 William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder of God’s creation. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message  Slider Turtle basking on a log over Lake Rutledge in Hard Labor Creek State Park, Georgia. Monday, February 20, 2017 - In preparation for our upcoming Okefenokee trip, I wanted Amanda to get used to navigating the canoe using our new electric trolling motor. We went for a quick day trip on the waters of Lake Rutledge at Hard Labor Creek State Park. Amanda took to the controls in the back of the canoe while I sat up front with my camera and monopod. I didn’t want to waste any time in the Okefenokee getting used to camera handling and navigation. Our trip started well. Not far from the boat launch a Great Blue Heron stood near the vacant beach. As we neared, he took flight, allowing me some panning practice with the monopod sitting in the bow of the canoe. I wasn’t completely ready with my manual settings, but still got some fairly sharp shots for 1/400 seconds fully zoomed to 300 mm.  Double-crested Cormorants on Lake Rutledge; Hard Labor Creek State Park, Georgia Being a warm day, there were myriads of turtles basking on the logs and snags in the water. Reluctant to dive back into the cold water, some sat longer than others for photos. Being mid-afternoon and the sun at a high angle, the glare was often too harsh on their shells. A polarizing filter would be good in this situation, but I haven’t yet purchased one for the 28-300mm zoom (it isn’t cheap!). Trolling on, I could see some birds on the water across the lake. Although they were too far away, I could see they were bigger than ducks. My guess was Cormorants… and that guess was confirmed as we rounded a bend. Several sat on a log and were spooked as we came around the corner. As we approached another cove, several ducks took flight with whistling alarm. Wood Ducks! One pair stayed put, seeming to nervously swim back and forth a few seconds before blasting off the water as well. The small group of Cormorants that took off earlier must have joined a larger raft of the funny looking waterbirds. We spotted the group near the middle of the water as we followed the shore heading back in the northward direction. They paddled away from our approaching canoe, casting glances over their shoulders as they swam. Eventually, they all blasted off from the water in a loud cacophony of slaps and splashes. This scene repeated itself several times throughout the afternoon as the Cormorants would blast off the water as fishing boats got too close for comfort. They consistently went from one end of the lake to the other, either by paddling or flying, to stay a comfortable distance from the human invaders looking to enjoy the lake with them. The shores were lined with boulder fields and towering trees, making Hard Labor Creek State Park a pleasant place to hike. The overturned trees made for some interesting, textured, wormy-looking sights along the banks. The snags and stumps along the shore kept Amanda alert and she immediately proved to be an astute navigator. We should have no troubles in the swamp in March. Along the wet banks of one cove, a loud chorus of frogs drifted across the water. And just ahead, two Kingfishers battled in the sky over a prized fishing spot. On the northwestern tip of the lake we pressed back into shallow coves where other fishermen couldn’t bring their larger john boats. It was serene and peaceful back there. Other critters also found it a comfortable spot, as we followed two large Great Blue Herons throughout the coves.
Overall, the somewhat cloudy, hazy glare of mid-afternoon sun didn’t produce any good photography. But the main goal was achieved. Amanda was ready for Okefenokee navigation, and I ready for shooting from the canoe!
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 William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder of God’s creation. 1 Kings 6:35 And he carved thereon... open flowers: and covered them with gold fitted upon the carved work.  Early spring flowering daffodil daffadowndilly narcissus jonquil in backyard garden, Athens, Georgia Monday, 8:26 Am - Taking a day off work to relax; the girls are off school as well. Sitting under my patio heater at sunrise; a bright orb rising to my left. Lidia spread the new pine straw last week and the yard is looking prepared for the spring growth spurt. A patch of mist hangs over the meadow behind the house. The daffodils are now all in vibrant yellow blooms throughout the yard. The days are noticeably longer now; about 50 minutes longer than just one month ago. There is a loud Red-shouldered Hawk consistently calling off to the southeast in the woods not far from the house. A flock of blackbirds pass through, followed by a group of 30-50 American Robins, the heralds of spring. The Towhee is close by my patio, calling from a perch on the fence… certainly spring approaches! I fill the suet and seed feeders. The first visitor is a clamorous Red-bellied Woodpecker. Amanda and I picked up the boat and trailer from Johnny’s house on Saturday. It is now here and ready for use any time (if we can ever get the time to use it!). We also scrubbed the mildew and spider webs from the canoe getting it ready for a Hard Labor day trip. Athens, Georgia  Early spring flowering daffodil daffadowndilly narcissus jonquil in backyard garden, Athens, Georgia  Williamwisephoto Nature Notes is a wildlife, landscape, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder of God’s creation. Song of Solomon 2:14 O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.  