Four Images and Four Stories

This month I picked four different photos taken within the last 60 days to talk about how they were taken and why I chose the subjects.

    The first image of the frog is one of my favorites and received an “Editors’ Pick” recognition by the Nature Photographers’ Network last month. I titled this photo, “Photographer’s Reflection” because while editing the image, I noticed my own reflection in the frog’s eye. The photo was taken at a neighbor’s garden pond in the early morning. While quietly entering through the gate, I could hear the chorus of about five frogs. When the camera was ready, all but one jumped in the water. This guy really wanted his picture taken and stayed to let me get about seven shots before joining his friends.

    I am fascinated by the way egrets scan the shallow water as they fish. Their strike is so fast that I use shutter speeds of over 1/2000 of a second to capture the action. In this image, “Egret Strike”, we can see the precise moment when the head enters the water at lighting speed. The eyes are wide open and continue to track the fish under the surface.

   Over the past months I have been experimenting with macro (close-up) photography with bugs being my subject of choice. Macro photography is a real change from using long lenses for birds in flight. However, flying bugs can be just as challenging as flying eagles and I have much to learn. This image of the honeybee was taken in my back yard and required a flash attachment to freeze the movement and highlight the intricate details of the bee as it moves quickly among the flowers. The ladybug shown with my email was photographed using a technique called photo-stacking where 10 flash images are taken within 1/125 of a second of different sections and then combined to reveal the sharp focus details of the entire bug.

    Remember the Black-necked Stilts from last month?  Well, the parents finished the nest and four chicks were hatched. The chicks are now over one month old and are quickly learning how to forage in the marshes I include an image of a parent Black-necked Stilt proudly supervising its chick. Titled, “Strutting lesson”.  I thought the photo captured the idea with the added benefit of reflections of both birds.  

The Black-necked Stilts

      Scanning the shallows at low tide I can see them strutting on long legs with their black and white heads and beaks poking the mud in search for food. The Black-necked Stilts have arrived after their long northward migration from South and Central America. I saw them in the Galapagos Islands several years ago and the last photo in this essay was taken on that trip.  It’s amazing to think of these delicate birds flying thousands of miles from South America to the Delaware shore.

     As I look over a large wetland pond in the Bombay Hook NWR, I see five of them wading in the water to feed on small crustaceans and aquatic vegetation. These are distinctive birds with black and white features and long pinkish legs. Although I am using a long telephoto lens to photograph them, the Stilts seem to tolerate a relatively moderate approach. However,  I am always conscious of avoiding any disturbance of the birds during the nesting season. They are very protective of the nest sites and both males and females contribute to raising the chicks.

     Stilts will nest on the ground in muddy mounds in the marshes. They are social birds and are often found in groups. It’s fun to watch the nesting pair fussing over the nest site. If they sense any threat from potential predators they will fly around with loud screeching calls to distract the invader.

    To photograph the Stilts, I have returned to the same spots repeatedly over the past three years. This way I can learn more about their behavior and habits. They can be really entertaining as they hop around on those skinny legs.

In this essay, I am including a short video of the Stilts to show some of their behavior. I hope you enjoy it. To learn more about the Black-necked Stilts click here.

Fishing Experts of the Wetlands

  I am always amazed by the prowess of herons and egrets as they successfully catch fish in the shadows of the early morning or evening hours.  How do they see the fish and react with such accuracy?  For this photo essay, I decided to do some basic research to help understand the amazing vision exhibited by these birds.

     Herons and Egrets are highly effective hunters and when I watch them in the shallows of the wetlands, I am struck by their slow and deliberate patience as they gaze beneath the surface of the water looking for prey.  Like us, these birds have binocular vision unlike some other bird species. Because their eyes are positioned far enough forward, both eyes can focus on a single object.  This dramatically improves their depth perception and the ability to accurately locate a moving fish.

