Skunks and Rabbits

Most of the skunks I have seen have been odoriferous road-kills or scavenging skunks around farm buildings. This camera trap gives us a glimpse of their behavior in the wild. Before seeing this I have thought of skunks as omnivorous scavengers but never as predators, especially rabbits. 

Technical: Scenes recorded over about 3 weeks. 

Yellow

During autumn leaves make the tree. In a few short weeks textures and branches will be its signature. This small tree will once again be hidden under its larger neighbors.

Morning Bumblebee

This is another image from the foggy morning earlier in the week. A close up filter was used in front of the wide angle lens putting the lens about 3 inches from the flower. I don't use this technique very often but every now and then it helps get the message across.

Strutting their Stuff

I wish I could have been there but I would have probably been too interested in the camera settings to enjoy the show. This pair performed in front of what I have called my "carcass cam" which has had lots of coincidental activity but very little attention directed toward the raccoon carcass that has been cropped out in this image.

Spring Turkeys

Spring is here and turkeys are noisy, busy, and on  the move. There are a couple dozen turkeys at Townsend Woods SNA that I have been trying to record for the last 6 months. The only shots have been distant shots with them walking away. This trail cam was in place for a month and recorded these birds. Some of the birds seem to be aware of the camera attached to a tree. 

Night Visitors

We visit "wild" areas during the day but I am fascinated by creatures who call this place home and wander at night. I set this camera trap up over a partially eaten raccoon carcass and was surprised to see we are not the only domestic creatures who visit.

Purple Coneflowers at Peak

I usually find a couple coneflowers at peak and the rest in various stages of bloom. Earlier this week I fund most of them in the same stage.  As you can see domestic coneflowers have been significantly modified from their wild relatives.  Recorded at Cottonwood River Prairie SNA. 

Autumn Drama

I am always looking for a story to tell with video. Predator/prey relationships make a good story even in the insect world. Bill Wallauer who filmed the movie Chimpanzee for the Disney gives some insights into the world of wildlife filmmaking at Google + Photographers

Technical: Filmed with a Canon 7D and 70-200 mm lens

The Good Lady Beetle

We are so used to the nuisance Asian lady beetle the it is easy to forget there is a good, native lady beetle that feeds on aphids.  This is a Nine Spot Lady Beetle presumably named for the nine spots on each wing.  Image taken at Black Dog SNA in Bloomington.

Bog Landscape

When our daughters were growing up one of their questions was "Are we going on a hike or a walk?  A walk was on a groomed trail and a hike was on an uneven trail.  Going through the bog is beyond a hike. I used this for a desk top image for a couple days but got claustrophobic and took it down.