 William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, landscape, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder of God’s creation. -- Hosea 2:18 In that day I will also make a covenant for them With the beasts of the field, The birds of the sky, And the creeping things of the ground. And I will abolish the bow, the sword, and war from the land, And will make them lie down in safety.  Backyard garden yellow day lily flowers with blue background. Athens, Georgia. 7:53 AM - just enjoying a peaceful, early, Sunday morning cup of coffee on my back patio; my eye caught by a beautiful backlit golden glow of sunrise on the Yuccas and Day Lilies.  Backyard garden green Yucca fronds with blue background. Athens, Georgia.
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William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, landscape, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder of God’s creation. -- Isaiah 24:1-6 The earth mourns and withers, the world fades and withers, the exalted of the people of the earth fade away. The earth is also polluted by its inhabitants, for they transgressed laws, violated statutes, broke the everlasting covenant. Therefore, a curse devours the earth, and those who live in it are held guilty. Therefore, the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men are left.  American Crow against blue sky and clouds in Monroe Georgia While visiting my brother-in-laws house in Lawrenceville, I decided to take a walk after a large lunch. From over my shoulder I heard loud, disturbing screeching and squawking from a young bird. As I turned, coming up over my head was a large American Crow flying with two screeching Mockingbirds in pursuit. Hanging from the Crows beak were the long, dangling legs of a baby Mockingbird. I had read that Crows and Jays would raid other birds’ nests and make meals of their young, but this was the first time I had directly observed it. All flew out of site and I never saw the end of the spectacle. Lawrenceville, Georgia  William Wise Photo 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  Photo #201505061 5:11 PM - While driving home from work this afternoon I spotted a strange creature at the 1 mile marker east of Good Hope on Highway 186. Just along the road’s edge on that wooded stretch of pavement was a small black critter. Going too fast for a clear look, I thought it may be a skunk and decided to turn around for a photo. As I re-approached, the long, slender critter was sitting up on its haunches. A weasel? An otter? A ferret? As I slowed and raised my lens, it bounded back to the woods with the characteristic movements of a Gray Squirrel…. only it was black! I was only able to fire some quick shots while raising the camera. My movement, and his quick scuttle away made for some poor quality shots. But it is evident that I saw a black squirrel! Was it a Fox Squirrel? A melanistic Eastern Gray Squirrel? A hybrid of both? Walton County, Georgia  Photo #201505062  William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, landscape, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder of God’s 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  Mallard; photo #201505059 12:39 PM - During lunch break at work, I made more attempts at some flight shots of the shelter pond Mallards. The best I could manage was a few “coming-in-for-landing” shots. I managed one nice photo as a Mallard flew off. I love the combined blue hues of wings and water. Walton County, Georgia William Wise Photo 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  One of the animal control officers brought me a young Copperhead they picked up on a 911 call. I'll have to grow this guy and use him in my Creation Speaks talks! Walton County, Georgia  William Wise Photo 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  Summer Tanager; photo #201505063 Almost mistaking it for just another Cardinal, I nearly missed the appearance of a Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra) to our backyard oasis. It sat in the “climbing pine” for just a moment and flew off, not stopping at the feeders. I spotted it again after work on May 12 at 6:19 PM and only managed to get a poor photo.
Athens-Clarke County, Georgia 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.”  Brightly colored male House Finch. Backyard Garden birding in Athens , Georgia. The House Finches have grown quite common and numerous around our house. One pair was desperately trying to build a nest in the decorative wreath hanging on our front door. Each time Lidia would hear the tell-tale scratching on the door, she would swing it wide open with a hiss. After enough of these disturbances, they finally elected to relocate and placed their nest atop one of the front porch pillars. However, within a few weeks the next was blown down from the windy springtime storms.  'Pencil Sketch' rendering in Photoshop of a nesting House Finch Photo  William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, landscape, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder of God’s creation. -- Psalms 92:5-6 O LORD, how great are thy works! [and] thy thoughts are very deep. A brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this.  Canada Goose charging through water for bread handout on a small pond in rural Georgia Waiting for the 5 o’clock bell to charge home, I wandered up to the pond to pass the last 30 minutes of the work day. All of a sudden, the charge was on! All of the Mallards came flying at me thinking I had food… even the Canada Geese came steaming through the water right to me. I guess I’m getting a little better at the quick focusing for the flight shots, although my shutter speed was too low. I couldn’t resist some close up Canada Goose shots as they have become quite used to human handouts. Walton County, Georgia       Canada Goose portrait on in Walton County Monroe Georgia  Canada Goose portrait on in Walton County Monroe Georgia  Canada Goose portrait on blue pond in Walton County Monroe Georgia  Canada Goose portrait on in Walton County Monroe Georgia  Canada Goose portrait on in Walton County Monroe Georgia  Canada Goose Drinking portrait  William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, landscape, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder of God’s creation. -- Psalms 84:3 (ESV) Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God.  