 Okefenokee Photography by William Wise. A nature photo journal exploration of Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp, the Land of Trembling Earth, one of the largest blackwater swamps in North America. The alligators, birds, snakes and wildlife of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Stephen C Foster State Park. -- "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  Snowy Egret heron, Egretta thula, standing on driftwood in the Okefenokee Swamp. Birding photography at the Suwannee River Sill Recreation Area Dam in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA. The eBird frequency chart shows the Snowy Egret, Egretta thula, is a year-round inhabitant of the Okefenokee Swamp, but perhaps not as frequent as the other long-legged wading birds. Over the course of many paddling trips, I've only found them occasionally, and mostly along the Suwannee River Sill Recreation Area. For the non-birder, the Snowy Egret looks pretty much like all the other white herons and egrets in the swamp. The astute observer might notice a difference in size, but how else are they distinguished? The most telling feature is the Snowy Egret's golden slippers. The adults have long black legs that end in bright yellow feet. This distinguishes them from greenish legs of the Little Blue Herons (which are white as juveniles). The bill of the Snowy Egret is black, with yellow around the eyes, while the Little Blue Heron juvenile has a two-toned bill. The other common white wading bird in the Okefenokee is the Great Egret. It is unmistakably larger and taller than the delicate Snowy Egret.  Snowy Egret heron, Egretta thula, standing on driftwood in the Okefenokee Swamp. Birding photography at the Suwannee River Sill Recreation Area Dam in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA. In the 1800's, in order to satisfy the fashion industry, the Snowy Egrets were hunted for the long white plumes on their heads. According to allaboutbirds.com, the much sought feathers were twice the price of gold at the time. "Plume-hunting for the fashion industry killed many Snowy Egrets and other birds until reforms were passed in the early twentieth century." This might explain why, upon his visit in 1917, Okefenokee naturalist Francis Harper failed to see any within the swamp. His report in The Auk stated, "SNOWY EGRET; 'Egret.'- A plume-bird, called the 'Egret,' was found in the swamp twenty years ago." He regrettably laments that the Snowy Egret, and some others, "did not come under our own notice." The Suwannee River Sill; Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia.
0 Comments
Okefenokee Photography by William Wise. A nature photo journal exploration of Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp, the Land of Trembling Earth, one of the largest blackwater swamps in North America. The alligators, birds, snakes and wildlife of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Stephen C Foster State Park. -- "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 Snowy Egret watches a large American Alligator basking in the sun on cypress driftwood at The Sill Recreation Area Dam in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA. While I thoroughly enjoy any season in the Okefenokee Swamp, I felt as if I had “struck out” with wildlife observations on my November 2021 trip. Particularly with alligators. I had only seen a dozen or so in three days. So before heading home, I knew where to go: The Sill! Its an 85 mile drive around the Okefenokee to get from the eastern entrance to the Suwannee River Sill on the western side. You head south into Florida, then across the bottom of the Okefenokee along the Georgia/Florida line, and back north to Fargo. The Sill is off Highway 77 just before the Stephen C Foster State Park. The Sill isn’t very attractive for landscape photography, and isn’t very exciting for swamp exploration. It is a long, straight, manmade canal with little vegetation. But those deep waters and clear banks usually mean alligators basking in the sun. In fact, I’ve seen some of the biggest alligators in all my visits laying out along The Sill. My short paddle of almost four hours resulted in more photographs and more diversity than the previous two days. Even though it was a cool fall day, there were plenty of alligators basking and swimming. The Sill never lets me down for alligators... I spotted over thirty! I even got an Okefenokee Lifer, a Southern Ringneck Snake (although DOA on the road). Suwannee River Sill Recreation Area; Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia.  Close up of American Alligator jaw, neck, eye and scales. Wildlife photography in the Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia. Okefenokee Photography by William Wise. A nature photo journal exploration of Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp, the Land of Trembling Earth, one of the largest blackwater swamps in North America. The alligators, birds, snakes and wildlife of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Stephen C Foster State Park. -- "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  Close up portrait of Sandhill Crane, Antigone canadensis, beak, face, red forehead, eye and feathers. Birding photography along the Chesser Island Swamp Island Drive in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA. Whenever a car stops along Swamp Island Drive, a wildlife viewing drive winding through the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, you can almost be sure there’s an alligator basking. But another large swamp inhabitant that will make folks put on the brakes is the Sandhill Crane. These long-legged birds are quite a spectacle for those who haven’t seen them before. I have to admit, when I spotted four along the roadside, I had to stop too! Standing at almost five feet tall, Antigone canadensis are quite impressive birds! Even if not seen, their strange trumpeting call can be heard throughout the Okefenokee. In 1913, naturalist Francis Harper wrote of the Sandhill Crane’s call, “Their note is one of the finest sounds of the swamp. It is so unbirdlike, and yet rings so clear, is so far-reaching, and possesses such measured qualities, that the listener longs for an instant repetition.” While they can be quite secretive, they can be seen foraging on the open prairies, especially on Chesser and Grand Prairie on the eastern side of the Swamp. They scrounge for anything from seeds and berries to insects and small reptiles or amphibians. eBird frequency charts show the Sandhill Crane can be found throughout the year in the Okefenokee, with the highest sightings in the winter months. Swamp Island Drive; Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia.  Sandhill Crane, Antigone canadensis, walking. Birding photography along the Chesser Island Swamp Island Drive in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA.  Close up portrait of Sandhill Crane, Antigone canadensis, beak, face, red forehead, eye and feathers. Birding photography along the Chesser Island Swamp Island Drive in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA. Okefenokee Photography by William Wise. A nature photo journal exploration of Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp, the Land of Trembling Earth, one of the largest blackwater swamps in North America. The alligators, birds, snakes and wildlife of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Stephen C Foster State Park. -- "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  White Ibis, Eudocimus albus, foraging in blackwater swamp. Birding photography at the Suwannee River Sill Recreation Area Dam in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA. Because of their preference for shallow wetlands, the White Ibis is a common inhabitant of the Okefenokee Swamp. eBird frequency charts for Charlton County shows consistent observations listed every month of the year. Their bright orange legs, and somewhat goofy-looking curved orange bill make them hard to misidentify. The small groups that gather together to amble along stir up the waters during feeding time adds to their comical appearance. In the air, they are much more graceful in appearance, especially when a golden sunrise or sunset illuminates their white bodies and black tipped wings as they fly overhead. According to Francis Harper, the swampers referred to them as White Curlews, or more simply, Curlew. They also referred to the brown juveniles as a separate species. “The natives speak of ' Brown Curlews ' which often fly and feed apart from the white forms. They also designate some brown and white ones as ' Pieded Curlews ' or ' Black- pieded Curlews,' which roost with the other two. These are doubtless the younger phases of the one species. The hunters eat these ' Curlews' either 'stewed like chicken' or fried...” Suwannee River Sill Recreation Area; Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia.  White Ibis, Eudocimus albus, foraging in blackwater swamp. Birding photography at the Suwannee River Sill Recreation Area Dam in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA.  White Ibis, Eudocimus albus, foraging in blackwater swamp. Birding photography at the Suwannee River Sill Recreation Area Dam in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA. Okefenokee Photography by William Wise. A nature photo journal exploration of Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp, the Land of Trembling Earth, one of the largest blackwater swamps in North America. The alligators, birds, snakes and wildlife of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Stephen C Foster State Park. -- "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  Bald Eagle bird with wings spread flying in clear blue sky over the Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia. Haliaeetus leucocephalus is a large raptor bird of prey found in North America. Photographed from the Chesser Island Boardwalk Observation tower in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia on November 14, 2021. I was strolling back down the Chesser Island Boardwalk from the observation tower when I saw a large bird perched faaarrrrrr off in the distance. “Probably just an Anhinga”, I thought. But raising my lens, I saw a brown and white raptor with a brown stripe behind the eye, and so my next thought was “Osprey”. But the more I looked, the more I began to wonder. There was no white on the breast. And as I changed my position, that brown stripe was no longer through the eye, but was a small branch from a limb above the bird. No, it can’t be. A Bald Eagle???
