 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
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 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  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  Red-bellied Woodpecker in a snow covered pine tree; Clarke County, Georgia birding. Wednesday, 8:30 AM - Snow still continues to fall as the sky lightens to gray. Fat flakes fall in the cloudy, 24° air. The grass is hidden under a nearly unbroken white blanket, only a few sticks and weeds poking through the falling powder. The sidewalk and road are covered in about a quarter of an inch. 9:00 AM - The snowfall has ceased. I was feeling bad for the birds and went out to fill the feeders. Cold, cold, cold 25°! I left a trail of footprints in the now 1-inch deep layer of snow. At 9:05, the wind began to roll back the cloud layer, blue sky beginning in the west and rolling back toward the east. By 9:15, the sky dome was half blue sky and half grey cloud. After another 30 minutes, strong winds pushed back and only the eastern horizon was veiled by cloud. And by 10:00 AM, our snow “event” was over; bright rays were uncovered and illuminated the fallen snow to a glowing orange. Psalm 74:17 All nature is within your hands; you make the summer and the winter too.  Tufted Titmouse and Carolina Wren at a backyard bird feeder in the snow; Clarke County, Georgia birding. All the while, the Cardinals, Titmice, Chickadees and one Carolina Wren were busy at the freshly filled feeders. They would magically vanish each time I stepped out with camera in hand. I managed enough patience to sit silently in the cold and shoot a bold red Cardinal and Red-bellied Woodpecker before my frozen fingers took me back indoors. Strong blowing winds gusts continued to blow powdery snow off the roof tops and trees throughout the day. It remained deceptively bright and sunny, but still just 29°. Athens-Clarke County, Georgia
 Carolina Wren bird, Thryothorus ludovicianus, on snow covered bird seed feeder in winter. A common bird in southeast America. Athens, Clarke County, Georgia. USA.  Carolina Wren bird, Thryothorus ludovicianus, on snow covered bird seed feeder in winter. A common bird in southeast America. Athens, Clarke County, Georgia. USA.  William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. Proverbs 21:21 Whoever goes hunting for what is right and kind finds life itself—glorious life!  Tuesday, 5:10 PM - The thick gray clouds came rolling in across the sky around 3 PM. Dusk was coming early today. They are promising snow and winter weather tonight! On my drive to and from work every day I’m scanning every countryside pond for ducks. A few minutes away from the shelter on Pannell Road, I stopped at a small pond to catch a closer look at some divers on the water. Noticing several bold, black and white flashes tipped me off to Hooded Mergansers. I was hoping for something new, but these are still a nice sight to see. A few days later, a coworker said her husband saw me pulled over on the side of and thought I might be broke down. When I told her “no”, she asked what I was doing. With a grin, I said, “Duck hunting”! Walton County, Georgia  William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. Numbers 10:9 “God will hear you and save you from your enemies when you sound the alarm with these trumpets."  Eastern Phoebe bird perched in tree. A common North America bird in the southeast. Athens, Clarke County, Georgia. USA. Monday - Around 5 PM I am sitting next to a campfire in my backyard watching the birds. As I relax, I hear the loud laughing call of a Pileated Woodpecker off across the back meadow. Going up to the fence line I search my iPhone for the call of the Pileated. As the tiny speakers project it across the field, I am almost immediately dive-bombed by two highly agitated male cardinals! Bright red flashes bolt around me as a total of five irritated Cardinals (three males, two females) show up!  Red male Northern Cardinal songbird perched in tree with blue sky in winter. A common North America passerine songbird. Athens, Clarke County, Georgia. USA. Ebird count for the day:
