 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  November started of well with a Lifer and Walton County first, a Purple Finch. November 4, 2020.
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I want to thank Lee's Birdwatching Adventures for guest posting this blog! Lee's website is about birding from a Christian perspective and has years of articles and content from Lee and other creationists and birders.  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  Migrating Cape May Warbler photographed October 12, 2020 in Clarke County, Georgia. ©www.williamwisephoto.com “We are here for only a moment, visitors and strangers in the land as our ancestors were before us. Our days on earth are like a passing shadow, gone so soon without a trace.” 1 Chronicles 29:15 Like a golden beam of sunshine that briefly pierces an autumn cloud cover, a Cape May Warbler made a brief but dazzling appearance in my backyard this month. Just as quickly as I was able to fire off three shots, she was off, not to be seen again. She didn’t stop to feed. She didn’t gather any nesting material. She didn’t have a bath or a drink. She was just passing through. Just as these migrating birds only briefly stop during their long travels to and from their breeding grounds, I am reminded of the Christian’s journey here in this world. Although we may be busy putting down roots and making ourselves comfortable, the Bible describes the Christian as a pilgrim, as a sojourner just passing through. We are not permanent residents of this world, but headed for another. Our destination is not a seasonal wintering ground in South America, but a permanent, eternal home in heaven. Like the warblers that quickly pass through our yards each spring and fall, the Christian is to have a mind of temporary residency as we pass through this life oriented towards eternity. Let us enjoy the wonders of this world, but also keep a mind on eternity! Colossians 3:1-3 “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”  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  Methane gas under decomposed organic peat causes peat blowups, forming mud peat batteries where herbs and grasses grow. Peat batteries form hammocks of trees, or houses, shown on the horizon in this photograph. Neverwet, maidencane and other plants and wildflowers grow on peat islands. Indian name Okefenokee means trembling earth, because of these peat islands. Canoe paddling trail through the National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA. Abstract from a report made to Dr. George Little, State Geologist of Georgia, by C.A. Locke, Engineer in charge, Charleston Corps of Engineers. December 1875.
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  Okefenokee Swamp Hooded Pitcher Plants on Chesser Prairie. Sarracenia minor okefenokeensis is a carnivorous plant native to North America in Georgia, Florida and North Carolina. Green and red tubes with domed lids. Canoe paddling trail through the National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA.  Okefenokee Hooded Pitcher Plant Flower  Groups of tall Okefenokee Hooded Pitcher Plants on Chesser Prairie
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  Barred Owl perched on a cypress limb. Strix varia, also known as Hoot Owl, is a large raptor owl that can be heard and seen day and night in the Okefenokee Swamp. Birding wildlife photography in the Suwannee Canal Recreation Area of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia USA. Excerpt from Francis Harper's Mammals of the Okefinokee Swamp, published March 1927:
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  Reflection of a beautiful American White Water Lily flower in tanin blackwater of Chesser Prairie in the Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA. Nymphaea odorata, also known as fragrant waterlily, beaver root, fragrant white water lily, and sweet-scented water lily. Some of the wildflowers and plants photographed while paddling Chesser Prairie in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. 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  Okefenokee Swamp prairie ecosystem. Landscape panorama of Chesser Prairie. Blue sky and clouds over Neverwet Golden Club plants, cypress trees, Spanish Moss and water lily pads. Canoe paddling trail through the National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA. Excerpt from the 1875 Okefenokee Exploration by The Atlanta Constitution:
In 1875, The Atlanta Constitution published the dramatic headline: “We now announce to our readers, and the people of Georgia, that we are fitting up an expedition for a complete and thorough exploration of Okefinokee. The full details of the plan and expedition will be published soon – if they come out alive.” Over the next months, the paper released many exciting stories from the Okefenokee Swamp. 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  Hooded Pitcher Plants on a floating island in Chesser Prairie. Sarracenia minor okefenokeensis is a carnivorous plant native to North America in Georgia, Florida and North Carolina. Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA. Excerpt from the 1875 Okefenokee Exploration by The Atlanta Constitution:
