Shootout '08 Wildlife - what there was of it

Dixie

Pickings were slim for wildlife during Shootout '08 since most creatures in the desert are nocturnal. Here are the ones I was able to photograph. In addition to the ones shown here I also saw a Kit Fox, a Turkey, and one coyote. The three were either too fast for me (the turkey and coyote) or it was just too dark to shoot a moving object (the kit fox).

However, I was able to manage the following meager offerings from Shootout '08 in the wildlife area.

As always, comments and suggestions are welcome.

Pronghorn Antelope along the Needles Overlook Road on BLM land near the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park, Utah:



Antelope Ground Squirrel at Grand View Point in the Island in the Sky district, Canyonlands National Park, Utah:



White goose and young on the Colorado River next to Arches National Park, Utah:



Desert Spiny Lizard at Needles Overlook, Canyonlands National Park, Needles District, Utah:



I hope that you enjoyed them. Other of my photos from Shootout '08 can be seen in the following gallery: Newest Photos

Andy

Dixie

Andy wrote:

Andy,

There wasn't much, but I made the best of what I could find. I am really pleased with the Pronghorn Antelope. I've shot them for years, but their eyesight is so keen it is really hard to get close so I'm happy with this one as it is the best I've been able to capture to date.

Gale

Very nice images

A tad over PP though on my monitor

Harryb

Always great to see your images Dixie.

Dixie

Harryb wrote:

Always great to see your images Dixie.

Thanks, Harry.

I'm not sure of the dates yet, but I should be in your neck of the woods sometimes during the first half of November. You know I will find a way to hit Viera Wetlands and Merritt Island as I pass through.

livinginoz

maybe i am mistaken, but aren't the birds in the river geese? they look an awful lot like the ones in my back yard

Dixie

livinginoz wrote:

maybe i am mistaken, but aren't the birds in the river geese? they look an awful lot like the ones in my back yard

Nope, you aren't mistaken. I research it a little deeper and they are not swans and the closest match I could come up with were geese. Thanks for catching the mistaken ID.

JenGrace

Love that pronghorn!

Ann McRae

Great shots, Dixie. The antelope and the ground squirrel are particularly sweet!
Of course, I know that you are a patient and persistent wildlife shooter so if anyone would get the sweet shot, it would be you!

Thanks for sharing

ann

kdog

Dixie wrote:

Super. We were in that area several times and didn't see any pronghorns. Hats off to you for getting this shot.

-joel

Dixie

JenGrace wrote:

Love that pronghorn!

Thanks, Jen. Found him heading out to the Needles District Overlook just outside Canyonlands NP. Usually when I find them this close they have their backs to the sun causing backlighting problems. This one messed up and got on the wrong side of the road letting me get a decent shot.

Dixie

Ann McRae wrote:

Great shots, Dixie. The antelope and the ground squirrel are particularly sweet!
Of course, I know that you are a patient and persistent wildlife shooter so if anyone would get the sweet shot, it would be you!

Thanks for sharing

ann

Thanks, Ann.

Dixie

kdog wrote:

Super. We were in that area several times and didn't see any pronghorns. Hats off to you for getting this shot.

-joel

Thanks, Joel. They blend in fairly well in that terrain. I had two cars pull up behind me and they told me they would never have seen them if I hadn't stopped. Of course, since I travel pretty much by myself I really look off the road more than on the road when driving. Both cars had at least two people in them so they were probably talking and not paying attention to what was in the fields around them.

HirePhotographer

Dixie wrote:

Andy,

There wasn't much, but I made the best of what I could find. I am really pleased with the Pronghorn Antelope. I've shot them for years, but their eyesight is so keen it is really hard to get close so I'm happy with this one as it is the best I've been able to capture to date.

the wife loves the chipmunk



we were camping in Arches one spring and took some (distant) photos of coyotes (looking for them now) . . .

pathfinder

Love the antelope shot, Dixie.

I agree that they can be very challenging as they are very fast, and don't hang around once you open a car door!

Photosbychuck

Great photos!

I like the shot of the Pronghorn Antelope the best.

It is hard to get pictures of deer in my area.
They seem to mostly come out right at dusk.

Take Care,
Charles,

Dixie

HirePhotographer wrote:

the wife loves the chipmunk

we were camping in Arches one spring and took some (distant) photos of coyotes (looking for them now) . . .

I'm sort of partial to the chipmunk as well. I've seen coyotes in Arches, but never got a shot of one. I actually saw one this trip in the open area next to Sanddunes Arch trail, but he was too far away and when I tried to head him off to get a shot he must of chose a different path because I never saw him again.

Dixie

pathfinder wrote:

Love the antelope shot, Dixie.

I agree that they can be very challenging as they are very fast, and don't hang around once you open a car door!

You're right, but these must not get much pressure because I got out and shot for about 15 minutes and two other cars pulled up and they never did take off. I stayed until they just grazed out of range.

Dixie

Photosbychuck wrote:

Great photos!

I like the shot of the Pronghorn Antelope the best.

It is hard to get pictures of deer in my area.
They seem to mostly come out right at dusk.

Take Care,
Charles,

That's why I usually have to pump the ISO - especially when I'm shooting bears in the Great Smoky Mountains NP. You can see them sometimes during the day in the open, but most times it is in the thickest part of the forest and then around sunrise or late evening. Just up the ISO and hope for the best on noise. The new 50D does cut down a lot on the noise so I'm really looking forward to my next trip to try and shoot some bears in the Smokies. Thanks for the comments.