Another Day at Work
Apis Workers' Party
Predator
Some of Your Beeswax
Sedum Bumbler
Look of Defiance
Chicory Bee
Bumbling Bees
Garden Cafe
Buzz By Here - To Infinity and Beyond
Pick Your Poison
Blind Side Attack
On a Mission
Honey Bee on Sedum
Covering the Cosmos
Center of the Cosmos
Three's a Crowd
Popular Spot
On A Pedestal
Big Harry Fireworks Display
To Impress the Girl
Different Perspective
Sweet Ride
Perfect Little Piggies B&W
Flipping the Light Fantastic
Festival of Flights
To the Crowd's Delight
Amish Go Round
Wondersome One
The Stars In Her Eyes
Tuesday's Child
Sleeper Hold
Considering the Next Move
Sugar and Spice
Front Porch Portrait
Caged Competitor
Early Adoration
Child In the Ligtht
Stroll Through the Weeds
Attention Grabbing
Eye Contact
On the Line
Eyes of Wonder
Rounding the Curve
Troubadours of Basin Spring Park
Down by the Creek
Sun Day
Catching Some Light
EAA Fireworks
Hear Me Roar
Animals
Hiding In the Grass
This is a close up of one of several thirteen-lined ground squirrels that have made our yard their home.
The thirteen-lined ground squirrel, as the name suggests, is a burrowing animal who is active only during the daytime and hibernates during the winter. It is quite common in the grasslands and prairies of North America. The thirteen-lined ground squirrel is also known as the striped gopher, leopard ground squirrel, squinney, and as the leopard-spermophile in Audubon’s day.
This photo opportunity was a surprise to both of us. I was rounding a corner of my house, on my way to fill a bird feeder, when I saw this guy a few feet away. We both froze. After a few moments of non-movement I took a step closer. He didn’t move a muscle. The only camera I had was my cellphone. I turned it on and moved closer. The critter stayed frozen. I inched closer. Still no movement. I continued to slowly move closer until my camera was within a few inches and I snapped a couple of shots. Still no movement from the ground squirrel. I slowly backed away and when I got about 10 feet away, he took off for the nearest burrow.
As I said, this was taken with my cellphone camera, so it’s not of the highest quality but, still, an acceptable shot. The value in this image is not the quality but the closeness.
You can view a larger, more detailed version of this image by clicking on the photo.
All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me for digital purchase and licensing options.
Cabana Boy
This tree frog seemed content to spend his summer just hanging out under a patio umbrella; the perfect place to showcase his engaging personality.
This was not the only tree frog that seemed to be living under this umbrella. There were two others, on this day, who were climbing among the supports of this patio umbrella. As you can see, it doesn’t look like they’ve missed many meals. The patio and umbrella was in the backyard of a rural northwest Missouri home.
You can get a closer, more detailed view by clicking on the photo. When you do, a full-screen version of this image will open in a new browser tab.
All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me for digital purchase and licensing options.
Hello Mudder
I found this big fella spending the morning hours enjoying the mud at the edge of a Missouri farm pond.
This frog seemed pretty happy and healthy but I learned from a Wikipedia search… “Frog populations have declined significantly since the 1950s. More than one third of species are considered to be threatened with extinction and over one hundred and twenty are believed to have become extinct since the 1980s. The number of malformations among frogs is on the rise and an emerging fungal disease, chytridiomycosis, has spread around the world.”
To get a better look at this frog, click on the photo and a larger, full-screen version will open in a new browser tab.
All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me for digital purchase and licensing options.
On The Hunt
Keep your eyes open. It’s snake season. This is a harmless, Western Fox Snake found slithering through the woodlands of northeast Wisconsin.
We were out on a springtime, family hike in search for morel mushrooms. My wife – an avid mushroom hunter – was the first one to spot this beauty. The snake was kind enough to rest quietly while I snapped a few shots.
