 Okefenokee Photography by William Wise. A nature photo journal exploration of Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp, the Land of Trembling Earth, one of the largest blackwater swamps in North America. The alligators, birds, snakes and wildlife of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Stephen C Foster State Park. -- "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  Boat dock on Billy's Island in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA. Cypress trees, Spanish Moss, canoe, life jackets, swamp Trek. March 2015. Tuesday, March 10, 2015, 8:30 AM - Tuesday, 8:30 AM - Faith in the forecasters completely changed our plans. Because of a predicted 80% chance of precipitation, instead of heading north to the mountains, we decided at the last minute to head south to the dryer and warmer swamp. I had done a good bit of planning and packing for an Appalachian Trail hike, but the memory of wet boots, soaked socks, and cold bodies was still all too clear from our January hike up to Blood Mountain. Heading south would also fit in with our need to drop Grandma and Grandpa at the Atlanta airport. However, upon stepping outside the house departure morning, I momentarily second guessed the meteorologist’s accuracy when warm air and clear blue sky surrounded me. Should we have kept to our AT plans? Nevertheless, an Okefenokee paddling trek would be an exciting adventure. It had been nearly twenty years since I went to the Okefenokee. But, we were off...!  American Alligator in wwamp prairie hammock, Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia We arrived near 4:00 PM at the ranger station. I found the park more populated than I had imagined; several cars in the parking lot, retired couples occupying the rockers of the registration office porch, and sauntering along the drive. Each pier was occupied by a lure-casting hopeful. As we toured the two campgrounds hunting for a suitable spot, our first wildlife encounter was a single Wild Turkey jenny. We selected the yellow-placarded site #9 as our home. Our first order of business was picking a shady retreat, for the day had considerably heated up, and dousing ourselves with bug repellent to back off the annoying “flocks” of gnats and stinging mosquitoes.
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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  Large group of Cedar Waxwings; Walton County, Georgia. February 25, 2015. Upon arriving to work this morning, my eye was again attracted to the willows and taller pines above the small creek between the shelter and the jail. Hundreds of birds were perched in the trees and making a good bit of noise. I first recognized the red breasts of over 50 American Robins, but had to take aim with my zoom lens to identify the rest… gray backs, yellow bellies, black masks… over a hundred Cedar Waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum) perfectly disguised among the pine cones, like masked bandits hoping to hide from the law! Groups would take flight, circle a bit, then return to the same or nearby tree. The 8 o’clock forced me into the office to begin dealing with the day. A voicemail and email from Channel 2 News let me know the anti-tethering proponents were busy last night. Another day of winter weather and this is how it goes. At least we got off work at 3:30 PM due to the threat of wintery precipitation. 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. -- 2 Kings 19:15 "O LORD God of Israel, the One who dwells between the cherubim, You are God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth."  Red-shouldered Hawk on chain link Fence in Walton County Georgia At lunch break , my coworker hollered for me as she looked out the front office window, “Is that a hawk or an owl?” Sitting hunched in the bare willow branches over the storm water drainage creek was a rusty-orange Red-shouldered Hawk. He was intently staring down into the ravine, obviously on the hunt. He was so fixated on catching lunch that he didn’t mind my close approach. He made a couple of unsuccessful dives into the thickets, each time coming up a bit further away from me. Eventually he caught on to my stalking and flew off to the wood line behind the shelter, stopping to pose on a chain link fence before heading out of site. Walton County, Georgia  Red-shouldered Hawk hunting in 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. -- Psalms 104:24 NET "How many living things you have made, O Lord! You have exhibited great skill in making all of them; the earth is full of the living things you have made."  American Robin; photo #201502012 I’ve been spotting large groups of 20-30 American Robins (Turdus migratorius) across front yards on my drive to and from work each day. At Whit Davis Elementary, the large field was dotted with no less than a hundred Robins. The worms rising from the soaked ground don’t stand a chance! Several provide wonderful background music as they sit perched in the trees around the shelter. Migrations are in response to food and weather, and not always north-south. Their nomadic ways will move them east-west as they generally migrate north through spring. 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. -- 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.”  Ring-necked Ducks; Walton County, Georgia. Photo #201502005 The bitter cold and biting winds continue; with lows in the teens and twenties, and highs barely above freezing. More flurries, but no lasting fun on the ground or time off of work. The cold drove two Ring-necked Ducks (Aythya collaris) back to the shelter pond. Their wariness allowed only a photo from the other side of the pond. Regular spottings of raptors on the ride to-and-from work. A shorter winged Red-shouldered Hawk dove across my path into a dilapidated barn on High Shoals Road.