In 1875, The Atlanta Constitution published the dramatic headline: “We now announce to our readers, and the people of Georgia, that we are fitting up an expedition for a complete and thorough exploration of Okefinokee. The full details of the plan and expedition will be published soon – if they come out alive.” Over the next months, the paper released many exciting stories from the Okefenokee Swamp. 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. -- "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 An excerpt from the journal of Howell C. Jackson describing the beautiful Okefenokee Prairies as he surveyed the Okefenokee Swamp in 1890…  Okefenokee Swamp prairie ecosystem. Landscape panorama of Chesser Prairie. Blue sky and clouds over Neverwet Golden Club plants, cypress trees, Spanish Moss and water lily pads. Canoe paddling trail through the National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA. “I am at this instant writing this letter in the midst of the Okefenokee, using my notebook for my desk. I am standing in water nearly to my hips. Near above me, and pointing heavenward are some of the largest and most graceful Pine and Cypress I have ever seen. Around me on every side a network of gallberry bushes, bamboo briars, bay bushes and vines woven into such an impenetrable mass. The width of these bays varies from 100 to sometimes 1,200 feet. This picture, like most others is also not all together without its attractive side. Within the range of my eye are the water lily, the spotless purity of its exquisite flowers beautifully contrasted with the dark face of the water upon which it is growing, while the warm morning air is laden with the perfume of the cape jessamine, yellow jessamine and the bay blossoms.”
H.C. Jackson, Camp Robinson, June 4th, 1890 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  Barred Owl perched on a cypress limb. Strix varia, also known as Hoot Owl, is a large raptor owl that can be heard and seen day and night in the Okefenokee Swamp. Birding wildlife photography in the Suwannee Canal Recreation Area of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia USA. Excerpt from the 1875 Okefenokee Exploration by The Atlanta Constitution"I returned to my bed of leaves and slept delightfully, until the startling whang-hoo of an old owl perched in the oak above us, warned us of the approaching day. No one can hardly realize how startling this noise is at the first blush, except the man who had camped in a swamp, and had one of the hideous creatures to whoop unexpectedly very near him. We were very thankful, however, to this fellow for his kindness, for we desired a very early start, and it is doubtful if any of us would have opened our eyes before sunrise." – C.R.P. - The Atlanta Constitution, September 30, 1875. In 1875, The Atlanta Constitution published the dramatic headline: “We now announce to our readers, and the people of Georgia, that we are fitting up an expedition for a complete and thorough exploration of Okefinokee. The full details of the plan and expedition will be published soon – if they come out alive.” Over the next months, the paper released many exciting stories from the Okefenokee Swamp. 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  Tater Rake Run Kayak trail directional sign in the Okefenokee Swamp, Georgia USA. Canoe paddling trail through the National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA. Suwannee River Recreation Area.  Tater Rake Run canoe and kayak boat trail through Chesser Prairie in Okefenokee Swamp, Georgia. Excerpt from Francis Harper's Mammals of the Okefinokee Swamp, published March 1927:
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
Male River Cooter turtle basking on a stump in the water. Wildlife conservation photography on Chesser Prairie in the Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA. Pseudemys concinna is a freshwater turtle in the southeast United States. Males have longer nails than females.
On the third and final day of our October 2020 Okefenokee trek, we broke camp early in the morning, loaded the car and canoe, and left Stephen C Foster State Park. We drove over an hour around the southern end of the Okefenokee, across a bit of Florida, and back north to the eastern entrance of the Okefenokee at the Suwannee Canal Recreation area. Here lies the Refuge Headquarters and the Richard S Bolt Visitor Center.
The first 1.5 miles ae along a straight, somewhat boring, man-made canal. I can imagine some first-time visitors may be less than thrilled with the Okefenokee visit if this is all they see. Especially if they are not used to paddling and turn around before reaching one of the beautiful prairies on this eastern side of the Swamp.
