A Stern but Very Happy New Year from the Great Horned Owl

Great Blue Heron Without Gloves This Cold Cold Morning

Ten Pointer in the Rain

I was soaking wet this morning in Valley Forge, but happy as a clam.  I found the great horned owl asleep on a low branch right in front of me.  As I was trying to get the raincoat away from the camera dials, the owl opened his eyes very wide, stood up straight and took off before I could get a shot.  I quickly followed him across the woods and along the way - right in front of me - there was "The Boss".  A huge ten point buck just standing there begging me to take his picture with an over the shoulder pose.  Life does not get better! Click The Boss to get the full effect of all that rain and all that muscle and all those antlers.

Owl Being Harassed by Crows

Yesterday as I was walking in Valley Forge I heard crows barking in a remote corner of the woods.  I hauled my big lens and me over lots of dead trees to finally get to the racket.  There must have been 15 crows harassing this beautiful but highly annoyed Great Horned Owl.  She was not happy to see me either. Click owl to see her annoyance.

The Squirrel and the Hornet's Nest

The Great Northern Yawner in Valley Forge

Great Horned Owl in Valley Forge

I went through the woods yesterday  and when I got to the point of deciding to keep going or turn back, I doubled back around the edge to go the other way.  As I turned a corner there, just a few feet away was the beautiful and rarely seen Great Horned Owl perched on a low branch.  She was quite sleepy (or else quite sneaky as she didn't open her eyes much.) It is so rare for me to see this gal out in the open.  Such a thrill.  I took my time and took lots of photographs and she just stayed and stared and then turned her head and looked off into the distance. When I picked up my tripod to get a little closer, she said "Enough" and off she flew with her fat little squat body to another perch hidden in the woods where she could sleep in peace.

Peeking Through the Window (Click Photo for a better Peek)

The Leaf Gatherer at Eastern College Pond

Little Bluebird Passing By in Valley Forge Today

Swan Diving Pileated Woodpecker in Valley Forge Today

Lots of Wildlife in the Snow Yesterday in Valley Forge.

Little Bluebird

Bluejay

Cardinal

Double Deer

Downey Woodpecker

Bluebird Storing Up Berries in the Snow Storm today in Valley Forge

Little Sparrow in the First Frost this Year In Valley Forge

The Pileated Woodpecker in Valley Forge

Good Morning Sweet Heart

The Starling and the Berries in Valley Forge this Morning

Half Moon Over Valley Forge Late this Afternoon

New Book - P A N T A N A L

Finally finished the new book featuring the best kept secret wildlife community on the planet - Brazil's Pantanal - from the Giant Anteaters to the endangered Jaguars and all the wonderful creatures in-between.  Go ahead, click on the link - I dare ya:
http://www.blurb.com/b/8378739-p-a-n-t-a-n-a-l

Red Crested Cardinal in the Pantanal

Cedar Waxwing and the Berry Yesterday in Valley Forge

Yesterday Valley Forge was flush with birds.  Oh my. There were flocks of robins and starlings and cedar waxwings and blue jays and flickers.  I spent the first two hours without any success. Walking through the newly seeded meadow and the thick brush of the bordering woods.  I was within feet of a beautiful pileated woodpecker, but he would not cooperate.  Finally I went back to  where I began and the cedar waxwings had finally come down from the tops of the trees and one posed with a berry in his beak.  I could come home happy with a catch.  Oh life is good!  Click to see that berry.

Hawk Eyes in Valley Forge

Southern Crested Caracara

Still going through way too many  photos of the Pantanal and just came across this Mom and Baby Caracara who posed for us while having a little lunch along the banks of the Cuiaba River.  Click for a better view because they are worth better viewing.

Portrait of the Tiger Heron

Not a Good Day for the Caiman

We watched the jaguar silently enter the water and swim along the edge.  Then we passed him in our little boat so we could get a better view, but as we turned a corner in the little stream we lost sight of him for a minute.  That's when he grabbed the caiman and probably killed him instantly by grabbing him through the back of his head.  Then he came back into view swimming with his catch back across the stream and up the bank and into the woods.  Click on him to really see the whole scene.

Golden Crowned Kinglet at Eastern College Pond Today

Carolina in the Fall

I'm working on the Pantanal Book. It's coming together and should be ready for Christmas.

The Lesser Kiskadee

Cormorants in the Pantanal

The Sleepy Owl, The Harrier Hawk and the Alert Squirrel in Valley Forge this Morning. (Click for a Better View)

White Tailed Deer in Valley Forge

Could You See If I Have a Sticker in My Foot?

This handsome guy had just had a roll in the hay and afterwards was rolling in the hay, putting his feet up in the air and just as happy as he could be.  Click him to see that wonderful face and paw a little closer.

Best Friends

A Lid for Every Pot

Yesterday after a great lunch in Philadelphia with an old friend I came home just needing to get out to the fields of Valley Forge.  I was looking for the coyotes but also had my macro lens in case of a good bug.  I found the crane fly, a very interesting but difficult insect to photograph.  The crane fly looks like a huge mosquito with long, long legs and wings often wide open and a really long snout and beautiful psychedelic eye if the light hits it correctly.  They are all over the fields these days, but I have such trouble getting them fully in the frame.  So I found one yesterday low in the grass.  The only way to get him was to lay down deep in the weeds and shoot up.  As I was doing this, I first scared a runner who was running in the middle of the field and almost stepped on me.  Then another man walked by and was totally startled when I stood up.  I think I must have looked a little frightening, so I tried to calm him down by acting like a normal human being and just said I was taking pictures of insects.  His gruff response, "I guess there is a lid for every pot."  Oh dear.

Here's my little crane fly whose long legs I could not get in the frame.  Please click on him to see that psychedelic eye.  Lid for every pot.  humph......

The Beautiful Female Katydid in Valley Forge

Fixing Cufflinks

Watch Closely As Yellow Billed Tern Steals Fish and Feeds her Family (Click on photos for better viewing)

Skimmer with Fish

Skimmer presents fish to girlfriend

Yellow Billed Tern Attempts to Steal Fish

Tern Still Trying to Steal Fish

Tern Steals Fish

Tern Washes off Fish

Tern Feeds Fish  to the Kids