Red-crowned Crane – Its Fluting Voice
Its Fluting Voice A Red-crowned Crane raises its handsome head and hurls its fluting voice skyward. ~ Anecdote and Red-crowned Crane capture, Its Fluting Voice © Jerry L. Ferrara, Hokkaido, Japan.
Month: March 2022
Great Egret – Tiptoe Through The Seaweed
Tiptoe Through The Seaweed After skillfully snaring a small fish in Monterey Bay, California, a Great Egret shows off another bit of dexterity. Its jaunt involved a tiptoe through the seaweed. ~ Anecdote and Great Egret capture, Tiptoe Through The Seaweed © Jerry L. Ferrara
Eurasian Otter – A State of Well-being
A State of Well-being Recently hauled out from briny Scottish Loch na Keal in the inner Hebrides, this Eurasian Otter rests atop a pile of shore-bound seaweed. The high-spirited mammal, and member of the weasel family, suddenly performed a trademark comfort move by stretching forth its right arm and paw. The engaging creature certainly seemed to be in “a state of well-being.” ~ Anecdote and Eurasian Otter capture, A State of Well-being © Jerry L. Ferrara
Bald Eagle – A Visual Echo
A Visual Echo The morning air was brisk and a chilling frost painted the lake’s margin. The light was murky for the sun had not yet peeked over the horizon. In the midst of the somber setting a resplendent Bald Eagle sat contemplatively on a log at water’s edge. As if a curtain had been raised at the opening act of a play, up came the sun and its illumination washed away the dimness. A muted radiance poured into the landscape and the shady “shallows” grabbed the light. Mirrored on the water’s face was a visual echo. ~ Anecdote and Bald Eagle capture, A Visual Echo © Jerry L. Ferrara
Ruffed Grouse – A Standout
A Standout Many years ago when we first settled in Idaho it was fairly common to see Ruffed Grouse discreetly stalking the nearby forests, or hear a male drumming its wings from a secluded woodlot. Those incidences seem less frequent today. This winter, however, we’ve had a few visitations from a grouse going about exploring our yard. The Ruffed Grouse is a native game bird species and a master of deception. Its dappled feathering and extremely slow, furtive gait makes this avian character difficult to detect as it easily melts into the woodland understory. In today’s image “our visitor” pensively poses on a mound of snow. As you can see, its concealment techniques have failed as the camera captured the wily creature on the white surface against the dark shadows of our woods. This Ruffed Grouse was a standout. ~ Anecdote and Ruffed Grouse capture, A Standout © Jerry L. Ferrara
Bald Eagle – Perfection’s Never Bought
Perfection’s Never Bought To make a score requires more than aptitude and skill. A master knows, results will show from practice and great will. To dance the sky as eagles ply and snare a fish on wing, demonstrates what practice makes: rehearse is everything. Yet when a feat becomes complete and done without a thought, a master’s guess is not to rest, perfection’s never bought. ~ Poem and Bald Eagle capture, Perfection’s Never Bought © Jerry L. Ferrara, from the book, Wild North Idaho: Season of the Eagle
Bengal Tiger – Calling Card
Calling Card The Bengal Tiger pregnantly paused at the forest’s enigmatic edge, but the stop was only brief. Turning toward the nearest tree, the cat sniffed at the trunk’s bark. The creature’s eyes then rolled back in its head, its nose went up in the air and a silly grin adorned its face. Turning with its hindquarters pointed at the tree, the predator raised its sinewy tail and liberally sprayed. It was merely leaving its “calling card”. ~ Anecdote and Bengal Tiger capture, Calling Card © Jerry L. Ferrara
Timber Wolf – Melancholy Song
Melancholy Song There were extended periods when the snowfall was so dense that vision beyond twenty yards was totally obscured. Yet, something existed in that mysterious icy melee … something wraith-like that moved eerily in the manner of a shapeless shadow progressing across an ill-lit window shade. When the cloaking curtain of the flurry lifted, the secret specter emerged in the embodiment of a magnificent Timber Wolf. It was then that the stunningly beautiful creature, with snow-clad coat, pointed its tapered muzzle skyward and gave voice to a deeply stirring melancholy song. As the mournful aria went on, the blinding tempest resumed and once again the blustery snow veiled the view. What lingered within the faceless leaden gloom was a soulful cry that slowly faded into oblivion. ~ Anecdote and Timber Wolf capture, Melancholy Song © Jerry L. Ferrara