    Refraction, or “bending” of light when it hits the water causes a visual distortion of the fish below the surface. To correct this distortion and determine the exact location, these birds have adapted certain techniques to adjust.  They often strike from close to a 90-degree angle. Sometimes they tilt their heads to minimize glare, and I have seen them shade a sunny area with their wings. Because they have an abundance of photoreceptor cells in their eyes, they are better adapted to hunting in low light. Most of the images in this essay were taken in low light conditions. One thing is clear, when they strike – it’s very fast, and most often successful.

   It is an absolute delight to sit and observe these graceful and highly adapted birds.

Sunrise on a Low Country Beach

Last month my wife Sharon and I spent two weeks on Hilton Head Island in the South Carolina low country.  Several times I was able to get out just before sunrise to Fish Haul Beach located a short distance from our rental. I chose to go at low tide during the “golden hour” at dawn. Fish Haul Beach is not a tourist beach, but a town park better suited for observing wildlife and beachcombing. I was there to see what shorebirds were active when the six-foot tides recede.

    The sun began to rise over the ocean horizon just as I walked to the end of a short boardwalk to the beach. I first noticed how far the shoreline had fallen away to expose large areas of glistening striated mud and isolated tidal pools. A Great Egret was in one of the small pools trying to catch small fish trapped by the receding tide. Watching as he fussed over his preferred spot within the pool, I imagined that his ritual had been repeated for hundreds of years before people occupied this barrier island.

    The exposed sand bar allowed me to walk out a fair distance from the shoreline. As I passed a group of exposed rocks, I saw several Semipalmated Plovers running back and forth feeding on the mudflats. It was a frenzy of small cheeping shorebirds grabbing an early meal and breaking off to fly to another spot. While the Plovers covered the ground, the Terns arrived and were hovering and then diving for fish in deeper water.

    During the golden light of the morning, I was able to spend some time with the fishing Egret, the frenetic Plovers and the diving Terns.  With luck these birds will return to this beach for hundreds of years to come. I’ll come back too.

The Swans of Winter

When approaching the water during winter in the wildlife preserves, I can usually hear the geese and swans well before I see them.  The sounds of raucous honking and squabbling usually precede a large number taking flight all at once and creating quite a commotion. Swans issue a distinctive “flight call” before the flock takes off. 

Now standing behind cover on the shoreline, I can see the swans in groups of a few to larger flocks. These are the Tundra Swans that arrive in the Chesapeake region typically by early December. They are the most common species of swans in our area and have migrated here from their breeding grounds in the wetlands of the arctic tundra, over 1600 miles away.

            I like photographing these birds at daybreak as they glide on the water foraging for aquatic vegetation. Gracefully swimming in the morning light, their reflections follow on the water’s surface. Capturing them while landing and taking off is another matter. With their big, webbed feet sticking out in front, they remind me of clumsy sea planes coming in for landing. Sometimes not so graceful. Because of over development in many of the swans’ migration stopping points, it is now common to see them foraging in grain fields.

            The Latin word for “swan” is cygnus, and baby swans are called cygnets. In Greek mythology, Zues once turned himself into a swan to seduce Leda who later “hatched” twin sons. For me the annual return of the Tundra Swans to the Chesapeake is a testimony to the resilience of the ancient migration patterns. Welcome back!

About Flying Ducks

Photographing ducks in the wild can be very challenging. Ducks are smart, very aware of their surroundings, and they seem to have a sixth sense for detecting even the stealthiest of photographers. When I find a pond or shoreline where ducks are congregating, I just stop to watch them from a distance because when there are a few ducks, often others will join them. Slowly I make my way to a reasonable distance and try to stay hidden to get some shots. At least half the time, their sixth sense kicks in and I get only a series of butt shots as the flock lifts off. Believe me, I could do a complete photo book devoted to perfectly composed duck butt shots! Happily, this essay will focus on the more appealing aspects of ducks in flight.

    Ducks fly fast except when they are taking off and landing on water. I am always entertained by the running start needed by Bufflehead ducks (show below) to achieve flight. They literally walk on the water with head down and wings flapping furiously to become airborne. Once in the air, these small ducks are like bullets as they fly close to the surface looking for the next spot to dive for food like aquatic crustaceans. Buffleheads are known as diving ducks as opposed to Mallards which are dabbling ducks.

