Category: Wildlife

When I visited Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area last month at sunrise for the snow goose migration, WNEP-TV from Wilkes-Barre, Pa. was on hand to film a segment for Pennsylvania Outdoor Life.  Host Don Jacobs and Middle Creek Manager, Lauren Fenstermacher, along with WNEP’s cameraman were filming as the sun came up on a very cold morning.  The episode of PA Outdoor Life aired last night and guess who made a cameo appearance?  Me!  There I am in the screen shot on the left wearing the green parka and tan hat – right around the 4:46 minute mark in the video segment.  Here’s a link to watch the episode, which is a really great way to get a feel for sunrise during migration at Middle Creek.  http://wnep.com/2017/03/19/snow-goose-migration-at-the-middle-creek-wildlife-management-area/

Another week … another trip to the store to purchase more bird seed!  Funny, these don’t look like birds!!  They are, however, hungry deer that visit our feeders nightly for a snack!  It’s Animal Planet live and in person for the cats!  They love to sit by the windows and watch all of the wildlife that visits our yard.  The evening when this photograph was taken, there were 5 deer taking turns at cleaning out the feeders.  With a fresh coating of snow on the ground, it becomes more difficult for them to find food in the winter.  For this reason, our yard has become a favorite hang out!  I am slowly going broke buying bird (er….deer) seed!

The Tundra Swans were taking to flight just before sunset at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area when I shot this photo.  The setting sun was casting pink and blue hues in the sky that reflected onto the water.  I love that one of the swans is literally running across the water and you can see splashes from each step that the swan had taken as he/she prepared to fly.  Nature is amazing!

Here are a couple more images of a Great Blue Heron in flight at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area.  They are one of my most favorite birds!  Their wingspan can be over 6 feet!

Every now and then you end up in the right place at the right time … just by accident.  On my last visit to Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area, I was walking down Willow Point Trail which is lined with wooded areas on the left and open fields on the right.  There were several Eastern Bluebirds flitting around the ground in the fields and so I took a few images, but unfortunately the birds were backlit by the sun and the lighting was not ideal.  Then, one of the birds flew right past me and perched in a tree on the edge of the woods not more than 15 feet away!  Whoo hoo!  Despite the shadow on the bird from the tree branch, I still love this image!