Special Edition: More From Amy's Crossing

While my cameras have been snapping hundreds of photos of squirrels and rabbits, Tim and Amy's cam down by the creek, left unchecked for a couple of months, has caught some spectacular photos. Big thanks to Amy for sharing these!

First up, coyotes stop by day and night. Don't think my cameras have EVER caught one during the day.

Take a look at those vultures - wow!

So now it seems there are both stray cats AND dogs passing through the property.

And then there are the magnificent bucks, both at night...

...and during the day!

Sad to see the growth near this guy's eye.

And finally, a couple of turkeys stop by for a drink of water.

One other note: The camera caught a clear image of a trespasser walking the creek. Luckily, he didn't see the camera or he would have taken it. I had one taken a few years ago from the same creek, though I had left it in plain view. Amy's cam was not nearly as obvious ;)

CreekWalk: The Cave, Part 2

I must admit, the Cave turned out to be a disappointment. I have spent part of the last two days watching over 300 videos and 95% of them were of nothing more than cardinals and blue jays. Out of all those videos there were only two new visitors. One of them was there to eat the cat food I'd left behind.  First, a reminder of the cave's location.

When I got up there I found footprints in the snow and guessed that a coyote had visited, drawn in by the aroma of chicken and gravy drifting down the valley. I was wrong.

A rabbit stopped by one night, the other new visitor.

Enough of the cave! Both cams are back on the creek now and I expect better things to share next time. Later this week, another Sunday Special Edition, and it's one you will not want to miss!

Lower End, Section #6

I sure hope today's much-needed rain and cool-down increases the forest animals' activity level, as this camera especially has been really quiet lately. First photo is a daytime shot to get you oriented, but a photo with no critters. Wind must have blown last night, as just beyond the camera's range there's a newly-fallen tree across the path.

Holmes takes a late-evening stroll, but don't be alarmed, Natalie. It's not really 1 a.m. I forgot to fix the camera's clock but have figured out that it is 4 hours fast, so the walk was closer to 9 p.m.

So much for my theory yesterday that 2 rabbits together always face opposite directions ;)

That's all, folks. Tomorrow HAS to be better!

Lower End, Section #4

A bit of orientation: While the upper end of the path is starting to work uphill through a pine forest, the lower end is running parallel to, but well above, the creek, and the daily camera moves are in the upstream direction. Today's section is a short but sharp drop and rise in the path. I tried to shoot the downhill part but it's difficult to get the trail cam to do that without a tripod. Next time we visit this cam, it will be shooting the uphill side.

It was supposed to rain cats and dogs yesterday. We didn't get a drop of rain, but....

I'm surprised to learn that Luggage still walks the path without me!

I'm sure Natalie can tell you which dog this is. I'm not sure.

Peanut Butter Test Failed

There were no pics this morning on the camera in the pines where I smeared peanut butter on a tree trunk yesterday afternoon. Meanwhile, at the dry cat food test spot, there was still some cleanup going on last night.

The cat food aroma must linger for a couple of days (and rains), as the whole gang got into the hunt this morning.

Merry Christmas Everybody! I'll have new photos from new locations next week.

Tuna Fish and Dry Cat FoodTests

Holmes discovers an unexpected treat at the feeder - Friskies!

 

 

 

 

 

Meanwhile, at the tuna fish test, after being ignored by bluejays and squirrels, the tuna is scarfed up by an opossum.

Even Deep in the Pines...

...if you thrown down some shelled corn, the usual suspects will find it.

Even a Corn Dog showed up.

The Red/Orange Collar...

...is just a reminder that bow season is up and running in Ohio. When walking in the woods, take measures to ensure that you and your pets are visible to hunters.

Here's a bird that stands out clearly in the woods, and a rabbit that nearly knocked over the camera.

One for Mr. Daniels Across the Pond...

...and the other viewers of my blog who know Buddy. (No deer showed up at this camera last night as I'd hoped. From the other spot there were 100+ more chipmunk photos...so it's a dog day afternoon on the blog.)

The next photo isn't from a trail camera, but one I snapped while standing on my porch a couple of years ago.