Interesting Bug, Interesting Reflections

This is one of the most interesting bugs I've ever seen!

Speaking of interesting......

I love the perspective of reflections.  As pretty as things are the way we see them, there's an interesting element when seen from a reverse image.

Child-like Wonder and Portraits of a Turkey Vulture

I'll never tire of seeing things in nature, for every glimpse is seen with the same child-like wonder, excitement and appreiation.  It does thrill me, however, when I do come across new things, such a pair of Killdeer, an American Kestrel (the smallest raptor around) and an American Coot which you'll see in upcoming posts. 

Since it's been a while since I've posted, rather than randomly choosing my favorite shots during the past month, I'll continue as I have in the past, taking you for a walk with me in order to share the 'whole' experience.  Sometimes I can see so much in one brief walk after work one day than a whole weekend excursion!  Nature is so full of surprises.  I rarely go out with my camera with one thing in mind.

But first....  speaking of child-like wonder and excitement....  nothing speaks of a more pure joy as:

Dipping back into March....   The early morning sun glinted off the wings of this duck.

The unique features of these turkey buzzards captivated me this particular day:

Swans in Action

I continue to be captivated by swans, and this particular morning I marveled at how despite the size of their large, gawky bodies, they can move so gracefully! 

A Shadow of Himself

I love different perspectives.  Shadows fascinate me!  While sitting in my car in a parking lot the other day, I noticed this guy taking a cigarette break from his job.  I got a kick out of watching him as he talked to himself; then he began singing--or rapping--to himself, although it almost appeared like he was communicating with his shadow--which, in turn, seemed to not follow his movements at all!  It was as if it was 'someone' completely different!  In fact, in the fourth photo, the shadow looks to me like it could be the fellow's grandfather!  Here are a few images of the series I took from the window of my car.

Fauna & Flora, From the Edge of the Lake

A pair of cormorants kept surprising me!  These diving ducks would plunge below the water, only to pop up in a completely different direction.  They swim a great distance with such great speed!  And they fly just as quickly!

A small flock of mallards circled the lake, their wings whistling as they approached.

A Great Blue Heron landed high on a branch and scoped things out from that vantage point before flying back down to the water's edge at a nearby cove.

Still looking upward, I noticed this Pileated Woodpecker.  While it remained above, flitting from tree to tree, it's mate was foraging among the dead trees that lay on the ground.

You know it's spring, when you see birds in pairs, like these chickadees and warblers.

This Northern Flicker didn't flinch as I caught him in my lens.  His mate, however, flew quickly away.

Other wildlife, flora--like new buds emerging through brown remnants leftover from winter, and fresh, green moss--delighted me.

From 'wildlife' to 'still life'.