Okefenokee Swamp prairie ecosystem. Landscape panorama of Chesser Prairie. Blue sky and clouds over Neverwet Golden Club plants, cypress trees, Spanish Moss and water lily pads. Canoe paddling trail through the National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA.
Gulf fritillary or passion butterfly, Agraulis vanillae, on a Bidens wildflower near Okefenokee Hooded Pitcher Plants on Chesser Prairie. Canoe paddling trail through the National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA.
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  Kayak trail directional sign reflection in the Okefenokee Swamp, Georgia USA for Grand Prairie, Chesser Prairie, Monkey Lake, Buzzard Roost and Gannet Lake. Canoe paddling trail through the National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA. Suwannee River Recreation Area. Of all the wonderful natural places within driving distance of my home, why do I find myself making repeated trips to the Okefenokee Swamp? The foothills of the Appalachians are just three hours away and countless Georgia State Parks are within range of a day trip. So why hit the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge two, three, four times a year? I’m not sure, other than to say I’m captivated. Perhaps it is the plentitude of options within the Okefenokee. From the Stephen C Foster State Park launch, one can paddle east to Billy’s Island; or north to the alligator congregations on Minnie’s Lake and Big Water; or brave the tricky navigation westward through The Narrows and onto The Sill. From the Kingfisher Landing entrance, you can explore the narrow scrub waterway northward on the red trail toward Double Lakes, or enjoy the prairies and pitcher plants of Durdin Prairie. And vast, beautiful prairies and lakes lie in every direction from the Suwannee Canal entrance.
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  Methane gas under decomposed organic peat causes peat blowups, forming mud peat batteries where herbs and grasses grow. Peat batteries form hammocks of trees, or houses, shown on the horizon in this photograph. Neverwet, maidencane and other plants and wildflowers grow on peat islands. Indian name Okefenokee means trembling earth, because of these peat islands. Canoe paddling trail through the National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA. Although fiction, this excerpt from the 1895 adventure novel, In the Okefenokee: A Story of War Time and the Great Georgia Swamp, is a perfect illustration of why the Okefenokee is named The Land of Trembling Earth:
Pendleton, Louis. In the Okefenokee: A Story of War Time and the Great Georgia Swamp. United States, Roberts Brothers, 1895.  Okefenokee Swamp Hooded Pitcher Plants on Chesser Prairie. Sarracenia minor okefenokeensis is a carnivorous plant native to North America in Georgia, Florida and North Carolina. Green and red tubes with domed lids. Canoe paddling trail through the National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA. 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  Okefenokee Swamp landscape panorama of Chesser Prairie. Blue sky and clouds over Neverwet Golden Club plants and water lily pads. Cypress houses and hammocks on the horizon. Canoe paddling trail through the National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA. An excerpt from Suwannee River, Strange Green Land by Cecile Hulse Matschat, 1938. "The prairies – the swamp folk’s name for the open flooded marshes – are filled with a tropical luxuriance of water plants and resemble wide grassy meadows. They are dotted with wooded islets, commonly called ‘houses’ because they have enough dry land to furnish camp sites for the hunters of deer, bear, wildcats, raccoon, otter, and other small animals that live in the swamp. Maiden cane growls in dense green masses three or four feet high, and there rice rats and Florida water rats, together with the bittern, make their nests. Katydids sway on the green tips in the sunshine and dive from them into the cool water. Gators travel over the prairies from one pool to another, through acres of white and gold water lilies, beds of cream-white arrowheads and bluish pickerelweed. They are often the swamper’s trail blazers; the boatman finds easier poling down the lanes that the gators have opened through the thick reeds and water plants.” Page 34 Cecile Matschat’s work published in 1938 by the Literary Guild of America is full of colorful stories of the Swampers that lived in the Okefenokee, exciting folklore encounters with bear, boar and cannibal alligators, as well as scientific descriptions of the flora and fauna of the great swamp. It a worthwhile purchase if you come across a used copy of this collectible out-of-print treasure of Okefenokee literature. |
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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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