Hannibal's Animals

Great-horned Owl

2012-01-16T10:52:00.001-06:00

These past few weeks have been terrific for owling! I have never had this much luck finding owls until this amazing year. They are everywhere! Barred, Great-horned, Short-eared, Long-eared, and snowys! (Still need a Saw-whet though...) Lucky for me owls are my favorites and I get to enjoy them all winter long--hopefully!

I owe this find to my good friend Rattlinantler. Click here for his site!

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Some more Short-eared Owl Images

2012-01-09T08:25:00.001-06:00

I've been concentrating on wintering owls lately and these Short-eared Owls are the toughest to nail. They come out at dusk, so a very high ISO is necessary to get any "clean" images. "Clean" is a bit of an oxymoron as higher ISO's make for a very "dirty" image. Lets break this down a little further for those of you who don't necessarily understand: See, when you boost the sensitivity of your image sensor by selecting a higher ISO, the image sensor is now able to record a fainter light signal. In my case: dusk. However, it is also true now that it will record fainter noise, where noise is any signal that is not attributed to the light from your subject. The increased sensitivity allows the image sensor to record more light signal and more noise. Shooting moving objects (in less-than-sunny skies) also requires a higher ISO so that your shutter speed is faster to freeze the motion.
Hope that makes sense...

This was my best shot. Luckily he was close enough to shoot at 300mm. but the ISO was way up there at ISO 2000. I NEVER shoot that high!

There were quite a few owls out, and they favored these poles to sit on, claiming temporary territories for their dinnertime activities.

This fella was captured "barking" his claim to his territory. Barking is the term used for Short-eared Owl calls. (click on this one to see mouth open)

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Long-eared Owl

2012-01-06T09:30:00.002-06:00

2012 is being very very good to me so far! All I have to show so far are my favorites--OWLS!!!!! This LEO was my second subject of the new year, coming in behind the Snowy! In third place is the Short-eared Owl which I shot a few hours after this guy! How can I top this? Easy: Saw-whet, Great Gray, Northern Hawk Owl, etc. Easy to list, not so easy to capture! (But I'll try...)

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Snowy Owl Poses

2012-01-04T10:53:00.000-06:00

Found my favorite snowy again!(Click on any photo to make larger)

The inital image of this shot just looked drab, so I jazzed it up accentuating the wind turbines and rolling cornstubble fields...

On top of a silo, she checked me out with those gorgeous yellow eyes.

It was fun to watch this lady watch birds. This starling made a few passes before moving on...

I liked the fringy hair silhouetted here.

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Short-eared Owls

2012-01-03T10:26:00.000-06:00

Let me preface this post with stating that these shots are not up to my standards, but given the subject matter and the gas/time spent attempting these shots, I am posting them anyway.

I was so excited to shoot these guys on a trip I took this weekend. I went to Nashville for a concert and thought on my way back I could get some birding in. A new friend of mine gave me directions to such a rare bird of prey that fit into my schedule perfectly. I found the location and waited...

I waited for quite some time, circling the area until the show began...
And when I say the show began, I mean "WHOA!!!! They flew out from every direction!
As you see in these shots, plenty went wrong in all of about 10 minutes of showtime.

My aperture was off, my dial was misaligned to manual and I had the 2x on for closer shots. Everything that could go wrong, DID!

The owl even landed for a brief moment in which I found opportunity to whip off the 2x, shoot straight 300 and of course, the aperture was on 6.3. The shutter lagged so much that the exposure was 1/20th sec at twilight! I felt like Charlie Brown...

I managed a few shots at 1/400 with the 300mm before calling it quits with the light draining to impossible...

There was nothing I could do to fix it now, so enjoying the show with my own eyes not behind a few pieces of expensive glass was thrilling none-the-less.

Now that the night was here, all I have been able to think about was how it all went horribly wrong and what I am going to do right, next time...

Snowy Owl--Up Close and Personal!!

2011-12-19T10:16:00.005-06:00

Click on any photo to see much larger!

As you might recall, I had my first 2011 encounter a few weeks ago with a Snowy in Chicago at the lakefront with some pretty good success. This time was different!

I found this guy in a farm field a few days ago, prior to this particular photoshoot, but the owl was really far away, but I knew I would be back! I came back the next day under gorgeous sunny skies...

I found him perched on a pole barn, so I thought maybe I would knock on the owners door to get permission to photograph him. They agreed. Yay me!

I was able to pull my car around and shoot from my window, and when he didn't flush with my disturbance from about 75 feet away, I decided to try to step out (slowly and without eye contact) and take my chances...

These last 2 are severely cropped but I wanted to show you the spider on its face. BONUS!!

I was very lucky that he tolerated my intrusion, so I didn't approach much closer. I was able to set up my tripod, put on my Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS with the Canon 2x teleconnector and shoot from the only angle I had at 600mm, but with the crop factor of 1.6x, I was shooting 960mm. I will always take what I can get, and sidelighting is way better than backlighting in this case! What a day to find such a rare sighting, and to shoot so close! It was one of those awesome days that come pretty few and far between! Days like this are why I spend so much time doing what I do!

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Order your 2012 Wildlife Calendar!

2011-12-15T07:42:00.000-06:00

Get your Wildlife Calendar by yours truly now!

Includes 12 of my best photos of the year for:

$15 *includes shipping plus a freebie! (a little mystery gift I created for you!)

Leave me a comment if you want one and we will set up shipment!

Thank you guys for all of the support of this blog! I love doing it and appreciate you taking the time to visit!

Happy Holidays!

Whooping Cranes!!!!!!! ....and my Birthday!

2011-12-14T13:11:00.004-06:00

Click on any photo for a better larger view of entire set of photos!

I had to create a post for my birthday, and what better a subject than the extremely rare Whooping Crane(s). Nine of these creatures flew in for a restover and have stayed for more than a week now, waiting for favorable southerly winds to retake the skies. (Note: These birds are NOT the juveniles that have already migrated with the help of Operation Migrations ultralight airplanes this year. They are migrating on their own.)

Did you know that there are only 105 whooping cranes east of the Mississippi River? And here I am lucky enough to put my lens on these 9!

