcQilI7YLACRJMVci5t4YYhgEaXjywbbpwwduWzO-2mOaZezVCnE6-6ioHYwPIZB2BVPCM3R_t6IEFNg28UfBJnIWfQvaYyGf9eEc/s1600/_MG_0291+Bucks+Pause+Sparring.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOJtDFHoucUNri3BDouJ5WMOuPrE47fNbhUK5DUgCcQilI7YLACRJMVci5t4YYhgEaXjywbbpwwduWzO-2mOaZezVCnE6-6ioHYwPIZB2BVPCM3R_t6IEFNg28UfBJnIWfQvaYyGf9eEc/s640/_MG_0291+Bucks+Pause+Sparring.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjElT0I2iauYs7S1RYuvOxO_E11PsgsHSXzgebPHPr26yZx2lLOzHy2h1CllahqqECbBKimLeI1AlGjGwMC4fZlX0NySz3-ezlFN-PyF-xrXZ12pn8EU8xNUcJb6rIVpwjpTMTTVgGPhWM/s1600/_MG_0292+Sparring.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjElT0I2iauYs7S1RYuvOxO_E11PsgsHSXzgebPHPr26yZx2lLOzHy2h1CllahqqECbBKimLeI1AlGjGwMC4fZlX0NySz3-ezlFN-PyF-xrXZ12pn8EU8xNUcJb6rIVpwjpTMTTVgGPhWM/s640/_MG_0292+Sparring.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
This
never rose to the level of serious combat, but as the full-blown rut
arrives the probability of witnessing a serious fight will drastically
increase.<br />
<br />
Originally published at <a href="http://pawildlifephotographer.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Pennsylvania Wildlife Photographer </a>by Willard Hill.<br />
<br />Willardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17059945499957721902noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690422682664917237.post-20269453818463072782016-10-13T15:46:00.000-04:002016-10-13T15:46:02.846-04:00Photos And Thoughts From The 2016 Elk Rut<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDBGoLxaGAqedFZqcEpAkcu2_Cm4P5fLXGIiGQ7R43SvtcJviERpv4AnWRyBj_RkokGXqw8TfeKKn3x_GvYhdG-62CA-jELFXsjVvjZd21Ab-q4_sMqk1Iu9MwEdoahCDTZHHWV2lFggE/s1600/_MG_7090+Woodring+Bull+.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDBGoLxaGAqedFZqcEpAkcu2_Cm4P5fLXGIiGQ7R43SvtcJviERpv4AnWRyBj_RkokGXqw8TfeKKn3x_GvYhdG-62CA-jELFXsjVvjZd21Ab-q4_sMqk1Iu9MwEdoahCDTZHHWV2lFggE/s640/_MG_7090+Woodring+Bull+.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
In
an unprecedented move since this blog was founded in 2007, I have gone a
month without posting. This is partly because I had difficulty getting
internet access for with my laptop while I was in Pennsylvania Elk
Country for the last two weeks of September and I did not want to try
posting with a smart phone. Also I find it harder and harder to write a
post as time passes. It is relatively simple to post a few photos, but
I always like to do a bit more. To make a long story short, I found I
had a lot of other things that needed done when I returned from elk
country and it was easier to devote my time to that and put posting on
the back burner until now. For today's post, I will share a few images
from September's trip and refer you to a post by Bill Taylor on his
"Down The Fall Road" Blog that resonates with me in many ways. It is
titled, <a href="http://downthefallroad.blogspot.com/2016/10/the-elk-rut-photography-thoughts.html" target="_blank">"The Elk Rut, Photography, & Thoughts"</a>. <br />
<br />
A
major point he makes is how each year seems to have a set of
circumstances that make it stand out from years past, For me this was
how elk activity was not centered nearly so much around the Dewey Rd
area as it usually was in the past several years, but perhaps this was
because I avoided this area as much as possible. With that being said, I
did have a few good experiences there and the first was late in the
afternoon on the first day of my trip. I arrived so late that there was
not time for more than a drive around the Benezette/ Winslow Hill area
and I found two bulls chasing a herd of cows over an area ranging from
the food plot by the cabin on the hill to the Gilbert meadows and
beyond. The first was one that many refer to as the U bull and he gave a
dramatic pose when he paused and looked over his shoulder at a rapidly
approaching 6x7 that was contending with him for control of the harem.
It was good to be joined by fellow photographers, Jim (Muck) McClelland
and then later by Tom Dorsey and his wife Jeanne.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Ef7zv5Ra597VJTY-pPvgn4q50RKLoH0HduvusHnyRGj6WSskjASsf50njYjV0woUCgNY2UpmzeGq4DMNFiEFV9T1cn5_Kvw_S6WM-wXe9MaHPYcImlLMhaTvnWxwdGWkJgHk7w0uoXQ/s1600/_MG_0713+U+Bull.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Ef7zv5Ra597VJTY-pPvgn4q50RKLoH0HduvusHnyRGj6WSskjASsf50njYjV0woUCgNY2UpmzeGq4DMNFiEFV9T1cn5_Kvw_S6WM-wXe9MaHPYcImlLMhaTvnWxwdGWkJgHk7w0uoXQ/s640/_MG_0713+U+Bull.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>The U Bull Looks Back At Rapidly Approaching 6x7</b></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQJ69qjgJgxwN4dLB0XkDCTCZJEggM1LbuBnzQIpvxRAQl6BMGDvBAIWAsTH7U_B9eAkvAzNp3OBAaUHzuLWY6Xk0YBpRwfLqmi0QmZzmNHvtrkJI19vd2T1H-1WM8OGzeMb4zltlJiU0/s1600/_MG_0719+6x7+Chasing.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQJ69qjgJgxwN4dLB0XkDCTCZJEggM1LbuBnzQIpvxRAQl6BMGDvBAIWAsTH7U_B9eAkvAzNp3OBAaUHzuLWY6Xk0YBpRwfLqmi0QmZzmNHvtrkJI19vd2T1H-1WM8OGzeMb4zltlJiU0/s640/_MG_0719+6x7+Chasing.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>6x7 Arrives</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoaUSp4_y7wcTIn0C0XslfM4x53sTFb1D-y-Tz9105G18rO1oBg71UJfzzi6YpdpQqb2GPhG4ZVQlkNeuprEO41jQuD3-qhE-RwkExdRwvSoVMokCDsiUGSLi0hZwibWCyi2eYPdWDpxc/s1600/_MG_0737+6x7+Pauses.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoaUSp4_y7wcTIn0C0XslfM4x53sTFb1D-y-Tz9105G18rO1oBg71UJfzzi6YpdpQqb2GPhG4ZVQlkNeuprEO41jQuD3-qhE-RwkExdRwvSoVMokCDsiUGSLi0hZwibWCyi2eYPdWDpxc/s640/_MG_0737+6x7+Pauses.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>6x7 Pauses</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Another bull that was photographed by many is a fine
7x7 that frequented the river bottoms. This brings us to another point
that Bill Taylor made, which is that with so many photographing the
same animals in the same set of circumstances that it is very hard to
get a photo that is truly unique. I usually try to capture them either
in a dramatic pose in a good natural setting or capture them doing
something unusual, but of course most every one else is trying to do the
same thing. In the first photo below I tried to capture him at the
moment that he erupted from the woods in pursuit of a cow and then I got
him as he came almost sliding to a stop.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW4MBiP3oXP6iChHgI7m9DLrBFY0TIAAVQP_MYm9xzzAjboIKntbLTeEJ_TlqjInhsMDyWXgYtSBskt-6cpywhXGtM2JJUfKvkiGijsZE7HpPV1_zfTmsNt629Ah6mNn6noG2qwhvaZtE/s1600/_MG_6822+7x7+Emerging.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW4MBiP3oXP6iChHgI7m9DLrBFY0TIAAVQP_MYm9xzzAjboIKntbLTeEJ_TlqjInhsMDyWXgYtSBskt-6cpywhXGtM2JJUfKvkiGijsZE7HpPV1_zfTmsNt629Ah6mNn6noG2qwhvaZtE/s640/_MG_6822+7x7+Emerging.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>7x7 Emerges From Woods In Pursuit Of Cow</b></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx0gupK2g4iyDFH0onKtZCi_cdMMn1n2Zw5aWgSMRp_agX2U5loe3VwaVycZpMyPBNGVlki_nogvFQ7t5FAoKdj-0Wm0NcDq9GU1LtaV-DTCYUrgdjlSzIyx2P_rMdZTi30N0GHpeVxaE/s1600/_MG_6833+7x7+Chasing.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx0gupK2g4iyDFH0onKtZCi_cdMMn1n2Zw5aWgSMRp_agX2U5loe3VwaVycZpMyPBNGVlki_nogvFQ7t5FAoKdj-0Wm0NcDq9GU1LtaV-DTCYUrgdjlSzIyx2P_rMdZTi30N0GHpeVxaE/s640/_MG_6833+7x7+Chasing.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Sliding To A Stop</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Another dramatic opportunity was when he paused from tearing up the ground with his antlers and bugled.</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy0dG3_u6Hbb6zxCShD1GbA8mcR0tOk9p_0ULUR6kQ16679h9yy_oXWCJ1pwFQ5wcBirpfnecoPxZUzKhoBZ3iucKHHt-wy4Jc8JcMtLySZaU15Ku13d4CBfeUG5yGw0JecYBlxxKAfDU/s1600/_MG_6811+7x7+Grass+In+Antlers.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy0dG3_u6Hbb6zxCShD1GbA8mcR0tOk9p_0ULUR6kQ16679h9yy_oXWCJ1pwFQ5wcBirpfnecoPxZUzKhoBZ3iucKHHt-wy4Jc8JcMtLySZaU15Ku13d4CBfeUG5yGw0JecYBlxxKAfDU/s640/_MG_6811+7x7+Grass+In+Antlers.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Bugling With Grass In Antlers</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I would have liked to get photos and video of the elk
in the river, but I did not spend enough time in that spot this year to
be there when this happened. Whether one succeeds in capturing a unique
photo or not, it is good to see the increase in serious elk
photographers as it will hopefully help insure the future for wildlife
photography on public lands in Pennsylvania if this user group becomes
large enough to achieve recognition as stake-holders in or public lands
and the wildlife which inhabits it.<br />
<br />
Like Bill, I would
usually rather be somewhere else than the areas where a lot of other
photographers are congregated in hopes of getting something different
(although I really enjoy the bull sessions), but many if not most times
trips to remote areas result in very little or no elk sightings or
filming opportunities.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPQNNnKhrObgzOdG9GXGSUKH7LylnJ0il_fLLLes-S5ayz0pYxGt0EAd8SlBnuRb8dRoPnFHY2FV7yhJmjNNk0Fwkmuap-qf52OynXrORv8Orlz_CYr0HwoofW5NIbhHXMdy5oTeHad0I/s1600/_MG_6192+Remote+Food+Plot.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPQNNnKhrObgzOdG9GXGSUKH7LylnJ0il_fLLLes-S5ayz0pYxGt0EAd8SlBnuRb8dRoPnFHY2FV7yhJmjNNk0Fwkmuap-qf52OynXrORv8Orlz_CYr0HwoofW5NIbhHXMdy5oTeHad0I/s640/_MG_6192+Remote+Food+Plot.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Remote Food Plot In Clearfield County-No Elk Were Seen</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I had a lot of different spots that I wanted to check
out this year and I did get to a few of them, but in those cases I was
not successful in getting video or stills of bull elk although these
excursions were successful from the standpoint of seeing different
country.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6gcJHcf_-KrfD4-9WnTa3wbyTyx58EnSwlvp26p21zjXqwg0LhdRcBqsDnOvtXyCjmCYevnmYgsHURfbFWVjQcmYhClc9sRI_xpm1mlVU7lnAlXEGqCISaTWhOsjGLVuGkqYNLZHK6aw/s1600/_MG_6153+Remote+Area.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6gcJHcf_-KrfD4-9WnTa3wbyTyx58EnSwlvp26p21zjXqwg0LhdRcBqsDnOvtXyCjmCYevnmYgsHURfbFWVjQcmYhClc9sRI_xpm1mlVU7lnAlXEGqCISaTWhOsjGLVuGkqYNLZHK6aw/s640/_MG_6153+Remote+Area.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Quehanna Wild Area</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
When one is successful in places like this, it does
seem like you have accomplished more and it is truly an experience to
treasure. The photo below illustrates this and it is also a warning to
always be prepared. I took my brother Coy to see a remote meadow late
one morning. It was so late that I saw little reason to bother with a
big lens. As the 70-200 was mounted on my 5D MK III, I just carried it
and the 24-105mm. Needless to say this was the time that I would see a
large coyote close enough for an exceptional shot with a larger lens,
but there it was and I had to make the best of the situation. This is
cropped severely and I do mean severely. An image from the MK III is
22.1 megapixels when opened in ACR (Adobe Camera Raw), but in this case I
cropped it to 3.6 megapixels at 300 d.p.i. which is suitable for the
internet and actually good enough to print a modestly large print.
