Sea Otter – Breakfast
Breakfast In the serene waters off the California coast, a juvenile Sea Otter takes breakfast … a sea urchin. ~ Anecdote and Sea Otter capture, Breakfast © Jerry L. Ferrara
SHOT FROM THE FILE
Wilson’s Snipe – On A Snipe Hunt
On A Snipe Hunt The Wilson’s Snipe is a handsome native shorebird that belongs in the Sandpiper family. I caught this one resting on a fence post near a grassy field close by my home. I didn’t have to go on a “snipe hunt” to find the obliging creature, either. ~ Anecdote and Wilson’s Snipe capture, On A Snipe Hunt © Jerry L. Ferrara
River Otter – A Fleeting Look
A Fleeting Look Late light soft and rich early gloaming in the potholes An invisible hand disturbs the tranquil interface of air and water … a portent The foreshadow transforms to revelation all sound is hushed silence screams The otter pauses, a fleeting look then is gone A few years ago, near the close of day, I caught this River Otter in the serene potholes region of Washington State. It gave but one short-lived posture of recognition and then just melted away. ~ Poem, anecdote and River Otter capture, A Fleeting Look © Jerry L. Ferrara
Chestnut-backed Chickadee – The Energetic Bundle of Feathers
The Energetic Bundle of Feathers I caught this Chestnut-backed Chickadee during a gentle rainstorm in a brief moment while it was sitting still. The energetic bundle of feathers subsequently exploded away. ~ Anecdote and Chestnut-backed Chickadee capture, The Energetic Bundle of Feathers © Jerry L. Ferrara
Bison – What The Bison Saw
What The Bison Saw What the Bison saw was a universe of grass reckless with abandon wildly undulating while capitulating to the fury of the wind What the Bison saw was fire in the sky raking, arachnid-like arcing bolts that lit the inky night and set the prairie afire What the Bison saw were frozen winter ‘scapes a sea of rimy fur and vast clouds of cottony breath What the Bison saw were packs of Great Plains Wolves that choreographed strategic onslaughts on the fold they took both young and infirm What the Bison saw were indigenous people who drove the panic-stricken herd to death over treacherous cliffs What the Bison saw were iron trails stretching far across the prairie’s face avenues for smoke-belching monsters that spoke of thunder and lead What the Bison saw was a landscape of death tongueless, hideless carcasses scattered liberally to the horizon What the Bison saw was a situation of near extinction yet, from a small group their numbers grew but never like they were … that is what the Bison sees ~ Poem and Bison capture, What The Bison Saw © Jerry L. Ferrara
Western Meadowlark – Following the Cloudburst
Following the Cloudburst In the dampness following the cloudburst, an announcement was in order. It was not out of any kind of celebration, though. The missive, in part, was meant to attract the fairer sex: “Look at me! I am propertied!” The melody also conveyed a threat for those who would usurp: “Stay out! This space is occupied!” ~ Anecdote and Western Meadowlark capture, Following the Cloudburst © Jerry L. Ferrara
Porcupine – Darkness of the Night
Darkness of the Night In the early 1990’s, I traveled to Nevada’s Walker River area to photograph Porcupine. Locating them in the daytime was easy as they peacefully slept high up in the surrounding cottonwoods. Knowing they are principally nocturnal, I returned in the evenings with flashlight, camera and flash. About a mile into the first evening’s hike, and along a field of clover, I heard a sound that was totally unfamiliar coming from the trees lining the nearby river. Not just unknown was the voice from the dark, but it also held a tenor that was totally terrifying. Off went the flashlight as I listened to the rise and fall of mysterious and hair-raising banshee wails, moans and shrieks in the darkness of the night. After a few moments of intolerable silence the ‘fiend’ showed itself … a ‘love-sick’ Porcupine [it was Porcupine breeding season] as it trundled across my path on its way to dine. Here, on another occasion, I caught a juvenile in the act of feasting. ~ Anecdote and Porcupine capture, Darkness of the Night © Jerry L. Ferrara
Nature Images – The View From Our Porch
The View From Our Porch The View From Our Porch is a collection of captures made over time. Each image came about as a result of practicing the art of photography to maintain an edge. The exercises were also conducted to enjoy and share the incredible beauty of Nature, from our porch. ~ Anecdote and Nature Images, The View From Our Porch © Jerry L. Ferrara
African Lions – A Typical Feline Gesture
A Typical Feline Gesture On a crisp morning in Kenya’s East Masai Mara, a pride of African Lions idly basked in the warming rays of a radiant sun. When finished playing with its mother’s wiggling tail tip, a rambunctious youngster proceeded toward the fore-end of the patient parent cat and gently rubbed its chin and malar glands on the lioness’ face … in a typical feline gesture. ~ Anecdote and African Lions capture, A Typical Feline Gesture © Jerry L. Ferrara
Giant River Otter – Onca d’agua
Onca d’agua 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, the South American species is a member of the mustelid or weasel family, yet … a truly efficient predator, not unlike the Jaguar. ~ Anecdote and Giant River Otter capture, Onca d’agua © Jerry L. Ferrara. Pantanal, Brazil