They are clearly banded, and with some research I have found out that these guys are from the 2009 hatch at Necedah Wisconsin's Operation Migration. Here is what they said in 2009: "On July 21, 2009, 11 Whooping Crane chicks were transferred from ICF to the nearb Necedah National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) to make up the 2009 Direct Autumn Release (DAR) cohort. The DAR birds are initially isolation-reared at ICF and then at the Necedah NWR until the fall. All the chicks were wary of all the new sounds of bird life in the marsh, but adjusted well to the beauty of nature on the refuge. In September or October they are released on or near the refuge with older Whooping Cranes and Sandhill Cranes, from whom they learn the migration route."

(Best photo to view large! Check out the expressions on these guys tiffing!)

It is beyond comprehension how to feel knowing I am standing before these 9 birds and knowing that I am looking at just about 10% of the eastern population. I also found out that whooping cranes are 2nd on the top 10 endangered species list.

In 1937, fewer than 20 birds remained, all in a population that wintered in Texas.
Today, with efforts made to stop these beautiful creatures from becoming extinct,
there are about 400+ in the wild.

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Good Ole Boys

2011-11-23T11:12:00.003-06:00

A couple of bucks take a break from chasing the ladies.

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A Mishmash of Sightings

2011-11-22T09:53:00.002-06:00

Bald Eagles are hanging out at the local dam again. A sure sign of cold weather!

Northern Mockingbird. A rare sighting in these parts and a possible wintering bird? I hope so!

Northern Shrike. Another infrequent visitor and another possible wintering bird? These both were found just a few hundred feet from eachother. Double whammy!

And last but not least: Groundhog, Whistlepig, Woodchuck, etc. He's definately a juvy and too friendly for his own good. Good luck buddy!

Snowy Owl!

2011-11-21T09:53:00.000-06:00

The Snowy Owl at Chicago's famous lakefront put on a show early Sunday morning until it was flushed to the end of Fishhook Pier. The winds and the cold kept me out for far too long, but not before making the trip worth the effort. Next time...more layers!

Yawwwwwnnn!!!!!

2011-11-18T10:11:00.001-06:00

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Window of Opportunity

2011-11-17T13:12:00.003-06:00

Not the best, closest photos I always try to get, but a sense of the scenery these bucks call their stomping grounds (literally) makes composition for photographers pretty tricky. I found windows, albeit small, to photo these testosterone filled bucks with plenty more to come in future posts. The rut is in high gear right now for us in the Land of Lincoln, as the lip-curling & chasing are all the rage. These beasts with their massive necks that are swollen to maximum capacity are what I am here for. I love this time of year!

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MoFo

2011-11-15T06:06:00.002-06:00

MoFo, originally uploaded by Hannibals Animals.

On the hunt for monsters for weeks now and coming up empty, finally this MoFo shows up. Let me tell you, the thrill is still in my bones a day later! Alot of enthusiasts, including me, love the monsters, and this one surely qualifies. A droptine is the cherry on top for a bruiser of this caliber. I've got the fever!

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600th Post!

2011-11-08T11:48:00.001-06:00

600 posts? Are you kidding me? Well I had to make it a special one so here it is! So many of you have wondered just what happened to me since I haven't posted in like...forever! I know! My luck had run dry. I couldn't find anything to shoot or I couldn't manage decent photos etc. This has gone on for months! I've never had such a dry spell. Anyway, here I am bringing you a post about a pretty sad little guy. Not so sure this little guy doesn't have an illness (rabies?), as his drunken stagger to my car without fear and the dazed look in it's eyes gave a few clues to it's physical and mental state. Being out in the rain during the day were all factors too. Poor guy!

He sure is cute tho...

...and the leaf litter made for a nice bokeh background.

Here he is right next to my car-Full Frame!

So cute, but the glaze in his eyes makes me sad ;(

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Ruby-throated Hummingbird Portrait

2011-09-14T12:43:00.002-05:00

Ruby-throated Hummingbird, originally uploaded by Hannibals Animals.

My favorite backyard bird!

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and 1 more...

POOP!!!!

Hand-feeding our Hummers

2011-09-14T08:01:00.000-05:00

Thats me feeding the hummers! I love this time of year!

This is my partner Becky feeding the hummers!

If you've never tried, here are a few tips. Spend alot of relaxing time close to your feeders, and do this all summer long. The hummers will get used to you being there and will feed eventually. Be patient! I usually don't attempt handholding the feeder until about September, just before they migrate. The most bold ones are the juvies. When you are seeing them come to the feeder is the time to start trying. Don't move! It's a bit startling at first when they get close, but just be still. The buzz in your ear is half the thrill! Good Luck!

A Few More Owl Shots-Flight Shots

2011-08-30T10:31:00.001-05:00

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A Few More Owl Shots-Head Shots

2011-08-30T10:25:00.001-05:00

Click any photo to see large.

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It's Been A Slow Summer For Wildlife

2011-08-30T05:55:00.002-05:00

I've been going thru a bit of a dry spell with my wildlife photography obviously. It's been sooo long since my last post. Over the past few months, I've been looking forward to the fawns and kits and babies in general to pass my time through late spring into fall. That hasn't happened. I've seen just 2 fawns with no good shots of them. I haven't seen any fox kits, nor a raccoon baby or much of anything in these recent months. But, my luck might have changed for the better, given that I ran into my old friend the Barred Owl on Friday. It's been since early spring since I've spent any time with this guy. He has disappeared for the most part, all summer long. Luckily, as I cruised his area on Friday, I happened across a migrant bird calling in the distance so I thought I might park the car and wait for a closer view. While waiting ole Mr. Barred gave a contact call deep into the timber. I gave out my own impression of a barred owl call back to him and he responded. We talked for quite a bit until he showed himself about 10 minutes later. I was very happy to see him. His ole lady showed up too, but at a distance. She wouldn't get in close, which is weird for her, but maybe she's protecting her juvies? I can only hope!

Click on photo to enlarge.

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Caption Contest Winner-Colleen!

2011-07-12T06:28:00.003-05:00

Caption Contest!, originally uploaded by Hannibals Animals.

Check out the comments for all of the submissions. All were very clever! Thanks to all of you witty peeps who participated! I laughed alot!

The winning entry was by Colleen! She wrote: "Lord I apologize and please be with the starving pygmies down in New Guinea. Amen." For those of you who don't "get it"? Larry the Cable Guy, more famous for the phrase: "Git-R-Done" also said the above phrase and used it as the title of his comedy album. So there you have it. Colleen wins because I laughed the loudest!

Butt Heads

2011-07-11T05:10:00.003-05:00

Butt Heads, originally uploaded by Hannibals Animals.