Actually I could probably have gotten away with 2 megapixels or less,
but this was a good compromise.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifu56dAYUtLdN4wfRGxGyp3qiV86wXeIbxhnq2isPEH_g2YkzHemSVnSP3hSdOujZZJ6aT1UxJl3fcsrmyWazVJQuhpN348bXvSkFFE65sEoWP2G19bWuRSvmG3TYbxjguiYX5pnKRenw/s1600/_MG_6931+Quehanna+Coyote.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifu56dAYUtLdN4wfRGxGyp3qiV86wXeIbxhnq2isPEH_g2YkzHemSVnSP3hSdOujZZJ6aT1UxJl3fcsrmyWazVJQuhpN348bXvSkFFE65sEoWP2G19bWuRSvmG3TYbxjguiYX5pnKRenw/s640/_MG_6931+Quehanna+Coyote.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Quehanna Coyote</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The bottom line though is that with a limited
amount of time to spend and more problems from getting older, it gets
easier and easier to hang around the tourist areas and alternate between
watching what is going on and then pitching in and doing some serious
photography when the opportunity presents itself. This is what I was
doing on the last Thursday evening of my trip when I saw a large bull
bedded in the field beside the Woodring House. In time he stood up and I
took this photo and also the one featured at the beginning of the post.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyZ062RI0A06WqaVZ6S4vRnZZ-N1lpNFSPdqmHhwmZnWuetRvpYVOiYPHkTgFgHZUg1YYUYINNnDVBJGsKo2tG3Fqq_XjA29zUZt6J-G6nCPMpj_lswolJ9nQ5U28bZ1loBlXlSGB8fwg/s1600/_MG_7055+Bugling.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyZ062RI0A06WqaVZ6S4vRnZZ-N1lpNFSPdqmHhwmZnWuetRvpYVOiYPHkTgFgHZUg1YYUYINNnDVBJGsKo2tG3Fqq_XjA29zUZt6J-G6nCPMpj_lswolJ9nQ5U28bZ1loBlXlSGB8fwg/s640/_MG_7055+Bugling.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Bugling</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Before someone gets their "shorts in a wad" about how
close this photo is, I will point out that this was taken at an
entirely safe and respectful distance with a 600mm lens and the photo
was cropped substantially also.<br />
<br />
Originally published at <a href="http://pawildlifephotographer.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Pennsylvania Wildlife Photographer</a> by Willard Hill.<br />
<br />
<br />Willardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17059945499957721902noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690422682664917237.post-31621120767447440102016-09-12T19:54:00.000-04:002016-09-12T19:55:55.127-04:00Video Highlights From Mid-August Trip To PA Elk Country<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="405" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/182251600" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="720"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
I realize that most elk enthusiasts are mainly interested in the elk rut that is now underway, but for today I wish to post a short film featuring highlights of the mid-August trip to Pennsylvania Elk Country.<br />
<br />
It opens with a Beaver and Cedar Waxwings feeding one evening in a remote wilderness area, then shifts to a large bachelor group of whitetail bucks and a bull elk that has not yet shed the velvet. Next, you get to see clips of a calf elk that show how the spots are fading, and bulls in various stages of shedding the velvet. <br />
<br />
It then returns to the wilderness area. As noted before, the evening began with filming the Cedar Waxwing's and the Beaver. As it grew late a few whitetail deer appeared but at this point it didn't seem likely that elk would be seen, but then I noticed a deer feeding in an area of bushes and tall grass beyond the meadow. While looking at it through the lens, I was startled when a set of shining, bare elk antlers came into the finder as a bull came walking through the brush toward the meadow. I pressed the record button and began filming. Soon a larger bull and a cow came into view and then in a few moments a herd of elk came pouring into the meadow.<br />
<br />
To show how rapidly it was growing dark, I began filming at ISO 1600 at 8:21 p.m.and I was using ISO 5000 when they came into the meadow at 8:27 p.m.and a short time later I was at ISO 6400, which is the maximum for the Panasonic GH4. I like to keep the ISO as low as possible and when I get on 1600 I will drop to 1/30 sec. shutter speed if necessary before changing to a higher setting. 1/60 is the recommended shutter speed for shooting video at 30 frames per second, but I have found that if action is not too rapid that it is possible to get reasonably good footage at 1/30.<br />
<br />
For those who are interested in such things all of the footage shown today except for the still of the shed velvet and the non-typical bull horning bushes were taken with the GH4 with the old model Canon 100-400mm L lens and either the Metabones Speedbooster or Smart Adapter.<br />
<br />
Originally published at <a href="http://pawildlifephotographer.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Pennsylvania Wildlife Photographer</a> by Willard Hill.<br />
<br />
<br />Willardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17059945499957721902noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690422682664917237.post-50374465141833106372016-09-03T09:49:00.002-04:002016-09-03T09:49:35.138-04:00Whitetail Bucks Now Shedding Velvet.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiszpfuclAsNqm4ZUX24MqzKDT9kWodGrfm3nmKrdaiaIzpiXQiSdGuWLWv9fy5v449UDNR5BIkBYq9wpBDCdmTI4korbVnzzGfyZI-2pQ63MsqJIpdACZxo9ECneb40aYLVEol5uftd6U/s1600/006+Large+Bucks.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiszpfuclAsNqm4ZUX24MqzKDT9kWodGrfm3nmKrdaiaIzpiXQiSdGuWLWv9fy5v449UDNR5BIkBYq9wpBDCdmTI4korbVnzzGfyZI-2pQ63MsqJIpdACZxo9ECneb40aYLVEol5uftd6U/s640/006+Large+Bucks.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Bachelor Group Of Whitetail Bucks In Pennsylvania Elk Country-4K Video Still Capture</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This summer I have been filming and photographing
wildlife as much as I ever have, but one would not know it by looking at
this blog. I am usually in the field each morning and evening
photographing and observing whitetail deer when I am not in elk
country. It has been a busy summer what with a major refurbishing
project on a large deck on the house and a lot of work on the family
farm so it seems that it has been the writing and video editing that has
suffered and I have done very little of either. At any rate, I was
still a bit surprised to see when I took time to review the blog, that I
have not posted about whitetail deer since early June.<br />
<br />
I
saw a bachelor group of extremely nice whitetail bucks late one evening
during the mid-August trip to elk country, but didn't have the still
camera along so I extracted some stills from the video footage using
Vegas Pro 13.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc8T0q2Nd_5DwN361znMbxevi7EoarX5X0W9nSsb6uv1uRFQbVFU1KAwUhyUswCnrMFvYv1Y1_kHzYBqsnVOfOEqhmR-aUIf3s5IOlH_jVlqERxNTuHs7ZCPp8MOIhDCHEsw4UaA5xx0Q/s1600/004+9P.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc8T0q2Nd_5DwN361znMbxevi7EoarX5X0W9nSsb6uv1uRFQbVFU1KAwUhyUswCnrMFvYv1Y1_kHzYBqsnVOfOEqhmR-aUIf3s5IOlH_jVlqERxNTuHs7ZCPp8MOIhDCHEsw4UaA5xx0Q/s640/004+9P.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>8 Point Pauses From Feeding</b></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Back home in Fulton County, the beautiful
six-point shown below was the biggest that I photographed with a DSLR
although I filmed several much larger bucks on video. Nonetheless he is
a beautiful buck and I was able to document his development throughout
the summer. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhizf5ynCkGM0cr3I5ASjn_1sOhWJBQUqPpQMGJzetffb0V3bV-Fbh72A81l4jOwRUrljwemGfpNKi7w1GtMTtVm5KujDKsHWPX-OIhonBAEsuij57qEAzKmptUvlilqa52QRlQ3lqalLA/s1600/_MG_0223+Lip-Curl.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhizf5ynCkGM0cr3I5ASjn_1sOhWJBQUqPpQMGJzetffb0V3bV-Fbh72A81l4jOwRUrljwemGfpNKi7w1GtMTtVm5KujDKsHWPX-OIhonBAEsuij57qEAzKmptUvlilqa52QRlQ3lqalLA/s640/_MG_0223+Lip-Curl.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>As His Velvet Cracks In Preparation For Shedding, A Fine 6 Point Buck Lip-curls</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
He was a small spike last year and the marked
increase in size from last year to now proves that a spike can develop
in to a fine buck and in fact many, if not most, do so if they survive
to their second year.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfWCpesppSmey6qe-xaQtDkbo-1y_ZzjI6uorGLAyZWInNZeEQmxH-05JHJEj1awG4nXa4lSzfToelqj2CJ7STmL8otuE2dIm_VpF8yE2nS70eRLH532AbNyheBlydlSNUquon53Cc3RE/s1600/_MG_2054+2015.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfWCpesppSmey6qe-xaQtDkbo-1y_ZzjI6uorGLAyZWInNZeEQmxH-05JHJEj1awG4nXa4lSzfToelqj2CJ7STmL8otuE2dIm_VpF8yE2nS70eRLH532AbNyheBlydlSNUquon53Cc3RE/s640/_MG_2054+2015.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Same Buck-October 17, 2015</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This year the velvet was cracked on August 28th. When
he appeared shortly after dawn on the 30th, the velvet was mostly gone
on the left antler and a long strand dangled alongside his head. This
seemed to irritate him greatly and he spent a lot of time rubbing
branches and also trying to grab the velvet in his teeth and dislodge
it.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNHbBZnkYPNE_BYvgtBzIXYi6Wx1LlICxrj03Kl6w0r9v58MqOrxLVwZU3zvbrbHjLSbfex43ykLz4WTcPu54sYyb41FG8ploQygrgeMrSMixNYWpgkTYncRhc2lhN6lcGYTmz42XfapE/s1600/_MG_5826++Shedding.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNHbBZnkYPNE_BYvgtBzIXYi6Wx1LlICxrj03Kl6w0r9v58MqOrxLVwZU3zvbrbHjLSbfex43ykLz4WTcPu54sYyb41FG8ploQygrgeMrSMixNYWpgkTYncRhc2lhN6lcGYTmz42XfapE/s640/_MG_5826++Shedding.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Buck Pauses From Horning Trees And Round Bale</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjneITeiQ99L-xA0ccLmCAhlLoOQm0iL8j0IoX6lL5r3tCaxtM5_jRL3kT9Wi8n9dM39k-AKlFRTgtcjp7lEkpg97ldiNyI68qjFwTAajf6TseKAfwtAxDlhu_UFp_-dtswED_yWQIPh8E/s1600/_MG_5831+Velvet+Strand.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjneITeiQ99L-xA0ccLmCAhlLoOQm0iL8j0IoX6lL5r3tCaxtM5_jRL3kT9Wi8n9dM39k-AKlFRTgtcjp7lEkpg97ldiNyI68qjFwTAajf6TseKAfwtAxDlhu_UFp_-dtswED_yWQIPh8E/s640/_MG_5831+Velvet+Strand.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Grooming And Attempting To Tear Velvet Strip Free</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The velvet was completely gone by the following
morning and the buck roamed about the meadows interacting with other
deer and feeding.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1NfN7tGPNVxGEv7SzR_yWXAVfnc6gJuFmuR8PaaLNGJWC9pMDiTlVqL-7GQJDhMhGsISI6sabNh22IT2SBSuw93HK8P9BIIHksoNldOiox-yeGE_3ii0nNe2hc4OdsEvAxZwGNqQZ2xY/s1600/_MG_0370+Bucks+Nuzzling.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1NfN7tGPNVxGEv7SzR_yWXAVfnc6gJuFmuR8PaaLNGJWC9pMDiTlVqL-7GQJDhMhGsISI6sabNh22IT2SBSuw93HK8P9BIIHksoNldOiox-yeGE_3ii0nNe2hc4OdsEvAxZwGNqQZ2xY/s640/_MG_0370+Bucks+Nuzzling.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Bucks Nuzzle When Pausing From Sparring</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrQbvby09ECc-AgpPZWND8PcIWE3-QguGVFWcWbBgZptVOU_Dk_JjNwu2NTh9ZoEQImRgkNv3GdBlhblVBFBIiRMhOreJMZstpHw5dyIrQ7bheLTGkfwPp8hwmYb1WkII2LDMqgge44cc/s1600/_MG_0373+Alert+Buck.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrQbvby09ECc-AgpPZWND8PcIWE3-QguGVFWcWbBgZptVOU_Dk_JjNwu2NTh9ZoEQImRgkNv3GdBlhblVBFBIiRMhOreJMZstpHw5dyIrQ7bheLTGkfwPp8hwmYb1WkII2LDMqgge44cc/s640/_MG_0373+Alert+Buck.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Buck Pauses From Feeding</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
What a thrill it was to be able to document the
velvet shedding process once again. Another buck that I see frequently
has had bloody spots on his antlers, but has not shed yet. In the photo
below he is watching the larger buck from inside the tree line. He
tries to avoid close contact with him as it seems he does not want to
spar until the velvet is gone.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLPRQj5y02OwRRTDcXgjU6EtViRddFEY8AWZo9EjI8ua6pcTifhOgWqDy5SF2K0JXvMxS0PRV1HB4e_0hfx-VMcFkDIFF-FN4DnCZyzwS0dfVBUy5MCZLqPY_zUpt8BBds5h0J5CjCEJc/s1600/_MG_0391+2+Bucks.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLPRQj5y02OwRRTDcXgjU6EtViRddFEY8AWZo9EjI8ua6pcTifhOgWqDy5SF2K0JXvMxS0PRV1HB4e_0hfx-VMcFkDIFF-FN4DnCZyzwS0dfVBUy5MCZLqPY_zUpt8BBds5h0J5CjCEJc/s640/_MG_0391+2+Bucks.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Smaller Buck Looks On</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I hope I have the opportunity to document at least a
portion of his velvet shedding process as well. With the shedding of
the velvet, the pre-rut gets underway and will continue until late
October or early November when it will explode into the full-blown rut.<br />
<br />
Originally published at <a href="http://pawildlifephotographer.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Pennsylvania Wildlife Photographer</a> by Willard Hill.<br />
<br />
<br />Willardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17059945499957721902noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690422682664917237.post-81600388749283987962016-08-24T09:09:00.000-04:002016-08-24T09:09:45.890-04:00Pennsylvania Bulls Shed VelvetI spent most of last week in Pennsylvania Elk Country with my primary
objective being to film and photograph the shedding of the velvet from
the bulls' antlers. Many of the bulls had already shed by the time I
arrived late Monday afternoon, but I found a bachelor group on Tuesday
morning in which some of the bulls still had velvet.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf9cQ68YCtZa9fxrQkLOc-GWly1lLyigp45VfUlYFJ9dP1ihKNbJI4CsOssBeC_bMyL7eLmaj6iXUzFfYx5CCsWxYQJ7-4ohEyCSSo_U1Z1ZEcVu5L4Fnp_KU69KV0EP5OqYemymLlBR4/s1600/_MG_5466+Bull+In+Woods.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf9cQ68YCtZa9fxrQkLOc-GWly1lLyigp45VfUlYFJ9dP1ihKNbJI4CsOssBeC_bMyL7eLmaj6iXUzFfYx5CCsWxYQJ7-4ohEyCSSo_U1Z1ZEcVu5L4Fnp_KU69KV0EP5OqYemymLlBR4/s640/_MG_5466+Bull+In+Woods.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>6x6 With Velvet</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This was a dark, overcast morning with a light shower
of rain or two so the Canon 5D MK III and the 300mm f2.8 lens were the
perfect choice for this situation. This bull was in the edge of the
woods along a meadow and most of the other bulls were feeding and
horning bushes that were scattered throughout the meadow. While I took a
few still images, I spent most of the time filming them on video with
the Panasonic GH4 and Canon 100-400mm lens.<br />
<br />
This is a
4K camera and I film in UHD mode. With this one is able to capture 8
megapixel stills from the video. Panasonic has a method for doing this,
but I have not tried it. I simply load the video into my video
editing program, Vegas Pro 13, and scroll through the timeline until I
find a suitable frame and then capture it. Below are two stills
captured in this manner that shows how the velvet cracks and bloody
spots appear before the actual shedding occurs.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwYGeqzip-clRx7KparzTGL5Oi2uMEIy-uizWFxilHd24fJsxJRCZHnLwl8rHnafJZt__ZgUbGmT6L2aIqi4_MRgmY87fZlSn1gXqJ4TcqWwJuyW8iuJCway7MA07n0rGNveK7aZnj8OM/s1600/001+Cracked+Velvet.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwYGeqzip-clRx7KparzTGL5Oi2uMEIy-uizWFxilHd24fJsxJRCZHnLwl8rHnafJZt__ZgUbGmT6L2aIqi4_MRgmY87fZlSn1gXqJ4TcqWwJuyW8iuJCway7MA07n0rGNveK7aZnj8OM/s640/001+Cracked+Velvet.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd0hBTDZkTEhkcdQAl3tcQ616lTLjM_l_7H1Q2pc16dE6lRLHfdfV8mXzLp3G_AGji18gyWw_DS-pqLUMVJvyHvbFjggh0nIUZ5CkeM_ibDGEEaAnUDIESygFMTqU1BEF-4D48LtMWCyU/s1600/002+Cracked+Velvet.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd0hBTDZkTEhkcdQAl3tcQ616lTLjM_l_7H1Q2pc16dE6lRLHfdfV8mXzLp3G_AGji18gyWw_DS-pqLUMVJvyHvbFjggh0nIUZ5CkeM_ibDGEEaAnUDIESygFMTqU1BEF-4D48LtMWCyU/s640/002+Cracked+Velvet.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
On
Thursday morning I photographed two bulls that were feeding on apples.
