North Idaho Archives - Page 14 of 15 - Ferrara Wildlife Photography

Common Loon – Hauntingly

Hauntingly The placid surface of the lake’s face was kissed by the morning light but remained expressionless. Its demeanor spoke no emotion, nor held hint of mood. It just was. As time passed, an audible feature slowly joined the scene. At first it was but a hint, far off and barely perceptible. It was a lonely sound that spoke of forlorn. Then the author appeared, but only briefly before diving deep and vanishing. Such are the ways and the voice of the Common Loon. One of the most hauntingly beautiful sounds in Nature is committed by the Common Loon. The creature’s call reaches deep into the soul. ~ Essay and Common Loon capture, Hauntingly © Jerry L. Ferrara

That Deadly Stare A Halloween thought for the forest’s wee furry beasties. The fiend is out and loose tonight Its presence brings chaos and fright A piercing look, that deadly stare Those devil orbs pervade and glare The beast with horns is on the make So do beware for Heaven’s sake! ~ Poem and Great Horned Owl capture, That Deadly Stare © Jerry L. Ferrara

The Mob The Snowy Owl was simply attempting to rest after its arduous journey from the far north when it was discovered by a band of raucous Ravens. Remaining still, the stoic owl endured the rude treatment dished out by the discourteous corvids. The latter’s goal was to harass the owl away. Unable to coerce the predator to leave, the mob soon gave up its folly. The snowy creature’s strategy worked. ~ Anecdote and Snowy Owl and Ravens capture, The Mob © Jerry L. Ferrara

Crossing The River of Fire The setting was ablaze with the stain of autumn and in the still of a vividly-hued morn a White-tailed Deer doe herd magically materialized on the marge of a muted, meandering waterway. Their appearance was steeped in ghostly silence as they pregnantly paused streamside. Intrepidly, the deer stepped into the richly-tinged flow. In their march through the moist medium they appeared to be Crossing The River of Fire. ~ Anecdote and White-tailed Deer capture, Crossing The River of Fire © Jerry L. Ferrara

Sweep the Boreal Aurora Sky While the background for this shot may be reminiscent of those eerie, shadowy curtains of charged particles from the sun [the aurora borealis], it is in reality not the dramatic celestial light show at all but a reflection of the nearby forest on the lake’s glassy surface. ~ Anecdote and Bald Eagle capture, Sweep the Boreal Aurora Sky © Jerry L. Ferrara

Dances With Fish Fleeting, ephemeral and transitory instances in Nature are thrilling to witness. Vision, however, is often challenged. To capture all of the precise aspects of an ephemeral moment with the eye alone is nearly impossible. An example of this is proffered here. A resplendent Bald Eagle is caught in a trice as it is about to seize a Kokanee Salmon. At the same time, the eagle’s watery likeness impersonates the predator’s reality. The bird and its “apparent partner” seem to be dancing around a precise locus, a pivot at a point in the prance where real and reflected are both in rhythmic lockstep, tripping the light fantastic in concert as they perform dances with fish … and the camera captured an elusive part of the deed in a wink of the eye. ~ Anecdote and Bald Eagle capture, Dances With Fish © Jerry L. Ferrara

Mr. Cerulean One of the most striking features of the male Mountain Bluebird is its electric, sky-blue feathering. Here, Mr. Cerulean has just caught a spider meal. ~ Anecdote and Mountain Bluebird capture, Mr. Cerulean © Jerry L. Ferrara

Daybreak at Kootenai This image was made well over a decade ago at nearby Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge. Morning fog obscured the distant view revealing little of interest. As the dawning sun’s rays brushed the landscape, murk and mist magically dissipated. Definition and form took shape … Moose and marsh materialized. When all about there seems to be A lack of anything to see Wait and watch, it might take time The moment caught may be sublime ~ Anecdote, poem and Moose capture, Daybreak at Kootenai © Jerry L. Ferrara

Happy Fourth of July 2022! Independence A firm, fixed and steady eye is leveled by the Bald Eagle, Haliaeetus, as the stunning raptor thunders through the firmament. Power, strength, conviction and independence are its hallmark. ~ Anecdote and Bald Eagle capture, Independence © Jerry L. Ferrara, from the book, Wild North Idaho: Season of the Eagle.

Shedding Water During its power dive into the lake, the Osprey missed its target, the fish. Coming up empty, the hawk climbed skyward from the liquid surface. Suddenly it sharply shook its waterlogged body sending a substantial spray of moisture into the atmosphere. It was shedding water. ~ Anecdote and Osprey capture, Shedding Water © Jerry L. Ferrara

North Idaho

Common Loon – Hauntingly

Great Horned Owl – That Deadly Stare

Snowy Owl and Ravens – The Mob

White-tailed Deer – Crossing The River of Fire

Bald Eagle – Sweep the Boreal Aurora Sky

Bald Eagle – Dances With Fish

Mountain Bluebird – Mr. Cerulean

Moose – Daybreak at Kootenai

Bald Eagle – Independence

Osprey – Shedding Water

Ferrara Wildlife Photography