Out of the ordinary for me to take photos of captive animals, but I decided to snap a few pics while chasing a Cattle Egret who settled in with these cows. The cows gave me a photo op I couldn't resist!

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Yellow-billed Cuckoo-Lifer!

2011-07-08T10:39:00.002-05:00

Yellow-billed Cuckoo-Lifer!, originally uploaded by Hannibals Animals.

I had a bit of luck while distracted by shooting some pheasant chicks. I hear that distinctive call only cuckoos make behind me. That will get your blood flowing...
It took a little while but after hearing him throughout the woods in different locations, I decided to switch spots and found a pine squirrel climbing a tree. Waiting for him to come into view, a cuckoo flies into that very same tree. I shot away, trying to get angles of him around the leaves. He hopped from here to there, and then a bit of rustling of leaves, and 2 cuckoos flew away. What a lucky day!

Outdoor Illinois Magazine

2011-07-06T06:35:00.001-05:00

My first publication outside of Grundy County. (For those of you who don't know, I do a feature bi-monthly for GO Magazine [Grundy's Own] called "Grundy Gone Wild".- See my Flickr Sets called "Published" for back issues)

I was thrilled to be a part of Outdoor Illinois Magazine, especially because of the subject matter. Rarities!

This Silver Fox was photo'd in Kankakee, IL this past November. To my knowledge, it hasn't been seen since. Lucky me! I've been saving this photo to share since then, and am proud to have it displayed state-wide. Other photos of this fox can be seen in these sets: Foxes, Oddities, 2010.

Click on any image to read article.

The Blonde Squirrel and the Albino White-tailed Doe are my images. The Leucistic Pileated Woodpecker is by Steve Patterson (Illini Images)

The Leucistic Red-tailed Hawk is my image. The Slider is by Chris Philiips and the Leucistic Bat is by Tim Carter.

Killdeer Chicks Update

2011-06-29T12:00:00.000-05:00

Killdeer chicks are adorable. I can't resist visiting them almost daily, but so as not to bore you too much, this should be a final post on their progression.

They are growing into their wings...

and learning to stretch them out...

Little puffballs on stilts!

Whitetail Doe

2011-06-21T08:49:00.002-05:00

Whitetail Doe, originally uploaded by Hannibals Animals.

A close encounter with a hungry doe. I can only imagine she has a fawn hidden nearby, as the season for newborn fawns is here.

Ring-necked Pheasant Family

2011-06-17T12:41:00.002-05:00

Ring-necked Pheasant Family, originally uploaded by Hannibals Animals.

The Ring-necked Pheasant was introduced into North America from Asia and is established over much of the continent, especially in agricultural lands. It is a distinctive and colorful species and is a popular game bird.

I found a family of at least 6 chicks with both parents protecting them.

Goose Lake Prairie State Park

Killdeer Family Survival

2011-06-15T10:49:00.002-05:00

I have always wanted to see Killdeer eggs hatch, and had a mom on my radar for weeks.

She sat on a good spot, but being there when it was happening is a lot to ask. I can't camp out, but knew it was a matter of days or even hours this past weekend. Of course, when I arrived Monday morning, the chicks were born and scurrying around. I missed it! Oh well, at least they are still near the nest, so I can only be a few hours late. Getting down to business, I'm hoping I can get a shot I've been wanting forever, so I take couple hundred cutie shots of the newborn action.

Climbing this curb was fun to watch. The chick made it to the top with those stilted legs doing their job.

Dad tried to lure me away with his best broken wing display, but gave up after I backed off a little further away.

Click on any photo to much larger!

Watching the chicks tuck under mom for security and warmth was the shots I was after.

Wanting to see all those lanky legs under moms fluff was a shot I was going for, but I settled for these which were adorable to watch, as they scooted under and disappeared. What happened next though was shocking...

A Mink came out of the tall grasses and attacked the Dad. Dad was quick enough to fly up instantainiously and retaliate by dive-bombing the Mink. Mom joined in and kept the Mink distracted from her babies until it fled back into the grasses. This all happened in a nano-second and then it was over.

I got a total of 3 shots, it happened so fast. 2 of them were barely in the frame. I posted this half-Mink shot because you can see the chick in the background on the right side. The Mink by-passed the easy meal to go after the larger prey. Luckily, it lost the fight and the Killdeer family remained intact!

So it was a VERY happy ending for the Killdeer family! (And this photographer!)

Playing with HDR

2011-05-26T12:16:00.001-05:00

HDR is short for High Dynamic Range. It is a post-processing of taking either one image or a series of images, combining them, and adjusting the contrast ratios to do things that are virtually impossible with a single aperture and shutter speed.

HDR Image

I thought I would give it a try, and liked the results, although this particular scene isn't as dramatic as I would like. The best HDR's have deeper shadows, so I will be looking for more dramatic scenes in the future. I used a Photomatix's free version found here which leaves a watermark on the finished image, but I cloned it off my image.

Original Image

Dickcissel

2011-05-23T10:41:00.007-05:00

Dickcissel, originally uploaded by Hannibals Animals.

In flight Dickcissels make a low, "electric", buzzing fpppt. From an open perch in a field, this bird's song is a sharp dick dick followed by a buzzed cissel, also transcribed as skee-dlees chis chis chis or dick dick ciss ciss ciss.

If you've ever heard one, you would never forget it's song. Not melodic at all, but sort of sharp/loud/buzzy. I love when they make the trip back, but then over it shortly there after.

Scarlet Tanager Female

2011-05-23T10:41:00.005-05:00

Scarlet Tanager Female, originally uploaded by Hannibals Animals.

Not as brilliantly colored as the male, but she is a beauty!

Black-billed Cuckoo

2011-05-18T06:30:00.003-05:00

Black-billed Cuckoo, originally uploaded by Hannibals Animals.

A lifer came into play when I heard the weirdest sound coming from a wooded area. I had never heard a cuckoo, so I expected to see something like a quail or maybe a small furry critter on the ground, if anything. Well, lucky for me, he landed in a tree behind me and began his call again, confirming the source. He used all of his many calls which was such a treat to hear before he flew off.

Cool Facts: Cuckoos eat many spiny caterpillars and the spines stick in the lining of the stomach. The stomach lining is periodically shed to remove the spines.
The apparent tendency to call more frequently before rain explains why both Black-billed and Yellow-billed cuckoos are called "Rain Crows."

