Real wildlife don’t pose.
Sitting in a kayak in the middle of a stiff breeze trying to photograph ducks paddling faster than me across the lake is a complicated task! While it may look like all of these ducks and critters are posing for the camera, believe me, they are paddling away as fast as possible! And I try to observe the cardinal rules of wildlife photography which are (a) do not get too close and (b) do not do anything to disturb the natural situation of the wild things. A very long lens is essential, plus practice, practice, practice!
This mallard couple just kept moving along. The male mallards are very familiar iconic ducks with their big iridescent green heads.
A movement near the river bank caught my eye so I moved closer to see what was going on:
Seeing this muskrat made me very glad I was in my boat and not swimming!
A family of brown ducks paddled on by, they seemed kind of friendly…
A great blue heron, aloof as always, was having none of this picture taking stuff. This one took off immediately with a loud “Caw Caw!” shriek indicating great displeasure at sharing the water with anyone.
Moths and butterflies are just starting to appear up here. It’s been fairly cold which keeps much of the wildlife hunkered down and away from prying eyes.
Not so, however, the human need to depict wildlife. The showing of patriotic bears was quite rampant on the 4th of July:
Actually, judging from the volume of chainsaw-carved bears, it must have been an especially long and cold winter up here…
My friend agrees….
More to come!….