 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  Wood-boring Beetle, Genus Chalcophora, crawling on fingers. Chalcophora virginiensis is the Sculptured Pine Borer. Chalcophora georgiana, is the Southern Sculptured Pine Borer. Nature Photography hike in Walton County, Georgia USA. Wednesday, 1:58 PM - Stealth and stillness - two essential skills of the wildlife photographer. The ability to sneak up on a subject, or sit in perfectly patient stillness will often reap the reward of a beautiful photograph. How often a good opportunity is blown by the crack of a twig underfoot or a quick jerk of the hand. The wildlife photographer must at least rival his wild quarry in stillness. But what do you do, when sitting perfectly still in your wildlife blind, and you get that feeling of a bug crawling on your skin? It will make your skin crawl! Instantly, and without thought, your hand flies to the spot to brush away whatever bee, tick, spider, fly or louse it might be in order to avoid a sting, bite or envenomation.  Large white Great Egret, Ardea alba, is a long-legged wading heron with long yellow beak in a marsh pond in Georgia USA. Nature Photography hike in Walton County, Georgia USA. As I was slowly approaching a Great Egret, I had that sensation on the back of my neck. Forget the photograph! Instinct prevailed and I jerked my arm up, sweeping my hand across the back of my neck. Seeing my rapid motion, the Egret flew off to the other side of the pond. And when I flung the little critter down, it was just a silly little beetle. Since I had blown my Egret photo session, I decided to make one of my creepy crawly beetle friend crawling across my skin. I uploaded the armored little thing for identification on iNaturalist and discovered it was a Pine Borer beetle of the genus Chalcophora, native to the eastern United States. After learning more about the species, it no longer made my skin crawl!  Wood-boring Beetle, Genus Chalcophora. Walton County, Georgia USA.  Wood-boring Beetle, Genus Chalcophora. Walton County, Georgia USA.  Wood-boring Beetle, Genus Chalcophora, crawling on fingers. Chalcophora virginiensis is the Sculptured Pine Borer. Chalcophora georgiana, is the Southern Sculptured Pine Borer. Nature Photography hike in Walton County, Georgia USA.
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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  Large white Great Egret, Ardea alba, is a long-legged wading heron with long yellow beak in a marsh pond in Georgia USA. Nature Photography hike in Walton County, Georgia USA. Wednesday, 9:20 AM - it is literally the first time in weeks that I've been able to saunter in nature with my camera. First it was COVID affecting my family, then an emergency trip to Illinois to move my father to assisted living (where, unfortunately I had no time for photography). It was nice to be back on a stroll. The cloud cover is keeping the temperature down, but the humidity was unbearable. Waiting for the condensation to uncover my lens, I began to wonder if it wouldn't start raining if I poured out a cup of water! Without the blazing sun, many of my avian and insect friends were about. And the annual Great Egret was once again fishing on the main retention pond.  Female dark morph Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly, Papilio glaucus, with ragged torn wings. Nature Photography hike in Walton County, Georgia USA.  Silver Spotted Skipper Butterfly, Epargyreus clarus, on wildlflower garden in Georgia USA. Found in fields and gardens throughout the United States. Nature Photography hike in Walton County, Georgia USA. 
Waltonpets Furtography Blog is an animal shelter pet photography blog of dog and cat rescues and adoptions.
Neutered male Pitbull Bulldog Mastiff mix dog outside with red collar and leash. Dog rescue pet adoption photography for animal control humane society shelter. ©www.williamwisephoto.com. Stock sales support the pet adoption website.
"River" was a handsome Bulldog and Mastiff mix that was surrendered to the animal shelter on August 25, 2020 when his owner lost his job because of the COVID19 pandemic. When the rain stopped later that afternoon, he went outside for his photographs and adoption video. That evening, the folks at Pound Puppies N Kittens Rescue recognized him as a pup they had rescued from another shelter. They came first thing the next morning and saved him! He was sponsored by donations to the rescue from Anne and Jason.
