An Owl’s Story

by Earthwatcher, posted in Apharetta, Big Creek Greenway, Bird Photography, bird watching, birding, Birds, California, Earthwatcher, Fujifilm Cameras, GA, Georgia, nature, Nature Photography, Photography, raptor, Wildlife, Wildlife Photography

Photograph of a Spotted Owl perched on the branch of a Coastal Redwood Tree in Northern California. The owl has very light gray breast. The remainder is gray with white spots on its back and some white spots on its head.
Spotted Owl on Coastal Redwood
Muir Woods National Monument, Marin County, California, USA; SEP 2013

I’m sharing these pictures because of an interesting relationship.  

I took the image of the Spotted Owl about 9 years ago. I believe it is especially poignant because the owl is on a Coastal Redwood.

This Owl was placed on the endangered species act in 1990 because of habitat loss. It lives in old growth forests like the coastal redwoods of California and Oregon. It sparked a battle between conservationists and the US Government against Loggers who wanted the right to log old growth forests. The Spotted Owl and its habitat won the battle. However, the Spotted Owl may be losing the battle; its numbers have not grown since it was placed on the endangered species list. One possible culprit is the Barred Owl; is encroaching on the Spotted Owl’s habitat and driving it out.

Notice how similarly they look.

Please click on caption to see image at higher resolution.

Photograph of a Barred Owl perched on a tree branch with green and gold leaves in the background. The owl has a very light gray breast with some darker gray feathers intermixed. It has a band of feathers between its head and branch that give the appearance of wearing a dark gray and light gray stipes.
Barred Owl
Big Creek Greenway, Alpharetta, Georgia, USA; OCT 2022

Canada Geese on the Chattahoochee River

by Earthwatcher, posted in Bird Photography, bird watching, birding, Birds, Chattahoochee, Chattahoochee National Recreation Area, Earthwatcher, Fujifilm Cameras, GA, Georgia, nature, Nature Photography, river, Uncategorized, Wildlife, Wildlife Photography

Canada Geese on the Chattahoochee River
Island Ford, Chattahoochee NRA, Roswell, Georgia, USA; NOV 2022

Meandering up the river at sunrise.

Please click on caption to see image at higher resolution.

Please visit my website, www.earthwatcher.us to see my collection of landscapes and wildlife.

These and other images are available to purchase by contacting larry.klink@earthwatcher.us.

If anyone would like a copy of almost any picture in my library, for educational or research use, please contact me and I will happily share a digital copy with you.

Simple American Robin

by Earthwatcher, posted in Apharetta, Big Creek Greenway, Bird Photography, bird watching, birding, Birds, Earthwatcher, Fujifilm Cameras, GA, Georgia, nature, Nature Photography, Photography, Wildlife, Wildlife Photography
Image of a bird, an American Robin sitting on a bush with blue berries and green leaves. The Robin has a berry in its beak.
American Robin Feasting on Berries
Big Creek Greenway, Alpharetta, Georgia, USA; NOV 2022

PLease click on caption to see image at higher resolution.

Please visit my website, www.earthwatcher.us to see my collection of landscapes and wildlife.

These and other images are available to purchase by contacting larry.klink@earthwatcher.us.

If anyone would like a copy of almost any picture in my library, for educational or research use, please contact me and I will happily share a digital copy with you.

Assorted Birds

by Earthwatcher, posted in Bird Photography, bird watching, birding, Birds, Earthwatcher, Fujifilm Cameras, GA, Georgia, nature, Nature Photography, North Carolina, Photography, Wildlife, Wildlife Photography
Photographic image of a predominantly gray and brown Barred Owl perched on a tree branch with green leaves in the background. The owl has a gray breast with heavy brown vertical stripes. It has heavy gray rings around its dark eyes, a yellow beak and what appears to be a white moustache.
Barred Owl
Big Creek Greenway, Alpharetta, Georgia, USA; OCT 2022

These birds are primarily from 2 locations: Beave Lake Bird Sanctuary in Asheville, North Carolina and Big Creek Greenway in Alpharetta, Georgia.

We stopped in Asheville to visit a friend but made our first, early morning stop, at Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary. It’s a neat little wetland with a boardwalk meandering through it. We enjoyed it a lot.

The Big Creek Greenway is a 10 mile paved trail along Big Creek. Great place to walk; plenty of birds and deer.

Please click on caption to see image at higher resolution.

Vertical photographic image of a Female Downy Woodpecker perched on a gray tree trunk. The bird is black and white.
Female Downy Woodpecker
Roswell, Georgia, USA; OCT 2022
Photographic image of a predominantly brown and gray White-throated Sparrow perched on an angled, gray tree trunk with green and yellow background. The bird has 2 black stripes on its crown with a white stripe in between, white throat, white orbital feathers between its crown and black eye stripe. It has a yellow lore above his beak.
White-throated Sparrow
Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary. Asheville. North Carolina, USA; OCT 2022

Photographic image of a predominantly brown and gray Song Sparrow perched on an angled, gray tree trunk with green and yellow background.
Song Sparrow
Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary. Asheville. North Carolina, USA; OCT 2022

Photographic image of predominantly brown and white Female Eastern Towhee perched on a horizontal fallen tree branch with green leaves in the background. It has reddish brown feathers between its wing and breast.
Female Eastern Towhee
Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary. Asheville. North Carolina, USA; OCT 2022

Please visit my website, www.earthwatcher.us to see my collection of landscapes and wildlife.