The first photo shows how the velvet shedding process progresses from
the stage depicted in the the photos above.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA0NSzZacluqENz0TDQMqbZuXwk2WoQtWCg560z0KqeGR-pRHV47rRk2FsX7kJ3-OWwgiDlIukKs93s2CBl9-0yJ9NJMekGoxxEvWRDkahme7VxAOmOpn3fx_9uKRpULMplVRvo8BDHJQ/s1600/_MG_5577+Shedding+Velvet.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA0NSzZacluqENz0TDQMqbZuXwk2WoQtWCg560z0KqeGR-pRHV47rRk2FsX7kJ3-OWwgiDlIukKs93s2CBl9-0yJ9NJMekGoxxEvWRDkahme7VxAOmOpn3fx_9uKRpULMplVRvo8BDHJQ/s640/_MG_5577+Shedding+Velvet.jpg" width="512" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Almost Shed</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The second photo shows a bull that is
completely shed and also documents how bulls dislodge apples from the
trees by striking the branches with their antlers.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC7jlnyq8PpbmjwMqNa4huzZ5c-z8j1h8evbo1GMn89y39eYckEilEFEGCE4H31XtO42jnRwKN8cmRHwUirjwsvsN3gyg3xbMWevbTa5adiPp3oMU6gJYBQo5hGpANRT2U7a9flb_VlBM/s1600/_MG_5568+Horning+Apples.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC7jlnyq8PpbmjwMqNa4huzZ5c-z8j1h8evbo1GMn89y39eYckEilEFEGCE4H31XtO42jnRwKN8cmRHwUirjwsvsN3gyg3xbMWevbTa5adiPp3oMU6gJYBQo5hGpANRT2U7a9flb_VlBM/s640/_MG_5568+Horning+Apples.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Trying To Dislodge Apples</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
With the shedding of the velvet, the bulls begin
sparring with other bulls and engaging in other pre-rut activity. On
this trip I did not get to photograph this activity , but I did get to
see a mature bulls herding cows late one evening as darkness fell in a
remote wilderness meadow.<br />
<br />
Originally published at <a href="http://pawildlifephotographer.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Pennsylvania Wildlife Photographer</a> by Willard Hill. Willardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17059945499957721902noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690422682664917237.post-79393695853373352242016-08-07T15:08:00.000-04:002016-08-07T15:08:21.647-04:00Mid-Summer Elk Calves<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCDm4f599JHtrHU_pF6vR6_Qs9UYfFtLTJ6l5NDUirN3pEzQ65XUibbqDDe9P9MguL2WAXkn10P7nWIxkJNycgbijHWjVQ71ubKWfXpd_sy-UQWZKgXywIfUauOtBk7O-hBxZbnuQ5PiQ/s1600/_MG_4890+Cow+With+Calf.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCDm4f599JHtrHU_pF6vR6_Qs9UYfFtLTJ6l5NDUirN3pEzQ65XUibbqDDe9P9MguL2WAXkn10P7nWIxkJNycgbijHWjVQ71ubKWfXpd_sy-UQWZKgXywIfUauOtBk7O-hBxZbnuQ5PiQ/s640/_MG_4890+Cow+With+Calf.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Cow Grooming Calf</b></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">At
the conclusion of the post about the bulls I saw during my mid-July
trip to Pennsylvania Elk Country, I promised to post some calf photos
from the trip and today I have finally got around to doing that. I was
not as successful at photographing and filming the calves as I was with
the bulls. In most cases, areas that are good for seeing bachelor
groups of mature bulls are not usually the best spots for seeing elk
calves and I spent the most of the best elk sighting times in prime bull
range.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_p5UZ6ib0gtr9Ks0_Uc72Ctbwi26RBrJviAUbUzfjuah0BJOqLwYcCPGOfu3cyx1wrpi_Mwh-BQxDektw6NmvTshaEldt-Z_50i8l2iwahbzLFWYcC_0DwiUFjibPnpHoTsr-JCPhV30/s1600/_MG_4747+Mature++Bull.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_p5UZ6ib0gtr9Ks0_Uc72Ctbwi26RBrJviAUbUzfjuah0BJOqLwYcCPGOfu3cyx1wrpi_Mwh-BQxDektw6NmvTshaEldt-Z_50i8l2iwahbzLFWYcC_0DwiUFjibPnpHoTsr-JCPhV30/s640/_MG_4747+Mature++Bull.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Prime Summer Bull Range Is Often Not Best For Calf Sightings</b></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
But on at least one evening and one morning, I
concentrated on working with the calves. At times it was easy to see a
lot of calves on Winslow Hill, but they were usually a bit far away, or
it was too early or too late for the best quality photos.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia_dfczB7h4ap-xodnqbR3ROC_ZoV5OM0LL8PCIT23L7IqeLa49T4nxekNOfTrfyz89c_MMXQofpuUBOUMjNxDoMNhVTXSFNGcnouKOx-qRKl_BtFpyyc6-E-DiVpZar9xNP6TV4moHJM/s1600/_MG_4811+Early+Morning+Calf.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia_dfczB7h4ap-xodnqbR3ROC_ZoV5OM0LL8PCIT23L7IqeLa49T4nxekNOfTrfyz89c_MMXQofpuUBOUMjNxDoMNhVTXSFNGcnouKOx-qRKl_BtFpyyc6-E-DiVpZar9xNP6TV4moHJM/s640/_MG_4811+Early+Morning+Calf.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Calf At Woodring Farm In Early Morning</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUQ_Y_6M1jW4ugKTxf5JQphMEM7VM8kvS003m5FIYwyB5bjPrBKExLbPeX39684jFO8I5xDnYUQM42665sk3GZCFYlCb6PihPqgL3SDHhre3rg6Hs-sO0j7Dbz4DKYb7XDluIo1BbtxtU/s1600/_MG_5953+Winslow+Hill+Herd.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUQ_Y_6M1jW4ugKTxf5JQphMEM7VM8kvS003m5FIYwyB5bjPrBKExLbPeX39684jFO8I5xDnYUQM42665sk3GZCFYlCb6PihPqgL3SDHhre3rg6Hs-sO0j7Dbz4DKYb7XDluIo1BbtxtU/s640/_MG_5953+Winslow+Hill+Herd.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Cows And Calves Shortly After Sunrise On Winslow Hill</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVE39TEuuD5yoB8YK1qM8t-8DnzFSA2BeEdpV_deKXj6nAkFU85-e8wPn2I-_jhP2zXyd3EJ99mK09PnwRFxCleCMrit_0swPIjmjOR2emR7Q0HXVdJ1IuOVjvxDhBCbNyjXH9AvU8RVI/s1600/_MG_4797+Winslow+Hill+Herd.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVE39TEuuD5yoB8YK1qM8t-8DnzFSA2BeEdpV_deKXj6nAkFU85-e8wPn2I-_jhP2zXyd3EJ99mK09PnwRFxCleCMrit_0swPIjmjOR2emR7Q0HXVdJ1IuOVjvxDhBCbNyjXH9AvU8RVI/s640/_MG_4797+Winslow+Hill+Herd.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Cows And Calves Near Sunset On Winslow Hill</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
An encounter at the ponds on Dewey Road had the
potential for exceptional photos when a cow nursed a calf on one the
pond banks, but as luck would have it the grass was too tall in front of
the cow and the calf was mostly obscured. Otherwise the grass
contributed to the wild look of the photo and made for a much more
pleasing setting than short, lawn type grass.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8wR_pI9kzdXprw-4VyX3AShQkUxunxNqFW9kbWSjBEBriZTwjbA3wl46uroA4_YgL3BFBSKEnceI4lQmQTVOXdrOLrDMK03wrxBvQupxfA9gY6NFPJRkw_mcoiAXxxF-c4fz-rYs8EoA/s1600/_MG_4885+Cow+Nursing+Calf+8xH.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8wR_pI9kzdXprw-4VyX3AShQkUxunxNqFW9kbWSjBEBriZTwjbA3wl46uroA4_YgL3BFBSKEnceI4lQmQTVOXdrOLrDMK03wrxBvQupxfA9gY6NFPJRkw_mcoiAXxxF-c4fz-rYs8EoA/s640/_MG_4885+Cow+Nursing+Calf+8xH.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Cow Nursing Calf On Pond Bank</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
When nursing was completed the cow stepped away and
the calf stepped into a more open spot, licked its' lips, and looked
out at the surrounding countryside. The only problem here was that it
was a bit far even for the 600mm for a close-up portrait. In this case I
cropped the photo to 2MP in Adobe Camera Raw which which works quite
well for the web, but would start to fall apart on big enlargements.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMXJ_WB6qHnFZMV5i_DjLwt4_vd_fC7tNm-dJEAINdBtx7mgg5K3urFkSevEgSPZEK-eas2g_E_70k_L0xjL2WRRakMeYgkoFhVyn7M547U8b6NofW7VKy-duf_j-91x1GKcCxYIXO5D0/s1600/_MG_4887+Alert+Calf+8xH.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMXJ_WB6qHnFZMV5i_DjLwt4_vd_fC7tNm-dJEAINdBtx7mgg5K3urFkSevEgSPZEK-eas2g_E_70k_L0xjL2WRRakMeYgkoFhVyn7M547U8b6NofW7VKy-duf_j-91x1GKcCxYIXO5D0/s640/_MG_4887+Alert+Calf+8xH.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Alert Calf</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
All in all it was one of the better, if not the best,
July trips to elk country that I can recall. After filming on Friday
morning it was time to return home and it was with mixed feelings that I
headed for Fulton County. For one thing it is always good to get home
and see the family and resume photographing the local wildlife, but on
the other hand it seemed that had I been able to stay for a few more
days that I was getting a system worked out that seemed likely to yield a
lot more good photos and video.<br />
<br />
Soon the bulls will be
losing the velvet and sparring will begin in earnest. In fact a few
bulls may have lost it already, but most will do around the middle of
August or a bit later. Soon I hope to return to elk country to document
this exciting event and when this is over it will be only a short time
until the rut begins.<br />
<br />
Originally published at <a href="http://pawildlifephotographer.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Pennsylvania Wildlife Photographer </a>by Willard Hill.<br />
<br />Willardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17059945499957721902noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690422682664917237.post-10251868331843387052016-07-28T16:08:00.001-04:002016-07-28T16:09:15.750-04:00July Bulls<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwgTcw5xw7wwhh_4ANbJ4riWojsNL77HIZ0B-NaoYLKKB_52v7fo4vK-3HwrrHExejNwaE-whAxiP95owtdu9eyJdzBnlROzBhm0d-rQNNY4xNGX4Aw6Uaf6G8P_vfu0sPFDdqIuyypg4/s1600/_MG_4755+Mature+Bull.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwgTcw5xw7wwhh_4ANbJ4riWojsNL77HIZ0B-NaoYLKKB_52v7fo4vK-3HwrrHExejNwaE-whAxiP95owtdu9eyJdzBnlROzBhm0d-rQNNY4xNGX4Aw6Uaf6G8P_vfu0sPFDdqIuyypg4/s640/_MG_4755+Mature+Bull.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Mature Bull Feeding In Natural Meadow</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I spent last week in Pennsylvania Elk Country filming
and photographing
the Pennsylvania elk herd.along with any other wildlife that I happened
to find. It was one of the better July trips to Pennsylvania Elk
Country, that I have
experienced with a lot of encounters with bulls in velvet and calves.
