Uncategorized

Just As The Light Passed Away   It was deep in the terminus of a clement day. The sun had retired from the haze-filled horizon but its faltering remains still dwelt in the landscape.      We moved without hurry. Our hope was for a glimpse at “something” in the dwindling crepuscular light. That “something” almost always seemed to appear just as aspirations waned.     As the path meandered this way and that, a stark visual presentation materialized against the monochromatic sky. Silently, a Great Horned Owl sat stoically in the barren branches of a tree…a perfect effigy of a predator in waiting. It was both a thrill and a fortunate moment, just as the light passed away.   ~ Anecdote and Great Horned Owl image, Just As The Light Passed Away © Jerry L. Ferrara

Mr. Pugnacious Mr. Pugnacious, You look so audacious with a mask that’s bodacious you give such a scowl. All rodents beware so please do not dare for danger dwells there when he’s on the prowl. Mr. Pugnacious, you are so outrageous. ~ Poem and American Badger capture, Mr. Pugnacious © Jerry L. Ferrara

Ladies of the Evening      Along the Missouri Breaks, a trio of Mule Deer doe leisurely strolled the rugged ridgeline at sundown. They were Ladies of the Evening set against a painted sky. ~ Anecdote and Mule Deer capture, Ladies of the Evening © Jerry L. Ferrara

I caught this Coyote hunting early one morning and it gave me a quick look … A Predator’s Look While my nose points the way to the vermin at bay My ears will be found to hear every sound Yet my eyes cannot hide my true feelings inside So a predator’s look should not be mistook ~ Poem and Coyote capture, A Predator’s Look © Jerry L. Ferrara

Bearing Gifts A follow-up to my previous FaceBook image is an intimate view of one of the Razorbill’s “cousins”, the Atlantic Puffin. It, too, was caught returning to its nest bearing gifts. See The Clan of the Clown on our website for more Atlantic Puffin images. ~ Anecdote and Atlantic Puffin capture, Bearing Gifts © Jerry L. Ferrara

Briefly Held In Time Along a gently flowing stream in a wild and remote setting on the Alaskan Peninsula, a sow Brown Bear [left] pauses with one of her youngsters [right] to quench their thirsts. The bruins were captured not just by the camera and lens, but were briefly held in time by the aqueous, mirrored surface that idled the untamed domain. ~ Brown Bear capture and anecdote, Briefly Held In Time © Jerry L. Ferrara

The Newcomer A bracing zephyr drifted casually through the early evening air. Along the gently flowing creek, creature-activity was intensifying. A White-tailed Deer doe magically morphed into the view and then quite subtly, a gesture from the nearby brush produced an enchanting manifestation. It was the doe’s fawn. The Newcomer had arrived. ~ Anecdote and White-tailed Deer capture, The Newcomer © 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