Camera Labs

Some months ago, I posted some photos I was lucky enough to get of a momma bobcat and her cubs - she gave me a minute or two hiding behind some brush and reeds before cautiously retreating and calling her cubs to go with her.

Well a few weeks ago, I had another great encounter with this beautiful animal - this time I believe with one of those cubs, now more grown and on its own. This time I was able to get even closer, and spend a good bit more time following him around.

I first spotted him about 30 feet away, rubbing some scent along some reeds and gnawing on a stalk:


It caught my scent or heard me, and sat down and turned around to have a look at me, I guess to see if I was a threat:


He made some grumbling noises and watched me for a while, but didn't look terribly threatened or worried:


He then started walking off, and I walked parallel to him - surprisingly his walk took him even a little closer to me, about 25 feet away - and I just walked along slowly in the same direction taking some shots as we went:


The walk never seemed to be about getting away from me, as he made no attempt to head into the heavier brush where I couldn't follow:


He stopped along the way and found a scent that seemed to really get his attention - he sneezed a few times and started drooling and closing his eyes to take in that scent and taste, probably of another cat. He looked back at me while drooling, just to make sure I wasn't going to be a bother:


A little lick to clean up the drool:


He then turned his head quickly - staring off ahead of us like he heard a sound or saw something...one more shot, and then *poof*! He shot off into the brush and that was the end of my encounter!:


It's always amazing and cool to get to see wild cats like this, and especially when they're good enough to pose for a few shots! All photos taken with my DSLR (Sony A580) and 300mm F4 lens with a 1.4x matched TC.

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Justin Miller
Sony DSLR-A580 / Sony 18-250mm / Minolta 50mm F1.7 / Sigma 30mm F1.4 / Tamron 10-24mm / Tamron 200-500mm / Tamron 90mm F2.8 macro / Minolta 300mm F4 APO
Sony NEX5N / 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 / 55-210mm F4-6.3 / Pentax K adapter / Konica K/AR adapter / bunches o' Konica & Pentax lenses!

Galleries:
http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg

Great encounter Zack!

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Canon 7D + 50D + EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM + EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM + EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM
Pelican // Black Rapid // Think Tank // Manfrotto // Garmin

Reflections On Canadian Wildlife
My Flickr

awesome

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Canon Powershot S95, Canon 6D,7D, 24-70 2.8 Tamron VC, Canon 15-85, Canon 85 1.8, Sigma 30 1.4, 50mm 1.8, Canon 100 2.8L Macro, Canon 70-300L +Kenko 1.4 Pro 300DGX, Canon 430EX II and RS 4 Classic

Great set, I thought it was drooling because it saw you as a meal.

Cheers

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Nikon D7000, D40X, Nikkor 18- 200 VR II, f3.5-5.6, 70-300 AF non VR, Kit Lenses.

Nah - I think I'm a little too large for a bobcat like that! It'd take him, his mom, and his 3 brothers to be able to finish me off - I'm a big guy!

Thanks guys...it's always a great experience to see the wild cats in the wild.

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Justin Miller
Sony DSLR-A580 / Sony 18-250mm / Minolta 50mm F1.7 / Sigma 30mm F1.4 / Tamron 10-24mm / Tamron 200-500mm / Tamron 90mm F2.8 macro / Minolta 300mm F4 APO
Sony NEX5N / 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 / 55-210mm F4-6.3 / Pentax K adapter / Konica K/AR adapter / bunches o' Konica & Pentax lenses!

Galleries:
http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg

Great shots and the story is great, I love this kind of sets. Good job

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Gear: Canon SX20 IS, Canon Rebel T3i, Canon EF-S 18-55mm
Wishlist: Canon 50mm f/1.8 II, Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS II
Visit me and leave me a comment in My Flickr

Just amazing Zack. Could you send one over here to sort troublesome rabbits out?

Wonderful encounter & great images.

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Nikon D800E & D700 bodies + Nikon AF-S 80-400mm f4.5-5.6G ED VR, 50mm F1.4G, 16-35mm f/4G VR, 105 F2.8 VR macro, 70-300mm lenses. A couple of filters, Giotto tripod & ballhead. Lowepro Slingshot 302 AW

http://www.flickr.com/photos/oldcarlos/

Thanks all...appreciate the kind words. I'd love to send you some, Warth! They do like rabbits around here - marsh rabbits are a primary food. Though bobcats unfortunately are also on someone else's menu, as one of the local bobcat cubs discovered when it became lunch for Mr. Alligator.

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Justin Miller
Sony DSLR-A580 / Sony 18-250mm / Minolta 50mm F1.7 / Sigma 30mm F1.4 / Tamron 10-24mm / Tamron 200-500mm / Tamron 90mm F2.8 macro / Minolta 300mm F4 APO
Sony NEX5N / 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 / 55-210mm F4-6.3 / Pentax K adapter / Konica K/AR adapter / bunches o' Konica & Pentax lenses!

Galleries:
http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg