October 10, 2021:
Cataloochee Valley Bonus:
For your viewing pleasure today, here are a few “non-Elk” images from my September 24, 2021, visit to the Cataloochee Valley:
Four photos of an American Crow; two shots of the Beech Grove School (Built in 1903); Wild Turkey; two images of a Spicebush Swallowtail Butterfly; and a Yellow-billed Cuckoo.
Enjoy!
Stay safe, and have a great day!
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October 9, 2021:
Cataloochee Valley Surprise Interloper!
On September 24, 2021, as dusk approached in the Cataloochee Valley, a young American Black Bear ambled out of the forest to check out the Elk herd!
The Bear certainly got the herd’s attention!
However, with the numbers clearly stacked against it, the Bear walked off shortly, without any confrontation.
Here are a few images of the Black Bear, the Elk herd’s reaction to it, and several more late afternoon photos of the Elk, including shots of a second impressive large Bull Elk.
Enjoy!
Stay safe, and have a great day!
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October 8, 2021:
Morning Becomes Afternoon:
As we head into the weekend, we are finally receiving a much-needed drenching with rain here in Charlotte, NC!
I’d like to share three more Cataloochee Valley Elk images from the late morning of September 24, 2021, and then move on to photos beginning in the mid-afternoon, when the Elk herd returned again to the meadow from the adjacent forest.
The dominant Bull Elk’s harem of about 25 Cows, spent a quiet afternoon and evening grazing and resting in the meadow.
Meanwhile, the Bull was hard at work, fending off intrusions by a couple of other Bull Elk in the vicinity, keeping his Cows close by, and often checking to see if any of the Cows was ready for mating.
He is going to be TIRED by the end of the Fall rutting season!
Enjoy!
Stay safe, and have a great day!
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October 7, 2021:
More Cataloochee Valley Morning:
Today, I’d like to share a second set of my favorite images of the resident Elk herd, as the morning of September 24, 2021, progressed in the Cataloochee Valley.
Enjoy!
Stay safe, and have a great day!
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October 6, 2021:
Return To The Cataloochee Valley:
On September 24, 2021, I made a second visit to the Cataloochee Valley, located at the eastern tip of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, to observe and photograph the resident Elk herd during the Fall rutting season.
It was significantly colder than on my initial visit eleven days before, with the temperature right at 32° F, when I arrived shortly before sunrise!
But it turned into a beautiful sunny day, warming up to about 70° F before dusk!
I had a wonderful time once again in this magical place!
Today, I’d like to share an initial set of my favorite images from this visit, presented in chronological order, starting at dawn.
Enjoy!
Stay safe, and have a great day!