The following morning, before heading back home, I drove back for one more walk on the Boardwalk. As I was up in the observation tower, a large bird began flying right at me as if it were going to perch in or on the observation tower. It was an Eagle! As it neared, it saw me lifting my lens and banked hard to its left, making a fly-by of the tower and giving me some much better shots. I’m not sure if it was the same individual as the day before or not. To add to my excitement, I spotted another later in the afternoon. Leaving Chesser Island, I drove over to The Suwannee River Sill Recreation Area on the western side of the swamp. Again, I thought I was photographing just another vulture flying overhead, but the white patches signaled “juvenile Bald Eagle” in my mind and I kept firing away. After so many trips without spotting a Bald Eagle, I now had three within a two day period! Chesser Island Boardwalk; Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia. Okefenokee Photography by William Wise. A nature photo journal exploration of Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp, the Land of Trembling Earth, one of the largest blackwater swamps in North America. The alligators, birds, snakes and wildlife of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Stephen C Foster State Park. -- "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  Young juvenile American Alligator eyes, Alligator mississippiensis, submerged lurking behind White Water Lily pads in the Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia, USA. Suwannee Canal Recreation Area, Swamp Island Wildlife Drive, Okefenokee Adventures. The Swamp Island Drive is a 7-mile driving trail in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. It winds through a typical swamp uplands habitat of tall Slash Pine and a thick understory of Saw Palmetto on Chesser Island. With several wildlife observation openings and a few ponds, it is perfect for the visitor that may not be able to hike on foot. The tendency may be to drive quickly through this upland habitat on the way to the Chesser Island Boardwalk trail at the end. But don’t drive too quickly, or you may pass some sights along the way. Paralleling the roadside, there are many long, narrow drainage ponds called “borrow ditches”. Except in a drought, these small ponds are often filled with lily pads, the occasional pitcher plant, and other semi-aquatic plants. Basking turtles may quickly drop from a log and into the water as your vehicle passes. And if you keep a keen eye, you may see a pair of reptilian eyes peering back at you! Young alligators may use these small ponds as a safe haven. You might even see a “big one” laying alongside the road on a warm day. Swamp Island Drive; Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia. Okefenokee Photography by William Wise. A nature photo journal exploration of Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp, the Land of Trembling Earth, one of the largest blackwater swamps in North America. The alligators, birds, snakes and wildlife of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Stephen C Foster State Park. -- "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  Yellow aster beggartick burr marigold Bidens wildflower in the Okefenokee Swamp in the Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia, USA. Suwannee Canal Recreation Area, Swamp Island Wildlife Drive, Okefenokee Adventures. A slow drive and a few stops along Swamp Island Drive in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia. Swamp Island Drive and Chesser Island Boardwalk; Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia.  Tall Slash Pine plantation and Saw Palmetto reflected in Pond. Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia, USA. Suwannee Canal Recreation Area, Swamp Island Wildlife Drive, Okefenokee Adventures.  Young juvenile American Alligator, Alligator mississippiensis, in the Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia, USA. Suwannee Canal Recreation Area, Swamp Island Wildlife Drive, Okefenokee Adventures. Okefenokee Photography by William Wise. A nature photo journal exploration of Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp, the Land of Trembling Earth, one of the largest blackwater swamps in North America. The alligators, birds, snakes and wildlife of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Stephen C Foster State Park. -- "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  Landscape panorama of Cypress Trees, swamp prairie and maidencane marsh from the Observation tower on Chesser Island Wildlife Drive. Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia, USA. Suwannee Canal Recreation Area Like the wide open prairies of the Midwest, the Okefenokee prairies are large, open spaces that are composed of grasses, herbs and shrubs, and are mostly devoid of trees. The biggest difference between the traditional prairies of the Midwest and the prairies of the Okefenokee is water… lots of water! According to A Naturalist’s Guide to the Okefenokee Swamp, the prairie waters of the Okefenokee are shallow. Taylor Schoettle writes, “Most of the 33,000 acres of prairies vary from 6 to 18 inches deep at normal water levels, and the lakes deeper. The shallowness of much of the Okefenokee is accentuated by thick layer of peat which overlays the sandy bottom. The peat ranges from 5 to 10 feet thick throughout much of the swamp, and is up to 20 feet thick in places.”  Charred black Cypress Tree stump from previous forest wild fire on Chesser Island. Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA. Fire is an essential part of the southeastern swamp ecosystem. While the Okefenokee Swamp is in a constant succession from prairie toward hardwood forest, it is fire that has maintained the beautiful open prairies in the Okefenokee. Fires, caused primarily by lightning strike, regularly sweep through the Okefenokee, especially in times of drought, and consume the scrub and hardwoods that have taken root on floating peat beds within the prairies. Chesser Island Boardwalk; Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia. Okefenokee Photography by William Wise. A nature photo journal exploration of Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp, the Land of Trembling Earth, one of the largest blackwater swamps in North America. The alligators, birds, snakes and wildlife of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Stephen C Foster State Park. -- "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  Eastern Phoebe bird, Sayornis phoebe, perched on a branch with background of fall colors in the Okefenokee Swamp. Birding photography along Chesser Island Boardwalk trail in Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA. When most people think of fall foliage, they think of afternoon hikes in the Smokey Mountains or drives on winding roads in New England. While the swamps of the south may not immediately come to mind, Fall in the Okefenokee is a beautiful sight! The needles of the Pond Cyress and Bald Cypress tress turn a rich, rusty brown. They are decorated with green and tan balls of cypress cones, and hung with curtains of tan Spanish Moss. Don’t forget about the swamp when it comes to fall photography! Chesser Island Boardwalk; Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia.  Red and brown Cypress Tree leaves, Spanish Moss and Fall colors along the Chesser Island Boardwalk wildlife observation trail in the Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA. November 13, 2021.  Cypress Tree cones along the Chesser Island Boardwalk wildlife observation trail in the Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA.  Sunset behind a Cypress Tree and glowing Spanish Moss over the Suwannee River Canal Recreation Area in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA.  Female White tailed Deer, Odocoileus virginianus, doe looking at the camera with brown fall background. Wildlife photography at the Suwannee River Sill Recreation Area Dam in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA.  Poison Ivy in the Fall; Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia.   Okefenokee Photography by William Wise. A nature photo journal exploration of Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp, the Land of Trembling Earth, one of the largest blackwater swamps in North America. The alligators, birds, snakes and wildlife of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Stephen C Foster State Park. -- "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  Another photography workshop participant shoots me walking along the Chesser Island Boardwalk trail with my telephoto lens. Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia. My November trip to the Okefenokee centered around the photography workshop hosted at the Suwannee Canal entrance on the east side of the swamp. Photographer John Reed teaches several workshops in the Okefenokee throughout the year.
Leaving the classroom after an early morning meet-and-greet, we made several stops along Swamp Island Drive, and then all walked together along the Chesser Island Boardwalk. Mr. Reed took the time to provide tips to each of the participants. The best part was the comradery of like-minded photographers within the setting of the wonderful Okefenokee Swamp. Set an unbeatable price point, I’d certainly recommend the classes to any photographer of any level. Unless plans change, there should be another class this March. Plan to attend! Okefenokee Photography by William Wise. A nature photo journal exploration of Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp, the Land of Trembling Earth, one of the largest blackwater swamps in North America. The alligators, birds, snakes and wildlife of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Stephen C Foster State Park. -- "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  Laurel Leaf Greenbrier, Smilax laurifolia, leaves and fruit in the fall in the Okefenokee Swamp. Photographed along the Chesser Island Boardwalk Trail , Suwannee Canal Recreation Area. Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia. A slow stroll along the Chesser Island visitor center and boardwalk trail in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge for some iNaturalist and eBird observations. A collection of photos from Saturday and Sunday, November 13 and 14, 2021. Chesser Island Boardwalk; Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia.  Blue Dasher Dragonfly wings spread on a blade of grass in the Suwannee Canal Recreation area of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia, USA.  Okefenokee Photography by William Wise. A nature photo journal exploration of Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp, the Land of Trembling Earth, one of the largest blackwater swamps in North America. The alligators, birds, snakes and wildlife of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Stephen C Foster State Park. -- "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  American Alligator with satellite tracker on its back to study alligator movements within the Okefenokee Swamp. Photographed near Grand Prairie; Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia. Reviewing my photographs from a November, 2021 trip to the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, I noticed a large black lump on the back of an alligator. If I had not seen an article on the subject, I would have thought it was a tumor or other growth. But I had read an article from the University of Georgia about the tracking and studying of alligator movements in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. Researchers from the UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant are using satellite tags to track the movements of adult alligators. Their updates can be seen at https://www.facebook.com/UGACoastalEcologyLab. Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia.  American Alligator with satellite tracker on its back to study alligator movements within the Okefenokee Swamp. Photographed near Grand Prairie; Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia.
Okefenokee Photography by William Wise. A nature photo journal exploration of Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp, the Land of Trembling Earth, one of the largest blackwater swamps in North America. The alligators, birds, snakes and wildlife of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Stephen C Foster State Park. -- "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
Beautiful golden sunset with cypress tree silhouettes over Grand Prairie in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA.