Scarlet Tanager

2011-05-17T09:28:00.003-05:00

Scarlet Tanager, originally uploaded by Hannibals Animals.

Always an exciting migrator to find, the Scarlet Tanager is a striking black-winged red bird, and is a common species of the eastern forest interior. Despite its brilliant coloring it is often overlooked because of its rather secretive behavior and its preference for the forest canopy. Luckily, I found this one pretty low, preening leaves for bugs.

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Solitary Sandpiper Vs. Serpent

2011-05-11T07:36:00.002-05:00

Solitary Sandpiper Vs. Serpent, originally uploaded by Hannibals Animals.

It was a brutal battle that the sandpiper ultimately won, but not without a clever defensive move by the serpent, trying to wiggle it's way back out of the mouth and wrapping itself around the bill to keep it closed. The maneuver almost worked, but the brute strength and hunger this sandpiper displayed could not be overcame by the challenger. It was a worthy match up, pleasing the cheering crowd of just one...me!

North Pond Sora

2011-05-06T20:06:00.003-05:00

North Pond Sora, originally uploaded by Hannibals Animals.

Took day off to go to Chicago. Found some great stuff like this Sora swimming!

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Branching

2011-05-02T12:18:00.002-05:00

Branching, originally uploaded by Hannibals Animals.

Mop Top

2011-04-29T05:28:00.003-05:00

Mop Top, originally uploaded by Hannibals Animals.

Great Horned Owlet in the rain.

I am watching 2 different nests right now. This owlet is the youngest but, it's really close to branching. Any day now! The other nest which I will post about later, has owlets who HAVE fledged. Stay tuned...

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Killer Crayfish

2011-04-25T08:28:00.002-05:00

Killer Crayfish, originally uploaded by Hannibals Animals.

Defending himself, this crayfish stands boldly and bravely, ready to take out this photographer!

Artsy-Fartsy

2011-04-22T09:45:00.002-05:00

Artsy-Fartsy, originally uploaded by Hannibals Animals.

I was in the mood to experiment...

Focused

2011-04-15T10:13:00.002-05:00

Here are a few more shots of the Barred Owl. Yes it is totally wild and not in a sanctuary or zoo. She is old and has a cataract in her left eye. I can approach because she knows me. I've spent lot's of time with her from a distance, concerned about her ability to hunt with her cataract. Her vision range is short but she can still catch prey, but misses alot. (I will not disclose location to protect her and her handicap.)

Family of Fuzz

2011-04-13T08:18:00.002-05:00

Family of Fuzz, originally uploaded by Hannibals Animals.

Great Horned Owl with 2 Owlets

Ready for Takeoff

2011-04-11T07:36:00.005-05:00

Ready for Takeoff, originally uploaded by Hannibals Animals.

Flight of the Barred Owl

2011-04-09T13:33:00.002-05:00

Flight of the Barred Owl, originally uploaded by Hannibals Animals.

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Barred Owl Preening Movie (55 seconds)

2011-04-08T15:26:00.001-05:00

Barred Owl Preening Movie (55 seconds), originally uploaded by Hannibals Animals.

Full Frame

2011-04-08T08:26:00.001-05:00

Full Frame, originally uploaded by Hannibals Animals.

An IN-YOUR-FACE shot of my favorite friend, the Barred Owl!

Haunting

2011-04-05T05:49:00.001-05:00

Barred Owl with Prey Silouette, originally uploaded by Hannibals Animals.

This Barred Owl with prey flew to a poor position photographically, so I took advantage of a sillouette opportunity and liked the outcome.

Meet the Mrs.

2011-04-04T05:15:00.009-05:00

If you follow my uploads, a few days ago I posted Mr. Barred Owl. A few days later, I was lucky enough to meet the Mrs. I knew she was a different owl because she gave out a contact call which was a higher pitched hoot. Females fit that description.

For this one, I used a paint filter because I blew out the highlights, but loved the scene, so I did my best to save the quality of the image.

Lucky enough, I was very close to watch her catch a mouse. I believe that she must be quite old, because I could approach quite close. I also think she is blind in at least 1 eye, but she could track my movement. I can almost guarantee she can see some, although some might say that their facial disks did the job of hearing my movements. Could be...

Note the cataract in her left eye.

She was amazing to watch, and I feel so lucky to get to have such a close encounter. She ranks as my personal #1 for sharing moments with nature without scaring the subject off. Add to that, she hunted, and I saw her mate, and she hooted right in front of me. It doesn't get any better! Stay tuned for more shots...

Barred Owl

2011-03-30T07:24:00.001-05:00

This guy was an unusually cooperative owl. He only looked at me once, then snoozed the rest of the time. I actually know that this is a male, because I heard another barred give a contact hoot, which was higher pitched. From what I've read, only females make contact calls. It was a huge bonus to be there when that happened, let alone be in the presence of him without disturbing his sleep too much.

Imposter!

2011-03-21T11:58:00.001-05:00

Imposter!, originally uploaded by Hannibals Animals.

This Doe is NOT the Easter Bunny! She tried to fool me with her fluffy white tail and long whiskers and all around cuteness, but I saw right through her facade. She should try out for the Cadbury Egg commercial.

Killdeer Flight Shots and a Tumor?

2011-03-17T07:04:00.003-05:00

So the weather is getting warmer, and it's been a long time since I could hike in optimal conditions, so todays shots were in 55 degree weather with a bit of a breeze. A stronger wind makes for optimal flight shots. Why? When they surf the wind, they sort of hang there in the headwind, giving you a bit more trigger time. The skies were gorgeous too!

Check out that bulge in it's belly. Is that a tumor? (Unlaid eggs would bulge behind the legs.)

It's hard enough to get a close up flight shot of killdeer, let alone 2 in focus. Skill? Sure, I was tracking the one, when the other flew into frame. Luck? Definately!

Edward Scissorhands

2011-03-16T06:42:00.006-05:00

I'm on the hunt for minks. It's that time of year again. It was a failed attempt yesterday, but all was not lost. I found Mr. Scissorhands, whom I deemed pretty cute. I know, he's not cute in the very raw sense of the word, and won't win any calendar contests, but still, in a "harmless to Hannibal" sort of way, he's gentle and sweet. He minds his own business as I intrude into his world, and he's tolerant, which are admirable traits. Did I sell ya on him? I didn't think so...

