 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  Song Sparrow, Melospiza melodia, perched in tree with budding leaves in spring. Photographed in Walton County, Georgia USA on February 27, 2018. Song sparrows are common songbirds throughout the United States. Males sing often, perching around eye level on exposed branches. Tuesday, 1:49 PM - Just a short stroll up by the pond behind the animal shelter. I used my iPhone to play a Song Sparrow call. And sure enough, a Song Sparrow popped up out of the tall grass! Over in the pond, the American Coot that showed up at the beginning of the month is still here fishing. Walton County, Georgia  A black American Coot, Fulica americana, on the shore of a blue water lake in Georgia in late winter, early spring. Coots are duck like waterfowl common on lakes and ponds throughout the United States. They are closer relatives of the crane or rail than ducks. Photographed in Walton County, Georgia on February 27, 2018.  Song Sparrow, Melospiza melodia, perched in tree with budding leaves in spring. Photographed in Walton County, Georgia USA on February 27, 2018. Song sparrows are common songbirds throughout the United States. Males sing often, perching around eye level on exposed branches.
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 William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation.  American Robin fluffed up post-preening. Photographed February 26, 2018 at Cedar Shoals High School, Athens, Georgia, waiting for my daughter to finish soccer practice. The hardships freezing winter temperatures drives down the output of many nature and wildlife photographers. While the prospect of capturing a beautiful, snow-laden winter landscape may be motivating, the cold toes and hands often keep us indoors. But thankfully seasons change and the signs of spring are beginning to arrive. Genesis 1:14 "…and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years..."  American Robin, Walton County, Georgia. While the quoted verse is spoken in regards to astronomy, it is also quite fitting ornithologically. Sure, the warmer temperatures, the longer daylight hours, the glowing gold Daffodils and the white bursting forth of the Bradford Pears should be signal enough that spring is springing, but the increasing number of worm-hunting Robins is a confirmation. All signal that the time of springtime photography approaches! The American Robin is the stereotypical bird of spring. Although the Robins do not completely disappear for the winter here in the southeastern United States, there is a definite upsurge in the spring. On a few recent mornings I've come outside the animal shelter for dog photography and the lawn is covered in Robins; twenty, thirty, forty, fifty at a time; heads cocked downwards as they hop around.  American Robin hopping across the lawn of the animal shelter, February 22, 2018. Walton County, Georgia. It is hard to not become stereotypical when describing the Robin, but that is what they are: stereotypical! There is a reason every narrative describes "Robin Redbreast" in the same manner – the early bird, the sign of spring, the cheery vocalist – because that is what she is! It is hard to not become stereotypical when describing the Robin, but that is what they are: stereotypical! There is a reason every narrative describes "Robin Redbreast" in the same manner – the early bird, the sign of spring, the cheery vocalist – because that is what she is! So instead of trying to write a new narrative, I simply quote the experts: “The quintessential early bird, American Robins are common sights on lawns across North America, where you often see them tugging earthworms out of the ground. Robins are popular birds for their warm orange breast, cheery song, and early appearance at the end of winter.” www.allaboutbirds.org  American Robin fluffed up post-preening. Photographed February 26, 2018 at Cedar Shoals High School, Athens, Georgia  William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. Psalm 78:27 He rained down birds as thick as dust, clouds of them like sands along the shore! Launched in 1998 by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society, the Great Backyard Bird Count was the first online citizen-science project to collect data on wild birds and to display results in near real-time. Now, more than 160,000 people of all ages and walks of life worldwide join the four-day count each February to create an annual snapshot of the distribution and abundance of birds. For at least 15 minutes on one or more days of the count, February 16-19, 2018, simply tally the numbers and kinds of birds you see. Scientists use information from the Great Backyard Bird Count, along with observations from other citizen-science projects, such as the Christmas Bird Count, Project FeederWatch, and eBird, to get the “big