 William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder 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.”  A flock of Forster`s Terns in flight on Hilton Head Island Beach, South Carolina USA in winter. Sterna forsteri breeds inland in North America and winters south to the Caribbean and northern Central America.  A flock of Forster`s Terns facing into the wind on Hilton Head Island Beach, South Carolina USA in winter. Sterna forsteri breeds inland in North America and winters south to the Caribbean and northern Central America. I spent Christmas week on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina with my family and parents. I made several walks each day to shoot and identify the various gulls, terns and shorebirds. I am glad for the help of the Merlin bird ID app and the people on iNaturalist.  December 21, 2019 - A flock of Forster`s Terns Hilton Head Island Beach, South Carolina USA in winter. Sterna forsteri breeds inland in North America and winters south to the Caribbean and northern Central America.  Forster`s Tern, Sterna forsteri, breeds inland in North America and winters south to the Caribbean and northern Central America. Hilton Head Island Beach, South Carolina USA in winter. These Forster's Terns were not to be confused with another tern species also on the beach at this time. Although fewer, the Royal Terns were still abundant enough to be noticed. But they were a bit bigger than the Forster's Terns and had completely orange bills.  Royal Tern bird Hilton Head Island Beach, South Carolina USA in winter. Thalasseus maximus lives on the coast and is only found near salt water. They tend to feed near the shore.
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 Williamwisephoto Nature Notes is a wildlife, landscape, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, 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  The wheel bug, Arilus cristatus, is a species of large assassin bug with a wheel shaped pronotal armor common in eastern North America. Often mistaken for a stink bug or kissing bug which can carry the deadly Chagas disease. Some people think I’m dumb, but I’m just that kind of person. When there is something cool looking out in nature, I’m going to mess with it, examine it, photograph it and identify it. A coworker pointed out this strange looking insect crawling up the window screen and so I had to check it out. As it was crawling on my hand and I was shooting it with my macro lens, she began reading from the internet… “The deadly Kissing Bug has been confirmed in Georgia. This bloodsucking parasite carries an inflammatory infectious disease. Chagas disease is transmitted to humans by the bug, which typically bites people in the face around the area of the mouth, causing fever, fatigue, headache and in some severe cases, stroke or heart failure.” Great! That was dumb! I didn’t kiss him, but probably shouldn’t have had him on my finger either!  The wheel bug, Arilus cristatus, is a species of large assassin bug with a wheel shaped pronotal armor common in eastern North America. Often mistaken for a stink bug or kissing bug which can carry the deadly Chagas disease. I finished my photo session with the little killer and brought the jpegs back to my computer for closer examination. As I began to research the spikey circular-saw-looking crest on his back, I soon found he wasn’t a Kissing Bug at all, but a harmless Wheel Bug in the same family. Dummy me: I should have known it was a false alarm. Working with animals and wildlife my entire life, I’m fully aware that people are quite prone to dumb exaggerations when it comes to animal stories. “Once a dog gets the taste of blood he'll always be a killer"... “Cats will steal your breath when you’re sleeping”... “Its called a Coachwhip snake because it will wrap your feet, knock you down and whip you to death.” Dumb! Even in the case of the Kissing Bug, the stories are a bit blown out of proportion. Perhaps they are more of an issue in other places, but Chagas disease is quite a rarity in my area of the country. So, false alarm. But perhaps I should use some caution before making a dumb mistake and grabbing something truly deadly one day!  The wheel bug, Arilus cristatus, is a species of large assassin bug with a wheel shaped pronotal armor common in eastern North America. Often mistaken for a stink bug or kissing bug which can carry the deadly Chagas disease. William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, landscape, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder 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.”  Great Blue Heron catching and swallowing a large bream fish on a Walton County, Georgia pond. Thursday, 10:57 AM - I enjoyed watching this winter Great Blue Heron visitor on the water retention pond catch this big bream fish. I didn't think it could be done, but he swallowed it with relative ease!  