Author: northerndesert

Living in Northern Nevada; chronicling life in the High Desert with my camera and a few words.

Arabian Horses

I love taking photos of wildlife and birds, but I have been neglecting another interest which is horses. I used to take a lot of wild horse photos, and I photographed barrel races and rodeos for years but have drifted away from those subjects. I am again thinking about getting out and taking wild horse photos and wanted to brush up on my skills. I live quite close to the Livestock Events center and so I spent a few days at a big Arabian Horse show that has been going on this week.

What pampered and fussed over animals these horses are! The grooming and primping was never ending as the horses were readied for their events. I had access to the barns and warm up areas which allowed me to get a lot of photos and practice.

I enjoyed photographing and spending time around these beautiful horses, but I thought they looked bored with all the falderal. I look forward to finding myself among the scruffy, unkempt wild ones once more.

Timing…

I wait all year for the 10 days of peak hummingbird activity in my backyard. Starting in May I have a few Anna’s and Black chinned Hummingbirds visiting my feeders and the early blooming flowers I’ve planted. They visit everyday but they are intermittent and hard to catch especially on flowers. I get the occasional photo but it’s nothing like that first week in August. At that time, in addition to the locals, the Rufous Hummingbirds migrate through, and the fireworks are on full display. Lots of hummingbirds, lots of aerobatic territorial fighting, several varieties of hummingbirds at the same time; in short, a hummingbird nerd’s idea of heaven.

This year wouldn’t you know it I called for Jury Duty and had to report on Monday. I prayed that I would get winnowed out through the selection process. But no, I unfortunately passed each hurdle and was seated on the jury for a trial that lasted all week. Not that I am not willing to do my civic duty, but I couldn’t help thinking not this week of all weeks. So, I missed this year’s peak week and sat in a windowless courtroom and Jury room for the entire week. I have still managed to get some captures I am happy with and there is always next summer.

and I am grateful for my freedom.

Hummingbird Fountain

I bought this fountain 3 years ago as people said hummingbirds found it attractive and would use it to bathe. Finches love it and use it often to drink and bathe in. I have only seen hummingbirds show rare interest in it and never when I had my camera. Finally I was sitting with my camera nearby when one drank from the bubbling top part of the fountain.

Close Call!

While going through the trail cam photos I noticed what I am going to say was a very close call. A coyote is stalking a mule deer fawn and the mom confronts him. I think this ended happily for the fawn. Lets look at the photos.

At 6:43 AM the fawn is passing through this grassy area. Mom must have passed through earlier. The camera never picked her up.

Same time and date the fawn is looking out front having moved a few steps forward.

Twelve minutes later a coyote is seen. He/she is sniffing the grass where the fawn paused and I think urinated.

Coyote is sniffing around and looking for the fawn I would guess.

Now you see the doe come back and apparently confront the coyote while the fawn I hope stayed hidden. I didn’t get anymore photos of this incident. I hope it turned out okay for the fawn. Coyotes do kill and eat fawns and yes, it is part of nature, but I have to root for the baby here. I think Mom saved the day.

What are the Boys Up to?

While the moms are busy nurturing and protecting their fawns the bucks are enjoying the idle life. This is an easy time of the year for them. The forage is good, it was a wet winter. It is quiet as people don’t venture out on the trails in the heat. In short, its summer and the living is easy. They are growing their horns and storing up energy for the battles and mating that will take place in autumn.

This looks like a small buck with what may be first year antler growth. He may end up with two spikes or may develop a split.

This one already has some height, and you can see the start of the split. Probably will be a tall two point. This buck is most likely a two year old.

This is a nice symmetrical set of horns growing. He won’t be huge, probably still just a two pointer with thick beams. He will have some size and I think he will be handsome come fall.

So far these last two photos of the same buck show the largest or highest horns. There are still 3 and a half months of growth time left. It will be interesting see how these guys develop as the time goes by.

Still no Mountain Lions showing up on the cameras. Last photos of them were taken in February. I am still seeing the Bobcat. No kittens with it but hoping to. Next post, photos of him or her.

Fawns

I am remembering why I didn’t leave the cameras out in the summer. It is unpleasant at 90+ degrees to walk out to them and retrieve the memory cards. Also, I forget how lush the grass growth is at the height of summer. Rattlesnakes are constantly on my mind as I tread carefully along the trails to get to the cameras. The sets across the river are going to have to wait as even with an early start its too hot to walk to them and back. Alright, enough complaining. As I walked along the trail yesterday morning I was watching for tracks as usual and spotted my first set of tiny deer hoofs in the dirt.

After seeing these I was excited to check the cameras and see if I had captured any newish fawns.

This little guy looks about two to three weeks old. I am using the cheapest trail cameras they make as I worry about them getting stolen. I think they take pretty good photos sometimes. This is a keeper.

I think these two may be twins. This is a common occurrence with Mule deer births.

Mom and newish fawn headed to the river for a drink.

I think this little guy could hear the trail cam click. It is such a quiet sound, but even young animals have the wariness to pay attention to small details and sounds

All the moms look healthy and well fed. They are sporting their reddish summer coats.

Recovery

Last fall I started seeing this wide racked buck during the rut. He was one of the dominant bucks working the area. Not very creative, but I called him Wide as his rack was wider than any of the other bucks I saw. He was in great shape and he showed up on the trail cameras throughout the autumn. I also ran into him on several occasions while checking the cameras and got these two shots of him in November.

As the winter went on, the photos of him I saw became alarming. He was easy to recognize due to his distinctive horns and then after shedding his horns, because of his poor condition. Bucks often are exhausted and in less than tip top condition following the rut, but I had never seen one look so terrible.

In this picture taken in April he looks much better and seems to be recovering. I was convinced he was not going to survive into the spring. It will be interesting to see how he looks in the fall.