picture” about what is happening to bird populations. http://gbbc.birdcount.org/about/ DAY 1 - Friday, February 16, 2018Patchy morning fog, 30% chance of showers, high 74° This was my first time participating in the GBBC. Wandering the grounds, parking lots and buildings around the animal shelter on breaks throughout the day, I was able to list twenty one species on day 1! https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S42837801  "Drink-your-tea!" - - Eastern Towhee songbird singing on brotographed on four days of birding in Clarke and Walton County during the February 2018 Great Backyard Bird Count sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society. Species checklists are entered on ebird during the event.  Song Sparrow in budding Bradford Pear Tree - - I was pleasantly surprised by this shot. Especially since I was just birding and not trying for good shots. I just lifted the camera and shot yet another typical Song Sparrow and moved on. But when I got back to edit, this one really stood out. The dark warm browns and the buds on the Bradford Pear really looked great. I even love the sharp detail of the spider webs if you look closely. And the rusty leaf stands out like a red arrow pointing to the subject. Just goes to show: point and shoot. You never know what turns out!  Red male Northern Cardinal songbird in briars. Photographed on four days of birding in Clarke and Walton County during the February 2018 Great Backyard Bird Count sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society. Species checklists are entered on ebird during the event.  Eastern Phoebe Flycatcher bird on branch, Georgia, USA  Hybrid mixed mallard drake and hen domestic ducks. Photographed on four days of birding in Clarke and Walton County during the February 2018 Great Backyard Bird Count sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society. Species checklists are entered on ebird during the event.  Eastern Towhee songbird singing on branch, Georgia, USA  Northern Mockingbird bird on branch, Georgia, USA  Carolina Wren bird on branch singing, Georgia, USA  Carolina Wren songbird. Photographed on four days of birding in Clarke and Walton County during the February 2018 Great Backyard Bird Count DAY 2 - Saturday, February 17, 2018  Sandhill Crane - quite a thrill (yes, I guess I'm now a bird nerd!) to see 9 cranes flying in V-formation over my house! Overcast, high 65° I spent the entire morning from 8:45 to 11:15 AM on my back patio. Within the first hour or so, I had marked down all the usual birds in my backyard and go up to 19 species. But I like round numbers, so I stayed out just a little longer. I had to be at the church at noon, so at 11:15 I was going to wrap it up when I heard a strange croak overhead. Then a group of giant birds flying in V-formation cruised right over my house heading west north-west. Not geese. Too big to be Cormorants. I suspected Sandhill Cranes although I didn’t know they migrated in a V-formation. I’d seen them in Illinois and I’d seen them in Florida. This was my first experience finding one in Georgia… especially right above my very own backyard! I made a second e-bird list while on outreach with my church in the College Circle subdivision. I also spotted a few other species while on a 10 mile run later in the day. Twenty five species for the day! https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S42877982 https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S42883285 https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S42891476  Red male Northern Cardinal songbird in briars. Photographed on four days of birding in Clarke and Walton County during the February 2018 Great Backyard Bird Count  Female Northern Cardinal  Male Northren Cardinal  Whoops, that's not a bird! -- The eastern chipmunk Tamias striatus is a chipmunk species found in eastern North America. Photographed in Athens, Georgia. DAY 3 - Sunday, February 18, 2018  "Going Dutch" - a White-breasted Nuthatch and a Downy Woodpecker share a suet meal at my backyard feeder. Increasing clouds, high 66° Instead of staying confined to the prayer room before the Sunday morning service, I paced on the sidewalk out front to pray… and to tally another ebird list! Finally spotted a Red-shouldered Hawk mixed in with dozens and dozens of circling vultures. In the afternoon, a long nap interrupted my plan to go birding at Sandy Creek Park. I didn’t expect to see anything different from yesterday sitting on my back porch, but almost immediately found a White-breasted Nuthatch eating suet along with a Downy Woodpecker! I started a new list and took a walk around the block. While on the backside of Hummingbird Trail, I heard the distinct call of a Barred Owl from the woods. https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S42920460 