 William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. Genesis 2:3 And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from all his work of creation.  Red-bellied Woodpecker feeding suet to a fledgling. Sunday, 7:07 AM - I love Sunday mornings on my back patio. All the regular birds appear quickly, but the longer you sit, the more you can see.Now that I recognize the Eastern Wood Pewee’s call, I hear them up in the woods and drew one closer with some playback. A little bit later, a White-breasted Nuthatch appears. They are supposedly here all year, but I don’t see them too often at the feeders. Next, a Black-and-white Warbler pops in. He is strangely tailing a Tufted Titmouse all through the yard. The normally solo Red-bellied Woodpecker is followed in to the feeder by two others this morning. It appears the young have fledged and now have to learn to come steal suet on their own. And the backyard is now full of Chipping Sparrows having produced another successful brood of young. Clarke County, Georgia
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 William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. Colossians 3:1 Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.  Orchard Oriole; Athens, Clarke County, GA Saturday, 7:17 AM - a full and busy day ahead, but still a short chance to BYOB (Birding Your Own Backyard) before the day starts. New yard sightings this morning: Eastern Wood Pewee and Orchard Oriole. Clarke County, GA  Song Sparrow, Clarke County, GA  Orchard Oriole; Athens, Clarke County, GA  William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. 1 Chronicles 16:11 Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him.  Friday, 10:30 AM - As a high-schooler, I occasionally ‘played hookie’ to go off and do what I wanted to do. I suppose some of that rebellious curiosity hangs around in us as adults. Being a slow week, I left work early on Friday morning (at least I had permission, contrary to my high school days) and drove 45 minutes away to Dyar Pasture Wildlife Management Area in Greene County, Georgia. My mission: Roseate Spoonbills. Another eBird user posted several photos of these beautiful pink birds at the waterfowl impound. This would be another Life Bird photograph for me. And not only did I capture the Spoonbills, but I also nabbed a Yellow-crowned Night-heron. Although not a great photo, still another life bird shot. Dyar Pasture Wildlife Management Area  Panorama of Dyar Pasture Waterfowl impound and Wildlife Management Area in Madison, Greene County, Georgia. A cooperative environmental conservation project with the U.S. Forest Service, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Georgia Power and Ducks Unlimited.  Great Egret wading birds at Dyar Pasture Waterfowl impound and Wildlife Management Area in Madison, Greene County, Georgia. A cooperative environmental conservation project with the U.S. Forest Service, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Georgia Power and Ducks Unlimited.  Tree Frog hiding in tree bark at Dyar Pasture Wildlife Preserve, Georgia. The American green tree frog Hyla cinerea is a common backyard species, it is popular as a pet, and is the state amphibian of Georgia and Louisiana. These frogs are found in the central and southeastern United States. Photographed at Dyar Pasture waterfowl preserve on Lake Oconee, GA, USA  Panorama of Dyar Pasture Waterfowl impound and Wildlife Management Area in Madison, Greene County, Georgia. A cooperative environmental conservation project with the U.S. Forest Service, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Georgia Power and Ducks Unlimited.  Panorama of Dyar Pasture Waterfowl impound and Wildlife Management Area in Madison, Greene County, Georgia. A cooperative environmental conservation project with the U.S. Forest Service, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Georgia Power and Ducks Unlimited.  Proverbs 21:9 It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.  Mourning Dove perched on roof peak at sunset in Clarke County, GA. The mourning dove Zenaida macroura is also known as the American mourning dove or the rain dove, and erroneously as the turtle dove, and was once known as the Carolina pigeon or Carolina turtledove. It is one of the most abundant and widespread of all North American birds. It is also a leading gamebird. Friday - 7:39 PM. Birding in my backyard in the last rays of the day. A Mourning Dove sits alone on my rooftop facing into the setting sun, his breast a glowing orange. A pair of Summer Tanagers make their last surveys of the neighborhood before heading to their evening retreat together. Clarke County, Georgia  Summer Tanager, Clarke County, GA  Summer Tanager, Clarke County, GA  William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. Proverbs 26:1 Honor is no more associated with fools than snow with summer or rain with harvest.  