 Williamwisephoto Nature Notes is a wildlife, landscape, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder of God’s creation. -- Luke 1:80 "The little boy greatly loved God and when he grew up he lived out in the lonely wilderness..."  Great Blue Heron fishing in the reeds on a pond in Walton County Georgia Winter’s chill is settling in. Condensing mists rise from the warmer waters into the cooling air. The sun remains at a low angle late into the morning, casting contrasting warm beams and cool blue shadows across the landscape. A Great Blue Heron scans the waters in solitude. His searches more and more are in vain compared to the last months as the fish retreat to the warmer depths. Isolation… winter seems to bring it about. Soft-natured humans retreat to their heated interiors; the gay birds that have brightened our summer have departed to warmer southern climes. We are left to ourselves; often left alone. But the isolated place need not be lonely. Often, the creatures that prefer remoteness retreat to the isolated area. When we blend in, donning our camouflage or entering our blind, we often find the isolated areas aren’t so desolate. The shy mammals, the reclusive rodents, the timorous avians all come out to feed and play when man, the top of the food chain, is not present. So, embrace the solitude; seek it out. Blend in and wait. You never know what will come out of the shadows.  Mallard drake; Walton County, Georgia. November 14, 2013.
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 William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders 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  Hooded Merganer; Walton County, GA. Photo #201311040 7:38 AM – a very chilly morning; with the temperature at 28 degrees, the meteorologist said it is about 18 degrees below the average. A single Hooded Merganser sits on the pond behind the shelter this morning. The Mergansers are always so skittish that I’ve never been able to get a good close-up. Perhaps being accustomed to the county vehicles passing by frequently, I drive my truck around back instead of walking. I fire a few shots as the sun barely tops the trees leaving some bright orange reflection on the otherwise bluish-gray, fog-covered pond. Something spooks him and he takes to the air, circles the pond twice, and leaves. Oh well; once again no close-up shot. Now, change lenses and get to the shelter photography work. “Trevor” needs to be posted, “Butterscotch” and others need better photos.  Hooded Merganer; Walton County, GA. Photo #201311039  Hooded Merganer; Walton County, GA. Photo #201311041 William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, landscape, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, order, design and wonder of God’s creation. "Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who delight in them. Full of splendor and majesty is His work." Psalms 111:2  Black Racer coiled in grass, Dyar Pasture Waterfowl Management Area, Lake Oconee Georgia, nature preserve On a typical, slow fall day, my daughter and I were just hunting for someplace cool to go; hunting for something cool to see. Charlie Elliot Wildlife Center isn't far. We saw a few cormorants and other birds, but nothing out of the ordinary. We stopped at Dyar Pasture Waterfowl Management Area on the way home. Came across a surprising find: of a Racer on a cool day.  Fall Colors, blue water, on Marsh, Dyar Pasture Waterfowl Management Area, Lake Oconee Georgia, nature preserve William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. “But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?" Job 12:7-9  Great Blue Heron with sun reflecting off golden pond at Sandy Creek Park, Athens, Georgia; Lake Chapman. November 2, 2013. A brilliant sunrise sets the lake afire in ripples of liquid yellow-gold. A noble, long-legged wader patiently stands as a sentinel waiting for the underwater activity to materialize into a morning repast. What a privilege to be here; a privilege to awake another day and enjoy this wonderful creation gifted to us.  Mallard Drake and Hen at sunrise on small pond in Monroe Georgia. Walton County, Georgia. November 4, 2013. With a cynic’s view, I would never have even been here for this special moment. For this was Lake Chapman in Sandy Creek Park in my home town of Athens, Georgia. Being my local park, I’ve been here many times. If I had said, “Been there, done that.” I wouldn’t have returned. But why not enjoy the same place repeatedly? And the cynic says, “Another photo of a Great Blue Heron? Hasn’t that bird been documented enough?” Perhaps. But a photo is more than just a document of a particular species in a particular place and time. There moods, feelings, thoughts and meditations behind these moments. And a photo can bring back all those memories.  