Spring is springing

rachel_frome_ky

17 years ago

Despite the below freezing nights, spring has sprung; the crocuses are up!

From 3-23-09, Spring

and on St Patrick's Day tiny spider webs glittered in the dew around the pond

From 3-23-09, Spring

I've been sweeping the logging road a section at a time when I retrieve the Cuddeback camera SD card each morning, and yesterday a flock of wild turkeys helped themselves to the exposed grubs as soon as I left.

From Cuddeback trail camera photos-wildlife on Picazo Farm pond trail

It's supposed to rain tomorrow, so perhaps tracks will show better on a cleared road

The Wood Duck pair was on the pond,

From 3-23-09, Spring

but they are spooky and flew off before I could get a photo. A Pileated Woodpecker hammering on a dead tree also vanished when it glimpsed me!

DuBois and I have been leaving the screen tent set up in the yard by the horse pasture and sleeping there each night. The screen catches most of the dew but I can still watch the stars

From 3-23-09, Spring

Its been in the 20s at night, so we wear ski masks, gloves, long-johns, and use a double sleeping bag, but it's heaven to gaze up at the constellations whenever I choose, and yesterday there were three does chasing each other at full speed around the steep hillside.

There's been no sign of the jaguar for two weeks now but we keep the spotlight within reach.

The Carolina Wrens are using their old nest built against our kitchen air conditioner so it sounds like they are right in the house. I saw a Robin checking out his old nest in the deck eaves, carrying a beak filled with mud and grass.

Yesterday when DuBois and I hiked around Eagle Lake

From 3-23-09, Spring

we were surprised to see beaver sign everywhere

From 3-23-09, Spring

yet we never came to a dam or beaver lodge.

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Comments (11)

luc_quebec
17 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Hi Rachel and all,

Beautiful spring around your place! Here the lakes are still frozen and will stay frozen until the end of April. Same for the snow.

Alway fun and interesting to read your posts. Beautiful pictures, even the picture of the turkey is quite neat. those cams trail are really good.

You are both really true nature lovers to sleep out in the cold like you did. I am impressed!

Luc
kenn3d
17 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Yes beautiful color Rachel,

I'm a bit surprised it's still so cold there as you're a bit southeast of us. But fear not, Spring is here and you'll soon be surrounded by every flower and singing bird.

Kenn :)
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rachel_frome_ky
Original Author
17 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Thanks for the encouragement!

When I climbed the hill to change the Cuddeback camera SD card, I saw the resident juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk-note missing tail feather- apparently defending her territory against another pair
From 3-23-09, Spring
From 3-23-09, Spring

3-24-09, first year female Red-shouldered Hawks, 9:41 a.m.
From 3-23-09, Spring

3-24-09, first year female and adult male Red-shouldered Hawk, 9:41 a.m.
From 3-23-09, Spring

adult male Red-shouldered Hawk, 9:41 a.m.
From 3-23-09, Spring

adult male Red-shouldered Hawk and younger female, 9:41 a.m.
From 3-23-09, Spring

Near the end of the logging road, a herd of deer on the hillside above noticed me and froze

doe, 10:02 a.m. {{gwi:1359304}}From 3-23-09, Spring
From 3-23-09, Spring

When I got to the Cuddeback camera, I was just removing the SD card when a flock of wild turkeys came be-bopping up the trail. I rushed to pick up my camera, alerting them to change directions. However, when I uploaded the photos I found photos of the deer I'd probably just photographed.

According to the stamped picture time, the doe had been photographed by the Cuddeback 20 minutes before I arrived this morning.
From Cuddeback trail camera photos-wildlife on Picazo Farm pond trail
From Cuddeback trail camera photos-wildlife on Picazo Farm pond trail
From Cuddeback trail camera photos-wildlife on Picazo Farm pond trail
mrbass111
17 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
great stuff rachel. TFS
kenn3d
17 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Yes... what Mark said!

You live in a lovely place Rachel. Always enjoy seeing it.

real nice Red-shoulder captures btw,

Kenn :)
luc_quebec
17 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Hi Rachel,

Really fun to watch your pictures and read your posts. The Red-shouldered Hawk is the favorite bird of one of my friends. When I'll show her your pictures, I am sure she will become crazy.

There are only a few couples of them around here, fortunately, they live at my place. Not easy to spot, however, their territory is quite large. We found their nest three years ago but they have moved since.