Great Blue Heron Thursday, 7:35 AM - What do you do on a totally overcast morning with light rain? Put a rain cover on your camera and go out any! The humid days bring stormy nights here in the southeastern United States. The rainfall from last evening has held on through the night into this morning. But I’ve made a personal challenge to go birding and shooting (photographs) every day throughout the month. So what do I do facing the light rain? Get out there anyway! I haven’t spent the money on a commercial rain cover yet. There are some real fancy ones out there that totally cover your camera but still allow you to look through the viewfinder. Some even have an opening for your hand to access the shutter button and controls! But I have found a simple grocery bag is good enough for the light rain. The other option is to use an umbrella. But if wildlife photography is your gig, like birding is mine, umbrellas and animal spotting don’t go together too well. And with an umbrella in one hand, you only have one hand to shoot. Again, wildlife shooting with a long lens probably won’t work well while holding an umbrella! So for me, the plastic bag will work for now. For some reason, as I take this expensive electronic equipment out into the rain, the song “The Fool on the Hill” by The Beatles is repeating in my mind. Perhaps it is a self-commentary as I foolishly wander in the rain with a camera looking for birds. But I'm not the only one out here. A juvenile Great Blue Heron, a bright white Great Egret, and a pretty Whitetailed doe are out enjoying the light rainfall. I got the shot and kept to my August goal of shooting every day! Walton County, Georgia  Great Egret  White-tailed Deer doe. I have seen her twice this week on morning walks.  Green Heron  Great Blue Heron  Great Blue Heron  Great Blue Heron  Great Blue Heron  William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. James 4:1-2  Thursday, 6:30 PM - August has arrived and the entire hoard of hummingbirds has as well! There were no less than five fiesty hummers buzzing the feeder and warring with each other this evening. Our one dominant female, "Myrtle", still strives to chase all the others away. The action is such a blur to the human eye, but a quick shutter speed reveals some brilliant fencing! Clarke County, GA    William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. Job 9:4 For God is so wise and so mighty. Who has ever challenged him successfully?  Great Blue Heron on an overcast morning in Walton County, Georgia. Wednesday, 8:01 AM - It’s a foggy, grey, overcast start to a new month. Last month‘s personal birding goal to have at least one eBird list per day with at least one photo per list was a fun challenge, however it left me with hundreds of low resolution “photos of record” not good for much else. It also left me with days and days of photographs without corresponding blogs. So what will August’s personal challenge be? Less photos and more blogging! But even though I’ve said that, I find myself out at 7:30 AM on eBird walk behind the office with my camera! And then what else? eBird announces the August contest: optics give-away for users with 50+ media posts. I guess I'll be taking a lot of photos again this month! Walton County, Georgia, USA  Psalms 68:6 "God makes homes for those who are abandoned; He makes free those who are bound with chains."  Browsing photos and blogs of dog photographers is a profitable habit to get into. There is so much creativity and artistry out there that will inspire your own images and bring you out of the rut. While browsing, I came across a collection of black background animal portraits. Stunning work! Nothing but soulful faces peering out from the dark. I was inspired by the creativity to touch up Falcon's photograph in the same manner. “Falcon” had been surrendered to the shelter by her owner on July 27, 2018 along with two other dogs. Her former housemates were rescued quickly. But being an older dog, Falcon was having a hard time getting noticed. Meeting her in person, you could see her deep, soulful personality. I needed that to shine through in her photos. Finding those other photos inspired a creative touch to one of Falcon’s photos. With the darker background, perhaps someone would connect with her soulful gaze. Falcon was photographed on July 31, 2018 for the Walton County Animal Control Shelter in Monroe, GA and placed on the adoption website, www.waltonpets..net.       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 heron on pond in Monroe, Walton County, GA. A large, long-necked and long-legged wading bird with pure white plumage, the Great Egret has a long, yellow bill, and dark legs and feet. The great egret lives along salt and freshwater marshes, marshy ponds and tidal flats.  Orchard Oriole; Walton County, Georgia. July 27, 2018. Some Walton County, Georgia birding photography. I was blessed with beautiful lighting and a nice pose from an Orchard Oriole. The Great Egret was in its usual afternoon spot snapping up dragonflies and fish. Walton County, Georgia.  Large white Great Egret Ardea alba heron on pond in Monroe, Walton County, GA. 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 juvenile Great Blue Heron on pond in Monroe, Walton County, GA. 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. Shafts of golden light are highlighted and defined as they pass through the trees and cut diagonally across the mist hovering above the ground. The young Great Blue Heron stands pond-side immediately outside the back door on the main shelter pond. In his juvenile naïveté, he not only allowed an approach to within 40 feet, but he continued to walk closer and closer towards me. He got so close his head alone filled my camera frame without even zooming the lens. Walton County, Georgia  Large juvenile Great Blue Heron on pond in Monroe, Walton County, GA. 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.