American Coot; Walton County, Georgia. November 11, 2013. The cynic says, stay home. But I say, “keep going back”; enjoy that same place in the different seasons; in different weather conditions; at different times of the day or night; in different stages of bird migration. So why not? Keep going back!  Great Blue Heron with golden sunset reflecting on Lake Chapman, Sandy Creek Park Athens Georgia. November 2, 2013.  Mallard Drakes and Hens gather in sunrise on small Pond. Walton County, Georgia. November 4, 2013.  Mallard pair sitting on pond at sunrise. Walton County, Georgia. November 4, 2013. William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, landscape, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, order, design and wonder of God’s creation. "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." Revelation 4:11  Purple and blue Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea wading in Florida lake. A small, dark heron in blues and purples, the Little Blue Heron is a common resident of marshes and estuaries in the Southeast. A quick visit to my aunt and uncle's in Palm City, Florida. As is typical of Florida, herons were feeding in the neighborhood roadside drainage ditches.  Little Blue Heron, Palm City Florida Purple and blue Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea wading in Florida lake. A small, dark heron in blues and purples, the Little Blue Heron is a common resident of marshes and estuaries in the Southeast.  Tricolored Heron; Palm City, Florida  Purple and blue Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea wading in Florida lake. A small, dark heron in blues and purples, the Little Blue Heron is a common resident of marshes and estuaries in the Southeast. William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, landscape, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, order, 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  Gopher Tortoise in Burrow at Reed Bingham State Park Georgia. Reed Bingham is a Georgia State Park in Colquitt County and Cook County. Coastal Plains Nature Trail. The gopher tortoise, Gopherus polyphemus, is native to the southeastern United States. It digs burrows common in longleaf pine savannas. Conservation status threatened. Most definitely on my top 3 of Georgia State Parks. Located in south Georgia, we stopped and camped two nights on the way to Florida. The greatest park of this park were the Gopher Tortoises comfortably lumbering around the campground and park. Many of the burrows were marked by biologists and therefore could be easily located for photography.  Historical Marker at Reed Bingham State Park in Georgia  Sunset reflecting off the lake through Spanish Moss. Reed Bingham is a Georgia State Park in Colquitt County and Cook County. Coastal Plains Nature Trail  Sunset over the gazebo. Reed Bingham is a Georgia State Park in Colquitt County and Cook County. Coastal Plains Nature Trail  Gopher Tortoise at Reed Bingham State Park Georgia. Reed Bingham is a Georgia State Park in Colquitt County and Cook County. Coastal Plains Nature Trail. The gopher tortoise, Gopherus polyphemus, is native to the southeastern United States. It digs burrows common in longleaf pine savannas. Conservation status threatened.  Spanish Moss Backwater Swamp in Reed Bingham State Park Georgia  Great Blue Heron on the lake in Reed Bingham State Park. Lily pad marsh along Coastal Plain Nature Trail. Reed Bingham is a Georgia State Park in Colquitt County and Cook County.  Immature Little Blue Heron in blackwater swamp Reed Bingham State Park  Juvenile Common Gallinules on the lake in Reed Bingham State Park. Lily pad marsh along Coastal Plain Nature Trail. Reed Bingham is a Georgia State Park in Colquitt County and Cook County.  Gopher Tortoise foraging at Reed Bingham State Park Georgia. Gopher tortoises are herbivore scavengers mainly eat broad-leaved grass, regular grass, wiregrass, and terrestrial legumes. William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, landscape, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, order, 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  Coluber constricter Eastern Black Racer snake. The eastern racers are fast-moving, highly active, diurnal snakes. Photographed slithering in the grass in Walton County, Georgia. While focused ahead at a Great Egret preening on the pond, a movement at my feet caught my attention. A racer was stretched out, hidden in the leaves and grass. It appeared he was debating to lie hidden or dart off as quick as only a Racer can!
