Category Archives: wildlife

Deer me

July 19, 2019photography, wildlifesusanmanzke

Whenever Bob and I take a ride in our cart to our woods, I grab my camera. It’s a sure thing some interesting wild animal will appear if I forget it on the table.

This first photo I snapped of a doe and fawn from quite a distance. I took a couple of shots, but most were blurry because I moved the camera. It’s not easy keeping the camera steady when the zoom is outstretched.

Besides having my camera with the zoom lens, we set up a critter cam to capture photos of our four-footed neighbors.

When I looked at the photos taken by the critter cam yesterday I found a doe nosing around the area. She seemed to be alone. She stayed in the area for quite some time so we got quite a few shots of her.

My favorite one from yesterday is of a doe with an attitude. The only thing that would have made this photo better is if she had her tongue out.

I have all kinds of nature photos, too many for my laptop, so I’m working at editing out the doubles and blurry shots. This sure takes time so I better get to work or I won’t have room for new photos.

Surprise visit

July 12, 2019nature, photography, wildlifesusanmanzke

Bob and I haven’t had a lot of luck wildlife viewing lately. Once in a while, we’ve seen a couple of sandhill cranes and a few turkeys, but no whitetail deer.

Tonight was different. As soon as we stopped on our viewing knoll, we saw a buck in the neighbor’s cornfield. He stared at us for a little while and we stared back.

Bob then pointed out two other bucks who were hidden from me behind a tree.

When all three started moving away, a fourth showed up. At the last minute, two more came out from behind tall grass.

For a time we had a total of six to watch, but soon they all disappeared into the woods heading north.

About ten minutes later, three deer ran out of the woods heading south.

Some of the first? Maybe, but I added them into our notebook just the same.

I’m happy I brought my camera with tonight.

A quick blog

June 30, 2019Family, pets, wildlifesusanmanzke

It’s been a busy weekend.

Daughter, Rebecca and son-in-law, Andy stopped by and we put them to work. The two of them dragged an air-conditioner from our basement, where it was stored, to the second floor. They then took the old air-conditioner from there and brought it downstairs and finally out the door.

Thanks a big bunch!!!! Now we will be able to sleep comfortably.

But since I didn’t take photos of the big move, which they wouldn’t have wanted anyway, I thought I’d add photos of cute chicks today.

These photo chicks were purchased. The chicks on our farm today were hatched by hens.

Warning! Do not try to get close to current chicks. The big white mother hen is mean and will come after you. She knows how to take care of her babies.

So there you have my blog for today. We’ll have to wait for tomorrow to see what I write next–but don’t bother asking me ahead of time. I rarely know what I’m going to write.

Zoomed in

June 25, 2019photography, wildlifesusanmanzke

This family was very far away when I took this photo. Actually, I didn’t know if I caught them at all. The sun obscured my screen view, but I clicked a couple of photos anyway.

After, I zoomed in even closer with Picasa, an old program which I still have on my computer.

Our grandchildren said we are so lucky. They might be lucky to see one someday, too, that is if they can keep quiet while riding in our cart with Grandpa Bob.

Critter Cam in Action

June 24, 2019nature, photography, wildlifesusanmanzke

We have a couple of spots where we attach our critter cam to trees. These are right along our lane.

One time we attached the camera to a different tree and ended up with hundreds of photos. It turned out that wind moved the tall grass and set the camera off. Hardly any animals walked into view.

With the camera set in one of the usual spots, we caught Bob cutting grass and the neighbor taking a ride toward our woods–yes, the neighbor has permission. Raccoons come by this area, too, but the best is when we get deer.

On June 20th, we had a beautiful stag cross our camera’s path.

Bob and I sure do appreciate capturing the action with a camera, even if we aren’t on the scene at the time.

Susan Manzke

Writer, Speaker, All-Around Good Person