Today we will focus on the bulls and look at the calf photos in a future
post. Except for the young spikes, bulls were mostly found either by
themselves or in bachelor groups and they were usually seen either very
early or very late.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioP5awdhgXxyQM5bYojznAZqbg-N2Wz3wV-e9kiwKMn9OlrVoond77NB_Yg6KcNJCOPikPhtXWLUkHe5MnEdIFmlm8jWqtvIvXxNBVJhyphenhyphen_Fnza7Twp2v1YIiWnBT6JUQvRCZEjejUr9WQ/s1600/_MG_4545+Bachelor+Group+Comp+Master+8xH.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioP5awdhgXxyQM5bYojznAZqbg-N2Wz3wV-e9kiwKMn9OlrVoond77NB_Yg6KcNJCOPikPhtXWLUkHe5MnEdIFmlm8jWqtvIvXxNBVJhyphenhyphen_Fnza7Twp2v1YIiWnBT6JUQvRCZEjejUr9WQ/s640/_MG_4545+Bachelor+Group+Comp+Master+8xH.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Portion Of A Bachelor Group Before Sunrise</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The bulls usually left to spend the day in the woods
soon after the first rays of the morning sun hit the meadows although
sometimes they lingered much longer as in the case of the largest bull
of the trip which is shown in the first photo featured today. He was
still feeding after 8:00 a.m. on a bright sunny morning and was still
there when I left at 8:15.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjelC2T-auNanzipwa3YgyEzEGpPR6GYKlWgRcFEDhiEz4ZNfUHzo_KgI3qDgzkdZozWd9bX6DEBDkMYUybUP2qzg7ORycBo02f4nVFZMibwxBk8AU_WE3TEEmLamwSbhS-gFnnWxKfcZU/s1600/_MG_5944+Going+In+At+Sunrise.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjelC2T-auNanzipwa3YgyEzEGpPR6GYKlWgRcFEDhiEz4ZNfUHzo_KgI3qDgzkdZozWd9bX6DEBDkMYUybUP2qzg7ORycBo02f4nVFZMibwxBk8AU_WE3TEEmLamwSbhS-gFnnWxKfcZU/s640/_MG_5944+Going+In+At+Sunrise.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Bulls Slowly Head In As Sun Hits Meadow</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We will close for the day with two more photos of 6x6 bulls both of which were taken in the early morning.</div>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVN1iIz3x9CxMBkYAIWbKkqwdWqe0J1piTbHpZ8gz-y1xrBum9caPXagy5mokhu2pvZH0Sm_D23oBdxvp8DDyvFgF8m1qC2AtkfQDMVa85ORsVMUM8XNsVEce7RvSYZitFk_WAE0BI9Gw/s1600/_MG_5949+Early+Morning+6x6.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVN1iIz3x9CxMBkYAIWbKkqwdWqe0J1piTbHpZ8gz-y1xrBum9caPXagy5mokhu2pvZH0Sm_D23oBdxvp8DDyvFgF8m1qC2AtkfQDMVa85ORsVMUM8XNsVEce7RvSYZitFk_WAE0BI9Gw/s640/_MG_5949+Early+Morning+6x6.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>6x6 Bull</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzmbgzzNDPLoS_h6ZhVl47GmeQT7L_7Z-q0n6ShRoQYoXmDzKUYfMvmXcsQ_jP79_1_Me9K5zLqzHUMkr0OTR5WNVD0BCq1a-z73AQLRaQuCpv7wM_yxdvjZZ8LScRb_6vCNrl9q1PnNI/s1600/_MG_4899+6x6+.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzmbgzzNDPLoS_h6ZhVl47GmeQT7L_7Z-q0n6ShRoQYoXmDzKUYfMvmXcsQ_jP79_1_Me9K5zLqzHUMkr0OTR5WNVD0BCq1a-z73AQLRaQuCpv7wM_yxdvjZZ8LScRb_6vCNrl9q1PnNI/s640/_MG_4899+6x6+.jpg" width="512" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>6x6 Pauses By Roadside</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I hope you enjoyed the photos. As usual, I took a
lot more video than stills, but it is getting harder to find the time
and motivation to edit so I will not promise when I will post some video
clips, but I do hope to make a post soon about the calf encounters.<br />
<br />
Originally published at <a href="http://pawildlifephotographer.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Pennsylvania Wildlife Photographer</a> by Willard Hill.Willardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17059945499957721902noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690422682664917237.post-91990654528321471062016-07-03T14:12:00.000-04:002016-07-03T14:12:14.618-04:00Early and Late Is The Key For Successfully Photographing Summer Bulls<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj049zeA9qvlG_MVYA1ThBE6jKtFjxjsYf6GGlzgJmuKZgP-jEXB_cV064tnsgU37l02jourYucWo42c-mRTWpAQCDjvD7xxOJJRb3YScmVK-H-GXRfCzqBGEd5Qf3QyKAxbv0ICiYiuO8/s1600/_MG_5588+7x7.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj049zeA9qvlG_MVYA1ThBE6jKtFjxjsYf6GGlzgJmuKZgP-jEXB_cV064tnsgU37l02jourYucWo42c-mRTWpAQCDjvD7xxOJJRb3YScmVK-H-GXRfCzqBGEd5Qf3QyKAxbv0ICiYiuO8/s640/_MG_5588+7x7.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>7x7 Along Winslow Hill Road</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Today,s post features more photos of bull
elk from the mid-June trip to Pennsylvania Elk Country. While I saw
several cows and calves it seemed that bulls were much easier to see and
photograph. Some had impressive antler growth, but most were young
bulls such as the one in the photo below. This class of bull needs to
get a few more years on him to grow truly impressive antlers, although
they can look quite large to someone used to seeing only whitetail deer.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqJqVlII3Fb8pGlcwBslnl3uMKXTE0Roiz-fJOwKw29tCrFPRL19FEsR7quvzlfwon2gIIcS7mhb0u33rL5bZOZYqtegr4k262RmxspYqUi8wawK0QW8ukAryK6OcWlbMZrK7IKh9YOow/s1600/_MG_3940+4x4.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqJqVlII3Fb8pGlcwBslnl3uMKXTE0Roiz-fJOwKw29tCrFPRL19FEsR7quvzlfwon2gIIcS7mhb0u33rL5bZOZYqtegr4k262RmxspYqUi8wawK0QW8ukAryK6OcWlbMZrK7IKh9YOow/s640/_MG_3940+4x4.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>4x4 Pauses From Grazing </b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I
found another 4x4 grazing in a small opening by the roadside along
Dents Run Road and photographed him with the 7D MKII and the 100-400mm
IS II lens.</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4JwBbl1V4W7gbrWtrMSbUBL830fT8I83FaSNizYhaiM1Tcn5YCIZoPAJD7S-FlRlijBXhpTHUCinrwuSpnDwE_9m_lGuD_rfEH_JY3MvYTMSWtrBXQxy1DwkYYbtIehJdZDVPlDDzYUc/s1600/_MG_5646+Raghorn.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4JwBbl1V4W7gbrWtrMSbUBL830fT8I83FaSNizYhaiM1Tcn5YCIZoPAJD7S-FlRlijBXhpTHUCinrwuSpnDwE_9m_lGuD_rfEH_JY3MvYTMSWtrBXQxy1DwkYYbtIehJdZDVPlDDzYUc/s640/_MG_5646+Raghorn.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>4x4 Along Dents Run Road</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It seems especially in the summer, that one can only
see bulls consistently either very early in the morning or late in the
evening. They are usually back in the woods either before the first
rays of the sun touches the meadows, or shortly thereafter in the
mornings and they usually do not emerge again until shortly before
sundown or later and the hotter it is, the more this rule applies. The
bull below was photographed on the first evening of the trip as I found
him feeding along Winslow Hill Road. This photo was taken at ISO 1000
with a Canon 5D MKIII and the 70-200 IS II L lens at f2.8 and 1/50 sec.
