This page displays images of Mule Deer in the meadows of Yosemite Valley taken at
dawn, mid-day, sunset and dusk in March, May and June, and a Brewer’s Blackbird, several
Steller’s Jays, an Anna’s Hummingbird and a White-Headed Woodpecker taken in March and May.

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Images in this section are in a number of different Galleries on the Photoshelter website.
The Banner below leads to the Yosemite Collection page where a Gallery can be selected.

There are 15 Galleries in the Photoshelter Yosemite Collection

For convenience, Galleries containing the images of Wildlife, Plants,
Sequoia National Park, Bodie Ghost Town, Mono Lake and Mariposa
have been copied to the Yosemite Collection from their normal locations.

Mule Deer Cook’s Meadow Dawn 2950
(1500 x 1290, 728 KB)

Mule Deer in Cook’s Meadow on a cold dawn in March.

Mule Deer Cook’s Meadow Dawn 2948
(409 KB)

A Mule Deer buck sniffs a doe in Cook’s Meadow at dawn.

Mule Deer Cook’s Meadow Dawn 4707
(534 KB)

Mule Deer browsing in Cook’s Meadow at dawn.

Mule Deer Dawn Portrait 4744
(380 KB)

Close portrait of a Mule Deer buck in March.

Mule Deer Dawn Portrait 4752
(349 KB)

Close portrait of a Mule Deer doe in March.

Mule Deer in Velvet 1980
(801 KB)

A Mule Deer buck in Stoneman Meadow, with antlers in Velvet in June
(Velvet is a vascular coating which nourishes the deer’s growing antlers).

Mule Deer in Velvet 1977
(853 KB)

Mule Deer in Velvet 1991
(756 KB)

A Mule Deer buck browsing in Stoneman Meadow in June. Note the black tip on the deer’s tail.
Mule Deer, or Black-tailed Deer are named for their large mule-like ears. The differences between
the Black-tailed Deer and White-tailed deer are the size of the ears, the color of their tails, and the
fact that Black-tailed Deer’s antlers are bifurcated (they fork as they grow rather than branching off
from the main stem). The antlers begin to grow immediately after mating season in the spring, just
after the old antlers are shed. The Mule Deer is also generally larger than the White-tailed Deer.

Mule Deer in Velvet 1992
(849 KB)

A Mule Deer in Velvet relaxing in Stoneman Meadow in June.

Mule Deer in Velvet 2031
(547 KB)

This close portrait highlights the large mule-like ears.

Mule Deer in Velvet 2033
(476 KB)

Yosemite deer are very calm around people.

Images in this section are in a number of different Galleries on the Photoshelter website.
The Banner below leads to the Yosemite Collection page where a Gallery can be selected.

There are 15 Galleries in the Photoshelter Yosemite Collection

For convenience, Galleries containing the images of Wildlife, Plants,
Sequoia National Park, Bodie Ghost Town, Mono Lake and Mariposa
have been copied to the Yosemite Collection from their normal locations.

Mule Deer Ahwahnee Meadow Dusk 3646
(437 KB)

A portrait of a Mule Deer doe in Ahwahnee Meadow at dusk.

Mule Deer Ahwahnee Meadow Dusk 3645
(551 KB)

Mule Deer Ahwahnee Meadow Dusk 3653
(537 KB)

The Mule Deer in Yosemite are so used to people that they can be approached closely, and
often they will approach people on their own, as they have no expectation of danger. This deer
was encountered while I was bringing a group of photography students back from Mirror Lake,
and it presented the students with an opportunity to shoot wildlife up close in difficult light.

Mule Deer Ahwahnee Meadow Dusk 3656
(531 KB)

A close portrait of a Mule Deer in Ahwahnee Meadow at dusk.

Mule Deer Ahwahnee Meadow Dusk 3661
(658 KB)

Mule Deer Ahwahnee Meadow Dusk 3664
(637 KB)

The deer was browsing on the lush grass of the meadow. Mule Deer prefer woody vegetation and
berries more than grass, but in the spring and summer they eat far more grass than at other times.
In the winter, the deer forage on conifers, twigs and shrubs. Their favorite food is California Lilac
and the other shrubs in the genus Ceanothus, sometimes known as buckbrush or deerbrush.

Mule Deer Ahwahnee Meadow Dusk 3672
(485 KB)

A Mule Deer doe browsing in Ahwahnee Meadow at dusk.

Mule Deer Ahwahnee Meadow Dusk 3677
(421 KB)

This deer was a superb photography subject, but eventually the clicking caused her to move on.

