 William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, landscape, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders 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  Great Blue Heron (Arda heordius) hiding in grasses of a Georgia pond in the summer. The great blue heron is a large wading bird in the heron family, common near the shores of open water and in wetlands over most of North America and Central America. "Part of the attraction was the way listing totally contradicted the general public image of birdwatching as a passive pastime. Keeping a list was a way of keeping score. The list could turn birdwatching into birding, an active game, even a competitive sport." --Kingbird Highway by Ken Kaufman Walton County, Georgia
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 William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. "You must not eat anything that lives in the sea or in a river and does not have fins and scales. Just the thought of eating such a creature should make you sick. This will never change. So don’t ever eat meat from anything like that." Leviticus 11:10-11 ERV  Hooked giant Common Snapping Turtle destined for "mull soup". Notice the bright orange fishing line from the corner of his mouth. Photographed 8/13/18 in Walton County, GA. There are some traditions and recipes limited to small geographic regions of the world. One that is still available here in the southeastern United States is mull. Mull is “basically a soupy stew with fine bits of slow-simmered chicken in a rich broth thickened with crushed saltine crackers.”
A “mull” is not only soup, but the name for a southern communal gathering, as in “Chicken mull this Saturday at Faith Baptist Church”. Mull is cooked by the gallons and sold typically to raise money for a new church fellowship hall or for a local fire department. Most mulls are served with chicken. But there are still those that put hooks out in our southern ponds and fishing holes in order to catch our huge Common Snapping Turtles (Chelydra serpentina) into their stew. Adherents say it tastes great; and it may. But when it comes to eating turtles, I say, “What the heck for?” Now, my southern turtle-mull-lovin’ friends will probably chide me as some sort of animal rights activist. But I just don’t see the point in killing a cool turtle when store-bought chicken is so readily available. And if they were to hear my protests to save these big, ugly, brown, violently aggressive snappers, they would probably say the same: “What the heck for?”  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  Double-Crested Cormorant in flight; Walton County, GA. Friday, 8:32 AM – You never know what you’ll see. After literally hundreds of morning walks up to the pond, this morning there was something I had never seen before. At first I thought the splash in the brown murky water was one of the beavers ending a night of tree-felling and heading back to his home. But when the creature surfaced, it had a much longer neck than a Beaver! A Double-crested Cormorant popped up out of the water with a fish in his hooked bill. Since it didn’t immediately notice my presence, I was able to watch it fish for several minutes. Once his senses picked me up, he took to the air, circled the pond twice (giving me some great photo-ops!) and moved on. Although not a rarity for Walton County, that is the first cormorant I’ve seen on this pond, and not sure when I’ll see one again. Walton County, Georgia, USA  Double-Crested Cormorant  Psalms 68:6 "God makes homes for those who are abandoned; He makes free those who are bound with chains."  Neutered male black and white American Pit Bull Terrier mixed breed dog, outdoors on leash wagging tail, pet adoption photograph for Walton County Animal Control humane shelter in Monroe, Georgia USA. Friday, 10:04 AM - “Chevy” was adopted from one animal control shelter and unfortunately ended up surrendered to the Walton County Animal Control shelter on August 9, 2018. But at least he was already microchipped and neutered. I must admit, when I did his adoption photos, I didn’t think there would be much hope for a black Pitbull. (I guess I’m becoming too cynical.) But out of the blue, a couple came into the shelter the day his photos were redone and adopted him!       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  White great egret heron bird flying over tree tops as sunrise. Monroe, Walton County, GA. The great egret Ardea alba, also known as the common egret, large egret or great white egret or great white heron is a large, widely distributed egret.  