shutter speed. This lens and the 300mm f2.8 are my two favorite low
light elk lenses.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGeJpF92LJLivtPcJc0lWkRXye7VOTNA2G_XiuvIqfu-hnPDjKDHaPVfQDWqQt1oV8dFw38fGp_-_bbiuFj-GWbcRI_FlKZgMqnwvnxELbKzSSG1RQCqnDmJynqq-JhumQE1e_w1n7QVg/s1600/_MG_3880+Roadside+Bull.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGeJpF92LJLivtPcJc0lWkRXye7VOTNA2G_XiuvIqfu-hnPDjKDHaPVfQDWqQt1oV8dFw38fGp_-_bbiuFj-GWbcRI_FlKZgMqnwvnxELbKzSSG1RQCqnDmJynqq-JhumQE1e_w1n7QVg/s640/_MG_3880+Roadside+Bull.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>4X4 In Low Light-Winslow Hill Road</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
One cannot tell from the angle of the photo above but
this bull will be at least a 5x5 as his main beams were beginning to
fork into another set of points. I cannot be certain as bulls with this
general configuration are quite common, but I think I filmed this bull
several miles from this spot on Thursday morning with the GH4, but this
was video only so I cannot post a comparison shot.<br />
<br />
The
next photo was taken at 5:44 a.m. on June 15th and helps make the
point that one needs to be out early. The equipment used was the 5D
MKIII and 600mm F4 IS lens. It was taken at ISO 1000 at 1/60 sec. f4.5.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd8jDOSo-oYkd5-MRTqbYHveJaiJz3o_iGEnOsAOa_Ck6UgzeerbHicjn1bANTJ-M0kAIETIfS97ANZYxJhiP3yRzFGYe1XPuyLF7Th7dZmYP4l8HiV_xX3eKcf6X_HI7t3L3nIhLhKyo/s1600/_MG_3946+Early++Morning+Bulls.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd8jDOSo-oYkd5-MRTqbYHveJaiJz3o_iGEnOsAOa_Ck6UgzeerbHicjn1bANTJ-M0kAIETIfS97ANZYxJhiP3yRzFGYe1XPuyLF7Th7dZmYP4l8HiV_xX3eKcf6X_HI7t3L3nIhLhKyo/s640/_MG_3946+Early++Morning+Bulls.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Bachelor Group Interacting</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The last photo for the day contradicts my advice
somewhat as you did not need to be out extra-early to get it as these
bulls were still in the meadow at 7:08 a.m. on June 16th.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTcp-gUerAXl3azkNMY1BnqeGbyG2ub6zZL_pbzCHqUt0SsB6XCEpSD4ovgyaUsvKEmJlCRlS-HMjnPdCUgTdB4HhmVACU17NaxxB-AhwaaIEEMV4eUq7j8KeuccQgsK1akjn9bzzfsGw/s1600/_MG_4040+Foggy+Morning+Bulls.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTcp-gUerAXl3azkNMY1BnqeGbyG2ub6zZL_pbzCHqUt0SsB6XCEpSD4ovgyaUsvKEmJlCRlS-HMjnPdCUgTdB4HhmVACU17NaxxB-AhwaaIEEMV4eUq7j8KeuccQgsK1akjn9bzzfsGw/s640/_MG_4040+Foggy+Morning+Bulls.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Still Out After Sunrise On A Foggy Morning</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I hope you enjoyed the photographs and remember that the key to success is getting up early and staying out late.<br />
<br />
Originally published at <a href="http://pawildlifephotographer.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Pennsylvania Wildlife Photographer </a>by Willard HillWillardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17059945499957721902noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690422682664917237.post-24427678039912987302016-06-19T15:35:00.000-04:002016-06-19T15:35:00.133-04:00Mid-June In Pennsylvania Elk Country<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKHWHeSrRYrL03tGXqPfwM7D3AL4GStVrzABHj67DjoPfiLWdjUxFz40lzg1-NoCyzyjwrF1sLV1pafuj2wivNgoGzBTYEODrGGLOjWi919C5XOY9-0lOUDtI1N_p2VSL8pyTyGLjEOd0/s1600/_MG_3989+5x7.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKHWHeSrRYrL03tGXqPfwM7D3AL4GStVrzABHj67DjoPfiLWdjUxFz40lzg1-NoCyzyjwrF1sLV1pafuj2wivNgoGzBTYEODrGGLOjWi919C5XOY9-0lOUDtI1N_p2VSL8pyTyGLjEOd0/s640/_MG_3989+5x7.jpg" width="512" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>5x7 On Winslow Hill</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I spent most of last week in Pennsylvania Elk
Country, meeting with some of the members of The Support PA Elk Facebook
Page and photographing and filming the wildlife of Pennsylvania Elk
Country. This was my first trip there since late March and I wish to
thank members Charlie Cropp and Paul Staniszewski for doing most of the
work on the Support Elk page since that time.<br />
<br />
Most of
the calves have been born by now. Each year a number of calves are
captured to gather biological data, and the animals may be fitted with
ear tags and in some cases radio collars. This program was still
underway while we were there and we got to observe the team at a
distance as they finished processing a calf at the Woodring Farm on
Wednesday morning.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8grpKlaEmBP2I47eJ3TA0BDJuu3PZYOHjEvY3jt4ezldZBOgb6wd-QCAOT1t58KuCkwZfam5GNtWIe0dFA2WwT0DbeqQ64Gx64zV1ln99xJWfvDkbNLPSUrnIUPsC-0Td5EVLyYkm9M0/s1600/_MG_5634+Calf+Processing.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8grpKlaEmBP2I47eJ3TA0BDJuu3PZYOHjEvY3jt4ezldZBOgb6wd-QCAOT1t58KuCkwZfam5GNtWIe0dFA2WwT0DbeqQ64Gx64zV1ln99xJWfvDkbNLPSUrnIUPsC-0Td5EVLyYkm9M0/s640/_MG_5634+Calf+Processing.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Team Processes Calf While Cow Looks On At Woodring Farm</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The team was composed of both professional
conservation agency employees and volunteers, with the PGC Elk
Biologist, and the KECA Biologist included on the team along with
Widlife Conservation Officer, Jason Wagner and Land Management Officer,
Colleen Shannon.. According to WCO Wagner this was the last day they
were capturing calves this year.<br />
<br />
I saw a lot of calves
at times. As is my usual experience at this time of year, they were a bit
on the shy side and it was hard to get good photos or video, but
nonetheless I did get a few usable still photos. Both of the photos
below were taken while I was standing watch from a parking lot beside a
marshy area with ponds on Dewey Road, but they were taken on different
mornings. In the first case elk were feeding near the site of the old
Gilbert House and for whatever reason suddenly came running down the
hill and across Rucki Road.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiktUoBU8uPtJeIq7zwT-VSEzwbpgtxgiTF1sf2LI7PLncpKaSPp7iF4yWc2kSyrqLY1Ug_D9-D7D5fW0EhDSbhxXCcTvghXvRBilU8H2_uSRW8peGduQDWAAFlSBCnpoxCsgTSJV4n_zo/s1600/_MG_3901+Cow+And+Calf.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiktUoBU8uPtJeIq7zwT-VSEzwbpgtxgiTF1sf2LI7PLncpKaSPp7iF4yWc2kSyrqLY1Ug_D9-D7D5fW0EhDSbhxXCcTvghXvRBilU8H2_uSRW8peGduQDWAAFlSBCnpoxCsgTSJV4n_zo/s640/_MG_3901+Cow+And+Calf.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Running For The Woods</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I was in the same area briefly on Friday morning when
a cow and her calf quickly crossed the wetlands. In both cases the elk
were far away and the photos are cropped substantially even with using
the 600mm F4 lens. The second encounter was an especially challenging
situation as the animals were in the shade, but the sun was shining in
the top portion which made the highlights difficult to deal with.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3xLhYPLB2Yqwdy8UlYvATl37U382SCwidYJr_80XnMiG2qNq6zoBrGqMZMrdOnUkcqU4zo61ClykeaWO3VFXrJ_4_KlkWAhKLaDZN5KD3GgV1YjIsAR5ZdPNL3iOTBFs9oaylVcQmvQg/s1600/_MG_4065+Cow+and+Calf.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3xLhYPLB2Yqwdy8UlYvATl37U382SCwidYJr_80XnMiG2qNq6zoBrGqMZMrdOnUkcqU4zo61ClykeaWO3VFXrJ_4_KlkWAhKLaDZN5KD3GgV1YjIsAR5ZdPNL3iOTBFs9oaylVcQmvQg/s640/_MG_4065+Cow+and+Calf.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Crossing The Wetlands</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Friday morning was the best period of trip for
seeing calves but this encounter was the only one in which I
successfully photographed one with the still camera that day . Shortly
after dawn I filmed a large group of cows with several calves, with the
Panasonic GH4.. I hope to complete a short video of some of the better
footage from this trip in the near future and it will hopefully
include footage from this encounter.<br />
<br />
The last photo of the day is of the 5x7, taken while he browsed on a multi-flora rose bush along Winslow Hill Road.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir-RYOF2Vs0aCFs8RsnZxvcH6WqhYFcqqJ6AYYhmQQfgVV5eXFC996wNaStr-8K_truiRrSAz7EDWLvVgQ9GaSmYFuQQZ7HdD0D2_P4l9VOWYLqV7nL060sxUpbIO-slhGG1WzoG1SzwY/s1600/_MG_2385+Bull+Elk+Browsing.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir-RYOF2Vs0aCFs8RsnZxvcH6WqhYFcqqJ6AYYhmQQfgVV5eXFC996wNaStr-8K_truiRrSAz7EDWLvVgQ9GaSmYFuQQZ7HdD0D2_P4l9VOWYLqV7nL060sxUpbIO-slhGG1WzoG1SzwY/s640/_MG_2385+Bull+Elk+Browsing.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Browsing On Multi-Flora Rose</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I hope to post a few more photos from the trip in the
near future as well as the video. By this time next month the antlers
will be almost completely grown and the velvet will be shed in August.
The calves are usually easier to photograph as they are no longer as
fearful of predators as they can escape them easier, and the capturing
and tagging period is now a faint memory..<br />
<br />
Originally published at <a href="http://pawildlifephotographer.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Pennsylvania Wildlife Photographer</a> by Willard Hill.Willardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17059945499957721902noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690422682664917237.post-39711228653533015792016-06-04T12:14:00.002-04:002016-06-04T12:14:53.517-04:00The Fawns Arrive As The Antlers Grow<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU9R3KH-yVm-iscquMtU5DZCzGIQF3Lvx97cW7KN4dksUhxxJf22YFlGXF9aIRA0lFQzew_B1QToLMCTaC4OhKlPl880s1wVLzXfBrKjOAeQ0w4V5urhQgCrdAJ9VdKhvvOBLRd7-zqEw/s1600/_1070034+Along+The+Creek.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU9R3KH-yVm-iscquMtU5DZCzGIQF3Lvx97cW7KN4dksUhxxJf22YFlGXF9aIRA0lFQzew_B1QToLMCTaC4OhKlPl880s1wVLzXfBrKjOAeQ0w4V5urhQgCrdAJ9VdKhvvOBLRd7-zqEw/s640/_1070034+Along+The+Creek.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Late May Morning Along The Stream</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Late May and early June is a rewarding time for the
outdoor photographer in Southcentral Pennsylvania. There is no shortage
of subjects to photograph as the whitetail fawns are being born, the
bucks are growing their antlers, and the meadows are loaded with many
species of wildflowers.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicJD4aT4FMZwVfcLayHyN0FNgXVTTtCxHsh2gP-cQTavcdEg41gv2VfzCaRydInipHity0DBbebN6vc9846RHl0nNfuBlEhBoEMFSRsjDlKFikpw7vFFehdtq-PNT3pJxAxKmxSRMRZ_Y/s1600/_1070152+Yellow+Goatsbeard+.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicJD4aT4FMZwVfcLayHyN0FNgXVTTtCxHsh2gP-cQTavcdEg41gv2VfzCaRydInipHity0DBbebN6vc9846RHl0nNfuBlEhBoEMFSRsjDlKFikpw7vFFehdtq-PNT3pJxAxKmxSRMRZ_Y/s640/_1070152+Yellow+Goatsbeard+.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Yellow Goat's Beard</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Most does give birth to the fawns in this area
between mid-May and mid-June with the vast majority arriving the last
few days of May and the first few days in June. This doe was still
pregnant on May 30th as indicated by the large swollen abdomen.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJN17rPFOiiyhm2AUj4_yECQcOoo4gtqpn2FrrzDe1ihaEm3ijV_Uhuhn03LOobzaSe_BO3WVIzNFYt5vBolflSdK6ZDIoIlg5aHhjZOTe5MVlAU5W2uWvj2z2N4QwGUsBnxIAjqSekxQ/s1600/_1070158+Pregnant+Doe.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJN17rPFOiiyhm2AUj4_yECQcOoo4gtqpn2FrrzDe1ihaEm3ijV_Uhuhn03LOobzaSe_BO3WVIzNFYt5vBolflSdK6ZDIoIlg5aHhjZOTe5MVlAU5W2uWvj2z2N4QwGUsBnxIAjqSekxQ/s640/_1070158+Pregnant+Doe.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Pregnant Doe</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Another doe that I usually see each day had a large
distended abdomen on May 30th and then I didn't see her until June 1st
and her flanks were shrunken indicating that she had given birth. On
June 2nd I got a few brief video clips of her nursing a fawn in a
thicket, but a thunderstorm was approaching so there was little chance
to exploit the opportunity. I saw her again on the following evening
and this time I got several video clips although again the brush was
thick and it was hard to get a clear angle. This time I managed to take
a few still photographs with the 5D MK III.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ScRn2Mkh36tDy8yOB4k_ho-Tca57MFvrsVVVKKMdecV5ApU54fG703Jvic6hDeF9lDK72KXLXhF-PW7LVs3Axg4bwOjOF6PZJLhsM6duLyxdnQ2EfqNJv3XS8oryONDfZt_Xhbn9SNU/s1600/_MG_3766+Doe+Nurses+Fawn.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ScRn2Mkh36tDy8yOB4k_ho-Tca57MFvrsVVVKKMdecV5ApU54fG703Jvic6hDeF9lDK72KXLXhF-PW7LVs3Axg4bwOjOF6PZJLhsM6duLyxdnQ2EfqNJv3XS8oryONDfZt_Xhbn9SNU/s640/_MG_3766+Doe+Nurses+Fawn.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Doe Nursing Fawn</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
While the fawns are being born, the buck's antlers
keep getting larger. This buck is the second one pictured in the last
post.. That photo was taken on May 22nd. Today's photo was taken just
one week later and he is now developing a point on his left antler.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcCy_W6r964nQcYHjR_y8F-U8D86jmG_o8xM0WyZvCXwBG-8GRo6ADR21JH6-xiximuavlEAt-l_U40lHDhnfASR6uBw0DZvH_g0klBXdKq49LV_rKtgDelUmxIrmDKWKfWoN0QpOS-s0/s1600/_MG_3757+Buck+In+Velvet.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcCy_W6r964nQcYHjR_y8F-U8D86jmG_o8xM0WyZvCXwBG-8GRo6ADR21JH6-xiximuavlEAt-l_U40lHDhnfASR6uBw0DZvH_g0klBXdKq49LV_rKtgDelUmxIrmDKWKfWoN0QpOS-s0/s640/_MG_3757+Buck+In+Velvet.jpg" width="512" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Young Buck-One Week Later</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Growth is very rapid and by early-mid July the older
bucks will have 3/4 or more of their antler growth. This buck has
