Wildlife on Parade

Posted On November 12, 2024

Celebrating Nature with Trail Cameras

One of the things I have enjoyed most as I’ve worked to evolve my private wildlife area is sharing my harvest of trail camera photography. As I make the transition from sharing my Adirondack Outlaw adventures, photos and stories on various platforms to positing them exclusively here on my blog, I wanted to find a way to continue doing so. After some contemplation, this is what I’ve come up with.

“Wildlife on Parade” will be an ongoing feature located at the top of my blog. Here I will post trail interesting wildlife photos as my trail cameras transmit them. I will update it every day or two, as new photos appear. I may share individual wildlife photos.

I may opt to share several in an array.

Some of them I may give titles, explanations or captions, as with the next two pics below:

Whenever I see great blue herons, I think to myself “We’ve got it all wrong. The dinosaurs were never completely extinct. They’ve been here all along, dancing right in front of us.”

“Dinosaur Dancing”

Some may capture a specific wildlife interaction, ongoing saga, story or experience I’ve shared. (Such as the return of my beaver, who made the fatal mistake of returning and discovered that he is not the only inhabitant of this land who embodies “Relentless”.)

Others, like the header photo at the top, I may briefly embellish with backstories.

The deer in my header photo are grazing one of my numerous clover fields. I like planting clover as a wildlife food source. Not only do deer enjoy grazing it, but other wildlife as well. I hand broadcast my clover in a variety of areas, creating what I like to call “micro food plots”. I usually spread my clover seed in early spring (April-May) or in the fall (September-October). I have tried several different varieties, from red clover to white. I have purchased it both treated (i.e. inoculated) and untreated. It is my experience that treated clover has a far better germination rate, making it well worth the added cost.

While butterflies and crickets seem to prefer red clover’s flowers, bees like it all and I find that most wildlife, especially whitetail deer, like munching white clover best.

There are several good varieties available either through most sporting goods or local feed stores.

Then, of course, there are some photos that simply speak for themselves.

In any event, new trail cam photos will appear below. I plan to begin this tomorrow and continue adding updates indefinitely. So, check back in regularly! Just scroll to the bottom for the most recent additions.

You just never know who might show up for my adirondackoutlaw.com wildlife parade.

I hope folks enjoy this post celebrating my wildlife trail camera photography and check back in often.

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Until Our Trails Cross Again:

ADKO

My Wildlife Parade Begins Here:

And, as promised…

HOT OFF THE PRESS!

November 12, 2024

After a weeklong hiatus,

The Sheriff is BACK!

He is most likely what these two deer were running from just a short while earlier.

November 14, 2024

“Masked Bandits”

November 15, 2024

It is always a thrill when my bobcat’s out prowling. Last night he was patrolling under the light of 2024’s final super moon, a.k.a. the “Beaver Moon”. It is comforting to know he’s on the job, providing my land top notch

“Perimeter Security”

November 18, 2024

While I was away for the weekend, my property was a veritable menagerie!

I know they are technically ruffed grouse, but I will always know them as “partridges”. By planting a variety of conifers and adding an array of brush piles, I’ve been trying to slowly build a sustained resident population. Daytime partridge sightings are infrequent. I always enjoy them.

And, of course, I ALWAYS love seeing my bobcat. Especially when I capture cool trail cam pics, like the image below of him running.

Finally, there’s always one in the wildlife herd:

“Curious George”

November 19, 2024

I begin and end each of my days with a property perimeter patrol. Yesterday morning was no exception. I donned my blaze orange jacket and hat (For safety reasons. It’s rifle deer season, lots of hunters hunting around me.) I was out on my Outer Boundary Trail when I heard a commotion in the swamp to my right. I glimpsed a deer running through, then a minute or two later, clearly visible through the swamp brush at about 25 yards, a big buck came through, lathered. He was chasing a doe. I believe it was this one. I can’t see his brow tines, but I think he’s a ten.

November 20, 2024

“Legal Tender”

November 22, 2024

After a quite night on November 21st with little wildlife activity as a storm system moved in, last night a variety of critters came out in the rain, though I’m not sure this grey fox looks too happy about it.

“Foxtrot”

November 23, 2024

There were several noteworthy wildlife parade entries yesterday afternoon and through the night last night.

I encounter this great blue heron quite often when out on my daily patrols. I think it’s cool when my “Trails to Noah” bridge catches him up close.

“Marsh Hunter”

I’ve had several bucks graze my clover food plots this year. I always enjoy seeing their different rack sizes & styles.

“Basket Rack”

The last of today’s wildlife parade entries, a pair of grey foxes. I’m hoping to catch some fox kits on cam come spring.

“Seeing Double”

November 24, 2024

Yesterday evening and last night were quite wildlife parade active. My cams captured a number of nice critter pics. To me though, these were the most interesting. Introducing my newest wildlife parade entry. I believe this is a pine marten. I’m thrilled to have one on my property. From what I understand, around here they are not all that common. In the 3rd image it looks to me like he captured a frog.

Then of course, there’s this big guy. I am totally in awe.

“Rack Master”

November 27, 2024

I run into this magnificent creature out back on my walks nearly every morning. How can anyone in their right mind encounter great blue herons in the wild and then claim with a straight face that dinosaurs are extinct?

Then early this morning this barred owl made an appearance.

“Hoo’s Hoo”

December 6, 2024

Well, due to exigent circumstances (i.e. the season’s first lake effect snowstorm & a broken snowblower), I haven’t gotten around to updating my Wildlife parade this past week. My apologies to those who’ve been following.

My trail cameras (the ones that weren’t buried) captured numerous great pics despite all of the snow.

First there was this guy, crossing Noah’s bridge to make his way to the ark ahead of the worst of the storm.

“Storm Trooper”

Then there was this guy. For anyone who’s wondering, those tracks are mine. After the storm, I patrolled through in a rescue mission on snowshoes, saving some very expensive trail camera equipment that had been buried in snow drifts.

“What’s Up, Doc?!”

Apparently, this raccoon never got the snowstorm alert memo.

“Bridge Closed”

Anybody else besides me of the impression that great blue herons flew south for the winter? Well, apparently, we were wrong.

What was even more surprising to me than the simple fact that my trail cams were still capturing images of a great blue heron, was what he was up to, along with the fact that even in December he could still somehow manage to successfully hunt up a frog.

This series of pics is a bit out of order, but these deer were smart, seeking shelter from the storm. I saved these for the final share on this post, as my wife & I generally pull all of our trail cams for maintenance about this time of year.

So, to all who have followed my Wildlife Parade,

“Happy Holidays!”

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Until Our Trails Cross Again:

ADKO