There were several Eastern Bluebirds flitting around the trees near the Lake at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area when I last visited. They were quite a distance away and nestled among the branches of the leafless trees. It was hard not to notice their brown/orange breast and vivid blue head, back and tail feathers. This was my first time ever photographing an Eastern Bluebird and though the setting wasn’t anywhere near ideal, it was fun to try and keep up with them as they moved throughout the brush.
Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area offers opportunities to see more than just snow geese. It’s one of the top birding locations in Pennsylvania and is home to many other species. I was driving along the tour road and noticed cars pulled to the side and a small group of people looking at a vernal pool. Of course, I had to investigate. What I, along with the others, had a chance to see (and hear!) were Wood Frogs that had just recently emerged from their winter ‘hibernation’. Wood Frogs take shelter in leaf cover over the winter and they actually stop breathing and their hearts stop beating. They produce a substance that prevents ice from forming in their cells and this allows them to survive during cold winters. When the weather warms, they thaw and begin feeding and mating. There were as many as 100 or more frogs in this small pool along the side of the road. During mating season (which is now!) the male Wood Frogs make a call that sounds like a duck quacking! So interesting to watch!
A little snow, a dramatic sky, a pretty barn and some cows in the pasture … I couldn’t ask for more in this photo. It was shot with my iPhone and edited with Photoshop, Nik and Topaz Labs software. I remember stopping the car in the middle of the road and pulling out my phone to grab this shot…it was a spur of the moment decision!
The light at sunrise was casting a golden hue across the lake as I watched the day break along with 50,000+ of my favorite snow geese! It was a beautiful morning!
Just for a change of pace I tried slowing down the shutter speed for a few images when the snow geese were flying yesterday. This shot is at 1/25th of a second instead of my usual 1/800th or 1/1000th. By blurring the moving geese it almost gives the feeling that they are flying in slow motion. Zoom in for a closer look!
