Arkansas Wildlife Blog and Gallery
Buffalo National River and NW Arkansas
This morning was one of those days I should have stayed home. I think I saw about 8 elk between the Ponca Low Water Bridge and the intersection between highway 21 and 43. If you are going down to the valley to see elk, this is where they are concentrated now. Sadly they have been at the back cane lines now for a few days. This coupled with the fog has made photography mostly pointless. This was one of those days when you feel you got "skunked". I think this is why people avoid wildlife photography, it is not for the easily discouraged.
The three trumpeter swans remain in the mill pond, as does the white juvenile great blue heron. This little heron is not too timid yet, so this is an outstanding opportunity to get a white juvenile heron. This morning it was perched on top of beaver dam for a while, and flying around in that area. The beaver dam looks like a clog of brush and is not so clearly a beaver dam. I have not seen beaver in that pond yet, but I have seen sign. I don't think there are a lot of them, or they are down closer to the river. Note: it is all private property behind and beside the pond, don't park or go there.
For the first time this 2008 rut season I saw a huge bull. He was along the cane line down by the intersection of 21 and 43. This is a big guy, one of the ones who will be in the hunt for a herd of cows. One of the fighters. These big ones are much larger than the second tier bulls. If you look at elk all the time, they are pretty obviously different. I have a cruddy picture of this animal, hand-held. I will post it if it isn't lousy.
Since this is my blog, I will post a picture I got yesterday of two fawns nursing at once. This has been one of the pictures I had hoped to get, but never could see exactly how it might happen. Yesterday I had a doe dining on my pole beans, her preferred fare, with her twin fawns. They suddenly ran to her and literally lifted her back end off the ground one nursing on each side. This is a first draft of this picture, but I think it will be a lot better when I get it "photoshopped" up a bit.
Another picture this morning was of sign from homo sapiens scumbagisotis. They wander through now and then and leave clear signs. Wish I had a photo op to share with the rangers.
The three trumpeter swans remain in the mill pond, as does the white juvenile great blue heron. This little heron is not too timid yet, so this is an outstanding opportunity to get a white juvenile heron. This morning it was perched on top of beaver dam for a while, and flying around in that area. The beaver dam looks like a clog of brush and is not so clearly a beaver dam. I have not seen beaver in that pond yet, but I have seen sign. I don't think there are a lot of them, or they are down closer to the river. Note: it is all private property behind and beside the pond, don't park or go there.
For the first time this 2008 rut season I saw a huge bull. He was along the cane line down by the intersection of 21 and 43. This is a big guy, one of the ones who will be in the hunt for a herd of cows. One of the fighters. These big ones are much larger than the second tier bulls. If you look at elk all the time, they are pretty obviously different. I have a cruddy picture of this animal, hand-held. I will post it if it isn't lousy.
Since this is my blog, I will post a picture I got yesterday of two fawns nursing at once. This has been one of the pictures I had hoped to get, but never could see exactly how it might happen. Yesterday I had a doe dining on my pole beans, her preferred fare, with her twin fawns. They suddenly ran to her and literally lifted her back end off the ground one nursing on each side. This is a first draft of this picture, but I think it will be a lot better when I get it "photoshopped" up a bit.
Another picture this morning was of sign from homo sapiens scumbagisotis. They wander through now and then and leave clear signs. Wish I had a photo op to share with the rangers.
Boxley Valley Update -- 08/24/08
In The Eat Your Heart Out Department . . .
These little guys were at most 20 yards from me. Quite an experience. Wish it was a bit sharper, but this was in the shade.
These little guys were at most 20 yards from me. Quite an experience. Wish it was a bit sharper, but this was in the shade.
First Big Bull of 2008
This big guy is the first big bull I have seen near the cows in the 2008 rut. If you contrast his body with that of the smaller guys, there is no question you are looking at one of the bulls that will fight for domination in the valley.
This is a collared animal. I am virtually certain he is one of the three bulls that ended up in control of cow herds last year. He also stayed out with the cows during the cold season. I have a lot of pictures of him from last year.
This year his antlers are more bowed, and they are now showing palmate tendencies. This is the cluster of points at the ends of his antlers form what looks like a hand. Some of the bulls actually get wide antlers at the top, looking a bit like a moose antler, kind of flat looking.
Below is a bull from 2007 that shows this palmate pattern. I called him medusa (I do realize medusa was a girl). Anywayhe was a majestic bull and ended up with a herd too. Note also that his his eye guards have oddball turns at the end.
This big guy is the first big bull I have seen near the cows in the 2008 rut. If you contrast his body with that of the smaller guys, there is no question you are looking at one of the bulls that will fight for domination in the valley.
This is a collared animal. I am virtually certain he is one of the three bulls that ended up in control of cow herds last year. He also stayed out with the cows during the cold season. I have a lot of pictures of him from last year.
This year his antlers are more bowed, and they are now showing palmate tendencies. This is the cluster of points at the ends of his antlers form what looks like a hand. Some of the bulls actually get wide antlers at the top, looking a bit like a moose antler, kind of flat looking.
Below is a bull from 2007 that shows this palmate pattern. I called him medusa (I do realize medusa was a girl). Anywayhe was a majestic bull and ended up with a herd too. Note also that his his eye guards have oddball turns at the end.
Conclusive evidence of homo sapiens scumbagisotis, an unfortunately common creature prone to shitting in its own nest. They commonly called dirtbags and losers. From time to time they infest wilderness areas, and are incapable of using furnished trash cans, in this case, only 15 yards away.
Old 2007 bull showing palmate trait
Juvenile great blue heron, in the white phase. Currently on the Boxley mill pond.