Late Bloomers-Wet & Dry Flora

 

(Snow) Geese (?) and Beavers

What struck me, besides the peaceful beauty of those geese floating on the river (could they possibly be Snow Geese?  Do they travel this far south, this time of year?) was the enormous cloud of bugs surrounding them! 



And in staying with the bug theme, this pond was loaded with shiny, white water bugs!  Here's a small group:

What I really had my eye on while at that pond, was a pair of beavers.  One of them came out of the water to nibble on some flowers! 

It scooted eventually away, it's thick, long, heavy, flat tail trailing behind it, back into the water and swam around it's house--only it's head visible above water.

I walked away to leave and was surprised when I turned back around and noticed that now it's mate came onto land!  I snapped a quick picture before I left.

Momma Bears and Their Cubs

The other morning I set out to photograph a family of bears that I knew spent time each day in a nearby orchard.  As I approached, I saw the two cubs crossing the road while their momma stayed behind in the woods. 

As I was watching them, I suddenly heard a faint but crisp sound of a twig snapping.  I glanced over my shoulder behind me and to my amazement, there was another mother with another set of  cubs in tow!  My attention turned toward them now and I watched Momma glide on by, her black coat shimmering; her cubs pouncing behind her in the woods.   It's not often (like, never) to see two families of bears at once!  I was surprised and excited.  They were making their way through the woods and toward the road.  I thought I was undetected, but I watched the mother stop and warn her cubs to be still and silent, and they indeed froze.  She then, without hesitation, stepped out onto the road and for the first time (or so I thought) looked directly at me.  She checked me out, cocking her head from side to side, seemingly trying to figure me out--it's probably not too often (like, never) that she ever saw a tripod erected!

She seemed a little confused as she studied me.  She went back into the woods, but I knew any minute she would step out again for another look.  She did.

She stood her ground, looking at me square-on.  I didn't move.  I don't think I even blinked.

Sensing I wasn't a threat but still wary of me (as bears should be) she went back into the woods to call her cubs to join her across the road.

Where I respectfully left them to do their own thing.......





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Hawks

While photographing sunflowers the other day, I heard the incessant, high-pitched screeching of baby hawks.  There obviously was a nest in one of the trees lining the edge of the field.  One long, loud screech in reply made me look up from what I was doing and turn my head in another direction from the flowers, and that's when I saw this hawk watching me.  I wondered how long it was there before I noticed it!  As soon as it saw that I had my lens focused on it, it bent low and let out one more long screech before flying off. 

I'm excited for the slow change of seasons that will take place in the next few weeks--hawks are becoming more visible again.  This morning, unlike yesterday's clear, blue skies, the sky was gray and foggy.  I was out early taking pictures again when a movement way up high and in the distance caught my eye.  Through the fog I noticed the fuzzy outlines of two hawks in a tree that was sticking out apart from the rest along the river.  Hawks do not like to be photographed and these two quickly took off when they noticed I noticed them.

Field of Sunflowers

I've passed this field of sunflowers every day since they've grown, but yesterday was the first time I joined the many others who couldn't resist pulling off to the side of the road to photograph them.  Here's an up-close and personal look at these cheery flowers!