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Luncheon is Being Served


Luncheon is Being Served
Photo Information
Copyright: Jane Magen (jaycee) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-05-15
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Canon SX10IS
Exposure: f/5.7, 1/125 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-05-26 8:16
Viewed: 434
Points: 26
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Thank you for all the nice remarks on my 500th post. I am still limited to taking pictures from my windows or out in the yards. Fortunately there is quite a bit of activity out there so I get to use the camera but not as often as I would like. The deer frequently stop for a lunch of Bouganveilla.

Mule Deer

The Mule Deer, while closely related to the eastern species-the white-tailed deer, are remarkably distinct in their biological, ecological, and behavioral attributes.

The Mule Deer carries its thin, black-tipped tail drooped, unlike the uplifted, bushy white tail of its cousin. They have a distinctly different gait from the leisurely, graceful leaps of the white-tail. When startled, a Mule Deer will move in a series of stiff-legged jumps with all four feet hitting the ground together.

Mule Deer are usually a dark gray-brown, with a small white rump patch and a small, black-tipped tail. Their large ears are distinctive. White-tail deer are tan in color, with a larger tail.

Mule Deer antlers are normally smaller and branch to form 2 equal forks, while the male White-tailed Deer has forward curving antlers with a number of points (tines) branching from the main beam.

Mule Deer have large ears that move constantly and independently, from whence they get their name, "Mule" or "Burro Deer." They do not run as other deer, but have a peculiar and distinctive bounding leap (stotting) over distances up to 8 yards, with all 4 feet coming down together. In this fashion, they can reach a speed of 45 m.p.h. for short periods.

This stocky deer with sturdy legs is 4 to 6-1/2 feet in length and 3 to 3-1/2 feet high at the shoulder. During the summer, the coat on its upper body is yellow- or reddish-brown, while in winter more gray. The throat patch, rump patch, inside ears and inside legs are white with lower portions running cream to tan. A dark V-shaped mark, extending from a point between the eyes upward and laterally is characteristic of all Mule Deer but is more conspicuous in males.

Males are larger than females. The bucks' antlers, which start growth in spring and are shed around December each year, are high and branch forward, forking equally into 2 tines with a spread up to 4 feet.

The Mule Deer is slower and less colorful than the White-tailed Deer, but its pastel, gray-buff color provides a physical adaptation to the desert environment which disguises it from predators like the Cougar, the Coyote and the eagle who will swoop down on a fawn.

Mule Deer have no canine teeth and, like the cow, have a multi-part stomach, the first two chambers of which act as temporary storage bins. Food stored here can be digested later when the deer chews its cud.


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goldyrs, eqshannon, nglen, siggi, CeltickRanger, KOMSIS, Argus, boreocypriensis, Alex99 has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

A superb shot of this mule deer,Sis.
And a very apt title.
Goldy

Mule deer are becoming scarce up here....mostly white tail now....but here we have not only the Mule Deer, but the most artistic approach to it..This is one of those shots I would have liked to have taken but might not have seen it...that is a part of your own special ability! I keep switching around my fane Jane!
Bob

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2912 W: 34 N: 8640] (32202)
  • [2009-05-26 11:04]

Hi Jane. Lets hope you can get on the move soon . It isnot stoping you from getting great pictures. I like this one of the Deer eating you flowers. You were able to take it with fine detail and natural colours. Well done TFs.
Nick..

Hello Jane,
to day my neighbour; what a beautiful scene of the Mule Deer eating the Bouganveilla, very good sharpness and bright colours, well composed.
TFS
Best regards
Maurizio

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1378 W: 56 N: 4747] (16330)
  • [2009-05-26 12:46]

Hello Jane,
Fantastic shot of this Mule Deer , what a great photo. Colours is great & light beautifull, very well composed.
Best regards,
Siggi

Ciao Jane, lovely portrait of cute creature, great composition with splendid flowers, fantastic colors and excellent sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

hello Jane

beautiful portrait photo of the Mule Deer, fine POV,
i love his pose with smelling the flowers, beautiful luminosity,
excellent sharpness and details, TFS

Asbed

  • Great 
  • zetu Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 649 W: 15 N: 1607] (6263)
  • [2009-05-27 0:49]

Hello Jane
nice shot. I like it.
regards
Razvan

Hi Jane,
"Mule Deer" and a very pretty floral composition ...
Excellent sharpness, details and blurred background.
Best wishes,
Seyfi

hello Jane
nice picture with good details
beautiful colours
great shot
greeting lou

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3821 W: 190 N: 11376] (35063)
  • [2009-05-27 22:15]

Hello Jane,
I didn't know Bouganvilleia was that palatable!
Though deer in Sweden are know to eat tulips, much to the frustration of gardeners. This is a fine capture of a Mule Deer making a decision what flower or leaf to chose: he looks like quite a gourmet! Nice POV, colours and conmposition.
Thanks,
Cheers,
Ivan

Hi BSJ,
A Stunningly perfect capture of this pretty mule deer with excellent details, nice POV/DOF and fine composition.
TFS and cheers,
Bayram

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3585 W: 143 N: 5672] (18539)
  • [2009-05-28 23:21]

Hi Jane.
Top quality shot of the amazing scene. I am impressed with this superb 3D-image a lot. Transparency of the image and colours are wonderful and pleasant for look. Sharpness and details of the beautiful animal and wonderful blossoming bush against the nicely smoothed BG are amazing too. Perfect work. My compliments and kind regards.
Alexei.

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