A King The Antarctic wind gusts the shore and as it does it sings A host of creatures, from the water, in gullets krill they bring Upon the land they waddle awkward, their gait not quite in swingNone the less this noble penguin is known to be a king A portrait made of a King Penguin as it returned to shore, South Georgia Island. ~ Poem and King Penguin capture, A King © Jerry L. Ferrara
Fire On The Fringe A closer look at the 4/8/24 total solar eclipse showing solar prominences extending into the inner corona. It seemed there was fire on the fringe. ~ Anecdote and 4/8/24 solar eclipse capture, Fire On The Fringe © Jerry L. Ferrara
![Fish Hawk [Osprey]](https://ferrarawildlifephotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/osp1-520x355.jpg)
The Shake Grasping its recently snared prey, a Fish Hawk [Osprey] rises aloft. In one brief moment, the drenched predator seemingly pauses in midair and employs a tactic to shed its feathers of water acquired during the dive. The shake sends a spray of fluid in all directions. ~ Anecdote and Fish Hawk [Osprey] capture, The Shake © Jerry L. Ferrara
Combat Along the sandy California seashore a pair of bellicose bull Northern Elephant Seals face off in combat. ~ Anecdote and Northern Elephant Seals capture, Combat © Jerry L. Ferrara
Mr. Pugnacious Mr. Pugnacious,You look so audaciouswith a mask that’s bodaciousyou give such a scowl.All rodents bewareOf that glowering glareAs you may not farewhen he’s on the prowl.… Mr. Pugnacious, you are so outrageous. ~ Poem and American Badger capture, Mr. Pugnacious © Jerry L. Ferrara
You’ve Gotta Be Pullin’ My Leg Wrestling, grappling and committing general mayhem, a pair of immature and rambunctious Utah Prairie Dogs were caught in the act of playing “rough house” when one pup grabbed the foot of its rival at the same moment the camera shutter captured their awareness of being noticed. Attention span was hugely succinct, though, as the adolescent duo resumed their spirited horseplay … wrestling, grappling and committing general mayhem. ~ Anecdote and Utah Prairie Dogs capture, You’ve Gotta Be Pullin’ My Leg © Jerry L. Ferrara
Funny Face During the recent storms, a water-drenched Pileated Woodpecker peers in the direction of the camera … Funny Face ~ Anecdote and Pileated Woodpecker capture, Funny Face © Jerry L. Ferrara
The Stretch A Great Blue Heron takes on a posture called “The Stretch”, a courtship behavior carried out during and after pair formation. ~ Anecdote and Great Blue Heron capture, The Stretch © Jerry L. Ferrara
Rushing The Western Grebe is a spring and summer visitor to our North Idaho area and one of its most recognized behaviors is the flamboyant courtship performance called “rushing.” The ritual often doesn’t last long but is none-the-less a thrill to view. The mated pair raise themselves up in tandem, arching their backs and cocking their heads atop their beautiful swan-like necks, and with their wings held back, they literally run across the surface of the water. Near the end of the rite the pair slow down and one or both dive below. Here are two Western Grebes I caught in full swing during their “rushing” maneuver. ~ Anecdote and Western Grebes capture, Rushing © Jerry L. Ferrara
Tranquility Tranquility governed the landscape as the Brown Bear lumbered along the placid interface of lake and land. A very gentle breeze caused small waves to gently lick the shore. As the bruin progressed in my direction, I slowly moved a few feet inland out of its direct path and sat down in the grass. And I waited. The clouds overhead and in the background were halcyon to the eye while the distant brightening sky, from a sun not quite exposed, boldly announced the coming day. The goal, on my part, was to snare the creature’s silhouette in the notch between the snow-topped mountains on the lake’s far side. Using an ultra-wide-angle lens, the beast was captured at the preconceived moment. ~ Brown Bear capture and story, Tranquility © Jerry L. Ferrara