 Large juvenile Great Blue Heron on pond in Monroe, Walton County, GA. 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.  Large juvenile Great Blue Heron on pond in Monroe, Walton County, GA. 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.  William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. If one blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be counted as a curse to him. Proverbs 17:24  Great Egret on a Walton County, GA pond. Monday, 7:50 AM - As the fog and mist is beginning to lift at the dawn of a new day, a Great Egret is huddled motionless on the bank of the main pond. Perhaps, like me, he feels reluctant to jump into this Monday morning. Perhaps, like me, he is just a tad annoyed by the other cheery inhabitants that have already sprung into their day, flitting about here and there with their happy songs. But no doubt, as the morning progresses, the Great Egret will begin his full day of fishing. Another cup of coffee and I’ll be at my work too. Currently: Fog/Mist, 68°F. Today: slight chance of showers, then showers and thunderstorms likely after 10am. Partly sunny, with a high near 84. 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  Small Green Anole chameleon lizard in hand to show tiny size. The Carolina anole Anolis carolinensis is an arboreal lizard native to the southeastern United States. Other common names include the American green anole, American anole, and red-throated anole. It is also sometimes referred to as the American chameleon due to its ability to change color from several brown hues to bright green. As the sun crests the horizon in the east, golden rays are crashing through the mist and chasing out the damp morning air. A woodpecker's distant drumming upon a hollow snag signals a wake up call and the bird feeder becomes a hub of traffic. The smaller birds are waiting on the larger. A Pileated calls from across the meadow; as is usual, all voice, no sight. But a second calls from a snag in the east, silhouetted against the golden sunrise. A tiny, recently born Green Anole suns itself on the patio chair cushion across from me. Now it’s time to leave for church. Athens-Clarke County, Georgia.  Small Green Anole chameleon lizard in hand to show tiny size. The Carolina anole Anolis carolinensis is an arboreal lizard native to the southeastern United States. Other common names include the American green anole, American anole, and red-throated anole. It is also sometimes referred to as the American chameleon due to its ability to change color from several brown hues to bright green.  Small Green Anole chameleon lizard in hand to show tiny size. The Carolina anole Anolis carolinensis is an arboreal lizard native to the southeastern United States. Other common names include the American green anole, American anole, and red-throated anole. It is also sometimes referred to as the American chameleon due to its ability to change color from several brown hues to bright green.  Blue Grosbeak; Athens-Clarke County, Georgia. 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  Bright red male Northern Cardinal perched on birdseed feeder. Photo taken in summer in Clarke County, Athens, GA. The northern cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis is a North American bird in the genus Cardinalis; it is also known colloquially as the redbird, common cardinal. It can be found in southern Canada, through the eastern United States from Maine to Texas and south through Mexico Heavy rain and lightning ended my birding from 7:50 to 8:55 AM. But birds came back with gusto to the full feeders after the storm. Athens-Clarke County, Georgia  Chipping Sparrow songbird perched on black oil sunflower seed bird feeder in backyard. Athens, Clarke County, GA. The chipping sparrow Spizella passerina is a species of American sparrow, a passerine bird in the family Passerellidae. It is widespread, fairly tame, and common across most of its North American range.  Great Crested Flycatcher bird perched and singing in a Persimmon Tree. Athens, Clarke County, GA. The great crested flycatcher Myiarchus crinitus is a large insect-eating bird of the tyrant flycatcher family. It is widespread in North America, and is found over most of the eastern and mid-western portions of the continent. It dwells mostly in the treetops and rarely is found on the ground.  Great Crested Flycatcher bird perched and singing in a Persimmon Tree. Athens, Clarke County, GA. The great crested flycatcher Myiarchus crinitus is a large insect-eating bird of the tyrant flycatcher family. It is widespread in North America, and is found over most of the eastern and mid-western portions of the continent. It dwells mostly in the treetops and rarely is found on the ground.  Chipping Sparrow songbird in backyard grass. Athens, Clarke County, GA. The chipping sparrow, Spizella passerina, is a species of American sparrow, a passerine bird. It is widespread, fairly tame, and common across most of its North American range.  Psalms 68:6 "God makes homes for those who are abandoned; He makes free those who are bound with chains."  Friday, 3:12 PM - It is so sad the prejudices that people have. Not only can we be prejudiced against other nationalities and races, but these inner biases can also play out against certain dog breeds. There are some dogs that are a bit harder to get adopted simply because of their breed. That is where the dog rescue photography comes in! “India” was a 5 month old puppy that was picked up by an Animal Control Officer on July 16, 2018. She was cute…! She was playful…! She was just a puppy…! So what would it matter what breed she was? Well, simply being a Pit Bull would limit the number of people that might be interested in adopting her. But her tender, submissive, personality showed through in her sad-faced photograph and she was adopted into a loving home just four days after posting her photos!      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 wading bird Great Egret on pond in Monroe, GA. Close up profile showing long bill and green lores. The great egret Ardea alba, also known as the common egret, large egret or great white heron is a large wading bird found in North America. The Great Egret is a regular, late-summer visitor on the large pond behind the animal shelter in Monroe, Georgia. Walton County, Georgia  Large white wading bird Great Egret on pond in Monroe, GA. The great egret Ardea alba, also known as the common egret, large egret or great white heron is a large wading bird found in North America.  Large white wading bird Great Egret on pond in Monroe, GA. The great egret Ardea alba, also known as the common egret, large egret or great white heron is a large wading bird found in North America.  Large white wading bird Great Egret on pond in Monroe, GA. The great egret Ardea alba, also known as the common egret, large egret or great white heron is a large wading bird found in North America.  Large white wading bird Great Egret on pond in Monroe, GA. The great egret Ardea alba, also known as the common egret, large egret or great white heron is a large wading bird found in North America.
 Large white wading bird Great Egret on pond in Monroe, GA. The great egret Ardea alba, also known as the common egret, large egret or great white heron is a large wading bird found in North America. |
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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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