These and other images are available to purchase by contacting larry.klink@earthwatcher.us.

If anyone would like a copy of almost any picture in my library, for educational or research use, please contact me and I will happily share a digital copy with you.

 

 

 

 

More from the North Carolina and the Great Smoky Mountains

by Earthwatcher, posted in Earthwatcher, Fujifilm Cameras, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, landscape, landscape images, landscape photos, nature, Nature Photography, North Carolina, Uncategorized
A sunrise on the peaks and valleys of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The foreground, prominent peaks and some of the mountain sides are bathed in sun light. The background is seeing some of the early morning light and one valley is covered with fog. The sky is highlighted in orange.
Sunrise in the Great Smokey Mountains
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina, USA; OCT 2022

Here are a few more pictures from our recent trip to North Carolina.

Please click on caption to see image at higher resolution.

A cascade on the trail to Yellow Creek Falls near Robbinsville, North Carolina, USA. The river is flowing over a densely strewn set of boulders partially covered by brown, fallen leaves. The river is adorned by bright, yellow leaved trees.
Cascade on Yellow Creek in Autumn
Yellow Creek Falls Tail, US Route 129, Robbinsville, North Carolina, USA; OCT 2022

A view of a forest fading backward from a single, prominent tree at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The tree is adorned with some blue asters and yellow wildflower.
Autumn Wildflowers
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina, USA; OCT 2022

A valley at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The darkened valley is just beginning to see the first light of the sun. The foreground is lit and fades into the background. There is a golden highlight in the sky opposite the position of the sun.
Sunrise in the Great Smoky Mountains
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina, USA; OCT 2022

Please visit my website, www.earthwatcher.us to see my collection of landscapes and wildlife.

These and other images are available to purchase by contacting larry.klink@earthwatcher.us.

If anyone would like a copy of almost any picture in my library, for educational or research use, please contact me and I will happily share a digital copy with you.

Great Blue Heron Hunting

by Earthwatcher, posted in Bird Photography, bird watching, birding, Birds, Earthwatcher, Fujifilm Cameras, GA, Georgia, nature, Nature Photography, Photography, Uncategorized, Wildlife, Wildlife Photography

A couple of weeks ago, we visited the Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary in Asheville, North Carolina. It was a lovely place with a board walk that meandered through a wetland. While there, a Great Blue Heron gave us the opportunity to watch it hunt and capture breakfast. I created a time lapse so I could share it with you.

Please click here to see video: Great Blue Heron Hunting.

Please visit my website, www.earthwatcher.us to see my collection of landscapes and wildlife.

These and other images are available to purchase by contacting larry.klink@earthwatcher.us.

If anyone would like a copy of almost any picture in my library, for educational or research use, please contact me and I will happily share a digital copy with you.

Great Smokey Mountains National Park

by Earthwatcher, posted in Uncategorized
A view upstream of a river with trees on both banks that are covered in brightly lit yellow leaves. The stream is strewn with boulders creating cascades in the river. In the foreground are boulders that are covered by a deep green moss whose color is saturated by the sun light.
Boulders and Cascades
Elkmont Campground, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina, USA; OCT 2022

We took a trip to the Great Smokey Mountains to see the autumn leaves. We were there towards the end of the peak autumn color. The trees and even the ground was covered with autumns finest color.

Our first day, we were treated to a low, thick layer of clouds. The mountains tops appeared to have a layer of smoke. The temperature was cold allowing the clouds to blanket the trees and such with a beautiful layer of frost and even some snow.

During the rest of our visit, the sunrise and sunset temperatures were quite cold. The mid-day was a perfect autumn day – sunny with a just a little chill. The bright sun saturated the colors.

Please click on caption to see image at higher resolution.

A mountain valley at early sunrise. The sun is casting an orange-yellow glow against a washed-out blue sky dotted with gray clouds. The mountain valley is forested. The trees are dark but adorned with autumn red, rust, orange and yellow.
Sunrise in the Great Smoky Mountains – 1
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina, USA; OCT 2022

Winter’s Early Preview
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina, USA; OCT 2022

A two lane paved road with trees on both sides. The trees have lost most of their leaves. The early morning sun shining through the trees with a reddish orange glow.
First Light on Frosted Trees
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina, USA; OCT 2022
Fog and Frost
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina, USA; OCT 2022

Please visit my website, www.earthwatcher.us to see my collection of landscapes and wildlife.