 Red-bellied Woodpecker pecking pine tree. A common North America woodpecker bird in the southeast. Athens, Clarke County, 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. Matthew 24:28 And wherever the carcass is, there the vultures will gather.  Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) perched in roost dead tree. Athens, Clarke County, Georgia. USA. Sunday, 3:43 PM – I went for a birding walk through the wooded greenspace of my neighborhood between morning and evening church services this bright blue but chilly Sunday afternoon. Not spying too many other birds, it was basically a vulture walk. Standing camouflaged under the tall snags, the vultures would fly in to perch directly above my head; their wings sounding like flapping plastic trash bags as they not-so-gracefully landed. Every fall a mixed gathering of vultures descends upon our neighborhood. Thankfully they stay off the roofs but choose the several tall dead White Oaks to roost. There are two types of Vultures here in Georgia. The Turkey Vulture and the Black Vulture. If one has a clear eye on their head color, the difference is obvious. In the air when the head color isn’t as discernable, it is a little trickier. But size, color and how they hold their wings are good indicators. I was happy to get a shot of both species sitting side-by-side for comparison. I had to sneak into my neighbor’s yard to get closer. I could just hear them inside the house, “Honey, our crazy bird loving neighbor is in our yard again looking at vultures!” Oh well.  Turkey Vulture (left) and Black Vulture (right); Clarke County, Georgia. The following day (Monday, January 15) I was off from work for MLK Day. I sat alone next to my backyard fire pit watching over 30 vultures in the trees. Again, not a cloud in the clear blue sky. Yesterday’s strong winds have died down a bit and the vultures are soaring in squadrons across the sky. Dozens upon dozens in the trees; groups soaring overhead; loners perching and lifting off from the snags… a true “vulture party”!  Black Vulture, Coragyps atratus, perched in roost dead tree. Athens, Clarke County, Georgia. USA. Just after 5 PM the vultures begin leaving the snags one by one in varying intervals. After sitting silent in the setting sun for quite some time, it would then enter in the mind of one vulture, “my turn”, and it would lift off and sail away eastward. As they passed nearly directly over my head, I had plenty of opportunity to practice panning for flight shots. Just past 5:00 PM the treetops are still glowing orange in the setting sun, but all else has fallen into cool blue shadow. At 5:17 PM the last Black Vulture lifted off, and two minutes later the last Turkey Vulture took to the sky. Sunset is at 5:47 PM, my backyard fire is dying down and approximately 70 blackbirds fly high in the sky overhead from east to west, heading to their homes as I head into mine. Athens-Clarke County, Georgia  Turkey Vulture, Cathartes aura, in flight in blue sky. New world vultures are carrion crows that eat corpses, dead animals and roadkill. Athens, Clarke County, Georgia. USA.  Many vultures roosting in trees. Red headed Turkey Vulture, Cathartes aura, and Black Vulture, Coragyps atratus, carrion crow, perched in roost dead tree. Athens, Clarke County, Georgia. USA.  Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) perched in roost dead tree. Athens, Clarke County, Georgia. USA.  Black Vulture, Coragyps atratus, carrion crow, perched in roost dead tree. Athens, Clarke County, Georgia. USA.  Black Vulture, Coragyps atratus, carrion crow, perched in roost dead tree. Athens, Clarke County, Georgia. USA.  Red headed Turkey Vulture, Cathartes aura, carrion crow, perched in roost dead tree. Athens, Clarke County, Georgia. USA.  Turkey Vulture, Cathartes aura, in flight in blue sky. New world vultures are carrion crows that eat corpses, dead animals and roadkill. Athens, Clarke County, Georgia. USA.  Turkey Vulture, Cathartes aura, in roost in dead trees in winter. New world vultures are carrion crows that eat corpses, dead animals and roadkill. Athens, Clarke County, Georgia. USA.  William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. Jeremiah 8:7 The stork knows the time of her migration, as does the turtledove, the crane, and the swallow. They all return at God’s appointed time each year...  Wednesday, January 10, 2018 - the first three Redhead ducks arrive for the season Daily Redhead counts this season:
 The following day, Thursday, January 11, one more male arrived to join the trio. But the drizzly gray day kept the camera away. Wednesday, January 10, 2018; 8:15 AM - The holiday season is often about reuniting with relatives that we haven’t seen in quite some time. Some of those relatives are enjoyable; but some make the hair on our neck stand up when we hear their voice. But there are also those beloved family members who truly make our hearts leap for joy when we see them again for the Christmas holidays. One of those loved ones that I enjoy the return of each year are the Redhead ducks. Just after the new year, for at least the last four or five years that I’ve observed, Redhead ducks return to the retention pond behind the animal shelter here in Walton County; some years arriving as early as the 2nd of January. So far this year I’ve gone out every day to see if they arrived. No such luck. But this morning, although a little bit later than other years, my heart had a leap for joy as I spotted a few small ducks diving on the far end of the pond. Our resident Mallards are dabblers, no divers. So I knew it wasn’t them. As I snuck closer, they performed a synchronized dive I knew the Redheads had returned for another season. It was just a trio; two red-headed males and one brown female. I was excited but I had work to do. Seven more new dogs had arrived and I was way behind. On my lunch break I skipped my treadmill session and grabbed my tripod and Tele converter and headed up to the pond. I spent the entire hour trying to grab some photos. Walton County, Georgia  Tuesday, January 16, 2018 - After a three day weekend I was anxious to come back to work to see if any more Redheads had gathered on the shelter pond. As I arrived, I caught a glimpse through the trees of a larger gathering of ducks on the pond. Instead of driving straight to the front office, I rode around the backside to the pond. What a wonderful sight: 30 redheads! A good mixture of males and females.  January 18, 2018, 9:50 AM - Arriving at the animal shelter just after 8 AM because of a late start due to ice, 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.  January 19, 2018 - Friday, 4:20 PM. Still a strong 26 Redheads on the shelter pond.  January 23, 2018 - 37 Redheads. Just a few down from yesterday's highest count of 46. January 30 - Lunchtime. I hid behind a tire behind the Fleet Maintenance shop for 20 minutes waiting for the Redheads to come near me from across the other side of the pond. Lots of sun, but not too much warmth from it today. 43°, wind chill 30°. The west-northwest wind about 8 mph. Approximately 21 Redheads still swim on the shelter pond.  January 30, 2018 - 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.  January 30, 2018 - 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.  January 31, 2018 - 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.  January 31, 2018 - 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. Thursday, February 15, 2018 – 12:12 PM – only one Redhead Duck left on the pond; a red-headed drake. He was hanging out on the bank near the “mutt ducks” for company and allowed me to get fairly close. The next day, February 16, was the last day that I saw him. Unless they make a return, the 2018 Redhead season has come to a close.  2/15/18, the last Redhead on the pond  2/15/18, the last Redhead on the pond  2/15/18, the last Redhead on the pond  On February 16, 2018, the last Redhead Duck left the pond for the 2018 season. See you next year!  William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. Zechariah 14:8 What a Day that will be! Fresh flowing rivers out of Jerusalem, half to the eastern sea, half to the western sea, flowing year-round, summer and winter!  Red-shouldered Hawk, Buteo lineatus, raptor perched on branch. Monroe, Walton County, Georgia. USA. Common Bird of Prey in North America. Tuesday, 10:32 PM . What a difference a day makes. No frozen fingers today. Just after 10 AM and it is already 48°. The thin layer of ice that nearly covered the entire shelter pond has begun its retreat. All of the Sparrows that were limited to rustling in the leaves because of the chilly wind yesterday are now feeding in groups across the open, grassy spaces. The beaver have been quite busy on the small ephemeral stream behind the shelter which is typically fairly dry, serving only has a run off ditch when the pond is full. At least five dams have been erected; the lower dams are an impressive 35 feet long, while the upper dams are shorter but much taller, approximately 4 to 5 feet high, making tiered ponds of differing levels.  Red-shouldered Hawk, Buteo lineatus, raptor perched on branch. Monroe, Walton County, Georgia. USA. Common Bird of Prey in North America.
