A-Z Challenge 2021 - Photo Shoot: M - Michigan Wildlife, Maxie,

 During our many visits to Michigan we get to see a lot of wildlife without having to move far from where we stay. Including this in the paddock - 

Rocky and Bambi share the food dropped from the bird feeder

Snapping Turtle from a nearby 'swamp'

Squirrels abound as well as deer beyond the lake.

And then there's Maxie waiting for the refuse wagon.

She just loved to roll in what the deer left behind. The stink she created was almost matched by how mad she became when forced to have a bath. She would go away and sulk in the dirtiest spot she could find.

A-Z Challenge 2021 - Photo Shoot: D - Deer, Ducks, Denmark

 It's not just in Britain that ducks abound.

On the Clinton River in Rochester, Michigan

They know where the picnic tables are!

When we are in Michigan I do not have to look far for deer.

Just over a roadside fence

One of many that visit my daughter's home

I have delivered lots of training courses in Denmark and could not miss this in Copenhagen.

The Little Mermaid

Rosenberg Palace

Sentry Duty at the Amalienborg Palace, Copenhagen

Good Fences on a dog walk in Michigan

Recently in Michigan the road down which I walked my daughter's dog (one at a time) passed fences like these.

I just hope this head does not finish up on a fence. Good Fences.

One fence, three uses - Good Fences

Three pictures of the fence which forms one side of the'corral' behind my daughter's house. Her dogs have free access to the 'corral.'

It keeps other creatures out, including this visiting dog.

Boundary fence

Some visitors will always raise a bark, if the dogs see them that is.

Deer fence

It would not need to be so high to keep out creatures like this.

Snapping turtle

I guess he could dig underneath it if he wanted to.

Nevertheless this fence has proved its worth and earned its place in a post  here  at

Animal Planet - Thematic Photography

Excluding the human variety I find that I have included animals in my thematic photography posts 55 times in the last two years with dogs making up about half of these.

Nevertheless I propose to start with dogs again this week - dogs you may recognise, although not these shots.

Gem

Gem, a street-wise black Lab mutt, recently crossed the Rainbow Bridge to join this Golden Retriever who had left her two years earlier.

Cody

They left behind the pup that Cody saved who is now the oldest of a gang of three (Lily, another Golden Retriever and Gabby, a Yellow Labrador)

Scout (when he was younger)

They were  excited in 2011 when a strange beast invaded their domain.

Young steer - 2011

They were more used to barking at the more common invaders of their property.

Deer wondering what the noise was all about

Cody was a keen fisherman but he never managed to catch one of these.

American Green Frog (Rana Clamitans) - 2009

Although there were lots of squirrels in the woods, this bold fellow preferred the Paint Creek Trail at Rochester.

It's much more colourful than his cousin they exported to Britain.

Grey Squirrel - 2014

Although I am not a lover of cats there is one in our village that 'talks' to me; I'm expected to reply and not go by without stroking her.

Tortoiseshell Cat - 2014

I could continue as I have 'shot' as many more species again.

You may see choices made by others if you follow the links at Carmi's Animal Planet -  Thematic-photographic-319.

More Favourite Photos of the Year - Thematic Photography

Carmi has continued the 'favourite photo' theme for a second week, so here are another six from 2013 - three from Michigan and three from our Yorkshire garden.

Michigan Deer

And another shot of that grasshopper that appeared in my previous set of favourites.

Grasshopper in the sun

While on a walk from my daughter's home we came across a colourful postbox.

Red Cardinal Postbox

Back in my Yorkshire garden I soon had a helper when I turned the soil.

Female Blackbird waits for worms

This is what a butterfly bush (buddleia) attracts.

Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly

When I opened up our compost bin this came out the bottom.

Garden Frog

Hope you like these further favourites of mine. To see what others have selected just check out the links in the comments at Carmi's Thematic-photographic-277.

Life in the 'Wild'

Each year when we visit Michigan I try to get some wild life shots. Three dogs running around often makes this difficult. However I usually manage  to get a deer or two before they are frightened away.

Deer on watch

About to run

This chap stopped to pose.

Squirrel - where did it leave those nuts?

And one of the largest grasshoppers I've ever seen.

Grasshopper

The piece of metal to which is clinging is 3 inches deep.

Not much to show for three weeks - perhaps they were put off by the high temperatures at the time in September.

Cody takes a bath

The smell was overpowering. Where had Cody been?

By the aroma that was wafting everywhere he had obviously been indulging in his favourite pastime of rolling on the grass. Only this time there must have been deer about..