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. "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  Camouflage trail camera set on a tripod in the woods by a hunter. Remote game trail camera is a motion sensor triggered camera trap for scouting wildlife, deer for hunting or study.  Just for fun, set up the trail camera in my backyard for a few days. Besides the neighbor's dogs and cats, caught this Red Fox.
Athens-Clarke County, Georgia 
  Whitetailed Deer Buck in Driftwood Texas Hill Country near Austin While on our Thanksgiving Texas trip, I had the privilege of watching a buck stalk and chase down a doe in a series of photos I called The Rut. These deer obviously spend a good bit of time fighting for the females, as can be seen by the gash over the eye of the buck in the tall grass. Although it is a type of sanctuary with limited hunting, life can still be tough. Most of the deer probably die of starvation since there are so many deer per square mile. As my daughter and I were driving through LaVentana early one morning “hunting” for deer during Thanksgiving week 2014, we came around the corner and spotted a large buck. He was snorting and stomping his feet while staring into the scrub. My first thought was he was focused on an intruder or predator. But in a moment the source of his stomping was revealed: rut! As he pushed into the bush a bit further, a doe ran out full speed into the clearing and the chase was on. The two darted in a large circle at breakneck speed! I did the best I could to track them and fire off shots. Since I hadn’t been prepared for a high-speed chase, my shutter speed was a bit slow and most of the series of shots were blurry. But it was quite an exciting chase! It only lasted a minute until the doe found safe refuge again in the scrub.  Whitetailed Deer Buck in Driftwood Texas Hill Country near Austin  Whitetailed Deer Buck in Driftwood Texas Hill Country near Austin  William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, landscape, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder of God’s creation. -- Acts 17:24 "God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. Nor is He worshiped with men's hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things."  Whitetailed Deer Buck at sunset in Driftood Texas Hill Country We made our annual Thanksgiving trek to the hill country of Driftwood Texas. Amanda and I went out several mornings looking for some good deer shots. One shot, with the blue sky background, is in nearly the same place, looks like it may be the same deer, and is nearly a duplicate shot as one I got several years ago and printed as a large canvas on my office wall. I particularly liked one series of shots of a nice buck shot through a split rail fence. Megan also found a cute House Gecko in my parent's garage. Driftwood, Texas  Whitetailed Deer Buck behind split rail feince in Driftood Texas Hill Country  Whitetailed Deer Buck in Driftwood Texas Hill Country near Austin  Whitetailed Deer Buck in Driftwood Texas Hill Country near Austin  Whitetailed Deer Buck in Driftwood Texas Hill Country near Austin William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, landscape, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder of God’s creation. -- Job 39:26 “Is it your wisdom that makes the hawk soar and spread its wings toward the south? Is it at your command that the eagle rises to the heights to make its nest? It lives on the cliffs, making its home on a distant, rocky crag. From there it hunts its prey, keeping watch with piercing eyes."  Red-shouldered Hawk raptor catching prey at Panola Mountain State Park Georgia. Our tour of the Georgia State Parks brought my daughter and I to Panola Mountain State Park on November 3, 2014. Right away we were presented with an outstanding observation of a Red-shouldered Hawk taking a limb near the Nature Center. Located in Stockbridge, Georgia, it is a favorite retreat-to-nature by many metro-Atlanta residents. We spent the day exploring the granite outcrop ecosystem unique to the park. I was also impressed with the extensive, paved trail system perfect for biking or hiking by those with access issues. https://gastateparks.org/PanolaMountain  Wild Turkey, Panola Mountain State Park, Georgia.  Red-shouldered Hawk raptor watching for prey at Panola Mountain State Park Georgia  Cold! Our planned camping trip to Magnolia Springs State Park for the 4 day GA/FL weekend was cancelled. It was our only open window for a camping trip, and the first hard freeze of winter had to roll in. I wavered back and forth all evening and morning; one child in favor of going, the other against; but finally we cancelled. The forecast was predicted at 35 and 33 degrees each night; well below the 40 degree ratings of our sleeping bags. When we woke Saturday morning to an overcast sky and increasing winds, I knew I had made the right decision to stay home. Later that day, standing in the shade with cold, biting wind on outreach confirmed it. At the warmest point of the day, it reached only 48 degrees. I went for a 2-mile run and my throat and lungs burned from the crisp, dry air. Oh well, the trip was cancelled, and who know when the next window will open, but we were warm sleeping in the living room watching Pinocchio this evening.