Great Blue Heron catching and swallowing a large bream fish on a Walton County, Georgia pond. Williamwisephoto Nature Notes is a wildlife, landscape, 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, You made the earth overflow with Your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message  A deceased Barred Owl on the side of Barnett Shoals Road in Clarke County, Georgia. Unfortunately my Saturday long runs seem to be "roadkill observation days." This morning's run on the outskirts of Athens revealed this poor owl lying just off the side of the road. It did not appear to have been dead long, so was probably hit last night.  A deceased Barred Owl on the side of Barnett Shoals Road in Clarke County, Georgia.  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  December 5, 2019 - Great Blue Heron fishing in dirty brown polluted waterway with plastic bottle trash and litter. Walton County, Georgia Genesis 2:15 "And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it."  In 1956, a vandal walked into a museum in France and intentionally threw acid at the famous Mona Lisa painting. Not only was this a pointless act to devalue a work of art, but also an affront to the artwork’s creator, Leonardo Da Vinci. In addition, the vandal’s actions could have destroyed the opportunity of all future generations to appreciate the famed piece of art. We might argue whether or not this action was morally wrong, but I’m sure most of us would agree that it was senseless, disrespectful and selfish. The act of tossing trash outdoors may not seem as immediately egregious as tossing acid on the Mona Lisa, but is it any less senseless and selfish? And while littering may not be a sin, as a Christian I’d say that the intentional trashing of our planet is disrespectful to the Creator and His workmanship.  December 5, 2019 - Great Blue Heron fishing in dirty brown polluted waterway with plastic trash bag and litter. Walton County, Georgia DEVALUING THE ENVIRONMENT“What’s the big deal? It’s just one plastic bottle tossed out the car window. What is that going to hurt?” Well, as living beings on this planet that require clean air and water for life, it could potentially hurt quite a bit! There is a scientific term called Bioaccumulation. Basically, this is the gradual build of up harmful substances within an organism. Through studies, we have seen the effects of pesticides and toxins in birds and other species. We humans have even poisoned ourselves with mercury, radiation and other cancer-causing pollutants. A healthy, clean environment has value. Over time, that “one piece of trash” tossed out thousands upon thousands of times will accumulate into who-knows-what unknown disease. DESTROYING THE ENJOYMENT OF OTHERSI know I am not alone in my love of the outdoors. The United States Bureau of Economic Analysis published that “the U.S. outdoor recreation economy accounted for 2.2 percent ($427.2 billion) of current-dollar gross domestic product (GDP) in 2017.”[i] From bikers to birders, campers to climbers, fishermen to photographers, hikers to hunters, and skiers to sailors, over 140 million Americans participate in outdoor activities each year.[ii] I’m sure each one of those people would prefer a pristine, natural landscape over trash-filled lakes and parks that resemble landfills. Like our Mona Lisa vandal, littering is a selfish act which robs future generations of a healthy environment. disrespecting the artistTo disrespect a work of art is to disrespect the artist. In divine wisdom and power, God has designed a beautiful, self-sustaining home for His creatures. One of my favorite passages from The Message Bible paraphrases Psalms 104 as, “What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, You made the earth overflow with Your wonderful creations.” I believe that to show no respect for this world of which we have been appointed stewards and caretakers is to equally show contempt for this world’s Creator, the divine Artist.  December 5, 2019 - Great Blue Heron fishing in dirty brown polluted waterway with plastic bottle trash and litter. Walton County, Georgia [i] https://www.bea.gov/data/special-topics/outdoor-recreation William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, landscape, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder 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.”  Orange crowned Warbler, Leiothlypis celata, migrating songbird, Walton County, Georgia USA. The orange patch on the crown is usually hidden. They breed across Canada, Alaska and the western United States. These birds migrate to the southern United States and south to Central America. I recently found a copy of the book Latin for Bird Lovers by Roger Lederer and Carol Burr. Along with quite a bit of other fascinating information, the primary purpose of the book is to shed lights on species by defining their Latin names. Since I came across this Orange-crowned Warbler today, I decided to look it up. It appears that the species name celata means “secret” or “hidden”, which is a reference to the orange feathers on its head which are almost never visible. But not only was its orange crown hidden from me, but its entire body is hidden for most of the year in my part of the United States, the southeast. I’ve only seen this little, plain warbler on a few occasions. For fun, I looked on my checklists and found that my last photograph of an Orange-crowned Warbler came exactly 1 year and 2 days ago on December 3, 2018! -Walton County, Georgia  Cute Eastern Gray Squirrel, Sciurus carolinensis, with bushy tail sitting on a tree branch in autumn fall. Walton County, Georgia, USA. Native to the eastern and midwestern United States, Common nuisance wildlife in homes and raiding bird feeders.  