The elk refuge at Tomales Point inside Point Reyes juts northward into the Pacific Ocean and is often blanketed with maritime fog. Unfortunately, on my trip there I had high expectations of catching the elk at rut but the fog did its usual thing with very brief periods of clearance. So I took what I could get, not wanting to go home empty handed from a 120 mile round trip.
Dominant bulls have already staked out their harems after battling other males for the does (see photo #6 for some battle scars), while younger males keep at a distance. Bugling males are all over the place, some with large harems and some with as small a harem as 3 does
Fog creates light scattering (and OOF shots) but I liked the pose
Head crop
This bull's harem consisted of just 3 does. Notice battle injury
Detail of battle injury. Additionally, it's front eye-tine looked broken or twisted
This dominant bull's harem consisted of 20 does and he was still trying to round up more. They bedded down so I could not get a good shot.
Thanks everyone. Next year I shall time my visit 2-3 weeks earlier in the hope I get some real "action" shots.
Morris, I did some PP on the first (foggy) shot and, although slightly improved, it was not worth posting. I only wanted to show the original atmospheric condition and the havoc it plays on picture quality. On the other hand, last year I had (what I consider) a very nice shot of a bull elk looking ghostly in the morning fog.
I don't know when this pygmy race of elk rut...they are also out of their natural habitat (hot Central Valley of California). The elk in Central Oregon pretty much start their rut with the 1st frosts. It probably never gets below freezing at Pt. Reyes. I am curious if there will be problems of keeping the coastal elk (Roosevelt) from this expanding herd of Tule elk. My favorite is the foggy one also.
mogul wrote:
I don't know when this pygmy race of elk rut...they are also out of their natural habitat (hot Central Valley of California).
dalite: Not sure what you mean by pygmy race. Some of those bulls weigh as much as 500-600 lbs. And their habitat appears right, even the larger Roosevelt elk occupy coastal, foggy, Northern California at Prairie Creek Redwoods State park
It probably never gets below freezing at Pt. Reyes.
dalite: Correct
I am curious if there will be problems of keeping the coastal elk (Roosevelt) from this expanding herd of Tule elk
dalite: The two species are separated by several hundred miles
My favorite is the foggy one also....Show more →
dalite: Join the crowd
This is a wonderful assortment of beautiful pictures, absolutely including the first with the fog. I like all of them but kudos for that last one too--a really nice environmental group portrait. The way they blend into the surroundings (especially lying down) is a great example of how their camouflage just works.
