Tuliptree Blossom with Guest
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
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.
Sunbather’s Spot
There was one spot on the pond where the sun was shining through the trees…and this turtle was taking full advantage of it.
Normally, at the first sight of people, the turtles in this pond would dive into the water. This one was not leaving his cozy spot. Not until I got quite a bit closer.
You can view a larger, more detailed version of this photo 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.
A Little Squirrelly
A tiny red squirrel enjoys a meal of seed dropped by the bird feeders above.
This was a rare sighting at our house. We don’t have squirrels around our place. Our home is surrounded by large farm fields, so any critter making it to our property had to travel quite a way with little cover – except this time of year where the crops are up. Still, when they get here, there’s no natural food source – no nut trees.
When this little guy showed up, he was the immediate center of attention. I noticed him when I looked out the window to see what the racket was all about. What I saw amazed me. This little guy was circling the trunk of a tree as quickly as his nimble legs would allow, with bluebirds in hot pursuit. The birds were relentless, dive-bombing him at every turn. Whenever he would venture out of thick brush, the birds would be on him. He eventually caught a break and was able to grab a quick meal; cleaning up under the bird feeders.
When I spotted him I, naturally, wanted to get a picture. I knew, if I went outside, he would run and hide. To get this shot, I stayed inside, opened the window, removed the screen and cautiously held my camera out the window.
This was the last time I saw him. He must have gone on to a friendlier neighborhood. I don’t blame him.
To get a better, larger view, click on the photo.
Lucky Rabbit’s Foot
A small, wild bunny took a moment for a little personal grooming. It was giving special attention to cleaning it’s back foot.
I spotted this little guy between rows in a flower garden. It let me take several shots, like it didn’t care that I was there, and then, all of the sudden, it scurried off to cover.
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Baby Steps
On its first day exploring the world above ground, this juvenile ground squirrel stands tall on its hind legs to get the best view possible.
We’ve been watching a pair of ground squirrels scurrying around our yard since last fall. I suspected they might be up to something.
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Cobblestone Cul-de-sac
This is quite a departure from the typical sunrise or flower photos I often post. It’s all about interesting color and pattern combinations. You may not like snakes, but I hope you can appreciate the beauty in the scales on this snake’s skin. It reminded me of cobblestone.
This is the curve of a Western Fox Snake that stopped by for a visit recently. To view another image of this snake, see my previous post: Forked Tongue
To view a larger, more detailed version of the image above, simply click on it.
Forked Tongue
I’m not a ophiologist, but I believe this is a Western Fox Snake – also commonly called a Pine Snake. This formidable looking serpent, measuring a bit longer than 4 feet, was spotted gliding across our lawn. My camera’s fast shutter speed stopped that quickly flicking tongue. My apologies to those who are creeped out by snakes.
Here’s a bit of info about this type of snake from a Wisconsin DNR publication…
Family: Colubridae Size: 36-56 in. Status: Common
The fox snake has many large reddish-brown, chocolate brown, or black mid-dorsal blotches along its back and other smaller blotches on its sides on a background color of yellow, tan or olive gray. The head of adults is usually a dark copper, rust or orange color. They live in a variety of open habitats including marshes, sedge meadows, prairies and old fields. Their diet consists primarily of rodents and ground-nesting birds. Young fox snakes will occasionally eat amphibians. This species is the most frequently encountered snake in people’s homes, especially if the house has an old rock foundation where the snake(s) may be hunting for food or hibernating in the basement. The fox snake is often mistaken for the venomous copperhead snake due to its head color, and subsequently is often killed. Copperheads do not live in or near Wisconsin. Fox snakes are also often mistaken for rattlesnakes, as they often ‘rattle” their tails in dry leaves, grasses or against objects when disturbed.
To view more of the detail, click on the image and a larger version will open in a new browser tab.