already grown significantly longer beams in the few days since this
photo was taken. If he does not disperse it will be interesting to
document his rack as it develops.<br />
<br />
Originally published at <a href="http://pawildlifephotographer.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Pennsylvania Wildlife Photographer</a> by Willard Hill. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Willardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17059945499957721902noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690422682664917237.post-12940448021809039922016-05-22T20:46:00.002-04:002016-05-22T20:46:18.477-04:00Gobblers, Bucks, and Bluebirds<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC2ccI8EAVywIwm07aPYhnZpcNZyDx3kGB3MmhkwuiNQUU3A64mJvE7PPhnHRqz0KBrDz3NHOe6EzaBBXbmdfHn2C5CCvHhwiqQOTnKWtDM1oYLq7laO_lUL_-z4SKQ6h4bq8BQzUf4w0/s1600/_MG_3584+Mature+Gobbler+Struts.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC2ccI8EAVywIwm07aPYhnZpcNZyDx3kGB3MmhkwuiNQUU3A64mJvE7PPhnHRqz0KBrDz3NHOe6EzaBBXbmdfHn2C5CCvHhwiqQOTnKWtDM1oYLq7laO_lUL_-z4SKQ6h4bq8BQzUf4w0/s640/_MG_3584+Mature+Gobbler+Struts.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The Eastern Wild Turkey is one of my favorite subjects to photograph
during the spring months and I have spent many hours afield filming and
photographing them this year. I love to capture the gobblers as they
perform the courtship display and for a time from mid-April thru mid-May
I saw them doing this almost every day. One thing I love about video
is the ability to get dramatic close-ups at very long range, but with
that being said I am not happy until I get a good supply of still photos
each spring and on a few occasions this year, they came close enough
for excellent still portraits.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxUBBIoW9fai74ScTiTEu2EI-0guAddSGlpsG9UXezg976FyYp2N5DTtqKf2W6Xe5hkE6jg6Ub4ueAsbTq7CKtk8LcKkfPz2SWRV4PjyqP3A1nGo-1FBmTO1tU7E2HmcDRxr0OffuPM34/s1600/_MG_3585+Mature+Gobbler+Sruts.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxUBBIoW9fai74ScTiTEu2EI-0guAddSGlpsG9UXezg976FyYp2N5DTtqKf2W6Xe5hkE6jg6Ub4ueAsbTq7CKtk8LcKkfPz2SWRV4PjyqP3A1nGo-1FBmTO1tU7E2HmcDRxr0OffuPM34/s640/_MG_3585+Mature+Gobbler+Sruts.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiy9McuXbBlCo5SNlF35N16ZObBFXhkil_TA9gTDtcRNt4QnWrfnOlKIzXOe7eQvVMSEFxwjPjdr9DcpPIzvDHqoPdNclKBtnT_L7nFHeV0rLCnOvpi4qEAI5OTk4k3gKK9b42Z1dlfdU/s1600/_MG_3606+Mature+Gobbler+Struts+8xH.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiy9McuXbBlCo5SNlF35N16ZObBFXhkil_TA9gTDtcRNt4QnWrfnOlKIzXOe7eQvVMSEFxwjPjdr9DcpPIzvDHqoPdNclKBtnT_L7nFHeV0rLCnOvpi4qEAI5OTk4k3gKK9b42Z1dlfdU/s640/_MG_3606+Mature+Gobbler+Struts+8xH.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I
also like to document the development of the antlers of the whitetail
bucks. I have seen a few bucks with branch antlers so far. I was not
able to get still photos of them, but I have photographed a few that
have not yet branched. The first buck pictured below was a small rack
buck last year with four or five points so he should grow a decent rack
this year.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnDoZ9YEg1QhvGMKQi91a2GM7hiMZ1ebq-_a5ePwoPNtZAAXkpPPhyKz3XeEsQ2oRmtnEmUI5r96ytwgifKvne6TOWc7WI2pdd-uy2-Gq-A4jgJpj-HWR7lLX2apYZrI_kWsHxaNPPuNo/s1600/_MG_3615+In+Velvet.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnDoZ9YEg1QhvGMKQi91a2GM7hiMZ1ebq-_a5ePwoPNtZAAXkpPPhyKz3XeEsQ2oRmtnEmUI5r96ytwgifKvne6TOWc7WI2pdd-uy2-Gq-A4jgJpj-HWR7lLX2apYZrI_kWsHxaNPPuNo/s640/_MG_3615+In+Velvet.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>2nd Year Rack Buck</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This deer has only partially changed from the winter
to the summer coat and looks very ragged, but the buck below has almost
completed the shedding process. He was a small spike last year and
should grow a respectable rack this year.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7yqsbK4O4zm-rKC0IcruKbH6xo7xBfBLFcTxIwHBY38iJyhIgC6fAwSPyflMcSb29ausKrEW-dkg3JuOId-VdPvPEjf7l1gQ5_74O1DmCHQM6xZV1kBwCtVU8jtwew6wdig_1x9aPGcM/s1600/_MG_3623+Young+Buck.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7yqsbK4O4zm-rKC0IcruKbH6xo7xBfBLFcTxIwHBY38iJyhIgC6fAwSPyflMcSb29ausKrEW-dkg3JuOId-VdPvPEjf7l1gQ5_74O1DmCHQM6xZV1kBwCtVU8jtwew6wdig_1x9aPGcM/s640/_MG_3623+Young+Buck.jpg" width="512" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Another Prospective Rack Buck</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
While waiting for the deer and turkeys to appear I am
always looking for other subjects to photograph and one morning a
bluebird caught an earthworm in the meadow in front of me and flew to a
limb and paused with it before flying on to its' nest with it.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjGEEKv5WOGGwbQtW8oJw6Hj0xpJHfRY2v_ZbuudF49J79QmfYZ4XqBG1SUu9ywiYFISmaWrgMyRqYVPrzpvubYsYMauvzZzFuLQkDmO1IMjW_Of3qJtE1NrQAEUyqJvvym0aVDyyYQA0/s1600/_MG_3638+Eastern+Bluebird.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjGEEKv5WOGGwbQtW8oJw6Hj0xpJHfRY2v_ZbuudF49J79QmfYZ4XqBG1SUu9ywiYFISmaWrgMyRqYVPrzpvubYsYMauvzZzFuLQkDmO1IMjW_Of3qJtE1NrQAEUyqJvvym0aVDyyYQA0/s640/_MG_3638+Eastern+Bluebird.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Bluebird With Earthworm</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
All photos were taken with the Canon 5D MKIII and the 600mmF4.0 IS L lens.<br />
<br />
Originally posted at <a href="http://pawildlifephotographer.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Pennsylvania Wildlife Photographer</a> by Willard Hill.<br />
<br />Willardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17059945499957721902noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690422682664917237.post-50007096503998867082016-04-30T11:36:00.000-04:002016-04-30T11:36:29.653-04:00Strutting Gobblers and Other Springtime WildlifeSpring, the wildflowers are blooming, the birds are singing, and the
male turkeys are gobbling--what an exciting time to be afield. I have
been out every morning this spring and have seen a lot of wildlife, but
good close-up encounters with mature gobblers strutting seem to be
harder to come by than usual. When the turkeys are not present it is
good to photograph the wildflowers.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgln25xOIdZWDW3cItFGQQvzd7mSgWOR-FOE3rS75RFFv2nWb-ERfEdV1B-28HMdpIXcGki43A-zHkVQvWZ8lleJAU4hwlgpi83KKo-S2GlaaN3fEc-qAh9mNuYE64s2NadQBLSonLCZro/s1600/_MG_5190+Violets+.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgln25xOIdZWDW3cItFGQQvzd7mSgWOR-FOE3rS75RFFv2nWb-ERfEdV1B-28HMdpIXcGki43A-zHkVQvWZ8lleJAU4hwlgpi83KKo-S2GlaaN3fEc-qAh9mNuYE64s2NadQBLSonLCZro/s640/_MG_5190+Violets+.jpg" width="512" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Spring flowers add beauty to a day afield</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
When the turkeys are present and one or
more gobblers are strutting and gobbling it makes for an exciting
photographic experience.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQUj7dcNeICijP553fzThpmAza9exRpNrqGUt-LSYEOTvuPyZ5S67_OuWSvbMubCa8aCD8tHTY4GoRK2M8FrulCX94wrmB_Why8HaN3B0pOJyp55pmyGvDzGuLcUqiEiN7km1sPyETeHE/s1600/_MG_3230+Mature+Gobbler+Struts+.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQUj7dcNeICijP553fzThpmAza9exRpNrqGUt-LSYEOTvuPyZ5S67_OuWSvbMubCa8aCD8tHTY4GoRK2M8FrulCX94wrmB_Why8HaN3B0pOJyp55pmyGvDzGuLcUqiEiN7km1sPyETeHE/s640/_MG_3230+Mature+Gobbler+Struts+.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Mature Gobbler in full strut:<span style="font-size: x-small;">Canon 5D MKIII-600mm lens</span></b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
One of the most desirable and dramatic photos of a
bull elk is to capture him bugling and over the years I have tried to
duplicate these results with turkeys, but it seems the actual act of
gobbling does not look as impressive as the elk bugling. Maybe someday I
will get the perfect photo and change my mind., but for now I would say
that capturing them strutting usually yields more impressive photos.
It actually seems to work better to document the actual gobbling with
video as you get to see the bird go through the entire process as well
as hear the exciting sound of the gobble.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI45tdeB6qynGXL2qto9jZGL5P31lRtM9bPn7fil6JGhWw4hGoSUSe5rgV2h5q_WdHUDqdXm-sDXYx1h1ko3XJ0Anjc1jJdiE5QZRpM_Ji1RYP_bGHXHueNWwETsWXuJ1hNZWfe87liVQ/s1600/_MG_3129+Gobbling.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI45tdeB6qynGXL2qto9jZGL5P31lRtM9bPn7fil6JGhWw4hGoSUSe5rgV2h5q_WdHUDqdXm-sDXYx1h1ko3XJ0Anjc1jJdiE5QZRpM_Ji1RYP_bGHXHueNWwETsWXuJ1hNZWfe87liVQ/s640/_MG_3129+Gobbling.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Mature Gobbler in mid-gobble: <span style="font-size: x-small;">Canon 5D MKIII-500mm lens</span></b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAxdOgTVgKWGXTrLMvluBnRzzC3_BJbBKnOsnib_d1wks3JQAkKSU0ms6z9L3b2rrN77cwMJl6Qi2nnfH5RY8Abj_1nDdZ4we8zSNpZ-9v6HeH-ndzQRXxS8dKxpd0lNNgLzjxQg7HFLU/s1600/_MG_5160+Mature+Gobbler.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAxdOgTVgKWGXTrLMvluBnRzzC3_BJbBKnOsnib_d1wks3JQAkKSU0ms6z9L3b2rrN77cwMJl6Qi2nnfH5RY8Abj_1nDdZ4we8zSNpZ-9v6HeH-ndzQRXxS8dKxpd0lNNgLzjxQg7HFLU/s640/_MG_5160+Mature+Gobbler.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Gobbler pauses from courting to look for danger: <span style="font-size: x-small;">Canon 7D MKII-100-400mm IS II</span></b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Of course the reason for all of this excitement is
the hens and often some of the best activity occurs when hens are
present and the gobblers are performing the courtship display. They
also strut and gobble at times when no hens are present, but it is much
more likely to happen when they are there.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJjQK8yrLb3YHuIWyqSzSl6SZQkSCCMAkgjtUbxlDESbTNtOrfEZ3d0O-UFFvZ2r4K1hr0BKMh-e7Pq_R6pLrr9NmcFwNPQe7i4RZMrC63JVq81j5Vj7SwJs_6kYSPermUhRfc_9Y_VE/s1600/_MG_5113+Alert+Hen.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJjQK8yrLb3YHuIWyqSzSl6SZQkSCCMAkgjtUbxlDESbTNtOrfEZ3d0O-UFFvZ2r4K1hr0BKMh-e7Pq_R6pLrr9NmcFwNPQe7i4RZMrC63JVq81j5Vj7SwJs_6kYSPermUhRfc_9Y_VE/s640/_MG_5113+Alert+Hen.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Hen pauses from feeding while gobblers strut in adjacent meadow: </b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Canon 7D MKII-100-400mm IS II</span></b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
If you look closely in the photo below, this hen has a
small beard (look just below the first green brier that goes partly
across its' chest), but it is a hen nonetheless. You can tell this by a
combination of factors the most important factors being the drab
coloration compared to the gobblers and the smaller size. Few hens grow
beards, but they are not exactly rare. I usually film or photograph at
least one each year.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOKNjiX_SXInYqWNbdH1s2h-RHxCJgiwnRsYkilkfQ_GSi5m0BxF99eoDJ74w3wmXrRIFlobNyRK989RXfiC543BoLLCSLIcY4YUq7r14Sl_2k7-u-atpC9GJntZuJBEovfrrQbyBWujo/s1600/_MG_5118+Bearded+Hen.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOKNjiX_SXInYqWNbdH1s2h-RHxCJgiwnRsYkilkfQ_GSi5m0BxF99eoDJ74w3wmXrRIFlobNyRK989RXfiC543BoLLCSLIcY4YUq7r14Sl_2k7-u-atpC9GJntZuJBEovfrrQbyBWujo/s640/_MG_5118+Bearded+Hen.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Bearded Hen: </b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Canon 7D MKII-100-400mm IS II</span></b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Filming and photographing other species that happen
along adds to the enjoyment of the day and I especially like to capture
the deer doing something interesting, such as this young buck browsing.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnLIl_CTC-9nRtdHuhBheDneBUC6MqPP8AUKupzWhS17bxgk30eLma7R1xjSpCk1SVq-25uyhMWYn7K8YIYnscHcUVG7V5ST07HJz5qQk-GvWATgz45fy723jkqiuG8QqlPXeszR8AZVs/s1600/_MG_5169+Button+Buck+Browsing.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnLIl_CTC-9nRtdHuhBheDneBUC6MqPP8AUKupzWhS17bxgk30eLma7R1xjSpCk1SVq-25uyhMWYn7K8YIYnscHcUVG7V5ST07HJz5qQk-GvWATgz45fy723jkqiuG8QqlPXeszR8AZVs/s640/_MG_5169+Button+Buck+Browsing.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Young deer browsing: </b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Canon 7D MKII-100-400mm IS II</span></b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
When I was young fox squirrels were seldom seen in my area, but now I am likely to see as many or more of them than the grays.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLaxJikaJnCINqwUIlYZIzo2oAmBNHtGDUMcOy0lf1u7djpWFE1uSzB6Y05NKzUkH3JeF8M3AEJa0FJnGYbsZB1uYTiHRUKdEqTZqH8zbrS3tX903He_m7T9QgewFH-Oe76VB4wtbLA00/s1600/_MG_5123+Fox+Squirrel.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLaxJikaJnCINqwUIlYZIzo2oAmBNHtGDUMcOy0lf1u7djpWFE1uSzB6Y05NKzUkH3JeF8M3AEJa0FJnGYbsZB1uYTiHRUKdEqTZqH8zbrS3tX903He_m7T9QgewFH-Oe76VB4wtbLA00/s640/_MG_5123+Fox+Squirrel.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Fox Squirrel: </b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Canon 7D MKII-100-400mm IS II</span></b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
With the arrival of May the trees will soon be
covered with leaves and wildlife movement patterns will change to a
certain extent. Already the peak of the gobbling season is over and
birds are not heard or seen as often. Today is the first day of the
spring gobbler season and this will also have a dampening effect on
gobbling activity, but there will be periodic upswings in activity until
the mating season is over in early to mid-June.<br />
<br />