An immediate bath was called for. At 14 years old Cody knows the routine and sits patiently to be soaped, rinsed and dried - just what is all the fuss about?

Cody being dried

That's better - smelling sweet and no soap in my eyes!

Cody - with a dry tail.

Vacation -Thematic Photography

The Vacation theme this week gave me something of a problem as I have already used many of my photos on earlier blog posts which mainly deal with wildlife.

Checkout these links to see what I took:
Michigan Wildlife
Birding in Michigan
When Rocky Met Bambi
I Never Promised You A Rose Garden

However when were were packing to leave on the last morning of our vacation at my daughter's house in Michigan my wife called to us to look out of the window. No-one got excited as we expected to see a deer as they are regular visitors to the grounds.

I grabbed my camera and got this shot of the animal strolling by the front porch. A deer it was not!

Bullock

 

My daughter wanted to know whether it was a cow. To my wife and I it obviously was not. When my son-in-law was roused confusion reigned over just what we had seen. By this time the bullock was out of sight.

In America the term bull is understood, but not bullock. We settled for American terminology in the end and the English bullock became a steer.

This meant that it was necessary to set up a 'steer(ing)' committee. First we had to find the steer. In the meantime my son-in-law had alerted the local sheriff that there was bull on the loose and had driven round the neighbourhood to check if one had been lost.

By searching the grounds I located the steer at the edge of the property by the swamp and near the boundary road.

Steer at bay.

 When the sheriff arrived this photo was vital evidence for him as he had expected to see the black bull that had gone walk about earlier in the week.

The final steer(ing) committee was soon complete - the sheriff, the attorney (my daughter), the photographer (me), my son-in-law, a farm hand and Halo, his dog. However the steer had moved on. It was to be Halo's job to flush him out. Halo was far more interested in the scent left by my daughter's dogs.

Halo, the St Bernard.

Halo did respond to a shout and a whistle from his owner who was now deep in the woods.

Halo to the rescue

Despite all the efforts the steer eluded everyone, Even although his exit to a nearby farm was found the steer was not. Perhaps he is wandering on still looking for his herd.

The steer(ing) committee disbanded and every one cooled down, the dogs in the lake.

Cooling off period.

An interesting end to a vacation; see more holiday snaps at Carmi's thematic photographic 154 Vacation

When Rocky Met Bambi

At dusk as the sun goes down behind the wood, the shadows lengthen and the light begins to fade.

Now’s the time for Rocky to appear to clear up the daily debris left at the feeder by the birds. It’s a mystery how he can squeeze his body through the small gap beneath the left-hand garden gate. But this is what he does each night and evades the watching dogs. Perhaps they see him, perhaps they are too tired to even bother to bark, let alone chase him back under the gate into the wood.

This is also the time when deer emerge from the wood to feed long its edges. To the left of the fenced-off compound one stretches its neck to nibble leaves from the lower branches of the trees. To the right stands Bambi, tail twitching, her eyes fixed on the feeder – or is it Rocky that has caught her eye?

Her tail twitching still, Bambi’s back legs tense. Will she run? Has Rocky scared her off?

But no, it’s the other way round. As Bambi springs athletically over the steel wire fence Rocky runs for cover, back under the gate to his refuge in the wood.

Unconcerned, Bambi lowers her head and begins to eat the grass enhanced with discarded bird feed.

Rocky’s courage returns and so does he, back under the gate where he hesitates, not sure of the welcome he will receive. He scuttles up the side of the left fence and circles across the lawn approaching from Bambi’s rear. She, head lowered, continues to eat with her tail flicking from side to side.

Reassured Rocky decides he should take his place and settles down facing her. The complimentary meal is enjoyed by them both.

In the gloom the paparazzi camera clicks and clicks again, no flash to pierce the gathering dark.

The photos will be published next day under the heading, “Secret Rendezvous! When Rocky Met Bambi.”

Michigan Wildlife Singles

 I make fairly regular trips to Michigan and over the years have collected a few wildlife shots that meet the 'Singles' theme. These shots, except the squirrel, were taken within 100 yards of where we stay.

American Green Frog (Rana Clamitans)

I couldn't resist adding a second picture of him (or her).

Harry, a great blue heron visits the same lake as well:

 Away from the lake a dragon fly hangs on to a conifer bush:

 This one wants all the nuts for himself:

And finally one I had to wait for:

 

I've lots of others, but perhaps that's enough for now.

 To some others 'Singles' check out the hosts post and links at: Thematic Photographic - 133