 William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. Deuteronomy 4:29 But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.  Belted Kingfisher, May 21, 2018 On my morning walks before my 8:00 AM start time, I've been hearing a Belted Kingfisher on the upper pond and near the duckweed bog. I’ve been seeking him out , back-and-forth, back-and-forth, looking for the good, close up, high resolution photo. But so far I've only managed a few decent shots from a distance. My first poor photo was on Thursday, May 17. I had another, closer opportunity on May 21. One of these mornings I’ll seek him out and get up on him! Walton County, Georgia  Belted Kingfisher, May 21, 2018  Belted Kingfisher, May 17, 2018.
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 William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. "If you come across a bird’s nest beside the road, either in a tree or on the ground, and the mother is sitting on the young or on the eggs, do not take the mother with the young... so that it may go well with you and you may have a long life." Deuteronomy 22:6  Three tiny baby Chipping Sparrow songbird chicks in a nest. Month of May, Athens GA. The chipping sparrow, Spizella passerina, is a species of American sparrow, a passerine bird in the family Passerellidae. It is widespread, fairly tame, and common across most of its North American range. Wednesday, 1:15 PM - The rain has come and continues off and on throughout the day. I’m home early for Megan‘s middle school awards ceremony and have two opportunities for BYOB (Birding-Your-Own-Backyard). Babies are everywhere! No, I’m not talking about all the recent births in our church. But of all the bird babies in my backyard. For a few days I’ve heard the light chirping of nestlings as diligent Chipping Sparrows parents make bug-runs back and forth. I track them down in the Sky Pencil bush at the corner of my house. Three babies crammed into a tiny nest! Later, underneath the birdfeeder, I spot an ugly gray bird with black wings scraping through the mulch. Then out pops a female Towhee mom and “spoon-feeds” the little fledgling! Not long after, the usual Downy Woodpecker is all of the sudden being trailed by a second Downy. Has it found a mate? But again, I see one feed the other I realize it is yet another fledgling in my backyard. The bird parents are busy, busy, busy with all the birdie babies in my backyard. Athens, Clark County, Georgia  Pair of adult Chipping Sparrow parents perched on wooden fence with insects in mouth to carry back to fledglings in the nest. Backyard birding photography in Athens, Clarke County, Georgia, USA. Spizella passerina is a small passerine song bird found in North America.  Three tiny baby Chipping Sparrow songbird chicks in a nest. Month of May, Athens GA. The chipping sparrow, Spizella passerina, is a species of American sparrow, a passerine bird in the family Passerellidae. It is widespread, fairly tame, and common across most of its North American range.  Eastern Towhee fledgling  Eastern Towhee fledgling and its mother  Downy Woodpecker fledgling and its parent.  William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. Psalm 124:7 Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped.  Tuesday 7:44 AM - This tom has a reason to rejoice and strut his stuff. He has made it through (almost) one of the longest Turkey seasons and lives to brag about it! As I drove into work, I saw a gathering of Wild Turkey in a field off to my left where I’ve frequently seen the gobblers. But today, a male was really giving a show to several females. This boy was all fired and decked out in puffed plumage, red wattle, and widespread fan. Not only was he impressing the gathering of females, but he made me pull over to get some photos! Because of high reproduction in 2016, the GA Department of Natural Resources predicted a “good supply of vocal 2-year old gobblers across much of the state in 2018,” and allowed an extended hunting season from March 24 through May 15; each hunter being allowed a bag limit of three gobblers. So this Tom had about 12 more hours and then smooth sailing until next season. Walton County, Georgia   William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. Genesis 30:8 Then Rachel said, “I have had a great struggle with my sister, and I have won.” So she named him Naphtali.  Goose fight. An angry mother Canada Goose hen chases off a rival goose from her chicks. Photographed in May in Walton County, Monroe, GA, USA. Tuesday, 3:40 PM - This afternoon I observed a real goose fight. The two Canada Goose families were resting near each other in the shade on the northern end of the pond. As I approached, the goslings startled and ran down into the pond, the two families of goslings mixing together. Almost immediately, one of the parents of the smaller goslings began to chase and attack the larger goslings. This prompted a parent of the larger goslings to fly over and attack that adult! It took about two minutes until both families sorted themselves out and swam into the pond in their respective family groups. Walton County, Georgia  Goose fight. An angry mother Canada Goose hen chases off a rival goose from her chicks. Photographed in May in Walton County, Monroe, GA, USA.  