Maybe the one with a feather missing is molting.

Thanks for sharing,
Luc
rachel_frome_ky
Original Author
17 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Thanks
Red-shouldered Hawks need large tracks of wet woodland so are becoming endangered through deforestation even as Red-tailed Hawks are helped by it.

I also feel sympathy for the Wood Duck pair, which is doubtless what the hawks are fighting over!

Flock of wild turkeys on the Cuddeback SD card this morning, albeit a bit bedraggled because of the rain
From Cuddeback trail camera photos-wildlife on Picazo Farm pond trail
From Cuddeback trail camera photos-wildlife on Picazo Farm pond trail
From Cuddeback trail camera photos-wildlife on Picazo Farm pond trail
Konrad___far_north
17 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Excellent series of pictures, Rachel!!
And the story behind, it's always interesting!

Konrad
rachel_frome_ky
Original Author
17 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Thanks

I moved the Cuddeback game camera, and the rain and wind finally stopped today, but I've only been getting wild turkeys and an Eastern Cottontail

3-29-09, pond trail, 6:15 p.m.
From Cuddeback trail camera photos-wildlife on Picazo Farm pond trail

3-29-09, Pond logging trail, 6:18 p.m.
From Cuddeback trail camera photos-wildlife on Picazo Farm pond trail

3-30-09, Eastern Cottontail, 4:41 a.m.
From Cuddeback trail camera photos-wildlife on Picazo Farm pond trail

One-two-three-HUT!!

3-30-09, 5:00 a.m.
From Cuddeback trail camera photos-wildlife on Picazo Farm pond trail

I'm wide open! Throw me the ball!

3-30-09, 5:01 a.m.
From Cuddeback trail camera photos-wildlife on Picazo Farm pond trail

I finally got my HCO ScoutGuard SG550 5MP Infrared Game Camera today but the manufacturers weren't over-savage with the instructions; obviously not written by English speakers, the manual contained such gems as "after you enter the Test mode, some suggestive information will be shown on the LCD"

Hmm...

I finally threw up my hands and let DuBois struggle all evening to figure out how to set and program it. Furthermore, the SD card has to be removed through the bottom of the camera, and turns out to be a tricky chore involving several steps that, if forgotten, will make the SD card "suffer irreversible damages"
luc_quebec
17 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Hi Rachel,

Hope this help a little :

http://www.huntingcamonline.com/Users_manual_ScoutGuard_550530.pdf

With your new cam I am sure you will get pictures of the Sasquatch!

Luc
rachel_frome_ky
Original Author
17 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Thanks! Seems to be the exact manual we have, but in pdf file, so I bookmarked it.

I just retrieved the infrared card and despite our efforts last night to leave the new cam in "camera mode", we got a series of short videos-all of which were just red screens except for the last video which was of me passing to get the SD card from the other camera.

I still can't make heads or tails out of the directions, so I'll just leave the infrared cam as is for the moment.

The Cuddeback cam had several critter photos on it-all familiar faces by now:

3-30-09, Gray Squirrel, 3:03 p.m.
From Cuddeback trail camera photos-wildlife on Picazo Farm pond trail

3-31-09, Eastern Cottontail, 4:01 a.m.
From Cuddeback trail camera photos-wildlife on Picazo Farm pond trail

3-31-09, pond trail, female Red Fox, 4:58 a.m.
From Cuddeback trail camera photos-wildlife on Picazo Farm pond trail

To see a slide show of all the Cuddeback camera photos, here's the link to the Picasa Web album, or click on any of the photos:

http://picasaweb.google.com/rachelbro3/CuddebackTrailCameraPhotosWildlifeOnPicazoFarmPondTrail#

I tried to get photos of the Louisiana Waterthrush this morning but it was cloudy so the shutter speed was slow. I also had trouble using manual focus through the branches, so I'll try tomorrow for sharper photos

3-31-09, Farm creek, male Louisiana Waterthrush, 8:59 a.m. {{gwi:1359321}}From 3-23-09, Spring

3-31-09, 9:02 a.m. {{gwi:1359322}}From 3-23-09, Spring

9:04 a.m.
From 3-23-09, Spring

9:14 a.m. {{gwi:1359324}}From 3-23-09, Spring

Spring is springing

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luc_quebec

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