Originally published at <a href="http://pawildlifephotographer.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Pennsylvania Wildlife Photographer</a> by Willard Hill.Willardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17059945499957721902noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690422682664917237.post-65080969137254513602016-04-01T12:59:00.000-04:002016-04-01T12:59:27.242-04:00Late March Wildlife-PA Bull Elk Shed Antlers<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrLIGENHn2Mh9MSBEzG7ch2hq-bGlKNNKDHs6po-QjskAHN1GnlEVfpohtAMzAHSmqseK8Th5Z01QWjckxJZmWJs1O9bQfgZafN8KtKDLtzNL8tBUWdeWNX1cHwesqt17JgWBDPq8GbEg/s1600/_MG_2980+Herd+At+Pond.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrLIGENHn2Mh9MSBEzG7ch2hq-bGlKNNKDHs6po-QjskAHN1GnlEVfpohtAMzAHSmqseK8Th5Z01QWjckxJZmWJs1O9bQfgZafN8KtKDLtzNL8tBUWdeWNX1cHwesqt17JgWBDPq8GbEg/s640/_MG_2980+Herd+At+Pond.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Herd Crosses Wetlands Area-Dewey Road</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After my early March trip to Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area to film and photograph the Snow Goose Migration, I concentrated on filming whitetail deer and eastern wild turkey gobblers until March 21st, when I traveled to Pennsylvania Elk Country for several days of filming Pennsylvania Elk.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Today's post features a 2 minute 47 second video of the best clips recorded during this period. It begins with a herd of whitetail deer crossing a stream and then features two clips of birds and one of turkey gobblers, gobbling and skirmishing. The action then shifts to elk country where you get to see a large herd of elk crossing a wetlands. This was filmed on Dewey Road at the Gilbert Farm Viewing Area. A herd was grazing at the main viewing spot, while another herd was feeding near the ponds to the south of Dewey Road. I was filming the herd at the ponds, when suddenly the air was filled with squealing and screaming as the first herd came down the hill and joined the elk at the ponds.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="405" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/161126924" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="720"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
Within a short time the entire herd moved on and spent part of the evening feeding near the log cabin on the hill and then later moved on to The Saddle.<br />
<br />
Some bull elk shed their antlers as early as late February, but many still have them during the time I was there and I filmed bulls in all of the stages, including bulls that had already shed and were growing new antlers, a bull with one antler shed and one remaining, and bulls that still had both antlers.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8mgaDglbFRmfo9_bsZWy7ePYIlRGxoGSC1SpNw1cr67ulEEQMAHMdc-yrpwp60fdl-O1EhdlSEHIi9uTt-WZDPUs3ct2f2VB2rXmCvL74_nmFdtDeOTgtEKjC0PSQ6rhodgZyHTEF4H4/s1600/_MG_49016x6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8mgaDglbFRmfo9_bsZWy7ePYIlRGxoGSC1SpNw1cr67ulEEQMAHMdc-yrpwp60fdl-O1EhdlSEHIi9uTt-WZDPUs3ct2f2VB2rXmCvL74_nmFdtDeOTgtEKjC0PSQ6rhodgZyHTEF4H4/s640/_MG_49016x6.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>This 6x6 still had antlers on March 23rd</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Most bulls that have not yet shed their antlers will do so soon. It will not be long until the new racks will be of substantial size and the new calves will be arriving.<br />
<br />
Originally published at <a href="http://pawildlifephotographer.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Pennsylvania Wildlife Photographer</a> by Willard Hill.Willardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17059945499957721902noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690422682664917237.post-83514094261878671472016-03-19T21:42:00.002-04:002016-03-19T21:42:34.249-04:00Middle Creek To Close ?Recently there has been much ado in the outdoor press about the
possible closing of Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area, which is
located on the Lebanon/Lancaster County line close to Kleinfeltersville,
Pa. Middle Creek is home to a wide variety of wildlife, but it is best
know for the massive snow goose migration that occurs each year in late
February and March.<br />
<br />
The
migration attracts large numbers of bird watchers and photographers,
many of which return year after year to enjoy an exciting and fulfilling
experience. Unfortunately some in the hunting community view bird
watchers, photographers, hikers, etc. with contempt and would like to
see the area maintained for hunting only, with other user groups
excluded. If they had their way scenes such as those below would be a
thing of the past.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQkFZVyxV1U_4x0zMr0s9IUEX9dIoRHOGdeMGPHsZbiUeLz4BrTx21daUJJ_-Kpo67V7Zz7CDiGRSAFsFWLn7PIQLA52lyHtUOvlTZHMuPtUCYxcnfT4WE54HcFxgyThxfKg-lqNt6JGg/s1600/_MG_4809+Sunrise+Off+Willow+Point.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQkFZVyxV1U_4x0zMr0s9IUEX9dIoRHOGdeMGPHsZbiUeLz4BrTx21daUJJ_-Kpo67V7Zz7CDiGRSAFsFWLn7PIQLA52lyHtUOvlTZHMuPtUCYxcnfT4WE54HcFxgyThxfKg-lqNt6JGg/s640/_MG_4809+Sunrise+Off+Willow+Point.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Snow Geese At Dawn-Willow Point</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2CG69os4XFjeM1kKmbWzZT2zcgWuCjHittm8A7vnjtpy_eqr8XCaYKqT3gCKEIcMKv97XtK4JEiEMPVZjB7zOzJgMeIgzqPyWt_Smo46opysomXVh_KKmmzP3d34P5Z5UD08cb9_pEkA/s1600/_MG_2833+Early+Am+Willow+Point.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2CG69os4XFjeM1kKmbWzZT2zcgWuCjHittm8A7vnjtpy_eqr8XCaYKqT3gCKEIcMKv97XtK4JEiEMPVZjB7zOzJgMeIgzqPyWt_Smo46opysomXVh_KKmmzP3d34P5Z5UD08cb9_pEkA/s640/_MG_2833+Early+Am+Willow+Point.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Morning Take-off At Willow Point</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The problem is that the Pennsylvania Game Commission
has not been granted a license increase since 1999 and officials say
they cannot continue operating at their current level without making
substantial cuts. On February 24, 2016 Executive Director Matt Hough
gave the agency's annual report to the General Assembly and testified in
front of the House Game and Fisheries Committee. In his report Hough
gave an overview of agency activities and accomplishments during the
past year, and then went on to discuss some of the cuts the agency is
considering if a license increase is not approved.<br />
<br />
Here is a portion of Mr. Hough's statement as stated in News Release #017-16:: (to read the release in its' entirety, click <a href="http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=12775&PageID=648010&mode=2&contentid=http://pubcontent.state.pa.us/publishedcontent/publish/marketingsites/game_commission/content/resources/newsreleases/newsrelease/articles/release__017_16.html" target="_blank">Here</a>. )<br />
<br />
"This almost 20-year-old pricing structure simply is not sufficient
for the agency to maintain its current level of services and respond
to the growing list of challenges it currently faces. For instance,
it should be noted that none of the wildlife diseases I mentioned
were present in Pennsylvania at the time of the last license
increase.<br />
<br />
Already the Commission has implemented budget cuts in response to
decreasing revenues. This past year, we eliminated 28 full-time
positions from our complement. This has been done through furloughing
employees and not back-filling positions as they became vacant.<br />
<br />
We also will not be renewing the contracts for about 45
limited-term employees. Some represented the only means we had to
effectively and efficiently monitor many non-game wildlife populations.<br />
<br />
In addition, we concluded the agency could not hold the Wildlife
Conservation Officer class that was scheduled to begin in March of
2017. In light of that decision, the earliest we could begin a class
would be March of 2018, with the cadets graduating a year later. By
then, we project almost one-third of the officer districts will be
vacant due to retirements. Obviously, the longer we go without
resources to conduct a class, the greater the number of vacant
districts across the state, resulting in violations going undetected,
a decrease in response time and fewer services that officers can
provide to the public.<br />
<br />
"Without additional revenues in the near future, we will have to
take even greater steps at reducing expenditures. Some of the
proposals under consideration include closing facilities – such as
the <span lang="en">Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area, shooting
ranges on game lands, and our Howard Nursery, and substantially
reducing the pheasant-stocking program. I have no doubt that these
proposals will not be popular with the general public and our
hunting-license buyers, but without additional revenues we will have
no choice but to make significant reductions to our budget."</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="en">Analysis</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="en">But
is Middle Creek really likely to close? While I was at Middle Creek
last week I did not talk to any Pennsylvania Game Commission personnel,
but rather discussed the situation with fellow wildlife photographers.
In addition I have read quite a bit of commentary in articles posted
online and comments on the PGC Facebook Page.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="en"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="en"><a href="http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/middle-creek-being-considered-for-closure-cash-strapped-game-commission/article_97731602-dbd3-11e5-bc4d-7bde1d0d50bf.html" target="_blank">"Middle Creek being considered for closure cast-strapped Game Commission says" </a>by Ad Crable and published by Lancaster Online on 02/25/2016 is one of the best articles I have read on the subject. It </span><span lang="en"><span lang="en">features interviews with PGC officials both past and present <span style="font-size: small;">and has an informative comments section as well.</span></span></span><br />
<span lang="en"><span lang="en"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span lang="en"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
We
always hear that the State Game Lands System was bought and paid for
with hunter's license dollars, and in many cases that is true, but
according to the article and other information included in the comments
section, <span lang="en"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-size: small;">Middle Creek </span></span>itself
was bought with Project 70 Funds, while Game Lands 46, which adjoins
it, was indeed bought with PGC funds. Below is a direct quote from the
article which touches on the source of funding and the purpose for
building Middle Creek. </span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="en"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></div>
"Middle Creek was built with state taxpayer money as part of a
statewide referendum and opened in 1973. Its ongoing management is by
the Game Commission, which pays for its operation.<br />
<br />
Its main purpose was to provide a vital resting stop for migrating
waterfowl whose numbers at the time were worrisome. Since then,
Canada geese and other species have rebounded."<br />
<br />
Another quote, this one from past Game Commissioner, Stephen Mohr, brings us to the main point that I wish to address today. <br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<span lang="en"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span>“They are digging themselves a big hole,” Stephen Mohr, a
former Game Commissioner and Conoy Township supervisor, said in
reaction to the Game Commission's consideration of closing Middle
Creek.<br />
<br />
“Closing Middle Creek will infuriate the nonhunters. The hunters
could care less. The PGC is only attempting to divide the troops.
Middle Creek was built with general revenue moneys. Our elected
officials should call their bluff.”.<br />
<br />
In reading the
comment section on the Pennsylvania Game Commission Facebook page it is
clear that some of the more militant hunters would like to see the
non-consumptive user excluded from Middle Creek.<br />
<br />
Most
disturbing to me was a thread on the PGC FB page which began with an
individual(from now on referred as commenter A) asking, "Is there snow
goose hunting opportunities at Middle Creek? Why can't the bird watchers
go ask the farmers instead of us?<span lang="en"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="en"><span style="font-size: small;">Another person replies-"If you could hunt snows at MC they would not be there.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="en"><span style="font-size: small;">A replies-</span></span>"Not true. An area that size, with that
quaility of habitat, and along a traditional migratory corridor would
always draw snow gesse. Yes it will not be the artificial refugia it
is as evinced by these disgusting photos, but the geese will still
use the wma, they will just be one their toes more, like wildlife
should be"</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The
photos he was referring to are much like the ones posted below and
shows large numbers of snow geese or snow geese with photographers and
bird watchers looking on.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEgaNHaDb57mtBCqGXvAd1At4tRoCDQXsOO0PKteT8wV17g6uI5Qm7MLru6Ycz7ntCqQeJtFa6LAy76IUOv3D98VVkkZuM3IBFPcxzttaVdl_lwhdvxvSAdZpbFEanRlFmZXYDRPdq15Q/s1600/_MG_2757+Flock.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEgaNHaDb57mtBCqGXvAd1At4tRoCDQXsOO0PKteT8wV17g6uI5Qm7MLru6Ycz7ntCqQeJtFa6LAy76IUOv3D98VVkkZuM3IBFPcxzttaVdl_lwhdvxvSAdZpbFEanRlFmZXYDRPdq15Q/s640/_MG_2757+Flock.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>"Disgusting photo of Snow Geese In artificial Refugia"</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
.