    Landing on water can be amusing like the unceremonious landing of the female Mallard shown in this essay. Since I was positioned in front of her as she came in for touchdown, I was able to capture the wobbly concentration needed to put on the brakes for a landing. Webbed feet act as skids when ducks hit the water. Unlike the Buffleheads, Mallards can take off without “running” because they push themselves out of the water with their larger and broader wings.

    I must say there are few more beautiful and iconic sights than a flock of ducks flying over the wetlands of Chesapeake Bay.  Although many species were hunted to the brink of extinction, conservation efforts by hunting organizations like Ducks Unlimited and other groups have succeeded in preserving and protecting these birds. Here I have shared some favorite images that take me back to those cool early mornings trying to hide and watching the ducks.

The Harriers

“If we had great distant vision like a hawk, we could avoid most disasters altering our future.” -Unknown

      When I am out photographing birds in the marshes of the Maryland Eastern Shore at this time of year, I am always keeping an eye out for Harriers gliding over fields and low brush. Harriers are expert birds of prey, and I am lucky to spot them hunting for mice and other small mammals.

       Harriers are elusive. I sometimes see them as I drive along backroads flanked by open fields. When I spot them gliding high on the horizon, I carefully pull my car to the side and quickly grab my camera. Hopefully the bird will see something of interest near enough for me to acquire focus. They are distinctive in the way they swoop down and hover over a potential target before quickly grasping the prey with extremely sharp talons. Sometimes I see them resting on a low tree branch while continuing to scan for any movement in the bush.

     I love to photograph these birds. When the light is right and the wind is to my back, I have the best chance of capturing a shot of a Harrier flying toward me. This is the best perspective to see their almost round faces and eyes that might divert from the hunt to give me a look. I imagine them thinking “I am the spirit of this marsh, and I know what I am about. Who are you?”

    The species most prevalent in our area is the Northern Harrier and the photos in this essay show the brown and white plumage of adult females. The more elusive males are white and grey and have been called the “grey ghosts” of the marshlands. I have yet to see a male Harrier.  In her book about bird names, Diana Wells notes that the Anglo-Saxon roots of the name “Harrier Hawk” recognized that these birds fly in circles looking for prey and “to harry” meant to lay waste. (100 Birds and How They Got Their Names, Diana Wells, 2002).

    The Harriers are patient and completely in tune with their environment. When they act, they are focused and deliberate – a great model for the coming new year.

Wildlife with Attitude

This month I pulled out several images of subjects that, for whatever reason, gave me a “look” as I was trying to capture their behavior. As we observe animals and birds, we have a natural tendency to interpret their expressions in anthropomorphic terms. It is well established that some animals and birds can exhibit behaviors that we interpret as emotions such as happiness, affection, sadness or fear. Perhaps they do not feel these emotions as we do, but many do react “emotionally” to their environments. 

     Looking at the photos here, I can’t help but feel that these animals and birds were trying to give the photographer (me) a message. I interpreted some as “get lost” like the Grackle at the water feature or a more obvious message from the Giraffe.  The photo of the squirrel holding two black walnuts is one of my favorites. I titled this shot “Mr. Greedy” because when I surprised him on a wooden bridge, he just stood his ground and seemed to dare me to mess with his prize. Also, it was hard for him to affect the traditional squirrel warning call. I find it difficult to hold a telephoto lens steady while I’m laughing.

    The duck with “the stare” was swimming straight for the camera and I wasn’t quite sure of his intent. He veered off at the last minute, but through the camera viewfinder it looked like “ramming speed”.

   When photographing animals and birds I am striving for compositions that tell a story or convey a feeling in the viewer. In the situations here I was witnessing the expressions of my subjects that elicited a reaction from me. Try your hand at assigning your own captions to these photos and have some fun.

The Gulls at Sandy Point Park

     I often return to early morning bird photography at the nearby beach at Sandy Point Park on Chesapeake Bay.  The shoreline of the park faces east across the bay and is a good place to see the sunrise, but my real focus is the gulls that fly around the beach in the early morning light. I am there to practice techniques of photographing these birds in flight.