https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S42923446 https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S42943276 DAY 4 – Monday, February 19, 2018  A Red-shouldered Hawk hunts for rodents over the open field of the Walton County Sherrif's Department firing range. No poaching this hawk! Morning drizzle and fog, mostly cloudy, high 71° I wasn’t expecting to get too much birding in today. I planned to go in to work for two hours, mainly to get the payroll done, and then had to leave for errands in Atlanta with my wife. Before leaving work, I took a quick walk around the ponds and grounds. I was able to add two Killdeer to the tally, bringing my total tally to 39 species. Again, I like round numbers, and wanted one more. Where was the Great Blue Heron or the Kingfisher that regularly visit the pond? But on my way home, I got my desire and spotted an American Kestrel on a telephone wire on Barnett Shoals Road in Oconee County. Forty birds in four days! https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S42973803 https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S42975830  An Eastern Phoebe huddles up on the drizzle and rain.  My four-day species count:
 William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. Psalms 103:22 -- Bless the LORD, all His works, In all places of His dominion. Bless the LORD, O my soul!  Eastern Painted Turtle, Chrysemys picta, pond slider river turtle basking on a log on a cloudy day. Photographed on wildlife birding hike in Walton County, Georgia, USA. Thursday, 12:19 PM – a gray, cloudy day, but the warm temperature isn’t lost on the turtles. They’ve all climbed out of the mire on the upper pond near the animal shelter. But as I approached… SPLASH! Back into the water. Just to get away for a bit, I sat down upon a log on the bank during lunch break and waited for them to climb back out of the water.  Impressions of coyote and raccoon wildlife tracks left in dirt. Photographed on wildlife birding hike in Walton County, Georgia, USA. Not far from the pond, several fresh animal prints were tracked through the mud. Coyote, deer, raccoon, and a cat.  Pond slider river turtle basking on a log on a cloudy day. Photographed on wildlife birding hike in Walton County, Georgia, USA.  Painted Turtle, Chrysemys picta, pond slider river turtle basking on a log on a cloudy day. Photographed on wildlife birding hike in Walton County, Georgia, USA. Forecast: overcast, high 73°  William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. Colossians 2:2-4 (The Message) "I want you in touch with everything there is to know of God. Then you will have minds confident and at rest, focused on Christ... I don’t want anyone leading you off on some wild-goose chase..."  Canada Goose gander or hen calling on water`s edge of small lake in rural Walton County, Georgia. The big, black-necked Canada Goose with its signature white chinstrap mark is a familiar and widespread bird of fields and parks. Wednesday, 2:45 PM – it looks like the last Redhead duck has left at last. The lone male that has remained the last few days was nowhere to be seen this morning or afternoon. However, a pair of Canada Geese have been back on the pond the last few days. I wish I knew if they were the same pair that had goslings on our pond in seasons past. Walton County, Georgia  Canada Goose gander or hen calling on water`s edge of small lake in rural Walton County, Georgia. The big, black-necked Canada Goose with its signature white chinstrap mark is a familiar and widespread bird of fields and parks.  Canada Goose gander or hen calling on water`s edge of small lake in rural Walton County, Georgia. The big, black-necked Canada Goose with its signature white chinstrap mark is a familiar and widespread bird of fields and parks.  Canada Goose gander or hen calling on water`s edge of small lake in rural Walton County, Georgia. The big, black-necked Canada Goose with its signature white chinstrap mark is a familiar and widespread bird of fields and parks.  Canada Goose gander or hen drinking in pond water reflection on small lake in rural Walton County, Georgia. The big, black-necked Canada Goose with its signature white chinstrap mark is a familiar and widespread bird of fields and parks.  Canada Goose gander or hen drinking in pond water reflection on small lake in rural Walton County, Georgia. The big, black-necked Canada Goose with its signature white chinstrap mark is a familiar and widespread bird of fields and parks.  Canada Goose gander or hen calling on water`s edge of small lake in rural Walton County, Georgia. The big, black-necked Canada Goose with its signature white chinstrap mark is a familiar and widespread bird of fields and parks.  Canada Goose gander or hen calling on water`s edge of small lake in rural Walton County, Georgia. The big, black-necked Canada Goose with its signature white chinstrap mark is a familiar and widespread bird of fields and parks.  