Another pic, from yesterday's hike in Charlestown, RI. The heat was brutal and the deer flies ate me alive. But it was nice near the shore.
The more scientifically inclined may now be wondering if between the rabbit and the deer flies, I don't now have Tularemia, as well as Lyme! Only time will tell, I guess...

valinors_sorrow

Another nice shot Thomas, you are definately on to something here, I think!

I am having a bumper crop of those in my yard this year. Just the other day I saw one startle a squirrel that was trying to break into the bird feeder. To see those two square off was pretty interesting. The bunny lost the staring contest even though the squirrel was less than half its size (yeah, Florida has wimpy squirrels!)

Cassie

My Thomas, you are have anothr excellent shot...this is wonderful

Thomas1970

Thanks Val. Thanks Cassie.
I'm not sure what kind of squirrels you have down there, but the red ones are feisty up here. They stand up to me all the time when I photograph them, flapping their tail and chittering. The grey ones tend to be quite a bit more shy.

J_9

Wow, another great shot!!! Really up close too, are what kind of lens are you using?

Jay_Jay

Another great picture

Thomas1970

I use a 370mm lens. This photo was taken at a distance of roughly about 5-1/2 to 6 feet.
Thanks.

J_9

Pretty cool that you could get so close to a wild bunny rabbit. Here they just run like hell if you get within 25 feet!!!!!

valinors_sorrow

At the risk of sounding a bit cracked or embarrassing Thomas, I think that is a measure of how "one with the universe" he is, that anyone can be ... I know I come and go in that whatever it is and have experienced a few times where the wild things came right up to me.

Thomas1970

I do find some animals are far easier to approach than others, but largely it's just been a matter of years of practice; learning about the animals' behavior and how not to seem too imposing to them. Crazy as this may sound, I do also talk to them reassuringly in my mind as I approach, as I do believe this affects the energy I emit, that I do feel they are to a greater degree sensitive to. I do as well always hike in sandals or moccasins which allow me to move almost silently over most terrain. That does helps greatly, as many of the animals don't seem to realize I'm there until I get quite close. And though that is definitely a key, I do find many animals seem quite comfortable with my presence.
I'm generally not fond of pictures of myself, but here I am, out for a typical hike. Birkenstock clogs and all! Effective, if not the most fashionable. Possible fodder for the next photo contest!



Here is a friend from last season. A regular subject, I photographed throughout the summer. Sometimes seeing him a couple of times a week. Almost always perched on this tall stump, directly above his den. I nicknamed him "Divot", as he was very easily recognizable from the missing piece of his right ear.



This was one of my closest encounters from last year. A beaver I had spotted from the road on the way home. I climbed across a treacherous drainage ditch to get this photo, believing myself realtively safe. Despite their reputation of being extremely shy of humans, after slapping his tail in a territorial warning many times, he proceeded to get closer and closer. So close, in fact, I beat a hasty retreat shortly after this photo was taken, as they have been known to defensively nip animals as large as bear. So much for the wildlife guides!



This was perhaps one of my luckiest encounters last year, and one of the rarest things I have ever photographed. An endangered Blanding's turtle, complete with attached radio transmitter (upper-right).



And this is one the first photos taken with a new camera early in the previous year, of some Mallard ducklings. This is probably, undoubtedly the most popular photo I have ever taken.