Mule Deer Mirror Lake Trail X0308
(597 KB)

One day, while wandering in the woods below Mirror Lake, I encountered a Mule Deer doe and decided to follow her. These shots were taken with a 55mm manual macro lens (it was an overcast evening and I was shooting plants).

Deer Pee in Woods X0317
(635 KB)

It turned out that the doe was looking for a spot to relieve herself. This image provided the mate to a shot acquired by one of my students which proved the old question: “Does a Bear **** in the Woods?”. These two images were the source of all sorts of laughter and comments as you can imagine.

Images in this section are in a number of different Galleries on the Photoshelter website.
The Banner below leads to the Yosemite Collection page where a Gallery can be selected.

There are 15 Galleries in the Photoshelter Yosemite Collection

For convenience, Galleries containing the images of Wildlife, Plants,
Sequoia National Park, Bodie Ghost Town, Mono Lake and Mariposa
have been copied to the Yosemite Collection from their normal locations.

Mule Deer North Pines HS9288
(370 KB)

A Mule Deer in the North Pines crosses the Curry Stables Road at the approach to the Sugar Pine Bridge.

Mule Deer North Pines HS9289
(364 KB)

This road passes through the woods from Curry Village and the campgrounds to the Mirror Lake Trail.

Mule Deer in Lupines Wawona 3349
(511 KB)

Mule Deer in Lupines Wawona 3351
(382 KB)

A group of Mule Deer browsing a field of Lupines in a North Wawona meadow at dusk.

Mule Deer in Lupines Wawona 3355
(431 KB)

Mule Deer browsing a field of Lupines in a North Wawona meadow at dusk.
These were taken while I was exploring the area above the Wawona Hotel.

Mule Deer in Lupines Wawona 3357
(439 KB)

Mule Deer browsing a field of Lupines in a North Wawona meadow at dusk.
This group and the portraits below were all taken with a 300mm lens at f/2.8.

Mule Deer Wawona 3361
(388 KB)

Mule Deer Wawona 3363
(387 KB)

Close portraits of a Mule Deer doe in North Wawona at dusk.

Mule Deer Wawona 3365
(1500 x 1290, 482 KB)

A Mule Deer doe browsing in North Wawona at dusk.

Mule Deer at Sunset Wawona Hotel 2703
(348 KB)

Mule Deer at Sunset Wawona Hotel 2705
(389 KB)

A Mule Deer buck encountered just before sunset in front of the Wawona Hotel.
I followed him towards his companions in the forested meadow just to the east.

Mule Deer at Sunset Wawona 2709
(353 KB)

In the forested meadow east of the Wawona Hotel, I encountered a group
of Mule Deer in the exquisite dappled light which occurs just before sunset.

Mule Deer at Sunset Wawona 2718
(463 KB)

Mule Deer at Sunset Wawona 2728
(402 KB)

A Mule Deer buck approaches a group of younger bucks in a Wawona meadow just before sunset.

Images in this section are in a number of different Galleries on the Photoshelter website.
The Banner below leads to the Yosemite Collection page where a Gallery can be selected.

There are 15 Galleries in the Photoshelter Yosemite Collection

For convenience, Galleries containing the images of Wildlife, Plants,
Sequoia National Park, Bodie Ghost Town, Mono Lake and Mariposa
have been copied to the Yosemite Collection from their normal locations.

Mule Deer at Sunset Wawona 2721
(437 KB)

Young Mule Deer bucks in a meadow just east of the Wawona Hotel near sunset in spring.

Mule Deer at Sunset Wawona 2738
(403 KB)

Mule Deer at Sunset Wawona 2741
(506 KB)

The older buck was interested in the clicking sound, and stared directly into the big black eye of the lens.

Mule Deer at Sunset Wawona 2740c
(1500 x 1290, 590 KB)

A young Mule Deer buck watches an older buck with interest, while the older buck
stares directly into the lens. This is a resized detail crop from the left side of the image.

Mule Deer at Sunset Wawona 2753
(391 KB)

The young buck on the left seemed extremely interested in the camera.

Mule Deer at Sunset Wawona 2755c
(503 KB)

Mule Deer at Sunset Wawona 2758c
(466 KB)

Two detail crops of the expressive young buck on the left side of the group.

Mule Deer at Sunset Wawona 2759
(458 KB)

The expressive young buck and one of his totally relaxed companions. Several other
images are shown below of this group of Mule Deer in a Wawona meadow at sunset.

Mule Deer at Sunset Wawona 2768
(481 KB)

This group of shots taken in the dappled light near sunset are among
the most beautiful shots of Mule Deer I have had the pleasure to take.