Interesting facts about Muskrats:

An adult muskrat is about 40 to 60 cm (16 to 24 inches) long, almost half of that tail, and weighs from 0.7 to 1.8 kg (1.5 to 4 lb). That is about four times the weight of the brown rat (Rattus norvegicus), though an adult muskrat is only slightly longer. Muskrats are much smaller than beavers (Castor canadensis), with whom they often share their habitat.

Muskrats are covered with short, thick fur which is medium to dark brown or black in color with the belly a bit lighter but as the age increases it turns a partly gray in color. The fur has two layers, which helps protect them from the cold water. They have long tails which are covered with scales rather than hair and are flattened vertically to aid them in swimming. When they walk on land the tail drags on the ground, which makes their tracks easy to recognize.

Muskrats spend much of their time in the water and are well suited for their semi-aquatic life, both in and out of water. Muskrats can swim under water for 12 to 17 minutes. Their bodies, like those of seals and whales, are less sensitive to the buildup of carbon dioxide than those of most other mammals. They can close off their ears to keep the water out. Their hind feet are semi-webbed, although in swimming the tail is their main means of propulsion. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muskrat)

Hello!

2011-03-14T12:05:00.003-05:00

Click on image for a giant "Hello!"

Great Horned Owl on Nest

2011-02-21T06:12:00.004-06:00

It's the season for owlets, and this is my first post on this family. I hope to bring more images of them as the chicks start peeking out and until fledged.

It was really interesting to find this owl, as the signs of her were everywhere. I found loads of pellets, some dead mice, a few feathers and even an eggshell. Sounds pretty simple right? No it wasn't. I walked around the cluster of pine trees for 3 days looking for her. I didn't find her. A buddy I shared this location with was the one who located her, but not without circling the area for 2 days. Owls are masters of camouflage, so spotting her was almost impossible. (I said almost!)

My Name is Blond, James Blond

2011-02-18T08:14:00.002-06:00

A favorite of mine, this blond (and I use the moniker loosely) squirrel was very friendly. I'm not sure if it's a morph coloration or a separate species, but there used to be 4 of this color in the area, and now there is just 1. I call it a "blond squirrel" because I couldn't find any info on this coloration.

Leucistic Red-tailed Hawk

2011-02-17T10:15:00.005-06:00

On some very rare occasions, I run into this leucistic Red-tailed Hawk. He is quite shy, so when I am in his territory, I am always fixing my camera settings for his stark white plumage and crank down the exposure compensation about -2/3's. I saw him in pursuit of a lady, so I stayed in the area just in case he came back. He did, but not very close. I stayed put and watched. He caught some pray, ate it and flew to a new perch but was still not close. I then saw him disappear behind a house, flying really low. I was hoping he landed. He did, he was in a pasture just a few yards from the road. I did a turn-around to put him in view through my drivers-side window and approached, ready to shoot. Now with hawks, you have about 3 seconds before they take flight, and I know this, but it seems every time, I think I can get away with getting a better view and blow the posed shot. I just gained focus when he took off. The last shot featured here is the first shot with him. Oh well, another day my white friend...another day.

Leucism (occasionally spelled leukism) is a general term for the phenotype resulting from defects in pigment cell differentiation and/or migration from the neural crest to skin, hair or feathers during development. This results in either the entire surface (if all pigment cells fail to develop) or patches of body surface (if only a subset are defective) having a lack of cells capable of making pigment.

If you look at the crown/nape of this guys head (best represented in the first photo), you can see a dark pigmented area. Also, there is only 1 tail feather that is red (best represented in the 3rd photo), which is why I know its a red-tailed hawk. I know he is a "he" only because I saw him mating, so it was obvious he was a boy. I have photo'd him for more than 6 years so I fear his life left on earth won't be long, so every opportunity I get, I put in plenty of wait time in the field, because he is definately worth the patience it takes.

You can see other shots I've taken, by checking my labels for "white hawk" found on the right side of the template.

Air Raid

2011-02-16T08:08:00.002-06:00

Air Raid, originally uploaded by Hannibals Animals.

You could count every tongue as the geese sounded the alarm in panic when this air raid took place. (The sub-adult bald eagle did not grab any prey.)

Kankakee River
South Island Dam area
Wilmington, IL

Vanity

2011-02-15T10:30:00.002-06:00

This muskrat cleaned itself every time it came out of the ice hole. As soon, as it was clean, it went back in. I didn't get the point...

Shame On Me!

2011-02-11T10:00:00.009-06:00

I was suckered again. My chin is touching my chest and I am doing the Charlie Brown (cue the sad music...) walk of shame. Take a look:

I've photo'd this "cat" before, about 2 years ago in this general area of a state natural area. I thought it was a bobcat. (Check my tag roll under fake bobcat) I AGAIN thought it was a bobcat yesterday. Let me explain. He was a gray blob as I was passing by. I put it in reverse to get another look. Bobcat!...no...boring cat...wait...it's got prey...cool cat...it's eating a squirrel...Wow!...Look at those penetrating eyes...gotta be a feral cat...HUGE feral cat...gotta be 25 pounds...poor guy...its so cold...look at that thick heavy coat...I saw him before...2 years ago...he's obviously doing well to survive this long...Good luck Kitty!

...So I tried to will him into a bobcat...

It didn't work. I still have hope...

Some day, Mr. Bob-Elusive-Cat...Some day...

It is considered wildlife photography when the cat is wild, right? I think so...

Cozumel Mexico

2011-02-10T10:08:00.000-06:00

Cozumel Mexico was my vacation destination for this year. I've never been, although 20 years ago I did visit Cancun and left with a touch of Montezumas Revenge. Anyway, this time was completely different, and I couldn't wait to see that unbelievably blue water again. As you know, I purchased a "Snorkelcam" and couldn't wait to use it! We also brought a "point-n-shoot" Canon Powershot SX210IS camera, as most of this trip would be spent underwater. It had a bigger zoom (14X)and still fit in a shirt pocket with 14 MP to boot. The above picture was taken with it. I was pretty pleased with it's capabilities, but make no mistake about ever replacing your DSLR with it. It did blow out the whites, but tweaking in Photoshop was an easy fix, and shooting wildlife with it would never meet my standards. But... The face recognition was great, and it even had smile/wink recognition. Pretty cool! Anyhoo...
On to the Snorkelcam!

