Lionfish - Guadeloupe

I photographed this beautiful Lionfish (Pterois volitans) while snorkeling in the Caribbean Sea just north of Deshaies, Guadeloupe. While it is an incredibly interesting fish, it is also an invasive species in the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea where it is wreaking havoc on the native fish populations. The Lionfish is native to the southern Pacific and Indian Oceans. It is also venomous, and will sting you if threatened. The sting is extremely painful and may cause headaches, paralysis, sweating and respiratory distress. It is not considered deadly to humans but just the same, I backed off when it proved interested in me. The thought of a venomous fish swimming inches beneath me as the ocean current pushed and shoved me just feet from the rocky island edge made me a little more than nervous. May 2014. 

Olympus TG-2 iHS

Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel

A Golden-mantled ground squirrel at Estes Park, Colorado. July 2013.

Nikon D300 | Nikon AF-S VR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 IF-ED

Loving Lizards

Took this shot at the Indianapolis Zoo a couple years ago.

Still one of my favorite photos.

Nikon D300 | Nikon AF-S VR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 IF-ED

Froggy Style

Three frogs sun bathing on algae in my pond last summer.

Nikon D300 | Nikon AF-S VR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 IF-ED

Yellow-Bellied Marmot - Mt. Evans

The yellow-bellied marmot, though sometimes called a rockchuck, woodchuck, whistle pig, or ground hog, is actually a large ground squirrel.  But, no matter what you call it, it is still a rodent!  When threatened by predators the marmot chucks, whistles and trills to warn its colony. Yellow-bellied marmots spend much of their time sunbathing on rocky outcrops, socializing and grooming. Unlike their neighbor, the American Pika (previous blog post), marmots hibernate during the winter. To prepare for hibernation, they fatten up in the warmer months to ensure their survival until the emergence of vegetation in the spring. 

Mount Evans, Colorado. July 2013.

Canon EOS 50D | Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM 

American Pika - Mount Evans

A Pika (sometimes spelled Pica) at approximately 14,000 ft. elevation on Mt. Evans. I found this little critter scurrying about in and out of the rocks as I was photographing his neighbor, the Yellow-bellied Marmot (photos coming soon). The cute, short eared herbivore was busy foraging for food, which it stores in caches beneath the rocks for the winter months when vegetation is scarce.

Mount Evans, Colorado. July 2013.

Canon EOS 50D | Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM

Wild Bison - North Rim, Grand Canyon

A pair of bison calves sparring along Arizona Route 67 near North Rim.

August 2013.

Nikon D7100 | Nikon AF-S VR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 IF-ED

Zebra - Fresh Cut Grass

A zebra at the Indianapolis Zoo enjoying the smell of fresh cut grass.

June, 2009.

This may just be wild speculation, but I think the zebra is evidence that 1) God is a master doodler; 2) Horses can make excellent canvases for art; and 3) God has a sense of humor!  

Nikon D300 | Nikon AF-S VR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 IF-ED

Sadie the Cat - " I'll have the..."

"No Sadie, that is not the dinner menu!"

Nikon D300|Tamron SP AF 180mm f/3.5 Di Macro Lens

Sadie the Cat and the Great Blue Heron

Anybody who knows Sadie the Cat will understand why this Great Blue Heron 5x her size would run (or rather fly)! After all, Sadie has tamed 6 dogs ranging from 50 lbs. - 115 lbs. Sadie likes to showcase her hunting prowess by bringing me presents. Usually she leaves them dead on the door step, but occasionally they are merely wounded and still alive. I have no idea how she was going to get this bird to the door, but I don't put anything past this feisty feline.

This post has been sitting in the draft box for quite a while now, but I decided to post it today because last night Sadie brought me a gift. At 11:00 pm last night Sadie sauntered right past me and into the house with something in her jaws. I screamed "Nooooooooo! No Sadie! Noooooo!" So surprised by my dismay, Sadie dropped 'it' right in the middle of my kitchen floor. My worst fear was that it was a mole (ugly creatures) but to my surprise it was a very much alive, female, house sparrow that flew straight away, off the bounce, through the house. At which time 6 dogs, 1 cat and 2 humans followed in hot pursuit. The scene that followed can only be described as reality show meets Warner Brothers cartoon. 

No telling how long Sadie carefully held that poor little bird in her jaws waiting for me to open the door, but lucky for the bird, I did finally open the door. The bird hid indoors all night and I finally managed to usher her out a window first thing this morning! My thought for today? "CAT FOR SALE!"

Great Blue Heron Spears Giant Frog

A Great Blue Heron speared this giant frog in my pond.

This frog, believe it or not, actually got away!

This one did not! 

Eastern Fox Squirrel - Hanging Out

One of our many Eastern Fox Squirrels just hanging out.

Update on the  "Not So Funny Folly" post and the damaged Nikon AF-S VR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 IF-ED lens that took a tumble across the driveway a few weeks ago. As you may know, I sent the damaged lens in to Nikon for repairs expecting a few hundred dollars in repair costs. To my surprise Nikon replaced the SWM (silent wave motor), checked auto-focus operation, checked vibration reduction system, checked optical alignment, and completed a general check and cleaning at absolutely no charge to me as a customer courtesy. Wow! What a pleasant and welcome surprise. Nikon had no reason to distinguish me from any other loyal Nikon customer in need of lens repairs, and I am neither compensated by nor affiliated with Nikon in any way, which makes their gesture all the more impressive and sincere. 

THANK YOU NIKON! 

Giraffe Kisses, Indianapolis Zoo

I've heard of Butterfly kisses,

but seriously, Giraffe kisses?

Nikon D300 | Nikon AF-S VR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 IF-ED

Eastern Fox Squirrel

One of our many Eastern Fox Squirrels. 

This squirrel must think he is an honorary bird, I've caught him several times on the platform feeder. I bet I look pretty silly chasing him around the pond, beating on my tin pie pan with a wooden spoon, in my coonskin cap, fringed jacket, shorts and boots! Where are the hawks when you need them?

Nikon D300 | Nikon AF-S VR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 IF-ED