William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, landscape, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, order, design and wonder of God’s creation. “But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?" Job 12:7-9  Large white Great Egret swamp bird fishing on blue pond in the cattail reeds. Walton County, Georgia. October 1, 2013  Large white Great Egret long yellow beak. The lores are the areas of a bird`s face on either side from the base of the bill to the front of the eyes. Blue pond background. October 1, 2013  Great Egret fishing on pond in Monroe GA  Great Egret catching fish on small pond in Monroe GA William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. -- Genesis 1:20 Then God said, “Let the waters swarm with fish and other life. Let the skies be filled with birds of every kind.”  White Great Egret Ardea alba heron makes a splash fishing in pond in Monroe, Georgia. They hunt in classic heron fashion, standing immobile or wading through wetlands to capture fish with a deadly jab of their yellow bill. The heat of summer and lack of rain has cause the upper retention pond to get lower and lower, affording a great fishing hole for our Great Egret visitors. The low water level has exposed a sunken, overturned boat now used as a preening perch. Walton County, Georgia  Great Egret, a white heron-like wading bird, on sunny pond in Monroe GA, Walton County Georgia  Great Egret spear fishing, Walton County Georgia Great Egret, a white heron-like wading bird, on sunny pond in Monroe GA "I believe that the Book of Nature, with its astounding details suggests a God of purpose and a God of design. And I think my belief makes me no less of a scientist.” Owen Gingerich, senior astronomer Smithsonian Astrophysical Laboratory  Limenitis arthemis, the red-spotted purple or white admiral, is a North American butterfly species. Photographed in Athens, Clarke County, Georgia USA. William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders 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  Great Egret feeding on fish on small pond in Monroe GA Two days in a row I was able to get very close to the Great Egret that has been coming to the retention pond to fish. On the first day, I watched him fishing. On the second, I sat my entire lunch break within feet of it preening.  Great Egret, a white wading bird heron, fishing on a pond in Monroe GA, Walton County Georgia  White Great Egret perched over small pond in Monroe Georgia preening feathers  Preening Great Egret perched over small fishing pond in Monroe Georgia William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, landscape, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, order, design and wonder of God’s creation. "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." Revelation 4:11  Vulture in flight as seen from canyon ridge in North Georgia. Tallulah Gorge State Park. It isn't often that you can photograph a soaring vulture from overhead! As we peered over the edge of the gorge in Talullah Gorge State Park in Georgia, a few Turkey Vultures were circling below our feet, just above the canyon floor.  Suspension bridge over a deep gorge with six waterfalls formed by the Tallulah River, which runs along the floor of the gorge. Tallulah Gorge is bounded upstream by a hydroelectric dam operated by Georgia Power.  William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, landscape, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. Psalms 40:5-6 Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done...: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.  View of the Blue Ridge Mountains from the Black Rock Mountain Georgia State Park overlook in the north Georgia Appalachian Mountains. A dads-and-kids camping trip with my two girls and my friend Kerry's four kids. Black Rock Mountain State Park in north Georgia.  View of the Blue Ridge Mountains from the Black Rock Mountain Georgia State Park overlook in the north Georgia Appalachian Mountains.  Ada-hi Falls, a small cascade in north Georgia mountains. Waterfall in Black Rock Mountain Georgia State Park overlook in the north Georgia Appalachian Mountains.  Black Rock Mountain State Park, Georgia`s highest state park, stretches over 3 miles along the Eastern Continental Divide, the spine of the southern Blue Ridge Mountains. William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. "Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who delight in them. Full of splendor and majesty is His work." Psalms 111:2  Burrowing Owl family on Lisa Frank Avenue in Tucson, Arizona. Burrowing Owl, Athene cunicularia, are small, sandy colored owls with bright-yellow eyes. What a privilege it was to see this Burrowing Owl and her owlets in a small burrow on Lisa Frank Avenue in Tucson, Arizona. On a morning jog behind my hotel, my friend spotted the baby owls and had to show me. For the remainder of the week we ran or drove by just to check out the little family.  Burrowing Owl family on Lisa Frank Avenue in Tucson, Arizona. Burrowing Owl, Athene cunicularia, are small, sandy colored owls with bright-yellow eyes.  Burrowing Owl family on Lisa Frank Avenue in Tucson, Arizona. Burrowing Owl, Athene cunicularia, are small, sandy colored owls with bright-yellow eyes.  Burrowing Owl family on Lisa Frank Avenue in Tucson, Arizona. Burrowing Owl, Athene cunicularia, are small, sandy colored owls with bright-yellow eyes. In this same area around our hotels scurried several Roadrunners.  Greater Roadrunner Geococcyx californianus in south Tucson, Arizona; bird of the southwest deserts, Greater Roadrunners are large cuckoos  Greater Roadrunner Geococcyx californianus in south Tucson, Arizona; bird of the southwest deserts, Greater Roadrunners are large cuckoos William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders 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  A view from the parking lot of Gates Pass in Tucson Arizona with Saguaro Cactus and Choya Jumping Cactus and Barrel cactus Although most would counsel against such folly, we decided to climb the large, rocky hills at Gates Pass on the edge of Tucson. In some places a decent trail exists. But closer to the top, where few adventure, the legs become slashed and gashed by the dry desert plants, all of which seem treacherously covered in thorns and thistles. We especially tried to avoid the Cholla jumping cactuses!  Gates Pass Trail Tucson Arizona with Saguaro Cactus and Choya Jumping Cactus  Gates Pass Trail Tucson Arizona with Saguaro Cactus and Choya Jumping Cactus and Barrel cactus
 Multi-shot panorama of the valley below Gates Pass outside of Tucson, Arizona.  A Saguaro Cactus skeleton lies before the path on Gates Pass Trail Tucson Arizona
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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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