Neutered male Pitbull Bulldog Mastiff mix dog outside with red collar and leash. Dog rescue pet adoption photography for animal control humane society shelter. ©www.williamwisephoto.com. Stock sales support the pet adoption website.
Neutered male Pitbull Bulldog Mastiff mix dog outside with red collar and leash. Dog rescue pet adoption photography for animal control humane society shelter. ©www.williamwisephoto.com. Stock sales support the pet adoption website.
Neutered male Pitbull Bulldog Mastiff mix dog outside with red collar and leash. Dog rescue pet adoption photography for animal control humane society shelter. ©www.williamwisephoto.com. Stock sales support the pet adoption website.
Waltonpets Furtography Blog is an animal shelter pet photography blog of dog and cat rescues and adoptions.
White female Pitbull Terrier mix dog. Dog rescue pet adoption photography for animal control humane society shelter. ©www.williamwisephoto.com. Stock sales support the pet adoption website.
“Jezebel” was a white Pitbull Terrier mix breed dog that was picked up stray by an animal control officer on August 18, 2020. Her owner didn’t come to claim her and she was rescued by Royal Animal Refuge on August 28, 2020. Anne sponsored Jezebel with a donation to the rescue.
White female Pitbull Terrier mix dog. Dog rescue pet adoption photography for animal control humane society shelter. ©www.williamwisephoto.com. Stock sales support the pet adoption website.
White female Pitbull Terrier mix dog. Dog rescue pet adoption photography for animal control humane society shelter. ©www.williamwisephoto.com. Stock sales support the pet adoption website.
 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 Every spring I gaze in awe all spring long as I watch avian parents make run after run to their nests with beaks’ full of bugs for their babies. At times, there are only a few minutes between visits. I marvel at how they have the endurance for such toil and labor and still care for themselves. (At least the entire bird parental process only lasts a few weeks, while for us humans it lasts eighteen or more years!)  Baby Chipping Sparrows awaiting parental care. Clarke County, Georgia. July 24, 2018. But “parental care” took a new definition for me as I answered a call back home these last few weeks. My aging father, who so diligently cared for me as an often ungrateful youngster, could no longer live on his own. I regret that being over 800 miles away and involved in the ministry, we couldn’t provide that care personally, but found a wonderful, brand new assisted living complex for him. At least my wife and I know he is being cared for. While the phenomenon of children caring for parents isn’t seen in the bird species, it is a Biblical concept and obligation. In a time of trouble and distress, we read of King David providing for the care of his parents.
 Chipping Sparrow feeding three nestlings. Clarke County, GA. July 24, 2018. Even so, isn’t it just natural to care for those who raised us with such tender love and care until they go into everlasting care with our eternal Father?
An experience with Coronavirus, as told through my daughter (and, of course, photographed by her father): “Georgia COVID-19 cases reach 200,000 and the death toll rises to 4,000.” In late July, headlines like this filled media outlets and echoed in my mind as I lay on my couch with a sore throat, headache and an increasing feeling of illness. Do I have it? How bad will it get for me?  Teenager white Caucasian blonde girl getting nasal swab in nostril at COVID19 drive through coronavirus testing facility in a car at a parking lot in Georgia USA. My first thought upon getting sick was that it had to be coronavirus. I had a bit of anxiety, but as the symptoms lightened, I was less concerned. Still I wanted to get tested for the fear of unknowingly spreading it to others. Getting tested was also a whole new, strange sensation. I got the end of a six-inch cotton swab stuck up both my nostrils. It didn’t exactly hurt, but it was uncomfortable. Waiting for my results was the most excruciating period. I went back and forth between saying “I’m definitely positive” and “I’m probably negative.”  Warning sign advising patients to wait in line at COVID19 drive through coronavirus testing facility in a parking lot in Georgia USA. After just two days I received a call from my doctor with the news: I tested positive. Over the next two weeks, finding things to do wasn’t always easy. My sister and I would spend the majority of the day in our rooms. My mother was constantly cleaning and my father was either taking photographs of birds or editing photos of birds.