The main entrance to the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge is on the eastern side at the Suwannee Canal Recreation Area. There is a small interpretive museum, a great concession stand, and a small gift shop. One of the best features is the guided boat tours. This is perfect for those wanting to get a bit out into the swamp on a day trip, or who may not have a canoe or watercraft of their own.
The boat tours are definitely worth the small fee. The staff always does a great job of pointing out different features of the Okefenokee including the geography, natural history, and the habitats within the refuge. Early morning cruises are probably the best for wildlife viewing, but the sunset cruise shouldn’t be missed! ​ During my November 2021 visit for the photography workshop hosted by the Refuge, I didn’t have time after the class to launch my own canoe, so I took the evening sunset cruise. The guide motored us out to Grand Prairie and parked the boat. It was like watching a Discovery Channel movie at a drive-in iMax theater! The purples and oranges of the skies and lowering sun were so vibrant, while Cypress silhouettes marked the horizon with incredible detail. There was a tangible serenity, like being wrapped in a warm blanket on the somewhat cool evening! Sunset boat tour from the Suwannee Canal Recreation Area; Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia. 
Beautiful golden sunset at dusk with cypress tree silhouettes over Grand Prairie in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA.
Waxing Gibbous Moon craters over the Suwannee River Canal Recreation Area in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA.
Okefenokee Photography by William Wise. A nature photo journal exploration of Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp, the Land of Trembling Earth, one of the largest blackwater swamps in North America. The alligators, birds, snakes and wildlife of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Stephen C Foster State Park. -- "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  Yellow-rumped Warbler songbird, Setophaga coronata, perched in the sunlight on a Titi Bush branch, Cyrilla racemiflora, in the Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia, USA. Birding photography near Kingfisher Landing canoe launch. When visiting the Okefenokee in the fall and winter, there is one swamp inhabitant that can’t be missed: the Yellow-rumped Warbler. It is a bright and cheery bird that is totally absent in the summer, but can be seen everywhere throughout the fall and winter. Groups of twenty or so are constantly flitting around the Titi and Staggerbush, happily chirping and chipping. As I told a fellow photographer, be careful if you pish, you will practically be mobbed by them! According to sources, Setophaga coronata is “a regular North American bird species that can be commonly observed all across the continent.” Individuals and subspecies can vary considerably in appearance, but one thing remains consistent: their yellow rump. This field mark as earned them the affection name "Butter Butts" from birders. The these yellow tails can be seen all through the woody swamp scrub. According to the eBird frequency charts, the Yellow-rumped Warblers begin showing up in the Okefenokee with the fall migration. They then hang around in great abundance until, on a sudden, they disappear from the swamp by May. As sources state, “Every year, fall migration usually takes place from September to November, spring migration from April to May, and the species known to depart from its winter habitats from March to April.” It amazes me how a bird can be totally absent on one trip, and then practically everywhere just a few months later. Paddling between Kingfisher Landing and Double Lakes; Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia. Okefenokee Photography by William Wise. A nature photo journal exploration of Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp, the Land of Trembling Earth, one of the largest blackwater swamps in North America. The alligators, birds, snakes and wildlife of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Stephen C Foster State Park. -- "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  Lestes vigilax, Swamp Spreadwing damselfly in the Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia, USA. Odonata photography near Kingfisher Landing canoe launch. Damselflies have smaller, thinner bodies than dragonflies and are also predatory insects. The Okefenokee Swamp features a variety of habitats within one giant ecosystem. As one paddles, the dark canoe trails through the cypress trees fall off to reveal wide-open, sweeping swamp prairie landscapes. There is never a lack of panoramas for the landscape photographer. But there are areas of the swamp where the runs constrict and the scrubby vegetation of Titi and Fetterbush not only impede passage, but impede the view. While paddling the red trail north of Kingfisher Landing in November 2021, I could only get a view of Double Lakes by standing in my canoe… a tricky position for a photographer! But when the walls close in around you, that doesn’t mean the photography opportunities disappear. If your senses remain alert to the natural world around you, one simply redirects focus and explores the details of some of the smaller plants and critters within the National Wildlife Refuge. If the open views are blocked, its time to switch to a macro lens and explore the smaller, hidden world of the Okefenokee! Paddling between Kingfisher Landing and Double Lakes; Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia. |
 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.
|
In December 1993 I came to know the Designer and Creator of this wonderful planet and its creatures: Jesus Christ.
|
Donations help support the animal shelter adoption photography equipment and adoption website hosting and domain fees. Thanks for your support!
|