O’ Wily One O’ Wily One from whence you come Your presence you do share From snowy mist your form does twist Appear you from thin air What do you seek with eager peek Perhaps a murine meal? While on the stalk your gestures talk You’re not above the steal So carry on, O’ Wily One You have a role to play Your presence brings a mix of things And rodents at the bay. ~ Poem and Red Fox capture, O’ Wily One © Jerry L. Ferrara
The Sleepy Owl In the silent forest deep a Ural Owl does gently sleep. And just before the waking dawn, the sleepy owl does give a yawn. Wake up! Wake up! O sleepy bird, you’re missing what the others heard. For a raven’s voice does speak of furry creatures by the creek. So if you’re quick to take the chance and let your feathers dance the dance toward the high-pitched squeaks and squeals, there may be a mousy meal. Wait too long and you will see the rodent kind will quickly flee. Perhaps this fact you do but know, so back to sleep you quickly go. ~ Ural Owl, from a remote location in a deciduous forest on the island of Hokkaido, Japan. Poem and Ural Owl capture, The Sleepy Owl © Jerry L. Ferrara
A Big Stretch Curled up on the snow in a fuzzy carroty ball, the Red Fox lay resting … sleeping the sleep of a Red Fox, dreaming vulpine dreams … all about mousie cuisines. At some point the urge to wake took hold and the mind chimeras washed away. The canine arose but before trotting into the ice-clad ‘scape, it executed a signature posture … a comfort move … a big stretch. ~ Anecdote and Red Fox capture, A Big Stretch © Jerry L. Ferrara
Intensity With enormous intensity, a White-tailed Eagle prepares to land. ~ White-tailed Eagle capture, Intensity © Jerry L. Ferrara
A Steely Stare Wary may the Red Fox be Uncertain what its gaze does see So leery while it takes a stance Deducing whether it should chance Investigate or pass on by A measured look from chary eyes Wild and wary it moves with care When caught it gives a steely stare ~ Poem and Red Fox capture, A Steely Stare © Jerry L. Ferrara
Merry Christmas Wishing All a Merry and Blessed Christmas. ~ Red Fox capture © Jerry L. Ferrara
The Blakiston’s Fish Owl Fish I the shoals of riparian streams deep in the Stygian night. My secret life does make me seem a creature kept from sight. The Ainu thought I brought good luck, we shared a life complete. But human numbers grew so much my kind’s now quite deplete. When I arrive to dine each night along a snowy shore, I search the dark without much light to catch my meal and more. Talons to the pool I go, my wings are held up high. It’s how I catch my supper, though, my pinions must stay dry. I eat the fish, I cannot wait, it’s back to work I go. To catch a meal that’s for my mate. She waits for me to show …and off to feed my waiting partner, silently I go. The Blakiston’s Fish Owl is highly endangered and one of the rarest birds on the planet. It also belongs with the Eagle Owl faction, the largest of owl species. It is found only in restricted areas of Russia, China and Japan. ~ Poem, anecdote and Blakiston’s Fish Owl image © Jerry L. Ferrara
A Shade of Dusty Rose As the Belt of Venus infused the evening firmament with a shade of dusty rose, a flock of Red-crowned Cranes sail to roost. ~ Anecdote and Red-crowned Cranes capture, A Shade of Dusty Rose © Jerry L. Ferrara
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.