I loved it! Was it comfortable? Yes! Was it easy? Practice is definitely necessary, as I made lots of errors between video/camera selection but I was pleasantly surprised with the photos I did get! The video was a bit unsaturated but still, after reviewing them, I felt like I was watching a "turtlecam" on the Discovery channel.

After all of the reviews online, I was disappointed though...I did get a leak which ruined the entire camera. I do believe it was a manufacturers defect as the seals were not the problem. I am returning it for an exchange and will test this one before taking it in real snorkeling waters. I missed a lot of cool opportunities which was very disappointing but what can you do? I still like their product and am hoping for great customer service providing an easy exchange!

The trip was great! The water was incredible! Now if only I can get a job working for a vacation destination company!

My next post will be about playing "The Amazing Race Cozumel". If you've seen the TV show, think of it as a condensed version of clues, codes, adventure and mayhem. It was awesome!

I Know, I Know...

2011-02-08T10:03:00.007-06:00

It's been a really long time since I posted last. I've been slacking, I know, but I did go on vacation, there was our 3rd worst blizzard ever in history and it's been really boring over here. I haven't seen much of anything, and if I do fire off a few shots of this or that, the images are not blog-worthy, so... I've saved you some time. You're welcome!

Anyhoo, I did find something pretty interesting...

Yep, a nice sized buck! Check out his mass! I was very impressed. (My brain is speaking to me...) "Oh, wait a minute! He only has one antler. Cool! My first shed sighting! It looks kinda freshly dropped...I wonder if I can find it?"

I had a dentist appointment to go to, so I left him for awhile. When I came back, he was gone (which is good because I have an agenda!). I went trudging thru the 2-3 foot deep snow and came back with wet jeans, a runny nose and no antler. Bummer!

Who's That Masked Woman?

2011-01-04T06:04:00.003-06:00

Hi all, Hannibal here, just trying out my new gear! I am going on a snorkel vacation in a few weeks. Most of you know, I have been on a few wildlife vacations, but this time it is not about me. My camera is staying home and I am hitting the waves of Cozumel Mexico to snorkel and to relax. But how can I relax without my camera gear? I found the solution. This mask is a 5MP camera with some pretty great reviews. I don't expect professional quality, just a whole lot of fun.

You will see the results in a few weeks. Going by this photo, I need pretty good light...

(I will also review the mask and give you all the specs.)

Do Raccoons Hibernate?

2010-12-31T05:36:00.001-06:00

Do Raccoons Hibernate?, originally uploaded by Hannibals Animals.

If you are asking the question do raccoons hibernate in the winter, the answer is not so simple. There are times when the animal does sleep for long periods of time. The raccoon is also known for waking up from time to time and leaving the den area. This can also depend on the region because in warmer climates, raccoons may not hibernate at all and they may stay active all year round. So it may be impossible to answer the question, do raccoons hibernate during the winter, because of all the variables.

Another thing that can affect hibernation is mating. This occurs at the end of winter in January and February. During this time, raccoons are very active and although they are nocturnal, they can be seen during the day while trying to locate a mate. But most of the time, if the temperature goes below 25 degrees; a raccoon will retreat to the den. In some areas this happens frequently but in other areas it occurs only once or twice during the winter months. Where do raccoons hibernate in the winter?

Raccoons retreat to their dens to hibernate and they are usually located in hallowed out logs and trees. They can have more than one of these dens and they will sleep in the one they feel the most secure in, at the time. Although they are known for living in trees, they can also burrow under the ground to make dens. But unlike other animals that hibernate alone, the raccoon will hibernate with others. It isn’t unusual to see many raccoons hibernating together.

I found this guy yesterday scavenging in the snow, which brought up the question, do raccoons hibernate. Not on this day!

Uploaded by Hannibals Animals on 31 Dec 10, 5.30AM CST.

Welcome Outdoor Blogger Network!

2010-12-28T05:39:00.006-06:00

Hi Guys! Thanks for clicking through to my lil ol blog! For those of you who are regulars and don't know what I am talking about, I've been featured on their site. More on that later...

I thought I'd better feature something good for you new folks, so I pulled out a biggie, for me at least...

This image is a teaser:

I have much better photos of this creature, including portraits and up close with prey shots, but I've been saving the series until something possibly great (for me) to happen, which should be in a few months. So, now I ask for a little audience participation. I need you all to hold your breath. O.K., inhale...hold it...hold it...
Why? I'm hoping to score the cover of a magazine I submitted to. I have had contact with the editor, and she is considering me for the cover. Wouldn't that be cool? I've never even attempted being published before, and on my first try, the cover?!? I'm pretty excited!

So there you have it! Take a guess at what it is! Hint: This guy is no ordinary creature, he's a very rare color morph. Go ahead, take a shot!

Now for those bloggers who don't belong to the Outdoor Blogger Network, go ahead and click on the logo I have featured on the upper right hand corner. You will find it worth a look. These people have everything you need wrapped up in one site. They feature blogs from around the country in their blog directory, have lots of giveaways and even do gear reviews. Wear their badge proudly, as I do, and you might even get their "Spotlight of the Week". Check them out! I love those guys! Just look at what they wrote about me, it cracked me up! Thanks Outdoor Blogger Network!

Snow buntings

2010-12-16T10:30:00.002-06:00

I love when these guys come around! They all have such unique markings!

Tufted Titmouse

2010-12-16T10:18:00.001-06:00

Tufted Titmouse, originally uploaded by Hannibals Animals (cataloging-sorry!).

McKinley Woods State Park

A rare treat to get so close to one of these guys.

Hawk Eyes

2010-11-23T05:54:00.002-06:00

I had a close encounter with a juvy Red-tailed Hawk the other day. Not only was it special to be so close and not disrupt him too much, but to take in the details of this beautiful bird. Had it been optimal conditions, they might have turned out a bit better, but I can't complain of the experience. What I noticed most with this guy was his eyes and the orange ring around the pupil. When he was eying his food, you could read the intensity of his eyes. Take a look at the next photo. I think he is eating an opossum at about 20 feet away. It was overcast so getting the settings right was frustrating!

Feeding Frenzy

2010-11-22T08:32:00.002-06:00

So I'm bored out of mind, sitting in my car, waiting for something to happen at a local backwater pull-in. All of a sudden the sky came alive with seagulls in a frenzy for feeding on the shad which happened to be just a few feet away in the shallows. It was awesome as I aimed in any and all directions. I love when that happens!

