SHOT FROM THE FILE Archives - Ferrara Wildlife Photography

Black Bear – Mamma Bear

Mamma Bear There’s that starefrom Mamma BearShould you careor even dare?Will you swearwhen angst does flare?’Cause Mamma Bearwill bring despair Years ago we were driving back to the lower 48 from Alaska and had just crossed in to the Yukon Territory. Suddenly we came across this sow Black Bear and her two rambunctious cubs. She gave us the stare! ~ Poem, anecdote and Black Bear capture, Mamma Bear © Jerry L. Ferrara AddendumThe three bear rule:If it’s brown, lay down;If it’s black, fight back[unless it’s Mamma Bear and then you’re probably screwed!];If it’s white, say good night. …Author unknown

Alaskan Brown Bear

~ Alaskan Brown Bear captures © Jerry L. Ferrara

Intent Intent, intent, so I am bentA Bobcat’s prey will feel dismay ~ Poem and Bobcat capture, Intent © Jerry L. Ferrara. Capture made in a gopher-filled northern California meadow.

Vox Clamantis Be keen to the call of the California Quail. Vox clamantis, a voice crying out. ~ Anecdote and California Quail capture, Vox Clamantis © Jerry L. Ferrara

Kittiwake – Kittiwake, Oh Kittiwake

Kittiwake, Oh Kittiwake According to Cornell University’s Lab of Ornithology, the Black-legged Kittiwake is a pelagic species of gull usually found far out in the northern seas unless it is breeding and rearing its young. In my copy of Arthur Cleveland Bent’s Life Histories of North American Gulls and Terns, the author states “The ordinary cry of the Kittiwake suggests its name …” Kittiwake, Oh KittiwakeWhat a strange noise you do makeYour voice does cause one double-takeIt sounds a bit like your namesake ~ Poem and Kittiwake captures, Kittiwake, Oh Kittiwake © Jerry L. Ferrara. Kittiwake images recorded in Iceland and Norway.

A Mirror Image An inquisitive Waterbuck near Zimbabwe’s Zambezi River pauses pregnantly near a still pool of water casting back a mirror image of itself. ~ Anecdote and Waterbuck capture, A Mirror Image © Jerry L. Ferrara

The Little Bandit Lounging on the cherry tree trunk, the little bandit stages just before an all-out raid on the fruit high up in the canopy. The beady eyes and ‘Zorro’ mask are dead giveaways as to the rascality to come. ~ Anecdote and Raccoon capture, The Little Bandit © Jerry L. Ferrara … image from my backyard.

Water Ouzel Roaring mountain creeks and lightning-quick western streams are the homes of a nondescript bird called the American Dipper [aka the Water Ouzel]. It’s a treat to catch sight of one hunting a streamside watery realm for aquatic insects and larvae. I caught this Ouzel in a pose between its forays to an Idaho river for water bugs. ~ Anecdote and American Dipper capture, Water Ouzel © Jerry L. Ferrara

Bearing Gifts In a remote sector near the Arctic Circle, within the dizzying heights of a rugged Icelandic bluff, a remarkable seabird of the auk tribe known as the Razorbill arrived near its nest. It was bearing gifts for its developing youngsters secreted away in a rocky seaside cleft. ~ Anecdote and Razorbill capture, Bearing Gifts © Jerry L. Ferrara

On A Chilly Day On a chilly dayFeathers I will splayIn this simple wayBody heat will stay Here is an example of a unique technique used by many bird species to maintain comfort during cool weather. The strategy is to trap and hold its body heat by fluffing the feathers. The spaces created between the plumage captures the escaping warmth and insulates the bird’s skin from the cold. ~ Poem, anecdote and Red-tailed Hawk capture, On A Chilly Day © Jerry L. Ferrara

SHOT FROM THE FILE

Black Bear – Mamma Bear

Alaskan Brown Bear

Bobcat – Intent

California Quail – Vox Clamantis

Kittiwake – Kittiwake, Oh Kittiwake

Waterbuck – A Mirror Image

Raccoon – The Little Bandit

American Dipper – Water Ouzel

Razorbill – Bearing Gifts

Red-tailed Hawk – On A Chilly Day

Ferrara Wildlife Photography