Arkansas Wildlife Blog and Gallery
Buffalo National River and NW Arkansas
Today was an interesting morning. Quite cold and the first day really with visible frost. Tonight promises to be colder, maybe as low as the upper 20's. I think that we are transitioning into something close to the winter pattern now. The herd that was behind the Ponca Bible Camp came down to the Ponca fields, so now there are two herds in the north valley area. They have been staying in the fields longer with the cold weather. They were still in the field at around 11 when I left, yesterday they were in the field in mid-afternoon. It is probably safe to say that viewing is possible all day now in the cooler weather, but if we get warm again, it would reverse.
It was interesting today to see the frost on the coats and antlers of the elk in the early morning. There was quite a bit of bugling, but no fighting. The rut is still going on, but dominance order is largely established.
With the first frost, I got pictures of "frost blossoms" that pop up in the cold months. There is an interesting plant here the siphons water slowly and it forms ribbons of ice and frost along the stem. These can be quite beautiful, and an interesting photographic subject. I a posting a few pictures of these. One is quite large, I wanted you to see the intricate patterns that can arise in this unique natural phonominon. Worth a study by a serious photographer I think.
It was interesting today to see the frost on the coats and antlers of the elk in the early morning. There was quite a bit of bugling, but no fighting. The rut is still going on, but dominance order is largely established.
With the first frost, I got pictures of "frost blossoms" that pop up in the cold months. There is an interesting plant here the siphons water slowly and it forms ribbons of ice and frost along the stem. These can be quite beautiful, and an interesting photographic subject. I a posting a few pictures of these. One is quite large, I wanted you to see the intricate patterns that can arise in this unique natural phonominon. Worth a study by a serious photographer I think.
Boxley Valley Update -- 10/28/08
Frost "blossom" in Boxley Valley. Large popup showing great detail of this interesting phenominon.
Satellite bull in morning frost
A couple of more frost blossoms showing how varied they can be.
Deer on 43 road side opposite the Ponca access point.
Elk herd in first field south of Ponca access point. Frost with back lighting is just about as hard as it gets to photograph. The steaming breath was great to watch.