William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. Revelation 19:17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sunshine, shouting loudly to the birds, “Come! Gather together for the supper of the Great God!  American Coot, Fulica Americana, a duck like marsh bird fishing on pond with marsh grasses eating a dead bream fish. The American Coot is a plump, chickenlike bird with a rounded head and a sloping bill. Common in marshes, reservoirs, lake edges, saltwater inlets or saltmarshes. Photographed on birding hike in Walton County, Georgia, USA. Friday, 7:45 AM-I made my morning drive around back to count the Redhead Ducks on the shelter pond. On the first pass I only saw eight. But on my way out there were 16! Half we’re underwater on my first drive-by! At the northern point of the main pond, I saw a fast walking “duck” mixed in with the resident Mallards. Something different here… an American Coot! I spent 15 minutes shooting from my truck and filling an SD card. (Filling an SD card is so much better than the high cost days of shooting off several rolls of film!)  American Coot, Fulica Americana, a duck like marsh bird fishing on pond. The American Coot is a plump, chickenlike bird with a rounded head and a sloping bill. Common in marshes, reservoirs, lake edges, saltwater inlets or saltmarshes. Photographed on birding hike in Walton County, Georgia, USA. Going back out at 10:30 AM, the Coot was right outside the shelter back door tearing up a dead bream fish. This bird must have come from an area where it was accustomed to seeing people. It allowed me to approach so closely; I scooted up on my but until I was only 25 - 30 feet away. I fired off another several gigabytes of photos and scored some great shots of the dead fish in its mouth.  American Coot, Fulica Americana, a duck like marsh bird fishing on pond with marsh grasses eating a dead bream fish. The American Coot is a plump, chickenlike bird with a rounded head and a sloping bill. Common in marshes, reservoirs, lake edges, saltwater inlets or saltmarshes. Photographed on birding hike in Walton County, Georgia, USA.  American Coot, Fulica Americana, a duck like marsh bird fishing on pond. The American Coot is a plump, chickenlike bird with a rounded head and a sloping bill. Common in marshes, reservoirs, lake edges, saltwater inlets or saltmarshes. Photographed on birding hike in Walton County, Georgia, USA. Coots are goofy looking birds - like a cross between a duck and a chicken. Several of my coworkers, having spotted this strange bird, came into my office saying, “there’s a weird looking duck with the pointy white bill on the back pond.“ I have seen many of these birds on the marshes along coastal Georgia. But it was in November, 2012 that I last saw a Coot visit the shelter pond.  American Coot, Fulica Americana, a duck like marsh bird fishing on pond. The American Coot is a plump, chickenlike bird with a rounded head and a sloping bill. Common in marshes, reservoirs, lake edges, saltwater inlets or saltmarshes. Photographed on birding hike in Walton County, Georgia, USA.  American Coot, Fulica Americana, a duck like marsh bird fishing on pond. The American Coot is a plump, chickenlike bird with a rounded head and a sloping bill. Common in marshes, reservoirs, lake edges, saltwater inlets or saltmarshes. Photographed on birding hike in Walton County, Georgia, USA.  American Coot, Fulica Americana, a duck like marsh bird fishing on pond with marsh grasses eating a dead bream fish. The American Coot is a plump, chickenlike bird with a rounded head and a sloping bill. Common in marshes, reservoirs, lake edges, saltwater inlets or saltmarshes. Photographed on birding hike in Walton County, Georgia, USA.  American Coot, Fulica Americana, a duck like marsh bird fishing on pond. The American Coot is a plump, chickenlike bird with a rounded head and a sloping bill. Common in marshes, reservoirs, lake edges, saltwater inlets or saltmarshes. Photographed on birding hike in Walton County, Georgia, USA. Walton County, Georgia  William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. Proverbs 25:2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.  Monday, 4:57 PM - An ebird.org user posted a group of Northern Shovelers (Anas clypeata) on a rural cattle pond. And I decided to search them out! I was able to leave the crazy day behind about 15 minutes early so I could drive by Braswell Church Road in Walton County on my way home from work. Arriving on this quiet country road, two cattle ponds set directly off the road on my right. One pond was tiered a bit above the other and both were surrounded by considerable tilled up mud. On my first pass the waters appeared empty… darn. Feeling I may have wasted my time, I turned the truck around to head back. But coming from the other direction, there they were: a dozen or more Northern Shoveler’s busily swimming back-and-forth over the surface of the muddy pond!  