     Those who live near the water or frequent beaches are very familiar with the antics of the gulls. Our beach trips are sometimes punctuated by gulls hovering overhead in hopes of diving for a bag of unguarded French fries. For me they are perfect practice subjects for capturing nuances of birds in flight. In the images shown here, I am trying to show a different way of portraying these ubiquitous birds as they glide over water or keep an eye out while sitting on the beach.

    There are many species of gulls, but the most common in this area are the Laughing Gull and the Ring Billed Gull. Often these species are seen together in the same location. Although people refer to “sea gulls”, there are no birds by that name. In the 16th century, a “gull” referred to a person who was naïve and would believe, or “swallow” anything. Later, the term described the birds that do truly eat almost anything, and some people were called “gullible”.

   I will continue to visit the gulls to practice my birds in flight photography, while keeping my lunch carefully guarded.

The Bluebirds

In early Spring of this year, I went to the nearby Patuxent National Wildlife Refuge in the North Tract looking for birds to photograph. I noticed a lot of activity around bird houses that had been set up near the tree line and close to a large pond. Birds were coming in and out of one bird house which clearly contained a nest of chicks. The parents were frantically bringing food to the house and then leaving to hunt again. Here were the Bluebirds, and this was going to be a great opportunity to photograph these colorful birds in flight.

Through these images I try to show different aspects of that busy morning for the birds. To freeze the flight action I used a high shutter speed and waited for the birds to approach and then leave the birdhouse. The trick is to avoid showing the birdhouse and photograph the birds as they seem to hover before landing. Slowing the camera shutter speed creates the blurring of the wings to convey the flight activity.

Whenever you can, step out into nature and just watch. To learn some cool facts about these interesting birds, check out the CornellLab Website write-up about Eastern Bluebirds.

Small Stuff Around a Pond

I enjoy photographing nature around local ponds.  From a secluded woodland pond in a nearby wildlife refuge to a small garden pond in a neighbor’s backyard these are great places to look for small subjects. My favorite time to visit is in the early morning when the light just catches insect wings and when the colors are more vibrant without the harshness of mid-summer days. Upon arrival, I try to stay as quiet as possible and just wait for things to happen. The images in this essay hopefully tell a little bit of the story about life around a pond.

   Water lilies begin to bloom in the late spring and create beautiful reflections in the still water just after sunrise. Smaller ferns near the water’s edge will catch droplets that soon disappear as the day warms up. The image shown here of the droplet in a small fern is one of my favorites. I remember being on my hands and knees trying to get the camera lens closer for a macro shot. Sometimes you can’t see all the droplets until the camera focuses with a close-up lens. How many droplets can you see in the photograph?

    Dragonflies are true marvels and can detect movement 360 degrees around their eyes. They can see light in the ultraviolet spectrum with eyes that can focus as fast as 200 images per second – much faster than human sight. Believe me, you cannot sneak up on a dragonfly. Best to stay still and watch for them to come close. To photograph these critters, I use the same long lens (500mm) and fast shutter speeds that I use for some flying birds- about 1/2000 of a second.

    Invariably there will be flowers and pollinators in the area. Here a bee makes its way around a series of blossoms. I can understand why some have written whole books about the ecosystems of ponds. When you can, I encourage you to visit your local pond, and just sit and watch for the small stuff.

Egrets and Alligators

Last April I attended a photography workshop in St. Augustine, Florida and returned to one of my favorite locations for bird photography.  When I first heard about the Alligator Farm Zoological Park located on St. Augustine Beach, I thought it was going to be one of those cheesy Florida attractions with a few parrots and crazy people wrestling around with lethargic alligators. Not so.  The Alligator Farm is a well-recognized private park and respected facility for the study of alligators and other animals found in Florida. It is also a noted Spring rookery for egrets, herons and spoonbills.  This was my third visit to the Farm, and I find new things every time I go.