White great egret heron bird. Monroe, Walton County, GA. The great egret Ardea alba, also known as the common egret, large egret or great white egret or great white heron is a large, widely distributed egret. Walton County, Georgia USA  Psalms 68:6 "God makes homes for those who are abandoned; He makes free those who are bound with chains."  Black and Tan Aussie and Retriever mixed breed dog, male, not neutered, named Loki. Dog rescue pet adoption photo for Walton County Animal Control humane society shelter in Monroe, Georgia USA. Wednesday 8:48 AM – Some dogs get themselves adopted and don’t really need any help from me. “Loki” was a handsome Australian Shepherd mixed breed dog that was picked up stray by an animal control officer on August 6, 2018. I probably didn’t need to do any “glamour photos” of this boy, but I was on a roll that morning and did his photo session anyway. I arrived at the animal shelter around seven in the morning and got everything ready for a morning full of photography and dog evaluations. In the exam room, I readied the vaccines, deworming and flea medicine, and syringes to draw blood for heartworm tests. Just outside the building I had my camera, a bag of toys and treats, and a few leashes ready to go. I then began the “assembly line” of bringing each dog one-by-one for exam, diagnostics and photography. “Loki” was one of nearly a dozen dogs I photographed that morning. And, like I said, this handsome boy didn’t really need my help and was adopted the very next day!      Psalms 68:6 "God makes homes for those who are abandoned; He makes free those who are bound with chains."  Wednesday, 9:03 AM - Rocky the Rottweiler was surrendered to the Walton County Animal Control shelter in Monroe, Georgia USA. Sadly, his owner said that he no longer had any place for him. (I understand the situations of life, but I also long for the day when it is understood that pet ownership is a life-long thing.) Rocky was surrendered on August 3, but after six days he he hadn’t gotten any attention. So it was time for some “glamour photos”! Rocky was a bit underweight and was losing some fur because of fleas. He also had a bit of infection in his eyes. So before his photo session, he had to hit the “makeup chair”! I cleaned out his eyes, brushed his coat a bit and got him ready. Although maybe not perfect, the photos showed the potential of this beautiful boy. And within just two days Rocky was adopted by a couple who saw his photo on the shelter’s adoption website, www.waltonpets.net, and drove two hours to save him!  Black and Tan Rottie dog, male, not neutered, docked tail, named Rocky. Dog rescue pet adoption photo for Walton County Animal Control humane society shelter in Monroe, Georgia USA.    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  Large white Great Egret perched on a barbed wire fence of a jail in Walton County, Georgia, USA. The Great Egret, Ardea alba, is a large heron. Walton County, Georgia  Baby slider turtle swimming in pond; Monroe, Walton County, GA. The slider turtle Trachemys scripta is one of the most common species of turtle in the Southeast. It occurs in every type of wetland and is frequently observed basking.  Blue Dasher Dragonfly on green grass with dark blue pond in background. Monroe, Walton County, GA. The blue dasher Pachydiplax longipennis is a dragonfly of the skimmer family. It is very common and widely distributed through North America and into the Bahamas.  Tufted Titmouse  Psalms 68:6 "God makes homes for those who are abandoned; He makes free those who are bound with chains."  Wednesday, 9:40 AM - Down to the wire! That is how it can be at times in an animal control shelter. “Bama” had been in the Walton County Animal Control shelter for eleven days. That might not seem like a long time, but in an open-intake “dog pound”, that is too long! Most dogs are afforded less than a week to get new homes. “Bama” had been turned in to the shelter three times by citizens who found him running loose in a local mobile home park. The first two impounds, his owner came and bailed him out. But the third time wasn’t a charm for him. His owner didn’t come. He was turned in on August 2, 2018 and sat and sat; waiting and waiting. He got his photo session on August 10. Finally, on the eleventh day, at “the eleventh hour”, an adopter came to the shelter on August 13 and saved this boy!     Psalms 68:6 "God makes homes for those who are abandoned; He makes free those who are bound with chains."  Wednesday, 9:08 AM - “Rambo” was an older Pitbull mixed breed dog surrendered to the Walton County Animal Control shelter in Monroe, Georgia. He had a photo session on August 8 and was placed on the shelter’s adoption website, www.waltonpets.net.