 William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, landscape, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder of God’s creation. -- "God gave Solomon very great wisdom and understanding, and knowledge as vast as the sands of the seashore. He could speak with authority about all kinds of plants, from the great cedar of Lebanon to the tiny hyssop that grows from cracks in a wall. He could also speak about animals, birds, small creatures, and fish. And kings from every nation sent their ambassadors to listen to the wisdom of Solomon." I Kings 4  Male Ruby-throated Hummingbird; Clarke County, Georgia. August 14, 2014. Nature Notes, October, 2014: 10/5/14 – Wow, what a cold snap! The first of the year. This morning’s low of 38 degrees broke a 1974 record of 39 degrees. Cold and windy; a very abrupt change. But don’t be fooled, the warm weather will return again! 10/7/14 – It seems “Myrtle”, our Crepe Myrtle perching hummingbird is gone, along with the male and juveniles that fed at our feeder. But wait, one smaller juvenile pops up every now and then at the feeder on cool, overcast days.  Great Blue Heron; Sandy Creek Nature Center, Oxbow Loop off Cook's Trail. October 11, 2014. 10/11/14 – It is only 9 AM and I am actually perspiring as I sit in the full angled rays of the sun as it rises to my left. But fall has definitely begun to arrive. Yes, its football season, most people’s sign that fall has arrived. But God’s clock of changing season strikes “fall” in the changing of the leaves. The Black Cherry Trees are a mottled green and yellow. A few strategic patches of yellow are seen in the Sweetgums, while one large Sweetgum on the edge of the pasture has turned a brilliant red through most of its foliage.
No hummingbirds have come to the feeder this morning. Although it has warmed back up to clear, warm 80+ degree days, they must have all moved on. Now, there is only a large, intricate spider web bridging the space between the feeder and the adjacent Crepe Myrle, tracing the exact route that Myrtle used to Buzz hundreds of times per day.  William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, landscape, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder of God’s creation. -- Psalm 33:6-9 NET By the Lord’s decree the heavens were made; and by the breath of his mouth all the starry hosts. He piles up the water of the sea; he puts the oceans in storehouses. Let the whole earth fear the Lord! Let all who live in the world stand in awe of him! For he spoke, and it came into existence, he issued the decree, and it stood firm.  Yellow Bellied Water Snake Nerodia erythrogaster at Richard B Russell State Park Georgia An overnight family camping trip to Richard B Russell State Park in Georgia.  Yellow Bellied Water Snake Nerodia erythrogaster at Richard B Russell State Park Georgia  Yellow Bellied Water Snake Nerodia erythrogaster at Richard B Russell State Park 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 1:25 And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.  Snapping Turtle close up from a small pond in rural Georgia Walton County Found this fairly large Common Snapping Turtle moving from the upper retention pond, which is drying up, to the lower pond and wetlands area. Walton County, Georgia  Close up photograph of snapping turtle sharp and powerful beak like jaws and scales. Chelydra serpentina is native to North America in pond and stream habitat.  Great Egret fishing out easier prey as the waters of the upper retention pond go down.  Close up photograph of snapping turtle sharp and powerful beak like jaws and scales. Chelydra serpentina is native to North America in pond and stream habitat.  Close up photograph of snapping turtle sharp and powerful beak like jaws and scales. Chelydra serpentina is native to North America in pond and stream habitat. 
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
Backyard birding, Ruby-throated Hummingbird in Athens, Georgia.
Friday, 3:29 PM – I bought my first Hummingbird feeder this spring and by July it was in full swing. While there were several Ruby-throated Hummingbirds in the area, one female in particular was the primary visitor. We named her Myrtle because of her habit to sit on guard in the Crepe Myrtle next to the feeding and chase off every other Hummingbird, and even the wasps, that tried to get a draft of that precious nectar. She became so accustomed to our presence that I was able to get some good close up shots standing just a few feet away from the feeder.
Clarke County, Georgia Hummingbirds have long, thin tongues which reaches far beyond the bill to help them reach nectar deep inside flowers. 
Backyard birding ruby throat hummingbird coming to nectar feeder; Athens, Georgia.
A tiny female Ruby-throated Hummingbird sitting on the branch of a Crepe Myrtle tree with pink bloom on a green background. Birding photography from Athens, Clarke County, Georgia. Archilochus colubris is the most common hummingbird seen east of the Mississippi River in North America.
Ruby Throated Hummingbird alighting on twig near nectar feeder
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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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