Camera Critters #297

A couple of weeks ago, I presented photos of a young buck Mule Deer I got on Thanksgiving Day.  One thing I failed to tell you about that day.

As I finished shooting the buck, I turned to head down the hillside and no more than 20 feet from me lay a doe Mule Deer.

She didn't pay me a bit of attention...never looked my way...never twitched an ear.  It was almost as if I was invisible to her.

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Camera Critters #295

Every year for the last 15 or so years, I have spent Thanksgiving day with a friend of mine.  Several years ago, he moved into the mountains north of where he lives.

Before dinner was ready, I decided to explore the 166 acres of land he owns.

It didn't take long to locate a resting Mule Deer buck.  It was a small forked horn, but he was in the sun and looked totally relaxed.  Using a tree for cover and being as quiet as possible, I got as close as I could and snapped off this shot.

He didn't move a muscle or twitch an ear.  So I decided I would see if I could get closer.  I stepped out from the cover of the tree and took two steps when the buck's head turned slightly and the left eyelid slightly opened.

I froze at that moment.  I was 30, maybe 35 feet away from the buck and I knew he was sizing me up through that slightly opened eyelid.  He then slowly stood up, looked at with both eyes wide opened and started walking away toward a group of a dozen or so does off to my left.

He didn't run...just slowly walked away...but the entire time, he kept his eyes on me.

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Camera Critters #294

I still haven't felt good enough to wander the high desert in search of interesting critters, but luckily, my backyard does have a few now and then.

Lesser Goldfinches still visit my apple tree.

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Camera Critters #293

I have been suffering from a bout of pneumonia this past week or so and haven't been able to get out to get any new images.

So I hope you enjoy this photo of a Ruby-crowned Kinglet I shot a few weeks ago.

Misty Dawn's Camera Critter Meme is a great way to see critters the world over.  Go to the home page here to see more.  Then add your own photo and join the fun.

Camera Critters #292

A couple of years ago, I added the California Ground Squirrel to my list of mammals seen and photographed.  Since then I have seen the squirrel in a variety of places, and as I attempted to once again photograph the critter, it always dove into a nearby hole before I could press the shutter.

Until Friday.  8v)

Misty Dawn's Camera Critter Meme is s a great way to see critters the world over.  Go to the home page here to see more.  Then add your own photo and join the fun.

Camera Critters #291

Dark-eyed Juncos are a common sight here.  Most of what I see is the "Oregon Junco" variety.  It breeds in the western coastal states from California to Alaska.  Locally, the bird is known at "The Snow Bird."

The Oregon Junco variety differs from the rest of the Dark-eyed Juncos by having a chestnut colored back and rusty colored sides.

As this photo shows, it helps the bird blend in well with the autumn surroundings.

Misty Dawn's Camera Critter Meme is s a great way to see critters the world over.  Go to the home page here to see more.  Then add your own photo and join the fun.

Camera Critters #290

As I have mentioned before, this has been a good year for me and lifer birds.

A week or so ago, I came across the little gem below.

It's not the best photo, but it is the first photo for me and the first time seen by me, of a Hermit Thrush.

Misty Dawn's Camera Critter Meme is a great way to see critters the world over. Go to the home page here to see more.  Then add your own photo and join the fun.

Camera Critters #289

I came across this bird back in March of this year.  I thought it was a Lesser Goldfinch when I took this image and others.  So I didn't do much with the photos...until Friday evening.

 

 

As I looked through a number of photos I took in the past, I realized the bird wasn't what I originally thought.  In reality, it is a Ruby-crowned Kinglet.

 

Misty Dawn’s Camera Critter Meme is a great way see critters the world over. Go to the homepage here to see more. Then join the fun and add your own.

Camera Critters #288

I have seen Common Nighthawks before, but not in the middle of the day on a hot day.  I was at the airport getting photos of aircraft a couple of months ago, when several of the insect hunting birds flew over.

Misty Dawn’s Camera Critter Meme is a great way see critters the world over. Go to the homepage here to see more. Then join the fun and add your own.

Camera Critters #287

I saw a bumblebee Friday.

No, not the one pictured here.  The bumblebee I saw was crawling across the road.  I believe the mid 20s temperatures we have had the past couple of days is now taking it’s toll on the insect life.

The bee pictured below, is from a series of shots I made in late April 2013.  However, the one I saw ‘crossing’ the street looked very similar.



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Camera Critters #286

Can it really be that time of the year again?



Misty Dawn’s Camera Critter Meme is a great way see critters the world over. Go to the homepage here to see more. Then join the fun and add your own.

Camera Critters #285

The other day I went into my kitchen to pour myself a cup of coffee.  As I stood there, blurry-eyed and all, I noticed movement outside on the apple tree.  Looking up, I saw a critter crawling around the bigger branches.



 The critter was a female Downy Woodpecker.

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Camera Critters #284

I have often seen a beautiful butterfly while wandering around central Oregon, but have never been able to get a photograph of it…until recently.



This beautiful lep is a Milbert's Tortoiseshell.  I found it hanging around the yellow buds at Fireman’s Pond in Redmond, Oregon.

Misty Dawn’s Camera Critter Meme is a great way see critters the world over. Go to the homepage here to see more. Then join the fun and add your own.

Camera Critters #283

From what I have read on the internet, this dragonfly, the Variegated Meadowhawk, or Sympetrum corruptum, has been on a migratory move.

I guess I was lucky to capture this possible female of the species as it stopped by Fireman’s Pond.



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Camera Critters #282

This Great Basin Fence Lizard is nicely showing off its blue coat.  Although this image was taken during the mating season, it is still a beautiful critter.

Misty Dawn’s Camera Critter Meme is a great way see critters the world over. Go to the homepage here to see more. Then join the fun and add your own.

Camera Critters #281

Last week I showed off a “life” bird for me…the Anna’s Hummingbird.

This week, it’s another hummingbird, but not a “life” bird.

It’s a female Rufous Hummingbird.



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Camera Critters #280

Since it is difficult for me to travel to new places to see new birds, bugs and mammals, it is always nice for me when I can find a “lifer” right in my own backyard.



It is a female Anna’s Hummingbird.  This particular species has expanded it range northward and is now rather common in my area.

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Camera Critters #279

Earlier this week, I heard an odd sound outside.  I knew it was a hawk, but what kind?





The bird had me stumped for a few seconds, but after looking at it through the lens of my camera while shooting photos of it, I realized what it was.

It was an Intermediate Adult Red-tailed Hawk.

Misty Dawn’s Camera Critter Meme is a great way see critters the world over. Go to the homepage here to see more. Then join the fun and add your own.

Camera Critters #278

For the past week or so, I have had a daily visitor to the trees near my place.  And it is a noisy visitor.



He sits in one of three trees and constantly calls out.  At least he waits until I am awake.

Misty Dawn’s Camera Critter Meme is a great way see critters the world over. Go to the homepage here to see more. Then join the fun and add your own.

Camera Critters #277

Every year, around the first of August, shorebirds begin moving through central Oregon.  Being birds of water, they often stop by the sewage ponds north of town.
This Wilson’s Phalarope was no exception.

Misty Dawn’s Camera Critter Meme is a great way see critters the world over. Go to the homepage here to see more. Then join the fun and add your own.