A (short) Week of Walton Wildlife

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 111:2

Great Blue Heron with open beak bill, Georgia USA Great Blue Heron in swamp ecosystem. Photographed in fall in Walton County, Monroe, Georgia USA. The great blue heron Ardea herodias is a large wading bird in the heron family Ardeidae, common near the shores of open water and in wetlands over most of North America.

Monday, November 19 - It was a lucky lunch break for me, watching the River Otters close up, spotting a stately Great Blue Heron, and adding two more bird species to my Walton list, one being a lifer.

I skipped the treadmill on my Monday lunch break because I was waiting on a rescue to arrive. Once the pup was picked up, I wandered to the upper pond and snuck through the brush to the back side. The two River Otters were there feeding on fish and didn’t notice my presence.

White watching the Otters, a small hawk streaked across the sky and into a large pine. Based upon his size, I was pretty sure that this tiny raptor was a Sharp-shinned Hawk. My only previous photograph was of one I found deceased on the roadside.
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The second addition to my Walton list was the Dark-eyed Junco. Not a lifer for me, but my first photograph of one in Walton County. He was flitting amongst the dirt hills along with several Song Sparrows and Chipping Sparrows. 

The fog lifted around 11 AM, and made for a bright sunny afternoon. 
Today: Sunny, with a high near 65. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Sunrise Today:7:09 am; Sunset Today: 5:27 pm
Daylight Hours: 10 hours, 18 minutes (-1m 25s)
Moon: 85% Waxing Gibbous

Great Blue Heron in wetlands habitat, Georgia USA

Great Blue Heron in wetlands habitat, Georgia USA Great Blue Heron in swamp ecosystem. Photographed in fall in Walton County, Monroe, Georgia USA. The great blue heron Ardea herodias is a large wading bird in the heron family Ardeidae, common near the shores of open water and in wetlands over most of North America.

Great Blue Heron in swamp ecosystem. Photographed in fall in Walton County, Monroe, Georgia USA. The great blue heron Ardea herodias is a large wading bird in the heron family Ardeidae, common near the shores of open water and in wetlands over most of North America.

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Tuesday, November 20

Today: Sunny, with a high near 58. West wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.
Sunrise Today:7:11 am
Sunset Today: 5:29 pm
Daylight Hours: 10 hours, 17 minutes (-1m 23s)
Moon: 93% Waxing Gibbous

One of the many abundant Carolina Wrens out singing in the bright sun. Walton County, Georgia.

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Wednesday, November 21 - Today was a half-day of work for Thanksgiving Eve. The phones were mostly silent, and having come in early, I was afforded a mid-morning bird break. As has happened before, several beautiful Wood Ducks blasted off  from the secluded end of the upper pond. But this time I anticipated their presence and had the camera ready. I just wish I had a slightly faster shutter speed already dialed in. Even 1/1000 second is fast enough to freeze the fast launching Woodies!  

In noticed something down between the duckweed bog and beaver wetlands. Although I'd been here hundreds of times, usually twice a day, I have no idea how a large aerial yellow jacket nest had escaped my attention. 

Today: Sunny, with a high near 58. 
Sunrise Today:7:11 am; Sunset Today: 5:26 pm
Daylight Hours: 10 hours, 15 minutes (-1m 21s)
Moon: 96% Waxing Gibbous

Several beautiful Wood Ducks blasted off once again from the secluded end of the upper pond.

Although not high quality, I love this shot because it reveals the ruby crown that gives this Kinglet his name.

The fall sunshine beams through the pines behind this Hermit Thrush perched on a branch in fall. Walton County, GA. November 2018. The hermit thrush`s song has been described as `the finest sound in nature`.

Hermit Thrush, Catharus guttatus, songbird perched on a branch at sunrise in fall. Walton County, GA. November 2018. The hermit thrush`s song has been described as `the finest sound in nature`.

High key image of Hermit Thrush, Catharus guttatus, songbird perched on a branch at sunrise in fall. Walton County, GA. November 2018. The hermit thrush`s song has been described as `the finest sound in nature`.

Song Sparrow songbird perched on thorn brier with golden sunshine in Fall in Walton County, GA. November 2018. The song sparrow Melospiza melodia is a medium-sized American sparrow. Among the native sparrows in North America, it is easily one of the most abundant species.

My first photo of a Hairy Woodpecker in Walton County, GA.