 Red-tailed Hawk, Buteo jamaicensis, gliding in air flight photo over pine tree tops. Monroe, Walton County, Georgia. USA. Later in the day, most of the clouds broke away to a blue sunny day, and unbelievably warm, 64°… even warmer than this morning’s forecast! Just before going home I snuck up on a Great Blue Heron fishing in the warm weather at the northern end of the shelter pond. Walton County, Georgia  Large Great Blue Heron, Ardea herodias, wading bird in Walton County pond in Georgia spear fishing. Monroe, Georgia. USA.  Large Great Blue Heron, Ardea herodias, wading bird in Walton County pond in Georgia spear fishing. Monroe, Georgia. USA.  William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. Deuteronomy 15:10-11 The way you handle matters like this triggers God’s blessing in everything you do, all your work and ventures. Note: When I first posted this specimen, I believed it to be a Little Brown Bat, Myotis lucifugus. But the concensus on iNaturalist is that the correct identification is Big Brown Bat, Eptesicus fuscus. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/17865393  Brown Bat picked up by animal control for rabies fear. Monroe, Walton County, Georgia. Little Brown Bat, Myotis lucifugus, and Big Brown Bat, Eptesicus fuscus, are common bats of North America. Tuesday, 11:34 AM – Working with animal control gives me front row seats to some great critter encounters. On January 8, a resident of Davis Street in Monroe, Georgia called 911 when she found a bat in her bathroom sink. Upon arrival, the officer found the bat just where the caller said. It apparently couldn’t fly and was unsuccessfully trying to climb up the porcelain walls to freedom. Knowing I love this kind of stuff, the officer brought the bat back to the office. The following day took this Brown Bat out for a photo shoot. He was quite alert and spunky, constantly baring his teeth and making those high-pitched squeaks typical of bats. He didn’t appear ill, but didn’t try to fly off. Using the 40 MM macro lens, some very sharp teeth were revealed in the photos.  Big Brown Bat picked up by animal control for rabies fear. Monroe, Walton County, Georgia. Little Brown Bat, Myotis lucifugus, and Big Brown Bat, Eptesicus fuscus, are common bats of North America. Just six days later, another bat story made national news. A 6-year-old boy in Orlando, Florida died shortly after being scratched or bitten by a bat. His father had reportedly found the bat and placed it in a bucket. Although he was warned not to, the child reached in and was bitten or scratched. Unfortunately, the boy was not taken for rabies post-exposure treatment until it was too late and he succumbed to the fatal virus. Over my twenty years in animal control, we have sent many bats for rabies testing. The percentage that come back positive has been very low. So I was shocked to read this story. Of course, I used Kevlar lined gloves during my bat photo session, but perhaps I should have been just a little more cautious. Sometimes we can get a little too comfortable with the familiar. Walton County, Georgia  Big Brown Bat, Eptesicus fuscus; Walton County, Georgia.  Big Brown Bat, Eptesicus fuscus; Walton County, Georgia.  Big Brown Bat, Eptesicus fuscus; Walton County, Georgia.  Big Brown Bat, Eptesicus fuscus; Walton County, Georgia.  Big Brown Bat, Eptesicus fuscus; Walton County, Georgia.  Big Brown Bat, Eptesicus fuscus; Walton County, Georgia.  Big Brown Bat, Eptesicus fuscus; Walton County, Georgia.  Big Brown Bat, Eptesicus fuscus; Walton County, Georgia.  Big Brown Bat, Eptesicus fuscus; Walton County, Georgia.  Big Brown Bat, Eptesicus fuscus; Walton County, Georgia.  Big Brown Bat, Eptesicus fuscus; Walton County, Georgia.  Big Brown Bat, Eptesicus fuscus; Walton County, Georgia.  Big Brown Bat, Eptesicus fuscus; Walton County, Georgia.  William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. Job 38:30 For the water turns to ice as hard as rock, and the surface of the water freezes.  Winter Wren bird, Troglodytes hiemalis, in bare winter tree sticks in Monroe, Georgia, USA. Monday, 10:53 AM – I was hoping to add some new birds to my photo life list this year; and it has started off well! I took a quick walk up to both shelter ponds just before lunch. Both are near entirely frozen over; the ice being thick enough to withstand the blow of a softall sized rock! That doesn’t happen very often here in Georgia. Although there is small opening of unfrozen water on each, the chances of new ducks arriving are decreased, at least for today.  