This was my first experience seeing these big-billed ducks shoveling away, skimming the water’s surface; sometimes together as a group, sometimes singly, and at times even dabbling butt-up like a Mallard. Several other birds explored the freshly tilled dirt around the ponds: lots of Killdeer and Mourning Doves. I sat and enjoyed their antics for about 15 minutes. As far as I know, I didn't draw any attention or awkward looks from anyone... except for the cows!  Walton County, Georgia  William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. Exodus 20:11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.  Mourning Dove, Zenaida macroura, a graceful, slender-tailed, small-headed dove that’s common across the United States of America. Photographed backyard birding hike in Athens, Georgia, USA. At 1:38 PM, I come out to my covered back patio to sit under the propane heater. Rain, rain, rain and more rain continues to fall from a gray 54° sky. Two Mourning Doves are perched quietly side-by-side in the bare Black Cherry tree as rain droplets hang about them. At 1:42 PM, the typical backyard birds make their repeated forays to the feeder: Cardinals, Titmice, Chickadees... all busy back-and-forth, back-and-forth, back-and-forth as the rain continues to fall. All the while the two doves sit side-by-side on their quiet perch. At 1:50 PM, a loud Blue Jay takes up a perch high in the Sweetgum Tree continuously belting out loud screams echoed back-and-forth by a second Jay nearby; back-and-forth, back-and-forth. Meanwhile the two doves sit quietly side-by-side on their perch. On a sudden, the Titmice put a ground stop on their feeder trips and nervously buzz alarms from the thickets. Something is up: a hawk must be nearby but I can’t see him. The rain continues to fall. And all the while the two doves sit side-by-side on their quiet perch. At 2:18, an airplane roars loudly overhead unseen through the cloudy sky. The rain continues its steady stream. And all the while the two doves maintain their quiet perch. At 2:35 PM, a Downy Woodpecker arrives for some suet. The rain is still falling, and yes, the two doves remain side-by-side on the rain droplet covered perch. 2:42 PM, a Northern Flicker stops momentarily by, high up on the Jay’s previous perch in the Sweetgum Tree. A Red-bellied Woodpecker now rattles off loudly as he takes his tern at the suet. The rain continues to fall; the two doves sit side-by-side on their quiet perch. At 3:15 PM, I wake up with a chill from an unintended doze; the propane heater has gone out. The rain continues to fall and the two Morning Doves sit side-by-side on their quiet perch. At 3:27 PM, a gentle coo rolls across the lawn and the two doves lift off from their quiet perch with squeaking wings. Meanwhile, the rain continues to fall.  Mourning Dove, Zenaida macroura, a graceful, slender-tailed, small-headed dove that’s common across the United States of America. Photographed backyard birding hike in Athens, Georgia, USA. Athens-Clarke County, Georgia  William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. Acts 4:24 -- "Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, 
  William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. Revelation 4:11 - 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.  Yellow-rumped Warbler, Setophaga coronata, songbird perched in tree. Common winter migrant in the southeast, also known as Butter Butts. Yellow-rumped Warblers winter across much of central and southeastern U.S., and they sometimes come to backyards if food is offered. Photographed on birding hike in Walton County, Georgia, USA. Wednesday, 7:42 AM - first light on the shelter pond:
 Canada Goose drake, Branta canadensis , on an open water blue lake. Thousands of honkers migrate north and south each year, filling the sky with long V-formations. Photographed on wildlife birding hike in Walton County, Monroe, Georgia, USA. Lunchtime - I pull on the large black rubber boots that my daughter Amanda bought for me. What used to be a small, usually dry overflow creek from the main pond has now turned into some fairly wide wetlands. Trekking down through the wet, muddy standing water I find several large beaver dams now transect the area. I turn on a GPS iPHone app to try and sketch out a map. There are five impressively long and somewhat high dams. It is amazing how much mud, leaves, sticks and branches are all pressed together to build these levee walls. They are so well constructed that there is no problem holding my weight. It is obvious the beaver have been quite busy here, though I failed to see any on my treck.  Red-shouldered Hawk; Walton County, Georgia.