     My goal for this visit was to capture the interaction between egret parents and young birds in the nest. Access to the nesting sites is by a boardwalk which is elevated over a swampy moat full of alligators of all sizes and temperaments. There were over one hundred gators in the water. In the trees above and adjoining the boardwalk, are the birds with nests on almost every branch. Some are at eye level and others higher in the trees, but the experience is of being surrounded by a busy, and noisy, rookery.  I am told that the birds prefer this location because the ever-present alligators discourage any ground predators like snakes or raccoons from raiding the nests. However, one risk is that rambunctious chicks can fall or get pushed out of nest by siblings. This happens occasionally, much to the delight of the hungry gators circling below. In such cases, staff members don’t intervene and let nature take its course.

     Egret chicks interacting with a parent and each other is a chaotic scene. Before they mature into the elegant birds we see in the marshes, the chicks look like ugly crazed baby dinosaurs with spikey white feathers sticking out all over. And they are noisy! I was impressed by the patience of the parents as they brought food for the brood and were immediately attacked by their over-zealous offspring. Nest building, tending eggs and then feeding young birds made for another busy Spring at the Alligator Farm.

The Hippos of the Lower Zambezi River

Last September Sharon and I had the opportunity to return for our second trip to Africa. Traveling with another couple, we spent several days at the Potato Bush Camp which is located in the Lower Zambezi National Park, in Zambia. One of the highlights of this camp was a canoe trip where we encountered a significant number of Hippos within a stone’s throw from our boats. We didn’t throw any stones!

     We had excellent guides during our stay at this camp and a canoe trip was discussed as an option a few days in advance. The guides noticed that the water level in this section of the river had been dropping since we were still in the dry season, and it hadn’t rained for some time. The depth was low enough that there was some concern about the ability to make the trip without scrapping or getting stuck in the shallow stretches.  After some deliberation, the decision was made to go for it. So, off we went.

      There were four of us with one in each canoe and a guide at the stern of each boat.  I was in the lead boat with George, the chief guide. Balancing my camera with a long telephoto lens, I was anxious to get photographs of the river animals from the water surface perspective. It wasn’t long before we saw different birds, some crocodiles at the shoreline and occasionally some elephants – and then there were the hippos!  They seemed to be clustered in small family groups and many submerged up to eye level. Clearly aware of our presence, none ever approached our boats as we carefully paddled by. However, they were very attentive and a few sometimes raised up higher in the water as if to make a point that “this is our river -keep moving”. The images in this post were all taken from the canoe at essentially hippo-eye level. I did include one photo if two lounging young hippos which was taken in Botswana on a previous trip. I wanted to show the more laid -back aspect of these remarkable animals. This particular image of “smiling” hippos lounging in the water is one of my favorites.

       We never felt like we were in danger during this excursion although our canoe did sometimes scrape the bottom to the point that George had to get out and push us off a sand bar. During this maneuver, he was wary of coming any closer to the hippos. Hippos are somewhat unpredictable and can be extremely dangerous when provoked. The only direction I remember from the guides was that if you fell out of the canoe – get to the shore as quickly as possible.

        Getting this close to the hippos in their environment was an amazing experience. I will never forget it.

A Morning with the Eagles

Although they are present year-round, this is the time of year when the eagles are most easily observed on the Delmarva Peninsula.  In Spring nests are active with newly hatched chicks and fishing is good in the marshes of the Chesapeake Bay and Delaware shore.

     Eagles are amazing birds of prey that have come back from near eradication in the 1970s caused by the use of DDT pesticides which impaired the egg development of the eagles and other birds. Since the federal DDT ban in the 1980s, the eagle populations have made a remarkable recovery. One current danger for eagles is lead poisoning from the illegal use of lead shot used to hunt other waterfowl. Eagles are scavengers and can be poisoned by lead shot in a carcass.

       Adult bald eagles are distinguished by the pure white plumage on the head. It takes about five years for the juveniles which have brown mottled feathers to develop the white head of an adult.

       One of my favorite places to photograph eagles is the Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge in Delaware. When arriving at sunrise I have recently encountered as many as twelve eagles perched in a single tree overlooking creeks of the tidal wetlands. I typically don’t have to wait long for them to start peeling off to begin fishing.

