We got a new sighting on the cameras. The owl. He’s a big guy and we hear him almost every night. He’s also taken a chicken or two. (harumph)
this is our owl landing
taking off again
The usual crowd was also around. Coyote, bobcat, deer, and a bunny. No sign of the bears in the middle of the winter.
looking pretty good for January
little rabbit, better look out
the bobcat is also here
and a nice shot of the coyote — a big boy for sure
The month started with some really lovely summer weather.
picking up the camera cards at the beginning of the month
The deer are appearing; some looking better than others. There’s still one speckled fawn — but there isn’t a decent picture of him/her.
fall fat
there’s a lot of frolicking going on
a pair — mother and well grown fawn.
The coyotes are still around. Nothing of them on the driveway this month. But they made the other two cameras.
down by the manure pile
gentleman (?) walking the path
Only one bear sighting. I’m surprised because we’ve seen a lot of scat. Especially early in the month on the driveway. I think this is the sow, sans cubs. Or it might be one of the cubs. They’ve gotten to be about her size. (The male is a lot bigger.)
the only bear sighting this month
And it’s hunting season up here. So…
all the gear all the time doesn’t just refer to the bikes
We had the usual collection of amusing vehicles. Bikes that travel on the back of little trucks.
Jim once again coming home from an Observed Trials.
And other bikes that don’t fit into trucks.
so I guess the reflective patches on the back of my jacket work pretty well.
and the side of the huge ass motorhome that we borrowed to take to a dog trial. Verdict. Motorhomes are awesome at dog trials. The dog is not impressed. He gets seasick in most vehicles and this one is worse. (Camping on the other hand is an all time favorite activity of his.)
Biggest thing on the farm this month.
Once again our neighbor begins to do battle with the falling leaves.
YoBob does his leaf blower thing.
By the end of the month as we went out to pick up the camera cards the weather had changed significantly. Not a Hawaiian shirt to be seen.
gathering the cameras cards at the end of the month
The first real month of spring — as evidenced by the visitor in our first picture. The robins are back and hopping around the pasture looking for worms. This fellow was looking to land on the fence post that the camera is mounted on.
well hello there
And they coyotes are showing themselves regularly both at night and during the day.
Walking up the road by the pasture.
Coyote walking up the driveway at night
also in the septic field
The deer are starting to look a bit better — fatter and sleeker. Haven’t seen any that are obviously pregnant yet.
Deer walking along looking for a bite.
In other signs of spring the tractor now has the brush mower attached to it. We’ll be mowing the driveway verges and grass roads regularly for a couple of month snow.
I was messing around with Lightroom and got this.
Only a few pictures this month.
Of note, the bear that should be asleep this time of year was up and moving around the property at the beginning of the month.
Out bear is still in town.
The bob cat also visited. We have him (her?) going up and down the drive way on Oct 31st and then in the septic field on Nov 19th.
Up the Driveway
and back down the driveway
head shot a couple of weeks later.
The coyotes have been back. We haven’t seen them in over a month. I thought they were having trouble sharing the range with the bobcat.
the coyotes are back.
another view
Bucky is looking good — quite sleek and fat.
nice little rack you got there
As are the does.
having a bit of lunch on a rainy day.
And once in a while the cameras bring us just a little too much information.
really? close the door next time
It’s been a while since I’ve posted any of the game camera pictures. Even when we are ignoring them they sit in the woods and on the driveway and quietly go about their business.
Mostly we get shots of deer. A few of which have identifiable traits. There’s Torn Ear.
Torn Ear
and one that I call Short Neck.
Short Neck
We see lots of butts.
Night Time Walk
And the Big Bike
Back of the Defender
We’ve seen a coyote a bunch of times. For a couple of days at a time about every month. Both in the woods and on the driveway. Gizmo tracks something/someone up the lower pasture road most mornings. I think the coyotes are around more often than they end up on camera.
Coyote Walks Down the Driveway
And surprise! We spotted a pair.
Two! Coyotes
We also get occasional sightings of Bob the Cat. Only in the septic field never on the driveway. I can’t figure out how he’s getting onto and off of the septic field.
Bob the Cat
Occasionally the cameras get arty.
Game Camera Art
We’ve pulled that cameras in for downloading and battery replacements. They should go back out this weekend. We’re going to move the one from the septic field to down at the other end of the pasture near the manure pile. See who’s using that lower pasture road. More pictures next month. (maybe)
We moved the game cameras to new locations two weekends ago.
This one we thought was a sleeping area.
1150:060515:59F:BDF ONE :5
But a couple of weeks of observation reveals nothing.
The other camera was placed at the south end of the septic field. An open area surrounded by forest and home to at least one bunny colony. Which explains the presence of this fellow.
1207:060415:54F:BDF TWO :5
He gets a close up.
1207:060415:54F:BDF TWO :5
We’ve also got the required butts. This one is especially graphic.
1905:061315:59F:BDF TWO :7
And a nice shot of the neighbor’s dogs having a bit of a romp. Given the time stamps I’d guess that they had pursued the deer from their own yard to our woods.
1911:061315:59F:BDF TWO :7