Canada Goose hen swimming on blue water lake with five fuzzy yellow goslings that are four weeks old, hatched April 20. Photographed in May in Walton County, Monroe, GA, USA.  William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. Proverbs 26:2 Like a fluttering sparrow, like a darting swallow, so a hastily spoken curse does not come to rest.  Barn swallow, Hirundo rustica, sitting on barbed wire fence of Walton County jail in Monroe, GA. The barn swallow is the most widespread species of swallow in the world. It is a distinctive passerine bird with blue upperparts, a long, deeply forked tail and curved, pointed wings. Tuesday, 3:33 PM – All day long for the last few weeks I’ve seen the swallows darting and fluttering over the surface of the pond. In snatching up insects, they leave concentric ripples in the water’s surface. I just assumed that all the darting swallows were the Barn Swallows that are currently nesting by my office back door. But after identifying a Rough-winged Swallow at my house the other evening, I took a closer look at these here at the animal shelter. Sure enough, there are two species of swallows skimming the pond surface each day! Barn Swallows and Rough-winged Swallows! Walton County, Georgia  Northern rough-winged swallow, Stelgidopteryx serripennis  Barn Swallow on her mud nest under the roof eve outside my office door  Northern rough-winged swallow  Psalms 68:6 "God makes homes for those who are abandoned; He makes free those who are bound with chains."  Monday, 9:30 AM - “Malcolm” was a happy young pup that was brought to the Walton County Animal Control shelter on May 8, 2018. The people that brought him in said he had been sick. The shelter staff gave him a deworming and vaccine as soon as he came in. He was kept in a quiet isolation area, but never showed any signs of illness. On May 14 he hit the adoption floor and was ready for photos! When it came time for his photo session, Malcolm was obviously distracted by the activity up by the shelter. He just wanted to quit with the pictures and go off and play! (It’s that very same behavior that keeps me away from doing child portraits! Lol). Even with all my tricks of barking, panting, throwing pine cones in the air, and squeeking my dog toy, it was tough to get him to look at the camera for more than a split second. “Malcolm” was photographed for the Walton County Animal Control shelter in Monroe, GA on May 14, 2018. He was placed on the shelter’s adoption website, www.waltonpets.net.      Psalms 68:6 "God makes homes for those who are abandoned; He makes free those who are bound with chains."  2 Corinthians 9:7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” Monday, 9:09 AM - “Bocephus” was a handsome hound dog picked up stray by a Walton County Animal Control officer on May 8, 2018. He had a hunter orange collar and dragging a 5 foot black leash, so he had to have belonged to somebody. But no owner came forward. Not sure if he was a lost hunting dog, or got away from somebody’s house. As is my luck when I really like a dog, he tested heartworm positive. But thankfully Anne, Lane and Audrey had already posted pledges for his rescue before his hold even expired. And not long after posting his new photos, Katharine pledged $250! I can’t underemphasize how much those pledges help dogs like “Bocephus.” It is overwhelming at times the number of people pledge their hard-earned money to get these pups another life in a rescue. Not only do we get the occasional sponsor that posts from across the web, but there is a core group of donors that sponsor nearly every dog in our little shelter. It goes without saying that we wouldn’t have near as much success re-homing so many dogs if it weren’t for these great, large-hearted people that give week after week to see our dogs saved. Thank you all! “Bocephus” was photographed on May 14, 2018 for the Walton County Animal Control shelter in Monroe, GA and put on the shelter’s adoption website, www.waltonpets.net.     William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. Proverbs 10:12 Hatred stirs up quarrels, but love makes up for all offenses.  