Vogue

2010-11-19T12:45:00.003-06:00

I had a very lengthy session with this Kingfisher, which is quite unusual for these anti-social Fisher-Kings!
He is sharp on his toes though, as I saw a Cooper's Hawk torpedo after him and he managed to maneuver his way away from death.

He preened...

Caught fish...

Took a bath...

Dried off...

And posed with his prize for a sillouette...

Good Grief!

2010-11-17T06:58:00.002-06:00

Good Grief!, originally uploaded by Hannibals Animals.

We all prepare for that moment that will happen at any minute. We have our cameras on the ready, settings fixed to the upcoming conditions, ready to fire. We sweep the areas we know that are best known for producing our subjects, all the while, driving carefully as we go. Sometimes, we get into a routine as we visit those same areas and we stumble on a surprise waiting for us that we are kind of blind to in those in-between areas. Here is an example. This guy was just a few yards off the road at an area just a hint past a "good spot". I was looking back at the road. He would have been perfect. I slowly passed him by before I saw him out my passenger side window. I put the car in reverse ever so carefully, but we all know what happened. What was I thinking...They could be anywhere right now, and he was. The grief, the pain, the self abuse...The best I could manage was a grunt so he stopped, but not before hiding behind this tree like Charlie Brown, ruining the shot!

I was schooled by an old buck and paid the price!

Very Lucky Buck

2010-11-16T06:40:00.001-06:00

Very Lucky Buck, originally uploaded by Hannibals Animals.

I was driving on a busy highway to my favorite area to look for bucks. I see ahead of me, a buck in the ditch running along a fence line, trying to get in. Luckily, no traffic was approaching him, so I slowed to a crawl and followed. He made his way down a few hundred yards, turned around and ran back the other direction. Still, no traffic. He turned around again a few hundred yards behind me, so I pulled into a driveway, watched for traffic and waited. I was ready to jump out of the car and flag people to slow down if I needed to but I didn't. He came closer, saw my car obstructing his path, then decided to cross the road to safety. Very Lucky Buck! What an impressive rack with 15 tines and one extremely exhausted fellow.

2011 Wildlife Calendar by Peggy Hanna

2010-11-10T06:03:00.004-06:00

2011 Wildlife Calendar by Peggy Hanna, originally uploaded by Hannibals Animals.

I am taking orders for the "2011 Wildlife Calendar/Photos by Peggy Hanna"

Here's the technical:
12 page/month+cover. Each month features a different photo shot locally. Each page is 8.5x11" glossy stock & spiral bound. Fully opened measures 11x17".

WHAT YOU GET: 11 Point Buck, 2 different Owls, Wood Ducks, Pheasant Rooster Fight, Portrait of a Fawn, Raccoon Babies, Fox kit, Tree Frog, Chipmunk cheeking acorns, Droptine Buck, Canada Geese posturing.

Here's a preview:

Price: $15.00 local delivery
+$5 shipping for out-of-towners.

Place your orders in comments or thru email. We can work out payment options there.

Thank you for your support!

Spike

2010-11-04T09:14:00.001-05:00

Spike, originally uploaded by Hannibals Animals.

A portrait of this young buck in the early morning light.

Maturity

2010-11-03T08:20:00.001-05:00

Maturity, originally uploaded by Hannibals Animals.

Not quite a Bruiser, this buck needs at least another year before he can claim his own territory and win fights over does. He can sniff them, just not win their hearts, unless he gets really lucky...
He's pretty good lookin tho...

Making Faces Behind a Bucks Back

2010-11-02T06:21:00.003-05:00

Making Faces Behind a Bucks Back, originally uploaded by Hannibals Animals.

I just thought this looked funny!

Spike came up to this guy and nudged him for a bit of play sparring. He obliged...

Tall Tines

2010-11-01T09:56:00.002-05:00

Tall Tines, originally uploaded by Hannibals Animals.

I liked this unusually shaped (non-typical) rack, especially the extra tall brow tines. His neck isn't swelled too much, but another week and he should really show that the rut has begun! Note: It looks as if one of his tines was damaged, but its an old wound I think.

A Conversation with Buck

2010-10-22T09:15:00.001-05:00

A Conversation with Buck, originally uploaded by Hannibals Animals.

I spent some serious quality time with this fella. If I didn't know any better, I'd say he was trying to woo this cougar, I'm just saying...I shot over 300 frames, and even some video, as he sniffed, stomped and licked. I gave him my best "bleat" which must have been pretty good, as he stomped a few more times. It was a great moment!

Uploaded by Hannibals Animals on 22 Oct 10, 7.34AM CDT.

Curious

2010-10-22T09:14:00.001-05:00

Curious, originally uploaded by Hannibals Animals.

I got some pretty good looks at this backlit fawn along with her mother who was also curious enough to taste the air trying to identify what I was.
Those big ears are ADORABLE!

Whiskers

2010-10-20T10:05:00.001-05:00

Whiskers, originally uploaded by Hannibals Animals.

A few extremely long whiskers on this very young buck caught my eye.

Future Looks Bright

2010-10-20T10:02:00.001-05:00

Future Looks Bright, originally uploaded by Hannibals Animals.

Another small guy, but I'll take it!

Thirst

2010-10-19T12:48:00.001-05:00

Thirst, originally uploaded by Hannibals Animals.

A Non-typical 6x5 Buck caught my eye about 300 yards away taking a morning drink before disappearing into the forest.

Des Plaines Conservation Area

2010-10-19T12:15:00.001-05:00

Des Plaines Conservation Area, originally uploaded by Hannibals Animals.

A favorite spot of mine...

A dried up creek bed that feeds in the Kankakee River.

Promising

2010-10-15T12:43:00.001-05:00

Promising, originally uploaded by Hannibals Animals.

This young guy has a promising future with a rack like that!

Sushi

2010-10-15T12:42:00.001-05:00

Sushi, originally uploaded by Hannibals Animals.

This guy ate these like popcorn.

Thigh Deep in Green

2010-10-15T12:41:00.001-05:00

Thigh Deep in Green, originally uploaded by Hannibals Animals.

Sometimes we bypass the usual creatures to get to the rare. I just liked his pose as he landed, and if given the chance, I always practice the flight shots with these guys.

Fly By

2010-10-15T12:40:00.001-05:00

Fly By, originally uploaded by Hannibals Animals.

I was unpacking my gear from the car to take some scenics when this guy landed on the ground on the other side of the car. I took aim, he took flight and this is the result.