As I said, these snakes are harmless to humans. They prefer to dine on mice and other small rodents. These snakes can seem fairly bold and don’t mind getting close to other animals and humans if undisturbed. When confronted, they will ‘rattle’ their tail to imitate a rattlesnake and attempt to scare away a perceived threat. They will also go into the S position and rapidly lunge in your direction. These are all defensive maneuvers in an effort to scare you off so they can escape.
One of the interesting details of this image is found on the lower lip of the snake. (That is, if snakes had lips.) You have to look closely, very closely, to see an ant going along for a ride. Zoom in as far as your monitor will let you and you may be able to see it. Not sure what the ant is doing there, but I thought it was interesting.
I’ve taken photos of this breed before, in my own yard. Get a real close-up view from my image, “Forked Tongue.”
To view a larger, more detailed version of this image, click on the photo and a full-screen version will open in a new browser tab.
All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me for digital purchase and licensing options.
Deer Friends
A couple of white-tailed deer were sharing a morning moment. It looks like one buck might be telling secrets to his relaxing friend. In reality, a little grooming was taking place. The standing deer was using his tongue to clean the ear of the other.
I grabbed this image at the small zoo at Bruemmer Park in Kewaunee County, WI. To get this shot, I had to focus through the high fence that keeps their small herd contained.
You can view a larger version of this image by clicking on the photo. When you do, a full-screen version will open in a new browser tab.
All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me for digital purchase and licensing options.
Some Bunny Stopped By
This wild rabbit stopped to say, “Hi,” when we were on a recent hike through Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve, in Brown County, WI.
This is the typical wild bunny that seems prolific in our area. This guy (or gal) crossed the trail before us and then stopped on the side for a moment…long enough to provide a photo opportunity. We were thankful for the short encounter.
You can get a better view by clicking on the photo. When you do a larger, more detailed version will open in a new browser tab.
All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me for digital purchase and licensing options.
Frog Days of Summer
On a pleasant summer day, hiking through the woodlands of Northeast Wisconsin, we found this frog chillin’ in a small creek. The sparse sunlight, filtering through the trees, seemed to highlight the frog and made it an interesting scene. I rather like the blueish reflections on the water.
We were hiking on the trails of Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve, in Brown County. I used a 250mm telephoto lens to get close enough to this critter without scaring him away. Even then, I had to crop this image quite a bit to get a good view of the frog.
You can get a better view, as well, by clicking on the photo, when you do a full-screen version will open in another browser tab.
All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me for digital purchase and licensing options.
Prince of the Pulpit
This small tree frog found a cozy spot in the shade between the stem and flower of a Jack-in-the-Pulpit plant.
I spotted this little guy on a recent trip to Missouri. He seemed a bit disinterested in my presence. It would have been nice if he would have turned toward the camera, smiled and offered a friendly wave. He, obviously, wasn’t in a friendly mood.
You can view a larger, more detailed version of this image by clicking on it.
All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me for digital purchase and licensing options.
Grass Hopper
This little rascal was very alert, keeping an eye on me while I kept my camera focused on him.
I photographed this wild bunny on a recent trip to Missouri. I was strolling around in the early morning and found out I wasn’t the only one up early. He looks steady here, but he only stood still for a moment before scurrying off to the woods.
You can view more of the detail and the twinkle in his eye by clicking on the photo. When you do, a larger version will open in a new browser tab.
Forest Friend
On a recent stroll through the woodlands of rural N.E. Wisconsin, I engaged in a prolonged staring contest with this Eastern Chipmunk. After viewing this photo, I declared myself the winner.
I spotted several of these little fellows who seemed to freeze the moment they saw me. I expect, they were hoping if they remained motionless, I wouldn’t notice them. I wonder how many of them I may have walked past and missed.
When I did see this guy, I stopped and took a photo. Then, as he remained motionless, I moved in a foot closer…and then another foot…and another – until he no longer could endure my intrusion into his personal space. Thankfully, he was more tolerant than I expected.
You can view a larger, more detailed version of this image by clicking on the photo.
All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me for digital purchase and licensing options.