Shattered ice on the surface of a frozen lake, like broken glass. Winter ice skating pond. My fingers beginning to freeze, I took just a quick jaunt down by the duckweed bog. I could hear the wrens and sparrows rustling in the grasses and around the tall narrow opening in one stump. But when of the wrens popped up into view, it wasn’t the typical Carolina Wren normally seen here. With a little searching in the field guide, and a confirmation from the Merlin Bird ID app, a Winter Wren, Troglodytes hiemalis, was added to my list! The Cornell Lab of Ornithology website perfectly and poetically described this little bird: In the tangled understory of eastern forests, a tiny ball of energy lets loose with a rich cascade of bubbly notes. This songster is none other than the Winter Wren, shaking as it sings its astoundingly loud song.  Brown Winter Wren bird, Troglodytes hiemalis, in bare winter tree sticks in Monroe, Georgia, USA.  Winter cracks in frozen ice pond surface. Shattered ice on the surface of a frozen lake, like broken glass. Winter ice skating pond. No ice skating. Walton County, Georgia  William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. Deuteronomy 4:19 And when you look up into the sky and see the sun, moon, and stars—all the forces of heaven—don’t be seduced into worshiping them. The Lord your God gave them to all the peoples of the earth.  Mallard Duck hen and drake; Walton County, Georgia. Support animal shelter adoption photography by downloading this photo at www.dreamstime.com. Wednesday, 12:12 PM - You would think it would be warmer when the earth is closer to the sun. But even though the earth is at its perihelion today, there is actually snow in Savannah and a powerful nor'easter is expected to bring snow and ice to coastal locations of the Southeast, Middle Atlantic, Northeast, and into New England today and tomorrow. It is a crisp 35° here in Monroe with occasional chilly breezes. I take a quick lunch break walk up to the shelter ponds; my first in quite a while. There is nothing but the resident Mallards on the main pond. The cold hasn’t driven down the ducks yet. The mallards are no longer in their drab garb, but have the beautiful green heads of breeding plumage.  Blue Jay, Cyanocitta cristata, perched on bare winter tree in sticks. Walton County, Georgia, USA. Need stock photos? Support my animal shelter work by purchasing at www.dreamstime.com. 100% of funds support pet adoption photography.
 William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
 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  Sunday, 3:33 PM - Although there isn’t the widespread frost like yesterday morning, it’s still a chilly 34°. Like a large bedspread, a single layer of white, gray and light blue clouds is unfurled across the sky. Just above the western horizon, the cloud line breaks revealing lightning blue sky. A few vultures soar here and there in the still air. I come out onto the patio and there’s a loud flurry of wingbeats as many little birds scatter from the feeder. Unusual; they typically don’t startle at my presence. The cause; a Red-shouldered Hawk had just swooped down, did a feeder fly by, and coming up empty-handed came to rest on top of one of the tall pines. A few brave titmice dared to harass him on his high perch. And even though he remained in the area for several minutes, the other brave passerines resumed their normal feeding activity. Athens-Clarke County, Georgia  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  Yellow Rumped Warbler Bird, Setophaga coronata, also known as Butter Butts are fall migration songbirds to Athens, Georgia, USA. Perched in pine tree. Saturday, 1:53 PM - On Christmas Day 1900, ornithologist Frank M. Chapman of the Audubon Society, proposed a holiday tradition of a "Christmas Bird Census" that would count birds during the holidays rather than hunt them. And every year Audubon promotes the Christmas Bird Count. Typically being engaged in family gatherings each Christmas, I have found it a bit too rude to dismiss myself from the table in order to wander outdoors alone on a bird search. But there are multiple times a year that I simply sit at my backyard feeder for an hour or so and photograph all the “regulars” that come to feed. I never tire of spotting and photographing a Chickadee, Titmouse or Cardinal… even if for the fiftieth time! I am always amazed and stare in wonder at God’s little critters.  