When my two weeks of quarantine ended, I wasn’t as nervous for my second test. Although it was only 45 minutes, it seemed like forever as we sat in the car behind the clinic waiting for the results. When the nurse came back out to tell me my results my heart sped up fast. I could tell she was smiling behind her mask when she told me I was negative. It was such a relief. It was nice to tell people I was negative and I could continue with my normal life. I was also thankful that my symptoms were mild in comparison to the many that have suffered, and even died, from coronavirus. - Megan Wise 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 Whether it be for school, employment, or medical treatment, testing is a fact of life. But the Bible tells us of a more important test… Psalm 26:2 “Test me, O LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind;”  With such a wide variety of “flavors”, shorebirds like peeps and gulls can be a test of a birder’s identification skills. Sanderling and Ring-billed Gull; Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. December, 2019. For months now we’ve heard about coronavirus testing, testing, testing. So when I came home from work last month and saw my 15-year-old daughter laid out on the couch with a runny nose, headache and sore throat, I knew what had to be done. And when her COVID-19 test came back positive, we knew what we had to do: re-enter that dismal bunker of self-isolation. (Thankfully all her symptoms were fairly minor and she had a quick recovery, other than loss of taste and smell.) Two weeks of Quarantine. What now? While my older daughter lamented about the devastating impact upon her social life, I decided to test myself! No, I’m not speaking of a homemade COVID-19 test, but brushing up my skills on some of those hard to identify shorebirds. I found my old stack of 3 x 5 index cards that I made long before I had a smartphone, each with a bird photo taped to front, and began to test myself. But I wasn’t halfway through the first day of isolation when God began to challenge me. What about your prayer life? How is your Bible reading lately? Like Job’s inquisition from the Almighty, my only answer could be, “Touché, God!” “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” – Psalm 139:23-24 Following God‘s cue, I continued to test myself. Where did I put that prayer list of friends, family, and coworkers? How long has it been since I’ve written a full-length sermon? How about getting the Greek New Testament off the shelf to read a chapter a day? Instead of binge-watching internet videos, I challenged myself to pray morning, noon, night (which proved harder than I thought!). God tests us to prove us and bring us closer to Him; not to frustrate us, see us fail, or wallow in a puddle of self-condemnation. We may not always enjoy testing, but if we will self-test ourselves now, we will be spared that “Final Examination” coming to those that miss the Rapture! “Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.” Revelation 3:10
William Wise Photography’s 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
"Who died for us, that we should live together with him."
When my daughter tested positive for coronavirus, it was into self isolation for another two weeks. Now, two weeks off of work might sound nice, but I actually enjoy my job. And being unable to get out and observe and photograph this wonderful creation was also a bummer. So when I had a wildlife encounter in my own driveway late one evening, I considered it a gift!
A slow slithering movement on the edge of the grass caught my attention. What looked to be a large-headed snake was writhing just in front of the wheels of my parked truck. As I approached, I discovered a garter snake and its “large head” was actually a Southern Toad being swallowed whole.
I considered this encounter a gift from the Creator to ease my boredom. I’m sure the snake thought also thought this juicy morsel was a gift from his Provider. (But I’m not so sure about the toad!) It was a bit saddening to watch the toad, still fully aware and struggling, to be swallowed alive. But that’s how it is: one must die so another may live.
So too it was with our Savior Jesus Christ. When sin entered the picture, all of us humans were sentenced to eternal death. But One came to die – One innocent and free from the guilt of sin – so that the rest of us could live. "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23
I was hoping to film the entire encounter, but as the garter snake became nervous with our presence, I feared he might spit out his meal. So I backed off, went in the house and considered what creation speaks behind the gift of this wild encounter in my own yard.
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 All content is ©williamwisephoto.com. Please don't steal images. My images are available at dreamstime.com. Stock sales go into the shelter photography program.
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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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Donations help support the animal shelter adoption photography equipment and adoption website hosting and domain fees. Thanks for your support!
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