Call 911...

Call 911..., originally uploaded by Hannibals Animals.

Did you see where the acorns went? Somebody took them, call 911!
I'll swear in a court of law I don't have them!

Thanks Rick Kratzke for the caption! I loved it and had to use it on this shot!

Whistle-Pigs

Whistle-Pigs, originally uploaded by Hannibals Animals.

The groundhog (Marmota monax), also known as a woodchuck or whistle-pig, or in some areas as a land-beaver, is a rodent of the family Sciuridae, belonging to the group of large ground squirrels known as marmots. Other marmots, such as the yellow-bellied and hoary marmots, live in rocky and mountainous areas, but the woodchuck is a lowland creature. It is widely distributed in North America and common in the northeastern and central United States. Groundhogs are found as far north as Alaska, with their habitat extending southeast to Alabama.

I found them at Gebhard Woods State Park in Morris, IL and thought they were so adorable. They chased eachother quite a bit, and it was hard not to laugh! Cute couple!

Hawk Vs. Squirrel

The sun was out and so was I, yesterday afternoon as I got off work. I went to a park I had not been to in a few months, to check out the fall foliage and see what might be scurrying around in my absence.

So as I entered the woods, I heard some people behind me. I didn't want to be in there with them, because they were quite chatty, so I turned around so that I could get to another spot before they would. So I am walking back out, when I heard them again behind me. Are you kidding me? They too, turned around. It was like I had a shadow. What the ? So I stopped dead in my tracks and let them pass me by. Buh-bye!

Anyway, I hear a familiar cry, and try to think of what it was...A hawk. I scan the trees and see nothing so I decided to sit under a shelter and wait it out. A few minutes later, a hawk swoops down low to the ground and lands behind a tree. I thought that he must have something behind there and wait. He takes off, with nothing in his talons, and lands low in a tree nearby. I wait...

Eventually, I see a squirrel climbing around to the front of the trunk of the tree, and then here comes the hawk...The next few images are what ensued...











He missed the squirrel, but let me tell you, he missed quite a few times. He swooped back and forth for what seems like forever, and all the while, I couldn't understand why this squirrel didn't run for his life up the tree. Well, the squirrel finally started climbing the trunk and disappeared behind some branches.

So I am still waiting for the hawk to swoop back, and minutes pass. I decide to move a bit closer to see if I can see the squirrel for the upcoming shots. As I stand at a decent angle, the hawk lands in the same tree under some leafy cover. I see the squirrel just a few feet away from him on the trunk. I click away, the hawk hears me and flies off.



A few minutes later, while I was waiting for the hawk to come back, I see the squirrel drop to the ground from at least 25 feet up. I thought for sure, he was dead. A few minutes later, I see him moving on the ground, but not with ease. The hawk definately wounded him, and by the way he was moving, he got it pretty bad. The fall couldn't have been good either. I knew it was only a matter of time...

Then, guess what happens? The 2 people from earlier come walking into view and reroute their direction towards me. I can't believe it. They walk right under the tree I was aiming at, and glide right past me, even though I was off the beaten path and minding my own business. Well, it isn't hard to conclude that the hawk didn't come back, so after the people were out of sight, I went to check on the squirrel. He found cover in some underbrush along a creek bed and skittered off away from me. I knew the photo op was over, and left the poor squirrel to nature.

It's not a very good ending, but at least there is an unknown factor. I hope you can recover squirrel!

Anyway...

Can anyone tell what type of hawk this was? I know it is not a red-tailed ,but was thinking red-shouldered because it was quite large, but I couldn't see the red.

Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher

I now know why they call this little guy a Gnatcatcher. I saw him for the very first time, while standing at the entrance to the wooded trail at Gebhard Woods. I go there often, with hopes in seeing different colorful migrating birds. Why? I am not a birder, but am starting to understand why these winged creatures are so addicting.
I have been drawn to nature for a long time now, and most anything can inspire an awe in me, but never have I felt drawn in particular, to birds of the smaller variety, although I have a special place reserved for any owl. Birds have always been easier to shoot than mammals, because they are everywhere, so I take alot of bird shots. I can't always go out and find, say, a raccoon. Thats not the way it works. But, it is why it makes each encounter unique and special. I can probably remember every single occasion with every single raccoon I have ever found. I am always telling stories to friends about this or that, and the memories are always amazing and I am so glad I have them.
I loved finding this teeny tiny bird. It flew in, and flitted around from tiny twig to tiny twig. There were 2 of them, so my chances just increased for attempting a shot. I noticed the white ring around their eyes right away. I then observed their extra long tail. What could this little creature be? I am no birder, so visual I.D. is the only thing I have. I thought, long tail, hmmm....flycatchers have extra long tails, so maybe this lil guy is 1 of those gnatcatchers I have read about, since it is so small? I went home, looked it up and voila...a Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher.
After referencing this bird, I found the size to be a fooler to the eye. The book says it is 4 1/2" long, but that includes their extra long tail, so I would say, body only, the size of an almond in its shell. I loved that I saw one. I loved even more, that I kinda-knew what it was. I think I might be becoming a "Birder", but... without the list. Is that the next step in my addiction? Time will tell...
This guy is a "Gnatcatcher" because of its small size...Gnats instead of flies because of proportion...Cool!

It's Been a Slow Week...

I've taken a few opportunities this past week to get some nature in, but the rain, wind, and temperatures have kept me indoors more than out. Here is what I found on a trip to Gebhard Woods:

Squirrels are usually my "default" when not a whole lot is happening. If you can't find much, the squirrels will do...





I barely saw this little fella. I happened to hear a bird in this tree, and there he was...





The Nuthatches were beeping all over, but were not cooperative. I was lucky to find him before he found me.





The Brown Creepers were plentiful too...





The battle for mates was in full force as I watched 2 drakes chase the pour female mallard until exhaustion. Eventually she took flight, but so did the drakes, so her escape plan was void.

Spring Migration: Some are Coming, Some are Going

I went exploring at Gebhard Woods in Morris IL yesterday, to find some migrators and found a Yellow Rumped Warbler, but the shot was crap, and 2 Wood Ducks that flushed before I could snag a shot, and... these:

Great Blue Herons are arriving for their pick of nesting sites.



A Red-breasted Nuthatch will be leaving very soon to find its summer grounds...

Nature at Work

I had set up my tripod at these wild Iris's in Gebhard Woods State Park, hoping to capture a hummingbird who had frequented these the morning before. I focused on 2 flowers, but it seemed the hummer always chose the ones I wasn't zoomed in on. I did have visitors to my flowers, which kept me entertained for the most part, but I walked away a few hours later, without that hummer shot. I came back for a few more days, but the iris's were dying, so that photo op died with them.

Note: If you click on the 2nd shot, the bee is collecting pollen, and you can see the spray.

My Favorite Colors

Just because its pretty, its cute, and all of my favorite bold colors!

When I got this shot, I had been set up and waiting for a hummingbird to come by, which frequented these wild iris's one sunday morning (I never got the shot). I went back after work for a few days, trying to capture it, but instead, all I got was this cute lil bug.

Great Blue Herons are reliable. I can find them most any time I want. I have shot so many over the years, yet I am not tired of them. I found this guy at Gebhard Woods among the blooming wild iris's, lotus flowers and lily pads and just loved the setting.
Great Blue Heron Facts: Largest North American heron. A common wading bird that nest in trees near bodies of water. Wing span of up to 70 inches. Adults have a white crown and face; black plume extending above eye to back of head, gray/blue body. Stands 38 inches tall.

Jeremiah

This frog was shot on Sunday (June 3,2007) at Gebhard Woods in Morris, IL. I went to find blooming Lotus Flowers, but instead I found him. I liked the lighting and the angle alot. I have never seen a bullfrog up close so this was exciting (as far as frogs go) for me. His eyes had all kinds of flecks with a brilliant irridescent gold shine. I just had to capture that. He was under some heavy cover at the edge of a pond, so getting to him wasn't easy. There were large rocks jutting out from the water, so I set up my tripod carefully and situated myself as best I could. The best angle was as low as the frog, but the drink beneath me kept me from getting that low. What I noticed as I was focusing, was the spider that is within range of him. I thought that that would be really cool to get that action, and wondered why he hadn't yet captured his breakfast. Maybe he didn't know it was there? So, I shot a few lighting shots, adjusted, and was ready. I turned my focus to manual, so that I could use my remote shutter, and just then the frog decided to eat his breakfast. I couldn't flip the switch fast enough,and refocus, so that shot never happened. But...that's nothing new, that kind of crap happens on a daily basis. I do like the reflection so I am happy with the shot.