Blue Heron surprise

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) 

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) 

Saturday morning Teresa and I took a walk on the bike path along the Great Miami River just south of Piqua, Ohio. It was shortly after sunrise and there was not much bike or runner activity on the path. We saw a couple deer, and a squirrel. I was looking for this blue jay that has been in the area recently. I didn’t have any luck with that. We did see a beautiful cardinal, and a dove or two. 

On the way back to the car, we cross a bridge over the river. As I came around the corner, I saw this beautiful Great Blue Heron. It was flying crossing the river, just south of where I was clearing the trees that line the banks of the river. I didn’t have any time to setup for the picture. I was pleased with how it came out. I lost it in the trees after one shot. 

~ Rick  

Update: I love this shot, it’s not something I would frame and hang on the wall. I just don’t have time to frame a good shot. I hope you enjoy! 

Prints are available for many of the photos on this site on canvas, metal or glass. They are stunning and you can purchase them for a wall at home. Click the link or the ‘prints and such’ tab.

The stare down ...

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This monarch butterfly flys by me, continuing for about 30 feet, then lands facing away from me. I zoom in, and start snapping pictures. She proceeds to do this dance, slowly shifting until she is looking directly at me. Those beady eyes are not a photoshop .. that is exactly how it looked when I took the picture .. at 30 feet or so. I am truly in awe of nature, every day! 

~ Rick  

Prints are available for many of the photos on this site on canvas, metal or glass. They are stunning and you can purchase them for a wall at home. Click the link or the ‘prints and such’ tab. 

 

Persistence pays off

Pileated woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) 

Pileated woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) 

I have been trying to capture this photograph for over a year. I saw my first Pileated Woodpecker on a lunch walk over a year ago. I was not able to get close enough to get a photograph. As I recall it, that one was much larger than the one in the photo here. But i’m getting ahead of myself ..

The Pileated Woodpecker is large, about the size of a crow. It is the largest woodpeckers in North America, and beautiful to observe in flight. I love the colors, and that red crest is stunning.  They make a distinct ‘wuk’ call, which often makes me feel like I’m in a deep jungle. A beautiful creature. 

This one was shot shortly after sunrise. I heard it in the deeper woods, and kept trying to locate him. I finally walked away, then saw him fly into a nearby tree. It took some time to locate him, but I was able to get a few amazing photos. Mother nature was so kind to me. This made my day.   

 Prints are available for many of the photos on this site on canvas, metal or glass. They are stunning and you can purchase them for a wall at home. Click the link or the ‘prints and such’ tab. 

Bird tunes

Winter or House Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis) 

Winter or House Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis) 

 

I love listening to nature’s musicians, as I try to identity them. This is a Wren. I took this photo near the Great Miami River between Piqua and Troy, Ohio. I didn’t have the right lens with me, but I was able to capture this photo. It’s still beautiful.

I believe this is a Winter Wren, but it could be a House Wren. They make beautiful music. Small, but vocal. Here is a link to various Wren Songs ...  Listen to Wren Bird Songs here. 

Prints are available for many of the photos on this site on canvas, metal or glass. They are stunning and you can purchase them for a wall at home. Click the link or the ‘prints and such’ tab.