River Otter Low Water Bridge Pool

The river otter family I have photographed a few times was in the pool just downsteam from the low water bridge at the Ponca Access this morning at 9:30 AM. Not sure this pattern will repeat reliably, but I know quite a few photographers who are interested in otter. Look for ripples along the banks and you might see them. Otter are curious and will stop and look at you (like below).  I usually over-expose to get more detail in the dark areas that tend to block up. 

My survey of the valley showed no elk this morning. Typically in 90 degree weather the elk pack it in early as soon as the sunlight hits the fields. If you want to see elk I recommend getting to the valley before 7AM. 

River Otter at Ponca Access, Buffalo Ntional River

Butterfly Photography is in Prime Time -- The Mating Dance

Real happy with this photo. Our road, Old Erbie Road is lined with wildflowers now. These milkweeds drive the butterflies wild. I got this by waiting and watching. I am convinced the best way to get good butterfly pictures is to post yourself near a few pre-selected flowers and let the butterflies come to you. 

I much prefer to shoot butterflies in flight. When I get 2 at once it makes my day. This was shot 1/3,200 of a second at f 10, 400 mm, ISO 2,000, hand held. 

Mourning Cloak Butterfly

Mourning Cloak Butterfly at Sunrise

There seem to be a lot of Mourning Cloak Butterflies around this year. Lately I have seen quite a few near our home bordering the Ponca Wilderness. I think it is a pretty good addition to your butterfly collection.

If you want to get detail in that very dark wing you need to overexpose in most situations.  I don't think this species is rare, but it is not common around my home.  Maybe all the rain this year has changed things.

Pileated Woodpecker Leaving the Nest

I have wanted this picture for a long time. Pileated Woodpeckers aren't so easy to photograph in most places, they keep their distance. Out back of our home they are very timid. I found this nest in a dead pine and have been sitting on it on and off for a couple of weeks.

One of the first principles of wildlife photography is to "first observe". You have to spend the time patterning your subject. I have 12 hours or so on this bird collecting clues about how to get the picture.

It is clear now this nesting female is feeding her brood. Today I watched her for an hour and a half. At about the 1 hour point I finally timed her correctly leaving the nest. Images like this take a lot of time to get a chance. Because everything happens so fast, I missed this a couple of times.

It is always lucky to get this kind of picture. Time and determination are rewarded. Early in the shoot I caught her half way out of the nest. Never give up, results come to grinders.

Pileated Woodpecker, Ponca Wilderness

Nesting Pileated Woodpecker

This picture could be better, but it is one I have spent quite a bit of time getting. This pileated woodpecker built a nest out back in a dead pine tree. I spent at least 5 sessions sitting waiting for any decent picture. It seems like any time I would look away this bird would fly off. 

Things have changed now. I think there are babies and she comes back rather than flying away and staying away. This morning I finally got the picture. I will be working this nest for a while now. 

5/7/14 Elk Viewing Report -- Heat Causing Mid Summer Pattern Now

This morning there were a lot of elk in Boxley Valley when I drove through at 6AM. There was a herd bedded down close to the Ponca Access, a second bull herd at the 43/21 intersection, a 3rd in the Smith Creek Field, and a 4th by the Upper Wilderness trail head.

Here's the bad news. By 7AM, most of the elk were gone, headed for cooler ground under cover. This is the classic summer pattern that leads people to think there are no elk in Boxley Valley in the summer.  If you want to see them, they will be there very early in the morning most reliably. Today they were heading for cover at 6:30 AM.

Interesting note that the bull elk now have velvet antlers about 6 inches long.

The next big thing on the annual elk calendar is the birth of calf elk starting in June. That will be my next report on the elk, otherwise, you can see them most every day now very early in the morning, and possibly late evening. Cooler weather will extend viewing. Rainy weather also brings them out.

Dogwood Bough at Sunset

The dogwood season is now just past peak. There are plenty of great trees left, but the early bloomers are now declining by the day.

I shot this on my trek out back to a pileated woodpecker nest. Like so may other photos, I go out for one thing, and get another. Think about chasing the angular light at the ends of the day.  I am real happy with this dogwood image, but like most every image, it is something given more than something taken.

Dogwood at Sunset in Cross Light