Although he had $350 in pledged donations for his rescue from Alice, Lorraine and Anne, sadly, no rescue came to save “Rambo”. But I leave his photo as a memorial to him and all the other dogs surrendered to shelters across the nation that don’t get a second chance.  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.”  Yellow Billed Cuckoo bird, Walton County, Georgia USA The yellow-billed cuckoos (Coccyzus americanus) are slender, long-tailed birds that manage to stay well hidden in deciduous woodlands. Photographed in Monroe, GA. For the last two weeks, since the Northern Mockingbirds have fledged, it seems that is all I see on my morning walks. Five Mockingbirds have continuously hung out near the berm of the firing range. It was no different this morning and I nearly walked by with indifference. However, I’m not sure what it was, but something caused me to look twice. Perhaps it was the way this bird just sat silently staring at me. Perhaps it was a tail that was a tad too long for a Mockingbird. Or perhaps it was the yellow bill. Whatever it was, when I stopped to take a second look, a new Life Bird was added to my list: a Yellow-billed Cuckoo! Cornell’s website says, “Yellow-billed Cuckoos are slender, long-tailed birds that manage to stay well hidden in deciduous woodlands. They usually sit stock still, even hunching their shoulders to conceal their crisp white underparts, as they hunt for large caterpillars. Bold white spots on the tail’s underside are often the most visible feature on a shaded perch.” An apt description of what I saw this morning. Walton County, Georgia, USA  Yellow-billed Cuckoo  A Ruby-throated Hummingbird was drinking Trumpet Creeper nectar not far from my life bird.  A Downy Woodpecker forages atop a Bradford Pear tree.  William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. Isaiah 45:18 -- For thus says the LORD, Who created the heavens, Who is God, Who formed the earth and made it, Who has established it, Who did not create it in vain, Who formed it to be inhabited: "I am the LORD, and there is no other.  Red male Northern Cardinal, Athens, Clarke County, Georgia USA. The Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) can be found in most parts of United States east of the Rocky Mountains. Cardinals are known for their bright red color, but only the male is red. Saturday, 7:17 PM - Birding again almost exactly 12 hours later. A few crows were sitting high atop the Loblolly Pine. As they made strange sounding croaks, I was reminded of my reading the other week on what differentiates the Fish Crow and the American Crow. Were the odd sounds coming from this trio denoting a Fish Crow ID? Can the other birders who list daily Fish Crows really tell the difference? Clarke County, Georgia  Ruby Throated Hummingbird, Athens, Clarke County, Georgia USA Female Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) perched in Loblolly Pine Tree in Georgia. This is the only breeding hummingbird in eastern North America.  Fish Crows; Clarke County, GA  Male Summer Tanager; Clarke County, GA.  William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. Psalms 104:24 -- O LORD, how manifold are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all. The earth is full of Your possessions;  Northern Mockingbird juvenile spreads his wings Monday, 7:30 AM - so much activity in the brush along the firing range berm. Mockingbird juveniles everywhere! Pewees, Phoebes and Grosbeaks too! Walton County, GA  William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. Genesis 2:3 And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from all his work of creation.  Red-bellied Woodpecker feeding suet to a fledgling. Sunday, 7:07 AM - I love Sunday mornings on my back patio. All the regular birds appear quickly, but the longer you sit, the more you can see.Now that I recognize the Eastern Wood Pewee’s call, I hear them up in the woods and drew one closer with some playback. A little bit later, a White-breasted Nuthatch appears. They are supposedly here all year, but I don’t see them too often at the feeders. Next, a Black-and-white Warbler pops in. He is strangely tailing a Tufted Titmouse all through the yard. The normally solo Red-bellied Woodpecker is followed in to the feeder by two others this morning. It appears the young have fledged and now have to learn to come steal suet on their own. And the backyard is now full of Chipping Sparrows having produced another successful brood of young. Clarke County, Georgia  William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. Colossians 3:1 Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.  Orchard Oriole; Athens, Clarke County, GA Saturday, 7:17 AM - a full and busy day ahead, but still a short chance to BYOB (Birding Your Own Backyard) before the day starts. New yard sightings this morning: Eastern Wood Pewee and Orchard Oriole. Clarke County, GA  Song Sparrow, Clarke County, GA  Orchard Oriole; Athens, Clarke County, GA |
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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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