"A Sand County Almanac"

"THERE ARE SOME WHO CAN LIVE WITHOUT WILD THINGS AND SOME WHO CANNOT."
"FOR US IN THE MINORITY THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE GEESE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN TELEVISION.".....Aldo Leopold




"LOOK DEEP INTO NATURE, AND THEN YOU WILL UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING BETTER".....Albert Einstein


“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves”.....John Muir


Tuesday, July 26, 2011

What A Difference A Day Can Make...

After the sweltering temperatures that we have been enduring lately, I left the house at about 5:30 this morning to take advantage of the cooler conditions that were predicted.  When I crossed a stream, before the sun was even up, I could see three Great Egrets and a Great Blue Heron searching for their breakfast.  The heron was not happy about sharing the stream and kept trying to intimidate the egrets into leaving...


As luck would have it the egrets retreated from the heron and flew downstream towards me.  It is very hrad to get photos in these low light conditions but I was able to capture these images by having my ISO set on 3200 and the aperature wide open...





While I watched the heron and egrets interact the egrets finally blew back upstream to get away from the pushy heron...



I continued on my way and encountered several deer on the edge of a newly planted field.  This family group included a doe with a deformed left rear leg.  Judging from the way she walked she appeared to be in pain when she put her weight on the injury...



A young buck was hanging out with the doe and fawns. 


As I was passing a family garden not far from the edge of the road I spotted this tent of caterpillars...


Leaving the area I headed to a small mill pond that has produced opportunities to photograph a Green Heron in the past.  After sitting quietly my patience was rewarded when this fellow flew in...




All was well until a second green heron appeared, and the squabbling began...



After this fussy bird activity I went to another part of the property to see if any deer were visible...



Another doe leaving a corn field along the lane...



I had to snap a couple of photos of this monument as I went by.  Too often we fail to remember how rich in history Frederick County is. The many national and state parks in the area provide photo opportunities that many areas do not have...




















4 comments:

  1. A really great series of photos Steve. The egret photos are my favorites. The last two photos of the doe in the corn is telling me she has to be your pet.

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  2. Thanks, Larry. Those were the first egrets that I saw on that stream this year. As for the doe...just lucky to be in the right place at the right time. You know the saying "A handful of patience is worth more than a bushel of brains" or something like that. LOL

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  3. Fantastic collection,superb photography.
    John.

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