OK, One More Oddity

I know I claimed to have shut the blog down a couple of days ago, but I couldn't resist posting this video. I've had lots of still-shot orbs before, but never one on video. I want to believe that it is just a leaf, but I cannot figure out how a leaf would fall while getting closer to the camera.

While We're Talking Oddities...

...the usual explanation for the first photo is that there is moisture on the camera's lens, and the explosion of color around the deer's head is a reflection of the flash off the deer's eyes. (Either that or this deer has the ability to utilize a force field of some sort.)



If it WAS just a reflection, then why the heck does the 'force field' remain in front of the deer when it turns it's head away from the camera? Something has clearly alerted the deer...notice the stomping foot.


And when the intruder that alerted the deer ventures too close, the force field becomes a flame thrower and vaporizes the foe!



Hey folks, for a number of small reasons but no big ones, this is my last posting for a while. The cameras need a break, the woods are becoming more and more of a poison ivy and multi-flora rose jungle, the deer and turkey are off having babies, and I've spent enough on feed and batteries for a while. We'll see...I may post once a week or so if I decide to leave one camera in the woods, but for the most part, I don't expect to resume daily posting until sometime in August.

Thanks for all your support and encouragement. Thanks again to Moultrie for their generous gift. School's out for summer - and the Trial Camera Catch of the Day is taking a break.

Strange Series of Photos

If there is a simple explanation for this set of pictures, I can't figure it out. At first I thought that perhaps a large animal like a deer stood right over the camera, with its legs blocking part of the view. But if that were the case, wouldn't the flash have illuminated the legs. Something is blocking different parts of the camera's field of view without itself being lit by the flash.

In the last photo -- same camera, same spot -- you see than nothing whatsoever obscures the view of the towhee.

Another New Bird?

A close-up but quick look at a bird I cannot identify. I'm guessing it's one of the sparrows, but can't seem to find this exact bird in my field guide. Anyone?

(By the way, you can pause the video at any time by hitting the 'play' button again while the video is running, giving you a freeze-frame.)

A "First" that I'm Not Crazy About...

...because it appeared on a camera that is less than 50 yards from my front porch. This is my first daytime "catch" of a coyote. The video was shot in infra-red mode because the sun wasn't high enough in the sky yet to light the woods well. You will see it up close at first, and then again in the background about 10 seconds into the video.


Could this have been the reason the rabbit took off so quickly in Sunday's video, shot at the very same spot? Could this be why Luggage (my cat) has been reluctant to join me on my walks in the woods like she normally does?

Remember the Failed Suet Spot Experiment?

Although the suet spot did bring some interesting visitors, HERE is the one I was targeting...finally!



Though you may have never actually seen a Pileated Woodpecker in the woods, I'll bet you've HEARD one before. Check out this great page from the Ohio Division of Natural Resources (look for the "Listen" button):
http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/Home/species_a_to_z/SpeciesGuideIndex/pileatedwoodpecker/tabid/6900/Default.aspx

Another Speed Racer

There is only about 1 second of this video that is interesting, but it's a nice burn-out. The main reason I'm posting so late on Monday is to alert you to a must-see posting for Tuesday. It is a catch I've waited for a long time.

7 Seconds of Speed Racers

I actually thought my camera must have recorded in fast-forward mode the first time I saw this video.



It's Mother's Day weekend - if not for her, you wouldn't be here to read this!


I'm on the road for the weekend; next posting will likely be late Monday afternoon.

I'll Take "Birds that are Blue" for $600, Alex

OK, here's your clue: The male of this type of bird is dark blue and about 5" tall. It forages on the ground and in low foliage for weed seeds, grains, insects and wild berries. It can be found around brush and low trees near open areas like overgrown fields. The bird's overall numbers are decreasing.*

* (Clue found in "STOKES FIELD GUIDE TO BIRDS")
What is "Indigo Bunting?"
Correct! And we welcome a new species to the blog!

Rained Out

I made it to only one camera Wednesday before the rains hit....and that one camera didn't catch much. No great prize in the cereal box today, Donna.

Rabbit Rabbit White Rabbit

I learned today about the "Rabbit Rabbit White Rabbit" superstition, one I'd never heard of before. Google that phrase if you don't know what I'm talking about.

In any case, to celebrate my new trivial knowledge, it's rabbit day on the blog. The second photo is my favorite, but be sure to enlarge the third one if you don't see all three rabbits.

Much Like Yesterday

The all-night-and-half-the-morning rain meant a lot fewer pictures to select from for today's posting, but I did get a few.

This guy is near the mineral lick, where he's hopefully getting the nutrition needed for a bigger rack than he had last year.


Here's another look at what happens when a deer moves it's head just as the camera snaps a picture.

And finally, a squirrel caught mid-leap.

An Interesting Mix to Start the Week

I set up two of the cameras over the weekend, and they caught a few good shots...starting with a rabbit so close you can see the veins in it's ear.

A 3-in-1 shot: dove, blue jay and rabbit.

Pretty good view of a crow taking off for a flight.

May 1 - and the buck's are already starting to form headgear!

A turkey stopped by - with a squirrel in the background. I don't think this is Ms. Hopper, and actually have not seen her in over a week. There have been a number of people and dogs in the woods lately, so she may have moved to a more isolated location. I'll keep looking - as I'm pretty sure she's still back there somewhere.

Road Trip to Moonville Cemetery

I have no new trail cam photos today as the rain kept me from setting up the cameras after gathering them from the creek. Instead, I'm sharing some photos from a couple of trips to the Moonville Tunnel and Cemetery.

The area is supposed to be haunted, and while I can't say I've seen a ghost, I have certainly been 'spooked' there, especially at the cemetery. One of the things we do when visiting is simply take pictures of the surrounding woods, hoping to later see something odd in the photos. See if you can see why I titled the first two as I have (you will need to click-to-enlarge them)

The first photo is called "Sticking Out Tongue"

This one: "Mr. Big Nose"

Nothing really hidden in this one - the face is obvious.


My favorite (and a great desktop background photo):


If anyone has any Moonville stories to share, please do so in the comment section below. I'm going to leave this page up throughout the weekend and will return on Monday with new trail camera catches.