Mule Deer at Sunset Wawona 2776
(364 KB)

Mule Deer at Sunset Wawona 2779
(357 KB)

Mule Deer at Sunset Wawona 2773
(484 KB)

Mule Deer in a Wawona meadow, taken near sunset in May.

Images in this section are in a number of different Galleries on the Photoshelter website.
The Banner below leads to the Yosemite Collection page where a Gallery can be selected.

There are 15 Galleries in the Photoshelter Yosemite Collection

For convenience, Galleries containing the images of Wildlife, Plants,
Sequoia National Park, Bodie Ghost Town, Mono Lake and Mariposa
have been copied to the Yosemite Collection from their normal locations.

Spiny Caterpillar Mirror Lake Trail 3989
(317 KB)

Spiny Caterpillar Mirror Lake Trail 3995
(337 KB)

A Spiny Caterpillar on a paved section of the Mirror Lake Trail between the Ahwahnee Hotel and North Pines.
I have had a difficult time finding out what type of caterpillar this is, so if you happen to know, please contact me.

Brewer's Blackbird 2375
(315 KB)

A male Brewer’s Blackbird at Mirror Lake (males are black with greenish-blue highlights,
a starkly-staring yellow eye, and an iridescent purple head... the female is grayish brown).
They eat fruit, seeds and berries, insects and the occasional wandering Spiny Caterpillar.

Steller’s Jay Mirror Lake 2769
(1500 x 1290, 369 KB)

An azure, blue and brown Steller’s Jay perched on a branch decorated with Wolf Lichen
near Mirror Lake in March. Steller’s Jays live in conifer forests and like hanging around near
campgrounds and other places where humans are. They are quite aggressive about snatching
food, and they beg with very loud calls. They seem to want to eat (and steal) any kind of food.

Steller’s Jay Mirror Lake 2760
(282 KB)

An exceptionally attractive Steller’s Jay perched on a branch near Mirror Lake in March.

Steller’s Jay Mirror Lake 2757
(280 KB)

Steller’s Jays were first discovered by the German naturalist Georg Steller on an Alaskan Island in 1741.

Steller’s Jay Mirror Lake 2406
(261 KB)

A Steller’s Jay perched on a branch at Mirror Lake, waiting for a human to drop a raw peanut (their favorite food).

Steller’s Jay Morning Visitor X0430
(276 KB)

A Steller’s Jay stops by to visit a friend at a Ranger’s cabin between Yosemite Village and the Yosemite Falls Trail.

Steller’s Jay Mirror Lake 2762
(334 KB)

A Steller’s Jay perched on Manzanita near Mirror Lake in March.

Pacific Steller’s Jays have azure markings on the head and azure
primary feathers and tail, with duller blue feathers on the rest of the body.

Steller’s Jay Mirror Lake 2395
(258 KB)

A Steller’s Jay perched on a lichen-covered branch at Mirror Lake. The Steller’s Jay is the only crested jay west of the Rocky Mountains. They are related to the Blue Jay, but have a dark brown or black head and upper body.

White-Headed Woodpecker X2305
(315 KB)

A female White-Headed Woodpecker in the North Pines near the Mirror Lake Trail. The males have a red spot at the back of the head, and both have a black body, white head and white primary feathers.

Anna’s Hummingbird Female 4099
(229 KB)

An Anna’s Hummingbird Female sporting a flowery beak decoration,
taken at Indian Peak Ranch in Mariposa (click to visit the Mariposa page).

Anna’s Hummingbird Female 4126
(257 KB)

Wing warp during hovering flight. A hummingbird’s wings beat up to 80 times per second, allowing them to hover in mid-air.

Anna’s Hummingbird Female 4127
(262 KB)

Hummingbirds can fly as fast as 35 miles per hour, and are also the only known bird capable of flying backwards.

Anna’s Hummingbird Female Flight Study
(308 KB)

Flight Study showing an Anna’s Hummingbird Female as she transitions to hovering flight.

Images in this section are in a number of different Galleries on the Photoshelter website.
The Banner below leads to the Yosemite Collection page where a Gallery can be selected.

There are 15 Galleries in the Photoshelter Yosemite Collection

For convenience, Galleries containing the images of Wildlife, Plants,
Sequoia National Park, Bodie Ghost Town, Mono Lake and Mariposa
have been copied to the Yosemite Collection from their normal locations.

Click the Display Composite above to visit the Squirrels and Marmot page

Click the Display Composite above to visit the Yosemite Select page