SHOT FROM THE FILE Archives - Page 3 of 35 - Ferrara Wildlife Photography

Muskrat – Watery Whispers

Watery Whispers Shadows grow long at the day’s end. It is a time to wait and watch. While some forest entities seek nighttime shelter, others prepare for crepuscular and nocturnal activities. The latter’s machinations are at times hidden from view. Nonetheless, if one patiently looks close there are signs that are extant in revealing the secret actors. For instance, on the marge of a woodland pond near our home, there are times that tranquil tremors mysteriously radiate from one point near the water’s edge. The concentric ‘watery whispers’ indicate an unseen presence. Eventually the perturbations’ author reveals itself and a Muskrat emerges from its bank burrow on its way to an eventide foraging venture. ~ Anecdote and Muskrat capture, Watery Whispers © Jerry L. Ferrara

The Gelid Setting Except for the brisk breeze, all other movement was devoid in the gelid setting. Nestled tight in the frozen terrain, a pair of Whooper Swans quiescently conserved their energy. ~ Anecdote and Whooper Swan capture, The Gelid Setting © Jerry L. Ferrara

Coming Soon Being absent during winter, the perky Savannah Sparrow will soon return to our local fields and pastures. ~ Anecdote and Savannah Sparrow capture, Coming Soon © Jerry L. Ferrara

The Encounter The encounter was intense. It came unexpectedly with a startling swiftness when the African Lion exploded from the nearby brush and bore down on the bewildered Wildebeest calf. Separated from its mother and the herd, the young Gnu faced a certain demise. Its struggle to survive was certainly spirited, yet not potent enough. In the end, the feline stole its soul. ~ Anecdote, African Lion and Wildebeest calf image, The Encounter © Jerry L. Ferrara

Onca d’agua Something’s fishy in the water, searched by Giant River Otter. To the fluid flow it steals, hunting for a piscine meal. Not long it takes for it to be, the otter feasts exuberantly. So Giant River Otter are, best of fishers yet by far …a truly efficient predator, not unlike a Jaguar. The Giant River Otter [or Giant Otter], sometimes known colloquially as Onca d’agua [Portuguese for Jaguar of the water], is not really a Jaguar at all. In fact, they are members of the mustelid or weasel family and hold the distinction of being the longest creatures in that group. A mature Giant River Otter may reach a length of between five and six feet. Once prevalent, this puckish South American species is considered rare today. ~ Essay, poem and Giant River Otter capture, Onca d’agua © Jerry L. Ferrara

Upon A Mound Silent, silent it makes no soundSits it and waits upon a moundBecome complacent and less waryYou’ll surely be this feline’s quarry ~ Poem and Leopard capture, Upon A Mound © Jerry L. Ferrara

Previsualization Black Skimmer in flight. Not the quintessential image of the Black Skimmer. Not yet. Someday fortune might smile on me and the Skimmer skimming with those highly utilitarian mouth parts, will be held captive on my camera’s memory card. Just a moment of previsualization. ~ Anecdote and Black Skimmer capture, Previsualization © Jerry L. Ferrara

A Covert Operation A furtive Hippo gives a pensive peek at the camera from the Serengeti’s Mara River. It was conducting a covert surveillance operation. 😀 ~ Anecdote and Hippopotamus capture, A Covert Operation © Jerry L. Ferrara

Sure of Foot High upon a mountain peakA youngster gives a furtive peekLofty crests pierce thinned-out airWhere Mountain Goats both live and dareThey tread the heights with fancy movesSure of foot with cloven hoovesAdapted to the altitudeFar above in solitude At over 14,000′ elevation, a kid Rocky Mountain Goat pauses briefly during a ‘rock scrambling’ play session. Check out the capricious creature’s cloven clogs which enable it to grasp and negotiate the rocky terrain with ease. ~ Anecdote, poem and Rocky Mountain Goat capture, Sure of Foot © Jerry L. Ferrara

SHOT FROM THE FILE

Muskrat – Watery Whispers

Whooper Swans – The Gelid Setting

Savannah Sparrow – Coming Soon

African Lion/Wildebeest – The Encounter

Giant River Otter – Onca d’agua

Leopard – Upon A Mound

Black Skimmer – Previsualization

Hippopotamus – A Covert Operation

Rocky Mountain Goat [Kid] – Sure of Foot

Western Grebe – The Look

Ferrara Wildlife Photography