Yumiko has been a student at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine for about one year. She is a hard working woman and making it through. Today she asked me if I might come and take a picture of her in her white coat. I was thrilled and took a thousand photos of her and Jessi. We had such a good time. Here for your looking pleasure:
When I got to the pools at Pawling Farm I noticed the toads immediately. Everywhere I walked little tiny toads were underfoot. Thousands and thousands and thousands of them. Just a fingernail in length and with so much energy and determination. I knew I had to get a good picture. But they were so small and so fast and so well camouflaged. I found a bunch of buttercups. Sat down and tried and tried to catch a little toad and put him on the buttercup. They were all there, but it was so hard. I almost gave up. They were so fast. They had no interest in the buttercup. Finally I took a buttercup and dunked it in the water thinking a toad might want a little drink. Whatever, the next toad stayed around long enough for a picture. Here he is..
I didn't have a chance to get out and photograph today, but I was going through old, old photographs and came across this 2010 wild photo assignment. I was taking a class with Owen Biddle and he wanted us to photograph emotion in black and white. I remember setting this up with a camera on a tripod. It was so much fun!! I think it may be the most looked at photo on my blog. Who would a thunk it!
The only oven bird I ever saw and photographed was in Valley Forge probably around 2010 until last year. Charlestown Meadows is full of these little beauties. And today I found them again. Here are two of one and a shot of the Wood Thrush who is also back, Oh such fun!!!
 |
| Oven Bird on the Ground |
 |
| Oven Bird in the Light |
 |
| The Wood Thrush |
I only had about an hour and a half this morning. I decided to go to Eastern College Pond and look for baby Canada geese. Instead I found a beautiful Eastern Phoebe who posed for me and two blue gray gnatcatchers building a nest in a tall tree along the banks of the pond. Eastern College always delivers.
It was a very chilly morning today. I found this little damselfly asleep on a leaf. He got a rather rude awakening with my camera, but it was just too cold for him to fly away. It was loads of fun - at least for me. (Click on him for the full effect.)
 |
| Nymph Katydid on a Buttercup |
 |
| Really Smart Damselflies |
 |
| The Crabby Crab Spider |
This morning when I woke up and looked outside there at our brand new squirrel busting bird feeder were two rose breasted grosbeaks!! I was beyond thrilled as I've only seen one in my life. I went outside with my big lens and they posed for a photo. And they stayed all day! There were at least four different birds. Oh so fabulous!!