Call 911...

2010-10-08T09:26:00.002-05:00

Call 911..., originally uploaded by Hannibals Animals.

Did you see where the acorns went? Somebody took them, call 911!
I'll swear in a court of law I don't have them!

Thanks Rick Kratzke for the caption! I loved it and had to use it on this shot!

Maximum Capacity

2010-10-08T05:52:00.001-05:00

Maximum Capacity, originally uploaded by Hannibals Animals.

Another round with those snarky chipmunks finally produced the shot I was looking for. Not perfect, but I liked it. Of course, they rarely take direction from us photographers so this pose, although slightly turned was what I wanted. They are so irresistible, and quite tolerant, I just had to keep trying.

Stuffed!

2010-10-05T12:11:00.001-05:00

Stuffed!, originally uploaded by Hannibals Animals.

On this shoot, I learned that chipmunks can fit approximately 7 acorns in their cheeks.

Fascinating...

Acorn Addict

2010-10-05T12:10:00.001-05:00

Acorn Addict, originally uploaded by Hannibals Animals.

I loved his expression...

Chipmunk
Gebhard Woods State Park, Morris, IL

Hoarder

2010-10-05T12:08:00.001-05:00

Hoarder, originally uploaded by Hannibals Animals.

Plenty of evidence laying around...

Now and Later

2010-10-05T11:54:00.001-05:00

Now and Later, originally uploaded by Hannibals Animals.

The chipmunk has 1 acorn in the cheek, and having 1 tasty nut right now.

Plenty more to come...

Snacktime

2010-09-30T09:01:00.001-05:00

Snacktime, originally uploaded by Hannibals Animals.

I was on the ground shooting chipmunks for quite some time when this groundhog approached, not paying well enough attention to his surroundings. He snacked for some time, not more than 15 feet away. Getting a good look at those claws, I was pretty nervous he might get even closer, but he eventually spotted me and ran.

4 Lifers in an Hour

2010-09-21T06:00:00.006-05:00

What more can I say, it was a great day!

Black-throated Green and Tennessee Warbler

American Redstart Juvy

Swainson's thrushes

Monarch Migration

2010-09-17T09:19:00.009-05:00

I drove across a "sea" of monarchs fluttering across Goose Lake Prairie to a concentration area near by. I was hoping to find the trees they would drip from as I've seen on T.V. and I did! It was an awesome site!

Lucky!

2010-09-16T05:27:00.002-05:00

Lucky!, originally uploaded by Hannibals Animals.

I had a ton of migrating Common Nighthawks over my house a few days ago, so I took 100's of photos. This one surprised me. Although heavily cropped, I really liked that the bug was captured also.

Slumlord

2010-09-14T09:07:00.020-05:00

Hannibal is a Slumlord. Interesting?!? I don't remember asking for squirrels as tennants. I don't remember getting paid rent. None-the-less, for several years now, a squirrel has had squatters rights to the Screech Owl Box I built a few years ago. She has been a terrible tennant too. She's ripped off the siding, broke the perch off the front entrance, and who knows what terrible things she's done to the inside, but I digress...She won my heart over a few weeks ago, as I saw new life peek out of the hole. A cute little squeak was the first clue, as I scanned the area for the source, and saw the tiny lil head trying to see out. (These photos were taken a week later, and they are MUCH bigger!) Anyway, This is what I saw:

Adorable right?

I knew there was at least 2, maybe three, as the days passed...

Here's a shot with mama, which brings me to the real story:

I walked by my kitchen window on Saturday, looked out to the Owlbox, hoping to see a lil face, and what I saw puzzled me. I saw what looked like a big ball of fur poking out of the hole. Weird! I got the binoculars and saw that is was mom with a baby in her mouth, and she was moving out! I knew right away that she was moving her babies, and watched her as she headed in the direction of her new home. She was moving across the street to a neighbors tree. Hmmm...She must think it no longer safe for her kids, as they are getting more curious with each passing day. I do have a dog, so I think mom is absolutely right in moving her children. Anyway, I grabbed my camera and waited for her to move the second one. This is what I saw:

This lil guy started crawling out of the box as soon as mom left with the first one. When mom came back, she was none-too-happy that the lil one was exposed...

She started scooping it up at a really awkward angle...

These frames only represent a partial segment of her scooping him up, but then this post would be extremely lengthy if I didn't jump a few frames at a time.

She moved them approximately 100 yards at my my best estimate. A really long trip with a load in your mouth with each trip.

She was amazing to watch!

The baby all tucked under was so cute!

She came back 1 more time to get the final baby. She had to be exhausted!

I miss them...I'm hoping she will be back to reclaim her Owlbox as her nest some day. This Slumlord smiles at the thought of it all over again...

Bobwhite Male and Female Calling on Vimeo by Hannibal

2010-08-27T12:27:00.001-05:00

Bobwhite Male and Female Calling on Vimeo by peggy hanna, originally uploaded by Hannibals Animals.

A male and female Bobwhite called out to their young covey of 19. It was really cool to see and hear.

Bobwhite Covey on Vimeo by Hannibal

2010-08-27T12:26:00.001-05:00

Bobwhite Covey on Vimeo by peggy hanna, originally uploaded by Hannibals Animals.

A covey of 19 immature bobwhites foraging along the prairie edge in Goose Lake Prairie State Park in Grundy County, Illinois.

Bobwhite Covey

2010-08-26T10:10:00.010-05:00

An awesome sight, and a first to boot, a covey of bobwhites! There were 21 total, and not very shy. All but 2 were juveniles who ran in a group on their own, and the parents, I'm assuming, called from a distance beyond my eyesight. Later, I found them, and of note, the female does not have the signature "bobwhite" call.

...reminds me of meerkat behavior and pose.

...taking a leisurely stroll...

Sentry post. Guards posted to keep a watch for danger.

...eating a moth.

Tree frog

2010-08-26T09:39:00.008-05:00

This was a fun shoot, since I don't care to touch cold-blooded things. But... I made an exception for this guy, well kinda... I used a scoop and gently placed him in the mulchy area. I just couldn't conjure up the "Butch Bad-ass" in myself this time. He's cute though, right? He was very cooperative, although I couldn't get him to stick to a tree. I also wanted the "hang-in-there" shot as he would dangle from...something, but I felt that would stress even more. Thanks lil guy for putting up with me!