SHOT FROM THE FILE Archives - Page 45 of 46 - Ferrara Wildlife Photography

Bald Eagle – A Visual Echo

A Visual Echo The morning air was brisk and a chilling frost painted the lake’s margin. The light was murky for the sun had not yet peeked over the horizon. In the midst of the somber setting a resplendent Bald Eagle sat contemplatively on a log at water’s edge. As if a curtain had been raised at the opening act of a play, up came the sun and its illumination washed away the dimness. A muted radiance poured into the landscape and the shady “shallows” grabbed the light. Mirrored on the water’s face was a visual echo. ~ Anecdote and Bald Eagle capture, A Visual Echo © Jerry L. Ferrara

A Standout Many years ago when we first settled in Idaho it was fairly common to see Ruffed Grouse discreetly stalking the nearby forests, or hear a male drumming its wings from a secluded woodlot. Those incidences seem less frequent today. This winter, however, we’ve had a few visitations from a grouse going about exploring our yard. The Ruffed Grouse is a native game bird species and a master of deception. Its dappled feathering and extremely slow, furtive gait makes this avian character difficult to detect as it easily melts into the woodland understory. In today’s image “our visitor” pensively poses on a mound of snow. As you can see, its concealment techniques have failed as the camera captured the wily creature on the white surface against the dark shadows of our woods. This Ruffed Grouse was a standout. ~ Anecdote and Ruffed Grouse capture, A Standout © Jerry L. Ferrara

Perfection’s Never Bought To make a score requires more than aptitude and skill. A master knows, results will show from practice and great will. To dance the sky as eagles ply and snare a fish on wing, demonstrates what practice makes: rehearse is everything. Yet when a feat becomes complete and done without a thought, a master’s guess is not to rest, perfection’s never bought. ~ Poem and Bald Eagle capture, Perfection’s Never Bought © Jerry L. Ferrara, from the book, Wild North Idaho: Season of the Eagle

Calling Card The Bengal Tiger pregnantly paused at the forest’s enigmatic edge, but the stop was only brief. Turning toward the nearest tree, the cat sniffed at the trunk’s bark. The creature’s eyes then rolled back in its head, its nose went up in the air and a silly grin adorned its face. Turning with its hindquarters pointed at the tree, the predator raised its sinewy tail and liberally sprayed. It was merely leaving its “calling card”. ~ Anecdote and Bengal Tiger capture, Calling Card © Jerry L. Ferrara

Melancholy Song There were extended periods when the snowfall was so dense that vision beyond twenty yards was totally obscured. Yet, something existed in that mysterious icy melee … something wraith-like that moved eerily in the manner of a shapeless shadow progressing across an ill-lit window shade. When the cloaking curtain of the flurry lifted, the secret specter emerged in the embodiment of a magnificent Timber Wolf. It was then that the stunningly beautiful creature, with snow-clad coat, pointed its tapered muzzle skyward and gave voice to a deeply stirring melancholy song. As the mournful aria went on, the blinding tempest resumed and once again the blustery snow veiled the view. What lingered within the faceless leaden gloom was a soulful cry that slowly faded into oblivion. ~ Anecdote and Timber Wolf capture, Melancholy Song © Jerry L. Ferrara

A Garish Mask The Chestnut-eared Aracari is a denizen of the wilds of South America. A member of the toucan clan, it presents a most outrageous profile … an appearance that’s actually quite “loud”. At first glance, the creature’s gaudy presentation doesn’t seem real. It’s as if the aracari is wearing a garish mask. ~ Anecdote and Chestnut-eared Aracari capture, A Garish Mask © Jerry L. Ferrara

All’s Well Furtively, the Black-tailed Prairie Dog exited its underground abode. Sitting soberly on the raised earthen mound surrounding its tunnel entrance, the spunky rodent surveyed the nearby landscape. Then, without foretelling, the prairie ground squirrel launched skyward and gave a “whee-oo” shout … “all’s well”. ~ Anecdote and Black-tailed Prairie Dog capture, All’s Well © Jerry L. Ferrara

A High-wire Act One bright overcast day I decided to visit a local housing tract to see if there was any “urban wildlife” activity. Sure enough, I caught this Fox Squirrel [an introduced species to our area] leaving a backyard squirrel-feeding station. This “savvy saver”, with pilfered peanut in maw, made its guileful getaway via the overhead power lines. It was quite a high-wire act. ~ Anecdote and Fox Squirrel capture, A High-wire Act © Jerry L. Ferrara

Tenaciously Tenderizing In Kenya’s Samburu National Reserve, this Red-billed Hornbill was fast to the task of tenaciously tenderizing its meaty meal. The locust didn’t have a prayer of a chance at escape as the hornbill tossed, thrashed and beat the hapless grasshopper senseless. ~ Anecdote and Red-billed Hornbill capture, Tenaciously Tenderizing © Jerry L. Ferrara

On A Mission Slinking steathily through the dense Mara bush, a female leopard appears to be in the act of exhibiting her finely-honed stalking skill and deadly ambush technique. But her posture was only apparent. Her kill already adorned a nearby tree limb. She was actually on a mission to locate one of her cubs, who wouldn’t stay put. ~ Anecdote and Leopard capture, On A Mission © Jerry L. Ferrara

SHOT FROM THE FILE

Bald Eagle – A Visual Echo

Ruffed Grouse – A Standout

Bald Eagle – Perfection’s Never Bought

Bengal Tiger – Calling Card

Timber Wolf – Melancholy Song

Chestnut-eared Aracari – A Garish Mask

Black-tailed Prairie Dog – All’s Well

Fox Squirrel – A High-wire Act

Red-billed Hornbill – Tenaciously Tenderizing

Leopard – On A Mission

Ferrara Wildlife Photography