Later in the afternoon: the first quarter moon that Rose at 12:42 PM is now plainly visible and hanging in the blue sky about 35° from the horizon, to the east. There is no slow down on the work stress today. The controversies surrounding a dog named “Otis” continue. And just after 5 PM, three pit bulls maul a child and attack a woman trying to save the boy. No doubt tomorrow will be another crazy day.  Yellow-rumped Warbler, Setophaga coronata, songbird perched in tree. Common winter migrant in the southeast, also known as Butter Butts. Yellow-rumped Warblers winter across much of central and southeastern U.S., and they sometimes come to backyards if food is offered. Photographed on birding hike in Walton County, Georgia, USA. Walton County, Georgia  Redhead Ducks; Walton County, Georgia.  William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. James 1:19 "Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath"  Great Blue Heron, Ardea herodias, a long legged water bird fishing in reeds and grasses of a pond. Great Blue Herons can strike like lightning to grab a fish. Photographed on wildlife birding hike in Walton County, Monroe, Georgia, USA. Tuesday, 4:30 PM- Taking a walk up to the main pond behind the shelter underneath a sunny blue sky; 55°. Strong wind gusts are blowing the redheads around the water surface. Half of the ducks have their bills tucked in their feathers, all the others are diving away making quite the splashing and sputtering ruckus in the weedy shallows on the northern end of the pond. The Great Blue Heron, a skittish but regular visitor, is spear fishing on the opposite bank. I was able to sneak up closer behind the large pieces of Public Works equipment. I saw him take a few catches while sitting patiently and watching. Getting in a better position, I began to fire away. But something was wrong: four shots, buffer full; Two shots, buffering again; three shots waiting for the buffer once more. So slow!!!!  Redhead duck, Aythya americana, waterfowl on an open water blue lake. Bills tucked in feathers, sleeping. These sociable ducks molt, migrate, and winter in huge flocks where winter numbers can reach the thousands. Similar appearance to Canvasback duck. Photographed on wildlife birding hike in Walton County, Georgia, USA. Having filled an SD card yesterday, and not downloading the photos onto my computer, I grabbed a different SD card and pop it in the camera before heading up to the pond. What a difference a brand can make! Although this card showed it was rated class 10, it certainly didn’t have the save time like one. Such annoyingly slow shooting. Lesson learned: not all SD cards are created equal. Know your equipment before you go. I’m glad the lesson was learned on a casual back-door outing and not on a rare find.  Redhead duck, Aythya americana, waterfowl flock on an open water blue lake. These sociable ducks molt, migrate, and winter in huge flocks where winter numbers can reach the thousands. Similar appearance to Canvasback duck. Photographed on wildlife birding hike in Walton County, Georgia, USA. Walton County, Georgia  William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. Numbers 14 “The land we walked through and scouted out is a very good land—very good indeed."  Red-breasted Mergansers at Sandy Creek Park in Athens, Georgia. Saturday, 4:15 PM- Winter’s grip has loosened. Not that it is ever that tight in Georgia. But Wednesday morning I was off work and watching the snowfall, and today I’m hiking without a jacket and it’s 64°! I suppose my level of bird nerdiness has reached a new high. Becoming more acquainted with my new iPhone, I’ve been exploring the sightings posted on ebird. Several people have recently posted a trio of Red-breasted Mergansers at Sandy Creek Park. With persmission from my wonderful wife, I make a short Saturday getaway and head for Lake Chapman.  Lake Chapman in Sandy Creek Park in Athens, Georgia, USA. Arriving at the park I had no idea where these birds would be on the 260 acre lake. So why not start at the main beach and walk the Lakeside trail north from there? Well, I didn’t have to go far. Just off shore from the main beach parking area I could see the three ugly ducklings diving in the water! Obviously they were the Red-breasted Mergansers I came to see: long pointy bills, and topped with rusty, scruffy bad-hair-day! Truly unique looking birds! I spent quite a bit of time observing this new quarry and making sure I would get some good shots.  Red-breasted Mergansers at Sandy Creek Park in Athens, Georgia. Having found my prize so quickly, I went for a short walk. The temporary withdraw of winter produced a good bit of avian activity. There were Robins a-plenty; a busy Downy Woodpecker; a singing Kinglet; and a Sparrow soaking the sunset. Eleven species on my eBird list. https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S42102994  Song Sparrow, Melospiza melodia, songbird perched in tree and briars singing. Sandy Creek Park, Athens, Georgia, USA.  Small Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Regulus calendula, passerine bird singing on brach in golden sunrise sunset. Photographed on birding hike at Sandy Creek Park Nature Center, Lakeside Trail, Athens, Georgia, USA.  Downy Woodpecker hanging upside down and pecking on tree. Sandy Creek Park, Athens, Georgia, USA.  