Circling high above, the eagles look down to focus on prey in or out of the water. The eyesight of an eagle is about eight times more acute than a human and this allows them to spot prey like a rabbit as far away as two miles. An eagle diving for a fish is the model of intense concentration. Using their formidable talons, they scoop up the fish close to the surface and carry it to a safe feeding spot or the nest. Catching the fish is not always the end of the effort as other eagles will often challenge each other by trying to snatch the fish away in midair. I have seen eagles struggling for possession of a fish high above and to the point that neither is successful, and the fish drops back into the water. All in a day’s work.

The Foxes of Bombay Hook NWR

One of my favorite photography locations is the Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge in Delaware. I travel to this location at least once a month and on many occasions, I have been fortunate to see foxes in different seasons and situations. Arriving just before sunrise is important because it is the first two hours after sunrise and before sunset that the birds and other animals are the most active. All my encounters with the foxes have been fortuitous and unplanned as they seem to pop up when I least expect them and the frequency of sightings in the refuge suggests a very healthy population.

When foxes are spotted in the refuge near the wildlife drive, you can always tell because of the collection of cars pulled over to the curb and the photographers start jumping out with tripods and long lenses. Because I go during weekdays and early in the morning, I have been lucky to avoid this display most of the time.

     The images shown in this essay were all taken within the last year, and show foxes in different and interesting situations. The photo of the four fox kits was taken just last week and I titled the image “sibling portrait”. There were eight kits all together playing and romping around a dead log just ten yards from the road. I was very lucky to get these four in the split second when they all stopped to look at other siblings out of the frame. The parents were nowhere to be seen, but I am sure mom was close by.  

    Foxes are predators of small animals and unwary waterfowl. One image shows a young fox moving toward the edge of the water and seeming to be unaware of the egrets that are just feet away. Hopefully his hunting skills will improve. Another photo shows a fox with what appears to be a severed goose foot in his mouth. I spotted this fellow from some distance down a road. As he was heading toward me, I couldn’t see what he was carrying in his mouth, but as he came closer, I could see it was part of his (or another’s) recent kill. As I was taking his picture, he darted into the bushes and quickly hid his prize. Later I saw him peeking out to see if I was gone.

     Although I go to Bombay Hook primarily to photograph birds and waterfowl, I am always happy to see what new things the foxes are up to.     

Hummingbirds in Belize

Within a few minutes of arriving at the Black Rock eco-lodge in the western district of Cayo in Belize we were immediately aware of the variety of birds flying in and out of the surrounding foliage. Three Collared Aracari (a smaller Toucan) fussed with each other as they competed for pieces of fruit left on a feeding platform. It wasn’t long before a variety of hummingbirds made their appearance.

   In Maryland we see only one species of hummingbird, the Ruby Throated, but Belize is home to over twenty-five different species. Many, including the Ruby Throat, migrate to Belize from North America during the winter months. At home in Annapolis, we typically see the Hummingbirds return to our feeders and gardens in late April.

   Hummingbirds are truly unique. Their wings beat more than 80 beats per second, and they are the only birds that can hover or fly backwards. They have no sense of smell but are very sensitive to colors. They can migrate long distances alone and they do not travel in flocks

   Here are images of two species of Hummingbirds that frequented the area around the eco-lodge. First are two photos of a male, White-necked Jacobin which appears blue and green with a white belly. Apparently, the name is derived from a small white streak behind the neck. This bird is a year-round resident of Belize with a range stretching through Central America to Northern Brazil. These birds feed on nectar and small insects. Like many hummingbirds they can be highly territorial and aggressive with each other.

   One of the most unusual hummingbirds I have encountered is the Long-billed Hermit shown here feeding at a flower. Noted for its long curved bill and tail streamers, these birds also have a distinctive call which the males employ to attract females. Males can compete for female attention by gathering in groups(leks) and by using their calls, showing off their beaks and wiggling their long tail feathers. I didn’t see any of this but was just glad to get a shot of this interesting bird.

