"PORCUPINE PEEK-A-BOO (PPAB)"

North American Porcupine (3 Photos)

One porcupine up in a tree on a very very windy morning.  (Photo #1)

It had been windy the night before so I don't know why he chose this port in the storm to take in some rays. As the wind gusts got stronger and stronger and the branches swayed more, this porcupine called it quits and started its descent, to what I thought would be the lower branch.

Now comes the decision to I try to get the shot going down the tree from the other side which potentially would be shooting into the sun and would involve some fancy footwork crossing the terrain or do I just wait and see.

So I chose the second option and no it didn't take the lower branch, he climbed down all the way and onto ground level.  So some fancy footwork from this end, trying to be quiet and not too much movement and caught him as he came through the grasses. (Photo #2)

And then after a few moments of holding my breath as the porcupine hesitated and checked out his surroundings, he came through the grass and into the clearing where I managed to capture what I think makes a porcupine so adorable and special. (Photo #3)

He then turned tail (so to speak) and headed away across a tree trunk through trees and into a fallen log. And if you think porcupines are slow, from tree descent to tree den, took maybe five minutes. In the back of my thoughts, was that line from "The Mask of Zorro" - "The pointy end goes in the other guy". 

Thank you Nature & porcupine for such a wonderful but brief and happy encounter. And I know the porcupine was either not aware of my presence and was certainly not stressed, as I didn't get that "poofed" look when they "draw their quills" to attention to make themselves look bigger and warn off potential danger.

New Gallery Link Below:

https://www.inaturephoto.com/porcupine_-_someone_to_watch_over_me/ee7c0142f

PHOTO #1 - "The Watcher Being Watched"

PHOTO #2 - "From Out of the Woods, Came ...."

Porcupine (North American)"PORCUPINE PEEK-A-BOO OR PPAB"

PHOTO #3- "Ground Zero" - (Thanks, Porcupine!)

Porcupine (North American)"GROUND ZERO"