mountain meadows in early autumn
I been stalking meadows and bogs around the WMNF. Early autumn is so wonderful, with crisp mornings and clear, cool air.
Friday morning saw a heavy frost...
I found five moose in a meadow in Evan's Notch ( location withheld due to upcoming hunting season). They were making some weird noises. The rutting season is here!
These two like each other...
I had a strange experience. I had these moose used to my presence and they weren't paying any attention to me for awhile. Then one cow started staring at me and then started my way. Her new boyfreind followed closely behind...
They just kept slowly walking toward me...
I started to back away when they got about 20' away but they just kept walking toward me. I was starting to get nervous, something that has never happened to me before, despite being closer to moose than this many, many times. I took a few shots as I backed away. This shot is at 24mm and it not cropped...
I decided to walk away and put a few yards between us and as I turned to walk away I felt hot, weak and light-headed. Some time later, I woke up. I was face-down in the wildflowers, soaked in sweat and wondering where I was. I could not move. I rolled over to see the cow peering at me over the goldenrod. Then she started to chew her mouthful of pin cherry leaves again. I just layed there, thinking I had suffered a heart attack. It took a half hour for me to be able to stand and walk out of the meadow. The moose were all still there, watching me leave.
The doctor diagnosed a vagal response, causing me to faint. The body thought I was in danger and needed to run like hell, so the blood flowed to the legs. If I ran, the blood would have recirculated and I would have been fine. While I thought there was no danger, my body thought otherwise.
I went back to the same meadow to see how I would react because this is so important to me. I found the same pair and I was fine to about 30', but they didn't approach me either. Time will tell...
This bog is at the end of another meadow. There is actually a moose just behind the tamaracks in the center of the image. It would have been a spectacular image if she would just come out. I saw her as I got into position but just as I was ready to shoot she went behind the tamaracks.
resident beaver...
northern harrier hawk...
The next day, I heard the squealing of a bird being killed. As I approached, the harrier flushed. A moment later, this northern flicker flushed, still sqealing and dropping a few feathers as it flew away. That was close!
I shot this as it flew away. After I looked at the pictures I noticed there was a mating pair of moose watching the action. Their faces are visible in the distant, right. I never even saw them.
lots of wildlife in the meadows...
two cows in a meadow after sunset...
The stars of summer are moving along. Here is Sagitarius, with Jupiter, hanging low as the sky darkens on a cool, clear autumn night...
happy autumn
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