Thursday, August 9, 2007

Overnight Visitors

The other night a doe and her fawn visited my bird/wildlife feeding station but the trail camera was on a different tree. (I didn't see the deer, but saw their hoofprints the next morning.) On Tuesday afternoon I moved the camera to the tree by the feeder and here are a couple of different pictures of my overnight visitors.
I was hanging some bird feeders back out early this morning when I saw the camera flash. I didn't see anything over there in the dark, but when I downloaded these pictures, there was the deer, strolling over from behind the large evergreen tree. She must have seen me carrying out birdfeeders and ran away.
(The camera flash is very bright and I like the way it makes their eyes light up!)

12 comments:

Mary said...

I'd be thrilled to see deer on my property even though people complain about their munching...

RuthieJ said...

Hi Mary,
For me, it is the coolest thing ever! They tend to stay pretty much at the ground feeding trays, but will nip off a few leaves on shrubs while moving "to & from" in the yard. We almost never see them in the daylight, so this camera is a good thing for capturing their nocturnal visits.

Anonymous said...

Those are neat pix of the deer. You put out the feeders and they will come. Pretty soon you'll have to get the apple licks for them or they can clean up the apples on the ground from your apple tree. Happy picture taking.
MOM

RuthieJ said...

Hi Mom,
I saw some alfalfa cubes at Fleet Farm a couple weeks ago and I want to try those as soon as the deer pellets I'm using now are gone. There are lots of apples on the ground, but the deer will have to battle the bunnies for them.

Jayne said...

What a sweet visitor!

Ruth said...

What a great picture! I would be tempted to stay up at night. I have seen a few deer this year, but never close enough for a really good picture.
ruth

RuthieJ said...

Hi Jayne,
I think they're sweet too. They will clean that tray out, but are always alert with their eyes and ears, however I'm surprised the camera flash never seems to bother them.

Hi Ruth,
Anytime I get up in the night I take a peek out the window and usually never see any deer. Sometimes they'll surprise us and be there when we get up at 4 AM.

Lynne at Hasty Brook said...

What a cool camera set-up! I've seen inexpensive infra-red hunting cameras at Fleet Farm and Menards. Is that the kind of camera you have?

RuthieJ said...

Hi Lynne,
Our camera is the Leaf River Brand and it's called a "Digital Game Camera." There is a staggering variety of brands and price ranges. This one has a flash where the infrared ones don't (if we got another one, it would definitely be infrared). We've had this camera about 3 years and infrared wasn't even available when we got this, so the technology has advanced that fast. I think you can get some digital ones now in the $50-$60 range (ours was $200!) We mainly got it to use for scouting our deer hunting areas, but it's nice to have out in the yard and I was able to experiment with all the dials and settings. Cabelas or Gander Mountain may have more knowledgable staff if you're interested in purchasing one and need some questions answered.

Robin (Bumblebee) said...

Ruthie, Ruthie, Ruthie...

If you love deer, please come and visit. I can show you deer and you don't have to resort to cameras or staying up late.

The deer wander up into the yard and eat my hostas and roses. The deer amble down the driveway so that we have to drive slowly so as not to kill Bambi. The deer leave their precious little deer droppings everywhere. Next thing you know, they'll be looking in the windows or knocking on the door asking for handouts.

Don't get me wrong. I do find the deer en-deering (hoho). But enough is enough already.

I am, however, very impressed with the camera. I keep talking about a bird-cam for my bluebird houses, but my husband thinks that's over-the-top. Don't you think a bird cam is just what the Bumblebee Blog needs?

--Robin (Bumblebee)

RuthieJ said...

Oh Robin, a birdhouse cam is exactly what the Bumblebee Blog needs!! (do you know they have sound too?)

http://www.birdhousespycam.com/

I would get one except they only come with 100 ft. of coaxial cable and my bluebird nesting box is too far away from the house.

P.S. Our deer come only at night and stay a very short time, somehow or other they know we are bowhunters....

Anonymous said...

I actually started reading your blogs by accident but then became addicted. I fell in love with your comments about everything from dead patches of grass to the beauty of the plants and wildlife around you. AND THEN, I learned that you had 2 German Shorthairs. I have 2 also and love the breed and their never ending antics. I also love your many photos of your work in progress, ever changing nature habitat in your yard because I can relate so easily. I actually thought I was odd because of my obsession with all of the birds, plants and other wildlife around me and my unending desire to make my yard their little piece of heaven (and at the same time mine). Now I feel like I am not the only one who takes hundreds of pictures, even bad ones through screened windows and those blurred by movement and yet still find them beautiful. I am not the only one who documents my comments, feelings and emotions about all of the above. I can only say Thanks!!!!!! for sharing.

Jody