Huge Coyote!... Wolf Hybrid?

I was confused earlier this week by some HUGE 'dog' foot prints in the snow around my house. None of my neighbors have a dog that big, just a medium size black lab across the street but that's it. I know this was not a black lab, these tracks are HUGE.

 Seriously?

Then I kind of forgot about it until i went to check the trail camera in the side of my property today. I knew some thing good would be on the camera when I saw how far the deer carcass had been dragged, also the head was missing. Sure enough, the first documented coyote on the property. Now I feel like I see a lot of coyotes compared to the casual observer and I am very aware of the size of an adult, but this one just looks huge. I cant help but believe that this one has some wolf genes in it.

Call me crazy but look at these 2 shots taken one day apart, a red fox is standing in the exact same location as the coyote. Never have I see such a huge difference in the size of these two animals.

I'm sure its probably just a normal adult coyote but it sure is fun to imagine wolves living among us.

This guy looks like an Alaskan Malmute

It worked almost too good!

Last night I headed out to the Christmas tree farm to try out my new predator call. (below)

This call had been suggested to me by a buddy who had some great luck with it after only a few uses. The general idea of this call is that it makes sounds that attract predators, fox, coyote, bobcat who come in close looking for an easy meal. Because it is wireless you are able to place the speaker part up to 150 yards away UPWIND so that when the animal come in to see whats going on, you can be hidden out of sight. Unlike my old call I had to hold in my hand, this call has clear advantages. The other great part besides its very reasonable price ( about half the cost of other systems with the same set up) is the fact that you can change the sound cards for different uses, from turkey, deer, moose, elk, crows, you name it!


So back to last night. I walked quietly and slowly to the edge of the field, hung the speaker in someones future Christmas tree and backed away and hid along the edge of the field. I began a calling sequence that mimics and injured rabbit. Its a terrifying crying sound that is supposed to work amazing, sure enough in less than a minute I could hear something running through the woods headed straight for me...not the plan. I looked quickly at the spot where it seemed the animal would pop out, I crouched down and aimed my camera at the small opening. This locations was less than 20 feet away from me, in fact i did not even have to zoom in, i shot these images at 100mm.

Blurry due to his shock of seeing me.

Sure enough, withing seconds this beautiful coyote poked his head out, at the same time I hit my shutter release. I am blown away with the speed which he identified me and spun around and vanished. It was a fraction of a second, hence the blurry photo. I still feel like this was a success and look forward to trying to get more shots of one of my favorite subjects our local predators!

And that was that, keep in mind this second photo was taken 1/7th of a second after the first! That's fast reflexes!

The Last Drive through Hollis.

This morning I left my house with a little bit of sadness. I grabbed my camera bag just as I have so many times over the last 2 years living in Hollis, patted my Kitty on the head and made my way downstairs out to my truck, it was 6:45am.

Today marks the last morning for me to drive the back roads on my usual route looking for birds, or animals to photograph before having to head into work. A route I have performed over a a hundred times in the past 2 years. Although I am very excited about my move tomorrow to Nottingham, and the amazing times that await me there, I will always remember the special times in Hollis.

Although I have put a pretty substantial amount of effort and time into wildlife photography while living here 2 species have eluded me. Coyote, and Ruffed Grouse.

Sure I have had a quick glimpse of both of them from time to time I can think of a handful of occasions just after sunset, a yote has run in front of me. Similarly I'd guess I must have flushed a grouse over 50 times, never a photo, until today!

Enjoy these photos, they feel like a gift! As always, click to enlarge.
-Bill

Winter Coyotes

I went for a photo drive with fellow photographer Kevin Klasman this weekend. Our only plan was to attempt to photograph my first Red Morph Screech Owl that had been reported in Essex, Mass. Images for that attempt to follow in Part#2 of this post.

Along the way from Hollis,  we made several stops including Great Meadows Wildlife
Refuge in Concord, MA. With calm winds and comfortable temps we slowly made our way out onto the dike dividing the marsh. Almost instantly we spotted a bedded coyote several hundred yards off.

Patiently we watched the 'yote only to realize he was going to relax in the warm sun  and most likely not offer an opportunity for any closer shots. We were divided by the marsh and could not get any closer ourselves. After poking around a little longer we decided to head back to my truck. On the way to the truck we saw this cute little mash wren playing in the reeds.

Marsh Wren

I looked to see if I could locate my coyote call, figuring this might bring the bedded dog out for a better look, it was not in my truck.

With the opportunity to photograph this healthy mature coyote in snow too alluring to abandon, we decided to hike along the old train tracks behind where we spotted the coyote to give it one last try.
Glad we did! Click images to enlarge.

Bedded Female Coyote

Big Male spotted me very quickly, I made a hoot sound to stop him for a photo

 This looks like a wolf to me

 happy couple

 Relaxing, waiting for nightfall to cause some trouble

 Downward Yote

And one of my favorites, these people skied right past this huge male with out even noticing. Just shows, you gotta pay attention!

-Bill

Variety is the spice of life.

Yellow Rumped Warbler, Hollis NH

With all the cold, windy weather I have not been out with the camera for a week or so. This morning was a nice break, sunny, warm and calm. I headed out to the Hollis/ Brookline Highschool where spring break at the school makes for a nice peaceful setting to stroll around. I was very, very happy I went there. When I first got out of my truck I was blown away by a flock of about 40 Yellow Rumped Warblers ( one of my favorite little birds, they are beautiful!), I was shooting some pictures  of them when a coyote ran out into the field right in front of me. As if this was not enough, after the coyote ran off I walked a little further and noticed a duck that seemed different, I took a few shots and realized this was a new one for me. I identified it as a Blue Winged Teal. The on the way back to my truck I spotted a pair of Killdeer doign the hanky panky. Not bad for a half hour before work!
-Bill

Eastern Coyote, Hollis, NH

Eastern Coyote, Hollis, NH

Blue Winged Teal, Hollis NH

 Mating Killdeer, Hollis NH