Good Ole Boys

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

A Mishmash of Sightings

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!

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!!!!!

Window of Opportunity

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!

MoFo

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!

600th Post!

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 ;(