Lake Chapman in Sandy Creek Park in Athens, Georgia, USA.  On the walk back I found the shell of a Common Must Turtle (Sternotherus odoratus) on the trail side. Athens, Clarke County, Georgia  William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation.  Eastern Phoebe bird hiding in shadow of tree branch, Georgia USA. Get me out of here on dove's wings; Friday, 4:30 PM – Nearing the end of yet another stressful week at work. A Pitbull owner finally calls the shelter after 10 days… but her dogs were euthanized about 30 minutes before she called. Not a fun call; but not our fault. Still so many emails from people complaining that animal control doesn’t do enough to help the dogs out in the cold; but we’re doing the best we can with what we have. I’m just ready to go home. I take a quick stress-relieving walk up to the shelter pond before leaving so I don’t take it out on my family when I get home. Twenty-six Redheads on the water and an Eastern Phoebe hiding in the shadows. She looks how I feel. I just want to hide sometimes. Walton County, Georgia  William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. Psalm 16:8 I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.  Small Killdeer plover on frozen pond in Southeast USA. Walton County, Georgia. A small shorebird often seen inland away from water. Thursday, 8:15 AM - although the snow when ice was mostly gone, the girls were off school another day and the Walton County government was on a delayed, 10 AM start. But I began my drive to work early anyway. Staying off the back roads, I passed the retention pond next to the Walmart Distribution Center on Unisia Drive in Monroe. About 18 Hooded Mergansers were diving in the middle of the pond. Arriving at the animal shelter just after 8 AM, I drove around back to the pond. Out on the water were about 25 redheads. I didn’t get an exact count but the numbers looked a little bit lower than Tuesday. While passing the north point of the pond I spotted a small plover-like bird in the weeds. Will this be a new bird? I raise my glass. For some reason, our typical parking-lot Killdeer were standing huddled up on the semi-frozen surface of the pond. It was a chilly 19° and breezy. Poor birds. But I was nice and warm shooting from the cab of my warm truck. Back in the office, I was puzzled when nearly every shot of the Killdeer was blurry. Why? I was stabilizing it on the truck window while shooting. I’m sure I had a high enough shutter speed. Well, I remembered that nice feeling I had “shooting from the cab of a warm truck.” I forgot to turn off the engine while shooting! Apparently the Vibration Reduction feature on the lens can’t overcome the continuous vibrating of a running motor! Lesson learned.  Small Killdeer plover on frozen pond in Southeast USA. Walton County, Georgia. A small shorebird often seen inland away from water. Walton 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  White snow falling on camping fire pit and canoe in winter. Pine trees and snow flakes. Athens, Clarke County, Georgia. USA. In the Book of Job, God poses a series of rhetorical questions to confront the arrogant knowledge of Job and his counselors. God’s point was to prove man’s inferiority through Job’s inability to answer this inquisition concerning the wonders of nature. Failing an effective riposte, Job admits defeat: “Then Job replied to the LORD, ‘I am nothing-- how could I ever find the answers? I will put my hand over my mouth in silence. I have said too much already. I have nothing more to say.’" (Job 40:3-5) Sure, Job and his similarly ‘primitive’ friends were unable to answer. But what about today? Doesn’t ‘advanced’ man now possess the knowledge to answer God’s inquiry? We have measured the “recesses of the deep” (Job 38:16) - the Challenger Deep in the Pacific Ocean - at 35,814 feet by direct measurement from submersibles and by sonar bathymetry. We now “perceive the breadth of the earth” (Job 38:18) to be 3,959 miles in equatorial radius, and 3,949 in polar radius. We know light is “electromagnetic radiation within a certain portion of the electromagnetic spectrum” (Job 38:19). We have unlocked the mysteries of dew point and understand the formation of dew and frost (Job 38:28). We have charted the movements of the constellations with pinpoint accuracy down to the fraction of a second (Job 38:31-33). And the Mountain Goat breeds yearly between November and January and has a gestation period of 180 days. Job 38:22 "Have you visited the treasuries of the snow? Have you seen where the hail is made and stored?
Let’s ask an expert for a prediction concerning today’s simple snowfall. “The bottom line is that I still can’t delineate a DEFINITIVE zone of where it will be heaviest or most likely. That will come down to random chance affects of meso-scale forcing like frontogenetic lift that can’t be resolved until we see it on radar and satellite... I hold to what I’ve said earlier about being absolute in amounts or locations so my hand is forced to broad-brush more than I like to or want to, but sometimes its the nature of the beast.” I guess we don’t really snow it all, after all! Athens-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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