Red male Northern Cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis, eating seeds, backyard birding, Athens, Georgia Saturday, 2:28 to 3:36 PM - Coming home from afternoon outreach, our backyard was alive with a cacophonous group of raucous blackbirds, Cedar Waxwings, and American Robins. Truly, springtime is arriving! Seeing all the increased bird activity, I decided to take some time for myself to enjoy the birds at my backyard feeders. To increase my chances of capturing some shots, I took down the regular bird feeder and scattered some seed on a nearby rock. I then laid down on my belly under my daughters' trampoline. It didn't take long for the birds to find the seeds on the rock. Although my family and neighbors may think I'm weird, I laid perfectly still for over an hour firing away. It was a great day for birding, and I didn't even have to travel to any exotic location. In just over one hour, I saw twenty-two species in, or over, my own backyard! Athens, Georgia  Song Sparrow, Melospiza melodia, eating sunflower seeds, backyard birding, Athens, Georgia  The Eastern Towhees have been very vocal and active the past few weeks. Eastern Rufous Towhee, Pipilo erythrophthalmus, backyard birding, Athens, Georgia  Downy Woodpecker eating at suet feeder, Picoides pubescens, backyard birding, Athens, Georgia  Carolina Chickadee, Poecile carolinensis, eating seeds on rock, backyard birding, Athens, Georgia  Tufted Titmouse, Baeolophus bicolor, eating sunflower seeds on rock, backyard birding, Athens, Georgia  Blue Jay, Cyanocitta cristata, eating seeds on rock, backyard birding, Athens, Georgia  Male red and female House Finches eating seeds on rock, Haemorhous mexicanus, backyard birding, Athens, Georgia  Brown Thrasher, Toxostoma rufum, backyard birding, Athens, Georgia State Bird
 And what birdfeeder isn't complete without a visit from a squirrel!?! Eastern Gray Tree Squirrel eating seed with paws, backyard birding, Athens, Georgia. Sciurus carolinensis is native to the eastern and midwestern United States, and to the southerly portions of the eastern provinces of Canada 
 Brown and white horse, pet photography for Walton County Animal Control Georgia, humane society adoption photo 
William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder of God’s creation. -- Isa 45:7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.  Canada Goose, Branta canadensis, in sunrise on blue pond, Walton County Georgia Tuesday, 8:14 AM - On occasion, there are magical moments in life: a beautiful sunset; a comforting moment; a relaxing cup of tea; a reunion with an old friend. They don’t happen all the time, but that’s what makes them magical. Early one morning I was at the animal shelter to shoot some dog adoption photos. A golden sunrise was hitting the ripples on the water of the retention pond out back. The warm orange glow of the sun reflected off the deep blue water in a harmony of natural, complementary colors. And almost as if beckoned, a family of Canada Geese gracefully cut across the water within the scene. Everything blazed orange in the rising rays of the sun. I’ve walked past this same scene many times. But on this occasion, it was a “magical moment” and I just happened to be there. Often, these magical moments may seem spontaneous or appear of their own accord. But can we as photographers “help create” these magical moments? We sure can! We can increase our chances of capturing a magical moment by being conscious of time and location. Be there for the “golden hour”. Sunrise and sunset times can be found easily on our smart phones. A compass on the same phone can even let us know the direction of the sun as it hits the horizon. If you walk the same area or park often, don’t let it become common and unnoticed. Think how a particular patch of woods, or pond, or trail would look under different light or conditions. Magical moments are magical, but we can have a hand in bringing the to fruition!  Canada Goose, Branta canadensis, in sunrise on blue pond, Walton County Georgia  Canada Goose, Branta canadensis, in sunrise on blue pond, Walton County Georgia 
 John 1:2 -- He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.  Friday, 4:41 PM - at the end of a hectic Friday, finally closing the loose ends on an impounded Paso Fino and an uproar over a pitbull attack, I stepped out behind the shelter into the bright blue, fifty-two-degree afternoon. It was a tad breezy, but much more quiet and peaceful than the office. Out on the water, more Hooded Mergansers had arrived. There were now two males with a harem of eight females. One female was off toward the back side sitting in pond weeds and letting out a croak in almost timed intervals. The other females floated in a group, while the two feisty males paraded themselves in, around and through the ladies. One male was particularly more flamboyant than the other. He was bobbing his head, crest fully erected; spinning in circles; then paddling swiftly off in a straight line. Although they were a bit too far for my lens to reach, it was still an entertaining affair. A female Cardinal seemed to enjoy watching me as much as I did watching the Mergansers. Twenty minutes later while heading off toward home, just around the corner on Pannell Road, two Turkey Vultures were enjoying a feast in the grass. As I slowed the truck, one took flight. While the other debated about fleeing or staying near his food, I was able to get a few shots. With the truck still gently rolling, and another car approaching from the rear, the image wasn’t too sharp. Leaving the camera in full manual mode makes it harder to get these impromptu wildlife shots. Perhaps the more I practice, the better I’ll become. Nevertheless, when I got home, I saved two user settings that will allow me to grab the camera and begin firing with a few auto settings to capture the moment. If the critter sits still long enough, I can then switch to manual and begin my fumbling around with buttons and dials. But most likely, until I become proficient, the camera will make better decisions on the fly than I. Walton County, Georgia   
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 All content is ©williamwisephoto.com. Please don't steal images. My images are available at dreamstime.com. Stock sales go into the shelter photography program.
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In December 1993 I came to know the Designer and Creator of this wonderful planet and its creatures: Jesus Christ.
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Donations help support the animal shelter adoption photography equipment and adoption website hosting and domain fees. Thanks for your support!
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