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV3nfNjGfgs36u1z1CBmbh2KlPh5eVCDnigdeE6e2fSQ35MTW5E1c253I5OfQx2eFFb0OK7Kg4zoQK4-70DKV8jxXAl7uCNol_yPpYlepASXnFEMq3CaKpyNdeOI4pS00oZuyh2fzwNHM/s1600/_MG_2752+Snow+Geese.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV3nfNjGfgs36u1z1CBmbh2KlPh5eVCDnigdeE6e2fSQ35MTW5E1c253I5OfQx2eFFb0OK7Kg4zoQK4-70DKV8jxXAl7uCNol_yPpYlepASXnFEMq3CaKpyNdeOI4pS00oZuyh2fzwNHM/s640/_MG_2752+Snow+Geese.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Another "disgusting photo of Snow Geese In artificial Refugia"</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="en"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><span lang="en"><span style="font-size: small;"> This was a bit too much to take so I posted the following reply:</span></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="en"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/willard.hill.5?fref=ufi&rc=p">Willard
Hill</a> "So it is disgusting to have wildlife that is easily
view-able by the public? I am sure that if and when the vast numbers
of easily view-able birds are gone at some point in the future, that
there will be a great effort extended to get them back. You may still
have snow geese if the refuge portion of the WMA was opened, but you
would not see them in large numbers for long. As for contribution to
the upkeep of Middle Creek- many bird watchers would be willing to
pay to help support this area, but the Game Commission does not ask
them to do so."</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
This
entire string of comments vanished soon after I made the above comment,
and I have looked repeatedly to find it again. Commenter A posted his
question in the comments immediately under the main PGC post and all of
the replies that vanished were in response to his comment and not as
responses to the main PGC post so it is possible that he removed his
question and thus deleted the entire string.<br />
<br />
Researching this individual led to a Face Book post by a group called <a href="https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1536643853332716&id=1377845189212584" target="_blank">"The Bird Hunting Society",</a>
which among other things supports the closing of all but the hunting
part of Middle Creek and getting the non-hunters out. Here it is in
their own words.<br />
<br />
"If you hunt Pennsylvania take action!<br />
<br />
Middle Creek WMA is an
upland and waterfowl mecca. Although hunting is allowed, the wma is used
more for bird watching. That may be changing. There is a proposal to
CLOSE Middle Creek. We are NOT sure but do not believe that means
hunting will end, but think rather it will get the non hunters out and
decommission many of the unnecessary (useless to hunters and wildlife)
facilities. Waterfowl hunting has been by lottery permit on this wma,
and that may be a good thing or a bad thing, however we doubt the
closure is because of the expense of running the hunting program. We ask
you to support the closure but still keep the wma remain available to
hunters, and if appropriate to distribute hunting opportunity and
provide quality hunting, the controlled waterfowl hunt be kept."<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiglA2HDuWzyVDSmUN2FyEJ5nvqxNgmcSDf5e5EKOj4dqc-7TcKVo6BICYVZwMpbJ3NKV8VZW8gIbHVmV9c_5dHOn9KgUKWmQEXB-5IvCwA4G1vFYj_VJMeCGARp2UDx1O1UGgq4zRb0zQ/s1600/P1080533+Middle+Creek+Visitor+Center.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiglA2HDuWzyVDSmUN2FyEJ5nvqxNgmcSDf5e5EKOj4dqc-7TcKVo6BICYVZwMpbJ3NKV8VZW8gIbHVmV9c_5dHOn9KgUKWmQEXB-5IvCwA4G1vFYj_VJMeCGARp2UDx1O1UGgq4zRb0zQ/s640/P1080533+Middle+Creek+Visitor+Center.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Middle Creek Visitor Center-Some consider it useless to hunters and wildlife and want to see it closed</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So there you have it--get rid of those pesky bird
watchers and photographers so that the WMA is used only by the real
owners and by the way let's forget that this land was not purchased
solely with hunting license dollars, <br />
<br />
Another thing
that really rings my bell is the common refrain to ask the photographer,
the bird watcher, etc. to help foot the bill for wildlife conservation,
while at the same time making sure they are unable to do so in a method
that quantifies their input. It is really quite simple--make it so
that to be present on Game Commission land within the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania that one must be in possession of a valid hunting licenses
or in lieu thereof a valid use permit. The fee could be based on the
cost of a resident adult general hunting license. Since it would be
very expensive for a large family, this could be modeled on what I have
seen at the national parks where if one person in the group has a valid
pass,this allows all in the vehicle access. There would be some sticky
fine points to address for sure, but it could be done.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Many
photographers, bird watchers, hikers, etc. that do not hunt, do
purchase a hunting license or donate to the PGC. This is a good thing,
but the problem with buying the license, is that you are counted as just
another hunter. If every photographer, bird watcher, and hiker bought a
hunting license under the current system, there would still be those
that said that these groups were still not contributing. Now if there
was a box to check as to why you bought the license that would
statistically record what interest group you belong to it would be a
different story. As it currently stands you are still considered a
dead-beat who refuses to pay their way because no one but you knows why
you bought the license. The same would be true to a certain extent
with donating money because it would be assumed you were basing your
donation on a glowing approval of programs as they are currently
implemented. I wish to emphasize that this is not a criticism of those
that do chose to contribute by buying a license or donating.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Another
aspect of the situation and perhaps the most important is that a
significant portion of the traditional sporting community and at least a
portion of important policy makers in the Pennsylvania Game Commission
does not want these interest groups to be paying stakeholders. This is
not only true in Pennsylvania, it is true throughout the rest of the
country as well. The problem is only going to get worse as traditional
sources of funding for conservation agencies continues to shrink and
they desperately try to maintain sufficient funding without including
input or monies from other user groups. This in turn leads to
situations like last year where a blatant attempt was made to exclude
everyone not engaged in legal hunting and trapping from State Game Lands
for a significant portion of the year.<br />
<br />
At this point
it seems that the threat of closure is more a strategical move
announced to coincide with the seasonal upsurge of interest in
Middle Creek due to the spring migration.and hopefully motivate the vast
numbers of
visitors to contact their state legislators about approving a license
increase for the PGC. <br />
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Originally published at <a href="http://pawildlifephotographer.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Pennsylvania Wildlife Photographer</a> by Willard Hill.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span lang="en"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="en"> </span></div>
Willardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17059945499957721902noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690422682664917237.post-90358488917109592512016-02-21T11:24:00.002-05:002016-02-21T11:24:59.245-05:00Mid-February Wildlife-Canon 100-400mm L IS II Problems<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhefIAfO32CiQbfo8qJyBvUapMTrsKQpBmYFOHCsFLHo0dzJi4BycajL5iAajFTb9rLI2nvOT9koENPvuFlc1eZDFaHj1j1BRF6M7UQIVBWXKu-TNssVabINCDM23boDEcKyB3rcFlKDVs/s1600/_MG_4449+Snow+Storm+Herd.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhefIAfO32CiQbfo8qJyBvUapMTrsKQpBmYFOHCsFLHo0dzJi4BycajL5iAajFTb9rLI2nvOT9koENPvuFlc1eZDFaHj1j1BRF6M7UQIVBWXKu-TNssVabINCDM23boDEcKyB3rcFlKDVs/s640/_MG_4449+Snow+Storm+Herd.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Whitetail Herd In Snowstorm</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Just a short time ago we were plunged into the depth
of winter with deep snow and bitter cold. This changed quickly;
however, as we saw in the Ice-Out post. While snow still remained on the
ground in most places, life was much easier for the deer and turkeys as
they could now travel about easily looking for food.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGiemJjTust-c0-omMe2ZGBUszStMYhiN5bfQohPDWEJZLEvh1vLsAzgoE24KWxPjl_3ODKxuI7id8i55aKkypgyf72ek1cvpaSH7Tybh1McIfpu4B6FrhEKlZw1V4U2Rcc-d6yHP-QYA/s1600/_MG_4483+Alert+Gobbler.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGiemJjTust-c0-omMe2ZGBUszStMYhiN5bfQohPDWEJZLEvh1vLsAzgoE24KWxPjl_3ODKxuI7id8i55aKkypgyf72ek1cvpaSH7Tybh1McIfpu4B6FrhEKlZw1V4U2Rcc-d6yHP-QYA/s640/_MG_4483+Alert+Gobbler.jpg" width="512" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Alert Gobbler</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHU51jtY7UFFUm-4fNTkA1XwTnFjGhRdzgrvnNzcKFB0tw4naYlKTajwsku1wsKLhOX8Rjq101tTCvxzf-WMaLXLM82gr4b_HQCWrmyrCxhWr6MEvZ1WYTK8n5iHSRTkGOmZySsMoNc_0/s1600/_MG_4486+Running+Gobbler.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHU51jtY7UFFUm-4fNTkA1XwTnFjGhRdzgrvnNzcKFB0tw4naYlKTajwsku1wsKLhOX8Rjq101tTCvxzf-WMaLXLM82gr4b_HQCWrmyrCxhWr6MEvZ1WYTK8n5iHSRTkGOmZySsMoNc_0/s640/_MG_4486+Running+Gobbler.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Travel Was Easy</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Three days later, there was even less snow in the
spot the turkeys were photographed and deer liked to stand there,
basking in the rays of the afternoon sun.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtIbNWuHHIuLbW3qWqI_S1fyU_yHayDEGoCx6rDZiirIHQ1EY2jZnkcmzP8dUb2nCDHCMpCLoIMY4ar5oPonT3owVGLh4i1PRVsiulYT-GbLLhy6e7M7J_X3DKB1Nvtdeqd5yd716LeF8/s1600/_MG_4501+Doe+In+Snow.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtIbNWuHHIuLbW3qWqI_S1fyU_yHayDEGoCx6rDZiirIHQ1EY2jZnkcmzP8dUb2nCDHCMpCLoIMY4ar5oPonT3owVGLh4i1PRVsiulYT-GbLLhy6e7M7J_X3DKB1Nvtdeqd5yd716LeF8/s640/_MG_4501+Doe+In+Snow.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Doe Basking In Late Winter Sun</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8CGteqCOSZ-Mwhj3uNkxjslLz2meWKS_UP3Bky21XwIBQvkktKZ7dPoPAJxaW5yHdgbC-NF_K0Hm4aLqZjoCs-uKUZLG1F4QadkZFkuyP9JgRWTX0aCwDxhm8WoBRqlenZN5SIf1LXFw/s1600/_MG_4503+Grooming.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8CGteqCOSZ-Mwhj3uNkxjslLz2meWKS_UP3Bky21XwIBQvkktKZ7dPoPAJxaW5yHdgbC-NF_K0Hm4aLqZjoCs-uKUZLG1F4QadkZFkuyP9JgRWTX0aCwDxhm8WoBRqlenZN5SIf1LXFw/s640/_MG_4503+Grooming.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Doe Grooming Fawn</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There was even less snow by yesterday morning and I
photographed a buck, that was a small spike last fall, and some does
feeding in a neighbor's rye field.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4rIty5K7gftum6NS5Y8Iq9opVhnwGzRGixSLQIvVl4jOwyDbJMnxL11ORA8AeIW7upYuyNGlT-i3GkTZUVtF8dHZ7S4LIOPCvaYJ9lf4PHbgTq2sKBFMhPHKj5GTaxGtVbqwkeALoQWA/s1600/_MG_4514++Last+Year%2527s+Spike.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4rIty5K7gftum6NS5Y8Iq9opVhnwGzRGixSLQIvVl4jOwyDbJMnxL11ORA8AeIW7upYuyNGlT-i3GkTZUVtF8dHZ7S4LIOPCvaYJ9lf4PHbgTq2sKBFMhPHKj5GTaxGtVbqwkeALoQWA/s640/_MG_4514++Last+Year%2527s+Spike.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Last Year's Spike</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikOcLeWOLzUu7zhDNLTShJoG2Tah-ikKQm2LWBm1x2DDFvVvm7fUd8EE7wU9hMN1jQ3pa0DFyLWT-mOkJ-qwyYbantKq_O0Ybbs25rpzWvW21csJCf9xFp3WgxYkHGMwZY9CakAGybGUU/s1600/_MG_4520+Deer-Mountains.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikOcLeWOLzUu7zhDNLTShJoG2Tah-ikKQm2LWBm1x2DDFvVvm7fUd8EE7wU9hMN1jQ3pa0DFyLWT-mOkJ-qwyYbantKq_O0Ybbs25rpzWvW21csJCf9xFp3WgxYkHGMwZY9CakAGybGUU/s640/_MG_4520+Deer-Mountains.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Deer Pause From Grazing In Rye</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After a chilly start, yesterday turned into a balmy
day that reached the mid 60s. This made my thoughts turn to the coming
spring waterfowl migration and hopefully a trip or two to Middle Creek
Wildlife Management Area. If the current weather pattern does not
change, the peak of the snow geese and tundra swan migration should be
much earlier than in the past two years.<br />
<br />
All photos were taken with the Canon 7D MK II. The 24-105mm<i> </i>IS
L lens was used for the first photo and the 70-200mm 2.8 L IS II was
used for the remainder. I love the sharpness of the new Canon 100-400mm
IS II, and have been using it a lot this winter, but I have had problems
with it (or the camera it is mounted on) locking up (auto-focus stops
and the IS doesn't work). Seldom a day goes by without this happening
at least once. Strangely it seems to do it more often with the 7D MK
II, but it does it occasionally with the 5D MK III, the 70D, and the
original 7D. Sometimes simply moving the focusing ring a bit will
restore function, while other times re-seating the lens will do the
trick, but sometimes the battery must be removed and re-inserted. I
returned the lens and the 7D MK II to Canon at the end of December, and
they changed the focus assembly and other parts and calibrated the
camera with the lens, but the problem was still there. I sent the lens
back at the beginning of the week and Canon is currently servicing it so
I could not use it for the photos in today's post and the 70-200mm is
filling in as the telephoto lens to use when photographing from the vehicle until it gets back. Hopefully they will find the problem this
time<br />
<br />
Originally published at<a href="http://pawildlifephotographer.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"> Pennsylvania Wildlife Photographer </a>by Willard Hill.Willardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17059945499957721902noreply@blogger.com3