   I could watch hummingbirds for hours and I am anxious to try attracting them this Spring as they return to our area. Perhaps from Belize.

The Wild Dogs of Luangwa, Zambia

It was 6:00am and we were just getting into our jeeps at the Muamba Safari Camp in the South Luangwa National Park, Zambia.  Suddenly there was a loud commotion in the bushes just twenty feet away.  Turning around, I caught a glimpse of an animal leaping full speed into the bush and away from the group. Our guide, Chappie, ran behind the bushes shouting, “wild dogs!!” as we tried to follow.  Out of our sight a clamor of yelps and growls followed before all fell silent again. Chappie quickly returned to explain that a small group of wild dogs had cornered an Impala behind our camp. When the chase began, the dogs and the Impala ran head on into a group of sleeping lions across a dried creek bed.  Hence the yelping and growling, but no one was hurt, and we were now wide awake. This was my first, but not the last encounter with the African wild dogs.

      Often led by the alpha male and hunting in packs, wild dogs are some of the most formidable apex carnivores in the African bush with almost 80% of the hunts resulting in a kill. Lions average 18-20%.

Because they are generally nomadic during the dry season, we were not certain we would see them.  After days of searching, we encountered a small group within minutes of bringing down a Puku (a small antelope).  As they alternately looked out for scavenging hyenas or lions, the dogs stripped the carcass within minutes. The hunters can hold over twelve pounds of meat in their bellies which they later regurgitate to feed the pups who are held back by protective monitors. Maintaining the health of the pups is the highest priority in the pack. Less than half of the annual litter will survive as they are a target of lions and Hyenas.

      We caught up with a dog pack resting under shade bushes after a successful hunt. The pups had been fed so all were subdued and needed to rest before moving on and preparing for the next hunt. As I watched I thought about the difficult existence of these animals and how they had successfully adapted to their environment through cooperation, cunning and shared care for their young.  Amazing creatures.

The Bee-Eaters of Africa

We had been at the bush camp in Zambia for a few days when we had an opportunity to see a colony of Carmine Bee-Eaters. As we entered the blind near the shore we could see over a hundred of these bright red birds flying to and from their nesting cavities on the steep river bank. In the early morning light the birds became more active and congregated in groups. Individuals would fly away and then return with insects to feed the young inside the nests. Our guide explained that the birds knew exactly where to dig the nesting holes to avoid being swamped when the river level rose. The chattering activity of these crimson birds was mesmerizing,

A close relative of the Carmine is the Small Bee-Eater. With green, yellow and red markings, these colorful birds were often seen in small groups on low-hanging branches near water. While watching them one morning I was lucky to photograph one going “off menu” as he snatched a dragonfly that came to close.

The Lion Cubs of Hwange

In September 2023 we were fortunate to return to “the Hide” safari camp in the Hwange National Forest, Zimbabwe. After settling into the camp we began our daily routine of rising at 5:30am, quick coffee, and then into the jeeps for the game drive. September is toward the end of the dry season in Zimbabwe so the animals are not far from the remaining water holes called “pans”.

Early in the morning the temperature is still comfortably in the seventies (F) and the lions are beginning to wake and move about before the mid-day heat which sometimes reached over 100 degrees. We found a pride of two females, one large male and three cubs. While watching these magnificent animals I was struck by the playfulness of the cubs and the patient affection of the adults. We were sitting in our jeep less than 20 yards from this group. As the male lion lay down to rest, a cub decided it was time to “wake up dad” causing dad to put on his “don’t mess with me” face - no harm was intended. Mom was also contending with a quarrelsome child while the third cub decided to pose for me next to a dead tree trunk.

The Egrets of August

In late summer Egrets and Herons often congregate in the tidal marshes on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay. When I approach the small pier with my cameras as quietly as I can, I invariably scare a few away from the shoreline. In the early morning light the birds appear like dancers as they wade in the shallow water fishing or waiting their turns on an overhanging branch. They are majestic and remind me of their prehistoric origins. I is always a pleasure to spend time with them.