Coyote in the golden light of dawn – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/640, ISO 800, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 500mm, not baited
I admit I am fascinated by Coyotes so when ever the opportunity presents itself to photograph them, I enthusiastically jump at the chance. I think Coyote’s have amazing eyes, are great fun to watch while they are hunting and I absolutely adore hearing them howl. Last month I spotted this Coyote in the golden light of dawn while it hunted in the grasses on Antelope Island State Park. With light so sweet, how could I resist?
 Coyote and wild Sunflowers – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/640, ISO 800, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 500mm, not baited
The Coyote wasn’t as close as I would have liked thus these images are cropped more than I usually like to crop but I am still very pleased with the files and how well they stood up to being cropped.
At the time I photographed this Coyote the wild Sunflowers on the island were in full bloom, millions of them! I don’t know how we got such a bumper crop of sunflowers on the island this year, it might have been the wet spring we had. Last year though I was bemoaning the fact that we had so few. I was very glad that there were sunflowers close to the Coyote in the image above.
 Coyote leaping after prey – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/800, ISO 800, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 500mm, not baited
I’ve been dreaming of getting an image of a Coyote leaping after prey, one that had few or no obstructions in front of the Coyote, one with beautiful light and a simple setting. I hope that the next time I see a Coyote hunting that it will be a little closer to me than this one was.
I saw and pointed out six Coyotes the other day and all of them were starting to get their winter coats, I’m going to hope that I will get to photograph them hunting in the snow soon.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to view more of my Coyote photos plus facts and information about this species.
I love the first picture of the coyote. The hair on his back looks like feathers. The bottom one is a great shot also. It’s not easy getting photos of wildlife looking for food.
I am really fascinated with coyotes. I did see one on Antelope Island, from the road. It was trotting along the shoreline, way out in the distance.
Julie, I wish you would have been able to see a Coyote out on Antelope Island. I don’t see them everytime I am there, sometimes I see 3-6 and sometime snone. Maybe on another trip.