Blue Jay with Wish Bone

Flickers Fighting in the Woods at Valley Forge

Ken and the Japanese Chorus Group

The Japanese Chorus Group of Philadelphia (see Ken in first row second from right) performed in a wonderful international music festival yesterday in Jenkintown, PA. Here's the group posing for a picture just after singing and dressed in kimonos and yukatas.

Yumiko Dressed for the Sophomore Semi

Toto with Toy Mouse on Her Head

Obviously it was a slow day for pictures, but at least Toto was willing to pose.

Pileated Woodpecker at Valley Forge (Again)

I was looking for the fox when I heard a hollow drum beat behind me. I turned around and there was my friend the pileated woodpecker just a few feet away looking for breakfast on a log. Always such a thrill to see this beautiful bird.

Bluebird with Open Mouth

Egret Curves

Early Morning Wild Turkey

Gnatcatcher with Spiderweb

Bringing Home the Groceries

This mother fox was hunting today in a newly mown field at Valley Forge. I hid behind a tree at the far edge of the field and watched her catch mole after mole. She would stalk her prey, catch and then drop her catch. Then she gathered everybody up and trotted right up to the tree where I was hiding. I moved just a little to keep photographing, but when she heard me, she dropped everything and took off like a shot into a whole other field. I was probably sitting close to her den. Click if you want to see all those little tails.

Smiling Pied Billed Grebe

The Bugs are Back!

Guess Who I Found in the Garden This Morning

Caught Me With My Mouth Full

Nest Building

I came across this beautiful little dove building her nest in a tree. I watched her fly down and pick up a few branches and then fly back up to her nesting area. I thought I could get some really great pictures so I set up the camera and just waited for the next installment. I waited and waited and waited, but no dove. So I picked up the tripod and began to walk away and immediately the dove came back to the nest. I missed the shot. Obviously she did not feel like being photographed.

Hey, Did You Just Take My Picture? (Click to see his disapproving eye)

Courage

I was walking the trail of the John Heinz National Wildlife this morning and looked far into the distance and thought I saw a little black spec on the tower in the distance. I thought it may be an eagle, but when I looked through my long lens, that was no eagle but a very brave man who had absolutely no fear of heights. Click for better view.

Bluebird with Stiff Neck (Click to Feel His Pain)

Cherry Blossoms, Yumiko and Shinjuku Gyoen (Click Photo for better view.)

Our last day in Tokyo and Yumiko and I strolled through a beautiful park called Shinjuku Gyoen. The cherry blossoms were in bloom and the Japanese people were out in full force with their cameras.

Yumiko Enjoying Hot Spring and Cherry Blossoms

As a puritanical uptight American, I had trouble when I first met Ken learning to enjoy the tradition of hot spring bathing in Japan, but after Yumiko came I became a total convert. Our hotel here on the Izu Peninsula had wonderful hot springs that looked out over the Pacific Ocean. The cherry trees were blooming and tiny little warblers were in the trees enjoying the blossoms as well. Wish I had my bird lens!!

Dawn on the Pacific - Izu Peninsula Japan

I got up early to take pictures of the sun rising on the Pacific Ocean just a few steps down from our hotel on the Izu Peninsula. Lucky to catch fishermen going out in a boat and another fisherman fishing off the pier.

Joe and Me

When we were living in Japan in 2007 I met a wonderful woman named Joe in Arisugawa Park. With her huge heart, she took care of every stray cat and crow in the park. We got together again for a little reunion in Arisugawa yesterday. Here we are along with one of her friendly crows.