Three Dears At Night

Photographed last night, in the meadow.

Don't Mess with the Deer When They Are Feeling Protective

MATT SAYS:

This is my first fawn sighting of the season.  The picture was captured, such as it is, with my iPhone.  You can see the tiny fawn, standing behind its mother, on the left, and a large deer, which I surmise is a stag, on the right.  As I snapped the picture the stag started walking right at me, slowly, but keeping his gaze on me the entire time.  I pocketed my iPhone and backed off -- I was at least 50 yards away when I was taking the picture -- and he lost interest.  I have never had a deer behave that directly and aggressively with me before.  I can only guess the stag interpreted me as a threat to the fawn and decided to confront me.

Deer In The Meadow

Photographed two days ago. 

These deer--and a few more--were making their rounds in the suburb, nibbling on tasty bits.

Doe On A Spring Morning

Photographed this cloudy and gray morning.

Stag At The End Of Winter

Photographed this morning.

This is the first stag I've seen in some time.  One of his antler's is chipped, he has scars, and he was moving kind of stiffly.  I guess it's been a tough season for him.

Doe In Sunlight

Photographed a couple of days ago, from my bedroom window.

Doe Grazing On A Foggy Morning

Photographed February 14.

View From Mount Bonnell On A Foggy Morning

Photographed yesterday morning.

I went up to Mount Bonnell yesterday morning, with the idea that I'd sketch/photograph some Valentine's Day couples.

But the morning was cool and foggy.   There were no other folks up there.

Deer On A Winter Afternoon

Photographed yesterday afternoon.

This small doe had the meadow to herself for foraging.  There just isn't all that much left after the freezes, so the deer are spreading out when they look for food.  I saw at least one companion down the street.

Deer Tracks In Snow

Photographed this morning, by Matt Spitzer.

The morning is sunny;  the snow's melting, already.

Two Birds In A Tree

I photographed these birds yesterday.

It's been very cold these last couple of days (in the 20s, F).  The birds have been hanging out around the birdfeeders, eating and eating and eating.

The Squirrel That Stole The Show

I was getting the camera, to photograph some deer this morning, when I disturbed this little squirrel, who froze in this charming pose.

Doe In Morning Light

Photographed last week, in the morning.

This doe, who looks like she's smiling, stopped to listen to me sing Mairsy Doats.

Is This A Buck That Shed Its Antlers?

Photographed yesterday afternoon.

I've included this photo because I think this may be a buck after shedding his antlers.  I'm guessing this from the marks on its head.

I have read that bucks grow and then shed antlers annually, shedding the antlers after mating season.  I also read that some bucks (the more successful ones at mating) retain their antlers a bit longer than the others. So, if this is a buck, it would be one that was not too successful at mating because there is still at least one stag in the neighborhood that still has its antlers, spotted last night. 

My source for this is Lone Star Menagerie:  Adventures with Texas Wildlife, by Jim Harris, published in 2000 by Republic of Texas Press.  This book is fascinating, with funny anecdotes and charming detail, full of information about the lives and habits of local animals.

The wikipedia article on antlers is interesting. It describes antlers as "one of the most exaggerated cases of male secondary sexual traits in the animal kingdom": I love it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antler

Deer Drinking Water On A Winter Morning

Rainy Morning Bird

Photographed this morning. 

It's raining gently, and the birds are still showing up at the feeder.

This little bird posed obligingly on a rock.

Deer On A January Morning

Photographed by Matt Spitzer, two days ago.

Tree Branches With Green Tips; Tree Bark

Photographed two days ago, on my morning walk.

This tree is just starting to leaf.

This is a photo from the same walk.

Tree bark, from the same tree type.

Stag In Suburbia

Happy New Year

Photographed by Matt Spitzer, last Wednesday.

Deer Turning In Morning Light

Photographed yesterday morning, from my bedroom window.

The deer seem to be spreading themselves more widely apart from each other, these days.  I guess it's because the tasty bits of greenery are less abundant than they were in summer and fall.