Turkey Vulture Roosting in tree in winter sunrise, Georgia, USA  American Crow bird, Corvus brachyrhynchos, with black feathers and bill, blackbird perched and cawing. Athens, Georgia, USA. Early in the morning, across the street the Vultures are still perched each morning and evening from their roosts. I watch a crow through the long lens; the feathers on his back undulating with each caw, like large black scales. Later in the afternoon, as is usual, the Cardinal is one of the first visitors after filling the feeders. The Downy Woodpecker prefers suet while the Chipping Sparrow, Titmice and Chickadees quickly empty the black oil sunflower seeds. A Yellow-rumped Warbler checks out the action, but never approaches the feeder. Athens-Clarke County, Georgia  Chipping Sparrow, Spizella passerina, songbirds eating black oil sunflower seeds at backyard bird feeder in Athens, Georgia, USA.  Yellow Rumped Warbler Bird, Setophaga coronata, also known as Butter Butts are fall migration songbirds to Athens, Georgia, USA. Perched in fall color tree tree.  American Crow bird, Corvus brachyrhynchos, with black feathers and bill, blackbird perched and cawing. Athens, Georgia, USA.  Turkey Vulture Roosting in tree in winter sunrise, Georgia, USA  Tufted Titmouse, Baeolophus bicolor, songbird perched in pine tree in Athens, Georgia, USA.  Yellow Rumped Warbler Bird, Setophaga coronata, also known as Butter Butts are fall migration songbirds to Athens, Georgia, USA. Perched in fall color tree tree.  Yellow Rumped Warbler Bird, Setophaga coronata, also known as Butter Butts are fall migration songbirds to Athens, Georgia, USA. Perched in pine tree.  Carolina Chickadee bird, Poecile carolinensis, a native songbird in Athens, Georgia, USA. Perched on pine tree branch.  Yellow Rumped Warbler Bird, Setophaga coronata, also known as Butter Butts are fall migration songbirds to Athens, Georgia, USA. Perched in pine tree.  Yellow Rumped Warbler Bird, Setophaga coronata, also known as Butter Butts are fall migration songbirds to Athens, Georgia, USA. Perched in fall color tree tree.  Carolina Chickadee bird, Poecile carolinensis, eating sunflower seeds at backyard bird feeder in Athens, Georgia, USA.  Carolina Chickadee bird, Poecile carolinensis, eating sunflower seeds at backyard bird feeder in Athens, Georgia, USA.  Downy Woodpecker, Picoides pubescens, at suet bird feeder in Athens, Georgia, USA.  Carolina Chickadee bird, Poecile carolinensis, eating sunflower seeds at backyard bird feeder in Athens, Georgia, USA.  Female Northern Cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis, on perch in backyard Athens, 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  A Red Shouldered Hawk raptor at a nest high in Sweetgum Tree. Lawrenceville, Gwinnett County, Georgia, USA. @www.williamwisephoto.com. Tuesday, 4:02 PM - Of course, my camera went with me on our day-after-Christmas get together at my brother-in-law’s house in Lawrenceville, Georgia. Being a sunny day, we did the obligatory family photos out in his front yard. While getting those family shots, I kept hearing persistent and raucous Red-shouldered Hawk screeches from the backyard. Going into the back to investigate, I first spotted a pair of Red-shoulders sitting side-by-side in silhouette against the lowering sun to my left. I was satisfied I had found the source of the caterwauling until more shrieks came from my right in the other neighbor’s yard. A second pair of Red-shouldered Hawks illuminated by the beautiful “golden hour” light! As I watched the second pair, one bird remained perched while the other poked around in a bundle of sticks high in the tree. She then flew to a second tree and onto a much more developed nest. Using her talons, she fluffed up a bundle of grasses. It looked like it could make quite a comfortable hammock… if you weren’t intimidated by heights!  A Red-shouldered Hawk pair perched high in Sweetgum Tree. Lawrenceville, Gwinnett County, Georgia, USA. ©www.williamwisephoto.com  Red Bellied Woodpecker bird, Melanerpes carolinus, perched on branch; Lawrenceville, Georgia, USA.  Red Bellied Woodpecker bird, Melanerpes carolinus, perched on branch pecking holes. Lawrenceville, Georgia, USA. An equally loud Red-bellied Woodpecker perched high over my head wasn’t dissuaded from the area by the presence of these four birds of prey. Four Red-shouldered Hawks in such close proximity? What would bring them here? Obviously it was the prospects of an easy meal should my brother-in-law and his neighbors let their chickens out of the coops to roam! Gwinnett County, Georgia  Chicken Hen in coop  Chicken Hen in coop  Chicken Hen in coop |
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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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