Here's Lookin' At You

 

Fawns at Play

 

Peaceful Scene

I can't often get all the critters in one shot like this. Deer and turkey in the front field.

Autumn Colors

 

You're My Little Buck

Autumn Does

A Handsome Pose

Sometimes when I am out taking photos, I know the moment I have a great shot. It usually only happens once per session, if that often. That's the photo I look for out of the 100 or so I may have taken during that few minutes in the backyard. That one perfect shot.

This photo was that great shot that I took October 18 - Friday a week ago. Of course, no one ever sees the other 30 that I took of this deer as I tried to get one good shot.

But this one is straight out of the camera, just the way I shot it:

I don't even know how I managed it. The sun was slowly sinking and I was losing the light. I kept waiting on this little buck to raise his head and finally - he did and I clicked.

There's  a little butterfly inside of me that does a small dance when I know I've taken a good shot. It's a nice little tickle.

Photo taken with Nikon P500.

The Trio

I took these with my iPhone, which, I must say, seems to be taking worse photos than ever since an update. I wish these companies would leave well enough alone. I probably have some setting on the camera incorrect now and haven't had time to fiddle with it. So these are not the best.

We ran across these three fawns in my father's driveway the other night. There were two does nearby, though they ran and hid as we drove up the driveway.

Four Points

Friends in the Rain

It was pouring rain when I shot these photos Saturday. I cleared them up a bit with software because it was raining so hard the camera had trouble focusing.

I always like to see the deer and turkey together. Too bad the bear didn't make an appearance!

Twins!

Saturday morning my husband came home and saw a doe resting beneath the spruce tree. This is not unusual.

When he came in, he saw she'd had a fawn. He called me into the room (I was sitting like 20 feet from her in my office but couldn't see her) and I told him I thought she was having twins.

Sure enough, a little later I saw two feet sticking out of her and plop! Out came another.

I shot 438 photos and took some video of the event. Some of the photos are just too darned cute.

Here is the video. It is completely unedited because I don't have editing software anymore. It's a little over 2 minutes long.




And here are some photos:

Mom with first born.

Poor little thing looked like a wet dog.

Mom does a lot with her tongue.

Yep, this is the second one on it's way out while the first one is getting a drink. Poor mom!

Now there are two to lick clean.

Lick, lick.

A little motherly kiss.

And another.

Trying to get them on their feet.

Didn't quite make it. Needed a rest.

Bottoms up!

Second born took a while to gather strength.

The first born became a little rambunctious after a while.

Lots of kisses from mom.

I'm . . . I'm . .. In-dep-endent!

Resting. Being born is hard work.

Off to hide the babies.

This is the second time I've had fawns born in the front yard, but the first time I actually witnessed a birth. It was TOTALLY AWESOME.

Spirit Guide Deer

Can you find "the majestic horned deer" in this photo? I've been seeing it for several months. It's not a real deer, it's a bunch of branches that are shaped like one. The image is slowly going away as vines and other greenery take over, but I have enjoyed looking for my spirit deer during these crazy spring days.

The "deer" is located in the cedar tree just right of center. Can you see it?

The Wounded Deer

This deer showed up in the front yard the other day, limping badly. She (assuming it's a doe and not an antlerless buck) cannot put any weight on that front right leg and it appears her shoulder is broken or dislocated.

My guess is she was hit by a car. However, she ran when my husband came up the driveway and she heard his vehicle.

Poor deer.

Deer dragging front leg.

I drew a little red mark around the shoulder area. I've been watching deer for 35 years and this one's shoulder
doesn't look right.