Backyard birding Eastern Bluebird feeding young at nest box I love my patio. I love having a free Saturday morning to enjoy it. While sitting for breakfast I caught a quick streak flyby out of the corner of my eye. “Myrtle” the hummingbird is back! I had put out the feeder anticipating their return, but it had gotten so late in the spring, and the other birds already so active for several weeks, I thought the hummers may not return. The next morning, while enjoying my Sunday cup of coffee, I again heard that familiar whirrrrrr of wings and saw the brilliant red of the male Ruby-throat. He checked out the feeder but immediately buzzed off after sensing my presence.  Backyard birding Eastern Bluebird feeding young at nest box The Eastern Bluebirds have been quite active and occupy each box I put in the back last summer. One pair diligently brought grubs and bugs to their young, making repeated flights in close succession. They were so committed to providing for their young that I was able to slowly move in close between their grub runs to get some good photos. Nearby squabbling around the feeders and pine tree were three Jays. One Jay sat squawking in the pine while another brought grubs up to it; another diligent mother caring for her child. She would then dart after a third Jay to run him off. Next, a pair of bright yellow Goldfinches grabbed my attention at the feeder. I was also distracted by the loud rapping of a woodpecker hammering on the trim of the house across the street. Quite an active avian morning! Even a burgundy dipped House Finch paused long enough and close enough for a good “Life List” photo. Athens-Clarke County, Georgia  Backyard birding Eastern Bluebird catching grubs sitting on rustic fence in Athens Georgia  Backyard birding Eastern Bluebird feeding young at nest box  Williamwisephoto Nature Notes is a wildlife, landscape, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder of God’s 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  Profile photograph of a Canada Goose face. Monroe, Walton County, Georgia. Out at the shelter pond getting more Canada Goose photos for my upcoming Creation Speaks lesson on the Canada Goose: “Here Am I. Where are You?” Not the best photos, but they will do for a powerpoint slideshow to aid the presentation. 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, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message  Bird watching a mallard duck dabbling in a small retention pond in Monroe, Walton County, Georgia. Springtime activity has really picked up on the shelter pond. A pair of Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors) made a one-day appearance.The Mallards are tightly bonded in their breeding pairs and chasing each other out of their respective territories on the pond. The drakes have even begun their seemingly brutal mating and mistreating of the hens. Having been here several years now, the Mallards are quite used to free handouts of cat food and bread. When they spot any person they’ll come flying from wherever they are on the pond right to your feet at the bank. I took advantage of this behavior to practice some autofocus tracking and high shutter speeds to capture some flight shots. I’d step out to the bank with cat food in one hand and my camera ready in the other. As soon as I’d toss the cat food in the water, the ducks would take flight my direction. I have a few seconds to focus and snap some shots. In flight shots are a lot more difficult than I anticipated!  Blue-winged Teal; photo #201504085  Mallard; photo #201504091  William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, landscape, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder of God’s creation. Isaiah 65:18 -- But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create;  Canada Goose; photo #201504075 I love this shot for some reason. During a light rainfall, the Canada Geese on the shelter pond came right up to the back door of our administration building to eat the Bermuda grass. From my office, I heard their raucous honking and got this shot from the back door. I used this shot as the slideshow title page for my Creation Speaks talk on the Canada Goose: “Here Am I. Where are You?”
Walton County, Georgia  Twice now I’ve seen a Mockingbird frolicking and thrashing and causing a real scene trying to eat from the hanging bird feeders. This is my first time seeing one of the many Mockers around our house actually attempt to eat from the feeders… and it looked like his first attempt at trying it! His wings beat as he’d unsuccessfully try to grab a hold on the wire feeder, then fall to the ground and loudly scold other birds, perhaps out of embarrassment, or perhaps out of jealousy at their coordinated and graceful feeding that he could not duplicate.
Athens, Georgia  William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, landscape, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder of God’s creation. -- Isaiah 45:18 -- For thus says the LORD, Who created the heavens, Who is God, Who formed the earth and made it, Who has established it, Who did not create it in vain, Who formed it to be inhabited: "I am the LORD, and there is no other.  Bird watching a pair of mallard ducks eating grass beside a small retention pond in Monroe, Walton County, Georgia. March 25, 2015. A pair of Canada Geese have returned to the pond at work, no doubt to have more batches of babies again this year. Even the resident Mallards have donned their striking breeding plumage and have begun pairing up. Soon the Mallards will begin their displays and aggressive, territorial chases around the pond. Walton County, Georgia  Canada Geese; Walton County, Georgia. March 6, 2015.  We may have avoided another ‘Snowmageddon’ this year, but the trees are covered in white this week. But it isn’t snow. The Bradford Pears have all put out such glorious blooms, they look snow-blasted from a raging blizzard. The Dogwoods and Daffodils had already been in bloom, but these Bradfords are much more abundant and full. Several large ones in particular grabbed by attention while running past Whit Davis Elementary where the girls go to school.
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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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