These and other images are available to purchase by contacting larry.klink@earthwatcher.us.

If anyone would like a copy of almost any picture in my library, for educational or research use, please contact me and I will happily share a digital copy with you.

Some Tiny Birds

by Earthwatcher, posted in Bird Photography, bird watching, birding, Birds, Earthwatcher, Fujifilm Cameras, Georgia, nature, Nature Photography, Photography, Roswell, Wildlife, Wildlife Photography
White-breasted nuthatch perched on a tree branch with green leaves in the background.
White-breasted Nuthatch
Roswell, Georgia, USA; JAN 2022

Please click on caption to see images at higher resolution.

Carolina Wren perched on a red brick.
Carolina Wren
Roswell, Georgia, USA; OCT 2022

Brown Headed Nuthatch perched on a tree trunk.
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Roswell, Georgia, USA; JAN 2022

Anna’s Hummingbird perched on a tree branch.
Female Anna’s Hummingbird
Mississippi Bar, American River Parkway, Fair Oaks, California, USA; APR 2021

Female Pine Warbler perched on a tree branch with brown and green leaves in the background.
Female Pine Warbler
Roswell, Georgia, USA; JAN 2022

Please visit my website, www.earthwatcher.us to see my collection of landscapes and wildlife.

These and other images are available to purchase by contacting larry.klink@earthwatcher.us.

If anyone would like a copy of almost any picture in my library, for educational or research use, please contact me and I will happily share a digital copy with you.

Autumn Reflected in the Waters

by Earthwatcher, posted in Abstract Art, Autumn, Chattahoochee, Earthwatcher, Fujifilm Cameras, Georgia, landscape, nature, Nature Photography, Photography, river, Uncategorized, USA
Abstract photographic image of autumn leaves reflected in the waters of the Chattahoochee River.
Autumn Reflected in the Waters
Gold Branch Trail, Roswell, Georgia, USA; OCT 2022

This past week I walked in the forests along the Chattahoochee River. Autumn colors were just starting to appear. The sun was shining allowing beautiful reflections to appear. Leaf color is a prime feature of autumn but its more than just the leaves on the trees. I was blessed to have nature share with me the abstracts she painted in the river.

Please click on caption to see image at higher resolution.

Abstract photographic image of autumn leaves reflected in the waters of the Chattahoochee River.
Autumn Reflected in the Waters
Gold Branch Trail, Roswell, Georgia, USA; OCT 2022

Please visit my website, www.earthwatcher.us to see my collection of landscapes and wildlife.

These and other images are available to purchase by contacting larry.klink@earthwatcher.us.

If anyone would like a copy of almost any picture in my library, for educational or research use, please contact me and I will happily share a digital copy with you.

Woodpeckers

by Earthwatcher, posted in Bird Photography, bird watching, birding, Birds, Earthwatcher, Fujifilm Cameras, Georgia, nature, Nature Photography, Photography, Roswell, Uncategorized, Wildlife, Wildlife Photography
A Red-headed Woodpecker perched on the right side of a tree trunk against a green background.
Red-headed Woodpecker
Roswell, Georgia, USA; JUL 2022

Since moving to Georgia, we’ve been visited by a variety of woodpeckers. We had a variety in California also but the only one in common is the Downy Woodpecker.

Though I’ve seen the Yellow-bellied Woodpecker here, I had to use an older picture from Florida because the one I got here wasn’t so good. Note the rings of holes on the tree trunk. Sapsuckers peck in rings around the tree trunk. If you see those rings, you know a Sapsucker has visited it.

The male and female Pileated Woodpecker looks almost identical but the male has a red patch above its beak.

The Downy and Hairy woodpeckers look nearly identical except that the Hairy is considerably larger and its beak is nearly as long as its head. The males of both species have a red patch on the back of their head.

Please click on caption to see image at higher resolution.

A Male Pileated Woodpecker perched on the top of a tree branch.
Male Pileated Woodpecker
Roswell, Georgia, USA; DEC 2021

A Female Hairy Woodpecker pecking on the left side of a tree trunk that is covered by green lichen and brown fungi.
Female Hairy Woodpecker
Roswell, Georgia, USA; JAN 2022

A Male Downy woodpecker pecking on the left branch of a tree trunk against a gray background.
Male Downy Woodpecker
Roswell, Georgia, USA; JAN 2022

A Female Red-bellied Woodpecker on perched on the left side of a tree trunk against a gray-blue background.
Female Red-bellied Woodpecker
Roswell, Georgia, USA; DEC 2021

A Male Yellow-bellied sapsucker perched on the left side of a tree trunk against a green background.
Male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Six Mile Cypress Preserve, Fort Meyers, Florida, USA; FEB 2020

Please visit my website, www.earthwatcher.us to see my collection of landscapes and wildlife.

These and other images are available to purchase by contacting larry.klink@earthwatcher.us.

If anyone would like a copy of almost any picture in my library, for educational or research use, please contact me and I will happily share a digital copy with you.