The White-throated Sparrows were also much more abundant on my bird walk this morning. I spotted four in one tangle of briars.  Orange crowned Warbler, Leiothlypis celata, migrating songbird, Walton County, Georgia USA. The orange patch on the crown is usually hidden. They breed across Canada, Alaska and the western United States. These birds migrate to the southern United States and south to Central America.  Williamwisephoto Nature Notes is a wildlife, landscape, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. -- Jeremiah 8:7 "Even the stork that flies across the sky knows the time of her migration, as do the turtledove, the swallow, and the crane. They all return at the proper time each year."  When cold weather begins to set in, many of us wish that we could, like the birds, “fly south for the winter.” Many birds migrate north and south seasonally, but there are also many that stay put year round. These birds are termed resident birds. At any time of the year, from the sweltering of summer to the crisp of winter, I can go out to the retention pond behind my office and find our resident Mallard. He was put on the pond with a few others several years ago and, even when his migrating fellows call as they pass overhead, he has been quite content to stay year round. His permanency is most likely due to his regular feedings from employees that visit the pond on breaks. A little less conspicuous are the Great Blue Herons. I may not see them every day, but if I go birding consistently, I’m bound to run across one or two each week. I also frequently see them fishing the small ponds that dot the Walton and Oconee County landscapes on my drive to and from work year round. They will continue to return to productive fishing holes and may be reluctant to move on even in the cooler seasons.  Tall Great Blue Heron, Ardea herodias, long legged wading bird, Walton County, Georgia, USA. Long pointed beak for spear fishing. Birds aren’t the only species to fly the coop. There is a phenomenon in the church world known as “church hopping.” It seems that many Christians don’t feel the need for a long-term commitment to a home church. Instead of focusing on how they themselves can serve and grow a church, they up and leave after a year or so when they deem that “things aren’t happening.”
I suppose I am out of the norm by remaining in the same church for over 25 years now. Much of that is because of the grace of God in providing a healthy, growing church and a great pastor. But part of my faithfulness to one congregation is a conscious decision to submit to discipleship, headship and stay where God has planted me. But I certainly can’t complain. Because, like the heron and mallard on the pond behind my office, I’m very well fed and haven’t had the need to “migrate” elsewhere. I'm staying put!  Green head resident mallard male drake duck swimming on a lake in Walton County, Georgia, USA. Walton County, Georgia Williamwisephoto Nature Notes is a wildlife, landscape, 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, You made the earth overflow with Your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message  I love close up wildlife photography, but not like this! On my way home from work today this young spike buck came flying out of the woods right across and in front of my Ford F-150. There was nothing I could do as I t-boned him right into the grill of my truck. He was dead instantly and the impact even knocked both his antlers off. Needless to say, the grill of my truck is also smashed to pieces and the bumper will have to be pulled back into place. It’s the rutting season folks… watch out!!!!  Williamwisephoto Nature Notes is a wildlife, landscape, 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, You made the earth overflow with Your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message  Pine Warbler; Clarke County, Georgia. November 17, 2019. I am grateful to have a quiet morning on my back patio for what seems the first time in several weeks. The Black Cherry is an amber-orange; the Sweetgums a paling yellow-green; the Water Oaks are hanging onto summer’s green; but the Persimmon has been bald a few weeks. Every now and again a crow’s caw cuts the crisp air. My first Junco of the season appeared briefly in the Crepe Myrtle. As the sun crept skyward over the tips of the Loblollies, the silver-grey blanket gave way to patches of baby-blue. The morning appears to be ordering itself to present an awesome autumn afternoon. As they do each November, hundreds of Turkey and Black Vultures have been gathering in the tall trees in a small patch of green space in my subdivision. They seem to flock in a few hours before sunset, gather the last warm rays of the sun, then depart one by one or in small groups for their nightly roost nearby. Overcast 