Category: moose

More Moose

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We are fortunate to travel back roads frequently. I typically have my camera on my lap and set for the conditions ready for whatever we might encounter. It paid off this particular day.

We chanced upon this cow moose grazing in the creek we frequently pass while heading to our cabin in the woods. I was able to slip up and out of the passenger side window to shoot over the roof as she was on the opposite side.

Cow moose in creek

I snapped a few shots as she waded up and out of the water, her ears pivoted repeatedly to determine the extent of the threat we posed.

Cow moose in creek 2

As she moved into the brush, I noticed another pair of ears, a smaller, lighter set.

Cow moose leads calf to safety

The calf was likely napping nearby but quickly followed mom into deeper cover.

Up wind surprise

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Yesterday we were able to get away to our private cottage (camp) for a night to decompress after some stressful work days. This morning Lindor & I headed down to the dock to enjoy the solitude and warmth of the rising sun. While sipping my coffee, I was startled to hear a rustle and splashing down the shore from me. I looked expectantly for a loon or other water bird but found to my surprise, a young bull moose wandering out from the brush and into the water for breakfast in the reeds. Realizing I had neglected to bring my DSLR down the 22 steps, I reached for my phone (always on me) to capture what I could before he noticed me or my dog. Both brown boys were oblivious to each other as the moose was up wind of me and Lindor was exploring the shoreline in the opposite direction!

Young bull moose grazing
iPhone capture

I finally gave in to the temptation to move and as quietly as I could, snuck up to the cabin to notify Brad, distract Lindor and grab the DSLR from inside the cabin. In my excitement, I let the screen door close not so quietly behind me which alerted the moose to our presence. I managed 1 quick shot before he took cover in the greenery. I don’t plan to leave my DSLR behind next peaceful dock time!!

Young bull moose in the move
Moose on the move
Young bull moose on the move close up
Moose on the move – cropped

 

Critters captured

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Here’s a collage of just some of the wildlife caught with my camera last month.
critters201306-2

Oh, yeah, did I mention I like to digital scrapbook, too?

Edit: Thanks to those of you who brought to my attention the errors in the initially posted graphic. Corrections have been made.

Moose crossing

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yearling moose in spring

The back roads are finally dry enough to travel by vehicle. We picked a sunny afternoon for a drive and enjoyed watching this yearling moose poke his nose out of the brush on the side of the road, trot along ahead of us then duck back into cover.

 

the other beaver

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Most of you know when I talk about the pictures I take of the Beaver I am referring to the kind that flies, that was built by de Havialland Canada and most likely is the yellow one on floats we own (G-GZBR). This time I am sharing a shot I got of the other kind of beaver, the furry, swimming, ambitious rodent.
While out calling moose this fall… Perhaps a little explanation might be useful here: Brad & I trek into the ‘bush’ on a calm, crisp fall afternoon he with a fiberglass bugle-looking horn and me with my camera gear. We hunker down along the edge of a clearing or pond several car lengths apart, then Brad moans and grunts through the horn hoping to convince a bull moose that a love-sick cow moose is ready and waiting. Then we wait and wait and listen and wait some more. Although this day Brad was successful in immediately getting an audible response (loud crashing of antlers in the trees), the bull refused to come out of hiding. The activity caught the attention of a beaver who appeared from out of his lodge across the pond and floated toward me then across in front of Brad just down shore then back again. He zig-zagged several times getting closer each time. We didn’t appear to be a love-sick moose or any kind of threat so he simply returned home to reassure his family everything was fine.You can see by the ripples on the water, he had come from the right and turned sharply to look me straight in the eye.He sat so perfectly still while I took the picture I was able to get a nice crisp shot. I think he was trying to get a good sniff of me, too!

Turkey (aka Moose) time

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In these parts, Canadian Thanksgiving week end signals the start of the gun moose hunt (residents on Saturday morning; non-residents on Monday at dawn). In advance of the event, we’ve been out in the woods calm early mornings and late evenings to call out and, hopefully, photograph (and warn) the big bull moose. Although we’ve heard them move through the trees and ponds inside the tree lines in response to Brad’s moose call, they were too shy to appear. We also found in the bush road, their very near passing. These tracks were so fresh, Brad suggested, “If they were any fresher, he’d still be in them!”