Two Green Carolina Anole lizards, Anolis carolinensis, breeding. May in Athens, GA. An arboreal anole lizard native to the southeastern United States. Other common names include the American green anole, American anole, and red-throated anole. It is also sometimes referred to as the American chameleon due to its ability to change color from several brown hues to bright green Sunday, 4:45 PM - I’m almost a bit embarrassed to post the photos of this private moment between two Carolina Green Anoles on my back patio. When I first spotted them on the tiki torch, I thought it was a lizard quarrel, for one had a solid bite upon his the other’s neck. But upon closer examination I realized I was wrong. Sometimes “love” in the animal kingdom isn’t all about comfort, tenderness and affection. But isn’t it that way with us too? Our marriage relationships have their share of quarrels and disagreements. Any outside observer of one of those "discussions" might assume the couple hate each other. But that is all a part of love. As Bob Weir with the Grateful Dead sang, ”Did you ever waken to the sound of street cats making love? You guess from the cries you were listening to a fight. Well you know, hate’s* just the last thing their thinking of. They’re only trying to make it through the night.” *My modification from “haste” to “hate’s”  Two Green Carolina Anole lizards, Anolis carolinensis, breeding. May in Athens, GA. An arboreal anole lizard native to the southeastern United States. Other common names include the American green anole, American anole, and red-throated anole. It is also sometimes referred to as the American chameleon due to its ability to change color from several brown hues to bright green
 Green Carolina Anole lizard, Anolis carolinensis, extending red dewlap. May in Athens, GA. An arboreal anole lizard native to the southeastern United States. Other common names include the American green anole, American anole, and red-throated anole. It is also sometimes referred to as the American chameleon due to its ability to change color from several brown hues to bright green  William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. Isaiah 49:10 They will neither hunger nor thirst. The searing sun will not reach them anymore. For the Lord in his mercy will lead them; he will lead them beside cool waters.  Brown Thrasher, Toxostoma rufum, splash water in a bird bath on a hot Georgia afternoon in May. Yucca plant in background. Although not in the thrush family, this bird is sometimes erroneously called the brown thrush. Hot! Perhaps 90° isn’t hot for Georgia in general. But 90° in May in Georgia seems a bit high! In fact, we’re tying records set in the late 1800’s. I was even breaking a sweat while napping on my shaded back patio! A Brown Thrasher came down to enjoy a cool dip in the backyard bird bath. The look on his face appeared as if he was really enjoying himself. Afterwards, he alighted high in the persimmon tree to preen and dry off. Athens, Clarke County, Georgia  Brown Thrasher, Toxostoma rufum, suns in a Persimmon Tree on a hot Georgia afternoon in May. Although not in the thrush family, this bird is sometimes erroneously called the brown thrush.  William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. Psalm 84:3 Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O Lord of hosts, my King, and my God.  A Northern Rough-winged Swallow circling far above my house. A Life Bird photo for me! Saturday, 6:50 AM – out on my back patio ebirding again. Started out the morning with a bird I hadn’t photographed since 1998 on a 35mm film camera. A pair of Great Crested Flycatchers stopped just momentarily high up in a Sweetgum tree, flew lower into my next door neighbor’s yard, and then were gone. A little bit later, 5 Wood Ducks flew over the house heading south to north. Later in the day, what I thought were just the neighborhood Barn Swallows circling high up in the air turned out to be a Life Bird photo for me: Northern Rough-winged Sparrows! I’ve seen them quite a bit over the last few weeks high up on the winds, but didn’t think too much of it. But I decided to get a quick (but poor) photograph and plug it in the Merlin ID app. Bam! I'll have to try for some better shots now that I know its a newbie for me. Athens, Clarke County, Georgia  Great Crested Flycatcher  When 5 Wood Ducks flew over my house, I knew my morning count would be higher than normal.  A Summer Tanager makes a somewhat rare appearance at my feeder. When the birding was ended for the morning, I had a couple more birds than my usual counts:
  Friday, 11:15 AM - “Kitten season” began in April, just as it does every year. Last month alone, 129 cats were brought into the Walton County Animal Control shelter! Luckily, there was a great run of adoptions at the beginning of May. But after several litters of kittens and moms nursing babies were rescued, the local cat rescue groups were full. That left little ones like Lang, Lace and Munchkin waiting and hoping for an adopter. "Lace", "Lang" and "Munchkin" were photographed for the Walton County Animal Control shelter on May 11, 2018 and put on the shelter's adoption website, www.waltonpets.net.    Creation Speaks is a Biblical teaching ministry that uses nature writing and photography to glorify our Creator and teach the truth of 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  American Robin, Turdus migratorius, songbird. Close up portrait face study showing details of feathers and beak. Photographed in May in Walton County, Monroe, Georgia, USA. Migratory songbird of the true thrush genus and Turdidae. Known as Robin Red Breast. Hebrews 11:3 "By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible." “Without faith in Christ, the natural world is a wondrous thing, of course. But with faith in Him, we perceive everything on a different level. Nature becomes a great concert of praise. The heavens declare the glory of God. The stones cry out with hosannas.” From Exceeding Gratitude for the Creator’s Plan by Dr. James P. Gills American Robin  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  Spotted Sandpiper, Actitis macularius, an inland shore bird. Photographed in May in Walton County, Monroe, Georgia, USA. The Spotted Sandpiper is the most widespread breeding sandpiper in North America. This brave Spotted Sandpiper showed up on the pond bank just outside the back door of my office. It was quite tolerant of my close photography. Walton County, Georgia  Spotted Sandpiper, Actitis macularius, an inland shore bird. Photographed in May in Walton County, Monroe, Georgia, USA. The Spotted Sandpiper is the most widespread breeding sandpiper in North America.  Spotted Sandpiper, Actitis macularius, an inland shore bird. Photographed in May in Walton County, Monroe, Georgia, USA. The Spotted Sandpiper is the most widespread breeding sandpiper in North America.  Spotted Sandpiper, Actitis macularius, an inland shore bird. Photographed in May in Walton County, Monroe, Georgia, USA. The Spotted Sandpiper is the most widespread breeding sandpiper in North America.  Spotted Sandpiper, Actitis macularius, an inland shore bird. Photographed in May in Walton County, Monroe, Georgia, USA. The Spotted Sandpiper is the most widespread breeding sandpiper in North America.  William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. Jeremiah 27:5 -- 'I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are on the ground, by My great power and by My outstretched arm, and have given it to whom it seemed proper to Me.  Brown Headed Nuthatch, Sitta pusilla, songbird hanging upside down with small caterpillar in beak to bring back to babies in nest cavity. Photographed in spring breeding and nesting season in Monroe, Walton County, Georgia. The brown-headed nuthatch is a small songbird found in pine forests throughout the Southeastern United States. Thursday, 7:46 AM - On my morning walk, I diverted from the normal trek on the gravel road around the ponds and took a cut-through into the woods, coming out at the middle of the upper pond. As I quietly approached, a doe flushed from the bush about 50 feet to my right. She ran around of the southern end of the pond, pausing briefly to peer at the intruder. Secluded in the trees and brush, I approached the dead snag where I had several weeks prior seen a Brown-headed Nuthatch is going in and out of a cavity. As I waited, the tiny squeeking of a nuthatch pierced the relative silence and the little bird approached with a small caterpillar in its mouth, no doubt for the young within the nest. Walton County, Georgia  White-tailed Deer; Walton County, Georgia.  Brown Headed Nuthatch, Sitta pusilla, songbird hanging upside down with small caterpillar in beak to bring back to babies in nest cavity. Photographed in spring breeding and nesting season in Monroe, Walton County, Georgia. The brown-headed nuthatch is a small songbird found in pine forests throughout the Southeastern United States.  Proverbs 12:10 The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.  Wednesday, 8:39 AM - “Bo” was rescued out of a neglectful situation when an animal control officer responded with other agencies checking on pets and people at a Walton County residence. Just a month earlier, another Boxer had been taken from the residence and the owner was then charged with inhumane treatment. After “Bo” was impounded along with 3 other dogs, animal control again filed ten violations against the owner. Realizing he was in over his head, the owner surrendered “Bo” to the shelter. His entire life, “Bo” was stuck on the end of a chain in the front yard. As expected with any dog kept outdoors in Georgia, he was positive for heartworms. But despite all the neglect, “Bo” had a great attitude with people. “Bo” was photographed for the Walton County Animal Control shelter in Monroe, Georgia on May 9, 2018. His photos were posted on the shelter’s adoption website, www.waltonpets.net.  |
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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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