46°F, slight chilly breeze. Williamwisephoto Nature Notes is a wildlife, landscape, 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, You made the earth overflow with Your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message  Red-shouldered Hawk, Buteo lineatus, perched in Black Cherry tree in the fall in Walton County, Georgia. A raptor bird of prey hunting in a forest in the Southeastern United States. First thing in the morning, a light rain and cool 49°F. The wind was picking up and the temperature was dropping. I made a short birding walk in the drizzle. A pair of Wood Ducks swam in the open on the upper retention pond but blasted off as soon as they spotted me. By lunch break the front had passed, the rain stopped and the skies turned to a bright blue. Up at the beaver wetlands behind the firing range there was a flurry of activity. A Red-shouldered Hawk sat fluffed up against the increasing wind. Three Eastern Phoebes were hawking insects over the shallow waters. And a Great Blue Heron startled me as it took to the sky not far from where I appeared through the brush on the water's edge. Walton County, Georgia  Eastern Phoebe, Sayornis phoebe, flycatcher songbird perched over a pond in Walton County, Georgia. This migratory tyrant flycatcher breeds in eastern North America.  Eastern Phoebe, Sayornis phoebe, flycatcher songbird perched over a pond in Walton County, Georgia. This migratory tyrant flycatcher breeds in eastern North America. William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, 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  I went to New York to run the New York City Marathon… the chance of a lifetime! While I was hoping to do some birding in Central Park, I knew we would be pressed for time and didn’t bring any binoculars or camera. As it turned out, I only had time for some incidental birding while visiting the Statue of Liberty, but picked up two life birds: Brant and Black-backed Gull.  Commemorative runners medal, running shoes and New York City License plate. From the TCS NYC New York City Marathon in November 2019. Big Apple, Statue of Liberty, New York Road Runners, running shoes.
Williamwisephoto Nature Notes is a wildlife, landscape, 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, You made the earth overflow with Your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message  Nine-banded Armadillo; Walton County, Georgia. October 2, 2019. Some random Walton wildlife shots on short walks in October, 2019. Williamwisephoto Nature Notes is a wildlife, landscape, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, 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  Small Dekay`s Brown Snake, Storeria dekayi. Native to eastern United States, photographed in Madison County, Georgia. Small garden snake. A friend texted a photo and wrote, “What kind of snake is this?” That’s actually a pretty common occurrence for me, and no doubt other snake enthusiasts. But this photo threw me off. It had the keeled scales and body shape of a typical brown snake, but the colors were way off! (See the last two photos) I told him I was on my way. Once I had the snake in hand, I have to admit I was a tad disappointed. It wasn’t some rare black-and-white color morph, but a normal looking Dekay’s Brown Snake. I guess the white bucket with dry, gray paint threw off his phone camera’s sensor or something. While this Dekay’s was a pretty snake, and a good size for this species, it wasn’t some rare color morph I was hoping for!
 Small Dekay`s Brown Snake, Storeria dekayi. Native to eastern United States, photographed in Madison County, Georgia. Small garden snake.  Small Dekay`s Brown Snake, Storeria dekayi. Close up portrait of Dekays Brown Snake face rostral and labial scales. Native to eastern United States, photographed in Madison County, Georgia. Small garden snake.  Small Dekay`s Brown Snake, Storeria dekayi. Native to eastern United States, photographed in Madison County, Georgia. Small garden snake. AND SPEAKING OF SNAKES...I came across this DOA Ratsnake while running on Barnett Shoals Road.
Williamwisephoto Nature Notes is a wildlife, landscape, 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  Eastern Kingbird; Walton County, GA. Wednesday, September 11, 2019.  White-tailed Deer doe coming for freshly fallen persimmons in my backyard; Clarke County, GA. September 1, 2019.  Bullfrog hanging out in my Koi pond. 9/13/19  I couldn't resist this photo of a napping squirrel on a hot Georgia afternoon. Walton County, Georgia; September 17, 2019. Williamwisephoto Nature Notes is a wildlife, landscape, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder of God’s creation.  I was out on a Saturday long run and found this young buck curled up on the side of the road on the outskirts of town. After I took the cell photo he jumped up to run off. His front right leg was completely broken and dangling but he managed to take off into the woods and out of sight. Clarke County, Georgia |
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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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