A Pileated Woodpecker...

Many times I have heard the Pileated Woodpecker, tried to stalk them for a chance to get a photograph but rarely was successful. This day was different. As I'm walking on a hiking trail I have a pileated woodpecker land in a tree a short distance from me. Other than having to deal with the brush and sticks in the way  I consider having him coming to me was my chance opportunity.

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For Me...The Largest Whitetail Deer Ever...

In this group of photos there are several decent sized bucks and one that is the largest I have ever photographed. Enjoy.

A beautiful Whitetail Buck...

A Whitetail Buck with his quarry in sight...

You can't see me...

Hello...

OK... Here is the most rare buck on the planet. A Woodchuck Buck. The genetic faux pas is the result of confused intermingling. Unfortunately for the woodchuck,  he never knows where he's going and arguments ensue regularly. The photo has not been altered in any way and because you saw it here first you can say it's true because you saw it on the internet and we all know that makes it true.

Here he is, the my largest buck ever, resting after many hours of traversing the countryside...

I think I got his attention...

Leaving his scent on a branch...

A profile...

Nose to the ground and moments later he is gone...

The sun sets and all is well...

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Goldfinch, Downy Woodpecker, Red-winged Blackbird (fm), Carolina Wren, Nuthatch, Northern Mocking Bird and an Orange-crowned Warbler...

Here are some of our local fall feathered friends. The Orange-crowned Warbler is a first for me.

Goldfinch (fall/winter plumage)...

Goldfinch...

Orange-crowned Warbler...

Orange-crowned Warbler...

Red-winged Blackbird (fm)...

Downy Woodpecker...

Great Blue Heron...

White-throat Sparrow...

White-throat Sparrow...

Fall foliage...

Nuthatch...

Black-capped Chick-a-Dee...

Northern Mocking Bird...

Northern Mocking Bird...

Carolina Wren...

Carolina Wren...

 

When The Wind Is In Your Favor...

The other day I was on one of my hiking trails. It was early, maybe around 8:00 am or there about. The leaves on the trail were still wet, so while walking it was very quiet. The wind was a slight drift of a breeze coming from my left and into my face. Of course I am not paying to much attention to it until I saw movement to my left and discovering a large 10 point Whitetail Buck. I was maybe 30 yards away from him and he had no clue I was there. Unfortunately I was on the shadow side of him so the photography is not what I would have liked. This time of year he was making what is called a scrape. He would scrape the ground with his feet and then urinate in the scrape. This is done to let all his competitors and potential mates know he was in the area. It is a widely held belief that bucks use scrapes to "cold call" for receptive does. By leaving his scent and his mark on the ground, the hope is that a receptive doe will find it, then hang around the general area for him to return and breed her. I am convinced that because the wind was in my favor the deer had no idea I was there. It was a very rewarding experience.

 

Here the buck is scraping the ground. It was this activity that caught my attention...

My heart is jumpin' like crazy and this guy has no clue I'm there...

All of a sudden his head is up and I'm holding my breath...

He's back at it...

Now he's rubbing sticks and branches with scent from his nose and lips...

Scent scent everywhere...

Here he has decided to vacate the area...

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