Pixel This - Wildlife Photography Rob Zabroky: 2009

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Mature Texas Whitetail at Sunset

His girlfriend is peeking in the top left corner. I was simply blown away during this encounter. I didn't expect to have him ghost out so close to my scene. I've spent literally 3 straight weeks trying to get this close. Tonight I finally got caught him red handed LOL! Whitetail simply drive me crazy..it's a game of chess trying to narrow the distance....even with a telephoto....it's a challenge! FINALLY OLD BOY!!!!

The Whitetail Courtship

On The Roost - Wild Turkey Hen turning in for the night

It's amazing these big birds can balance so well during their night time roost.

Wondering where she went?

I caught this old boy out trailing an unseen doe. As he mosied along, he worked a scent trail following a doe that previously fed through this area. Note his left eye, he recently fought another buck earning a battle scar in the process. He's very fortunate he didn't lose that left eye. Sure would like to find the other buck that managed to toe it up with him.....maybe next time.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Big Boy Tailing a Doe

The whitetail rut is now on here in the Texas hills. This old boy was caught out in the open, his female companion is further left and off frame of the photo, moving away from him. Note the shoulders-neck region, full and thick... a buck in rut.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

The Crested Caracara - Mexican Eagle

The Girls

Wild Rio Grande turkey hens

Evening Stroll

The Rio Grande turkey was originally found in the southern Great Plains, western Texas and northeast Mexico. They have expanded their range and been introduced into Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, Utah, South Dakota, and California. This race of turkeys generally occurs in areas having 16 to 32 inches of rainfall.

The Rio inhabits brushy areas near streams and rivers or mesquite, pine and scrub oak forests. It may be found up to 6,000 feet elevation and generally favors country that is more open than the wooded habitat favored by its eastern cousins. The Rio Grande is considered gregarious and, nomadic in some areas, having distinct summer and winter ranges. They may form large flocks of several hundred birds during the winter period. It has been known to travel distances of 10 or more miles from traditional winter roost sites to its nesting areas. Since the areas they are found usually do not have many roosting trees, they will often use the same tree which makes finding them a lot easier. Their range in a lot of cases is determined by the location of their preferred roosting tree, the cottonwood.

Axis Herd - Or I'm Seeing Stars

Native to India, where it is known as the "chital," the axis deer was introduced into Texas about 1932. In 1988, free-ranging herds were established in 27 counties of central and southern Texas. Axis deer are the most abundant exotic ungulate in Texas.

Traffic

New Mexico Sunset

Near the Apache National Forest New Mexico

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Lazy Afternoon

In between thunderstorms......a buck has to find some rest. In the next few weeks the urge of courtship will take it's toll on his physical conditioning. Till then.....finding moments to rest and recharge takes priority.

Friday, October 2, 2009

The Light Show

This was last night's cold-front....this scene is roughly 7 miles North of Hunt Texas. Note the left lightning bolt reaching out towards me....at this point it was time to pack up LOL! 60 mph winds with nickel sized hail....I raced ahead of the storm and made it just in time before the bottom fell out.