Another pic, from yesterday's hike in Charlestown, RI. The heat was brutal and the deer flies ate me alive. But it was nice near the shore.
The more scientifically inclined may now be wondering if between the rabbit and the deer flies, I don't now have Tularemia, as well as Lyme! Only time will tell, I guess... :)

Another nice shot Thomas, you are definitely on to something here, I think!

I am having a bumper crop of those in my yard this year. Just the other day I saw one startle a squirrel that was trying to break into the bird feeder. To see those two square off was pretty interesting. The bunny lost the staring contest even though the squirrel was less than half its size (yeah, Florida has wimpy squirrels!)

My Thomas, you are have anothr excellent shot... this is wonderful

Thanks Val. :) Thanks Cassie. :)
I'm not sure what kind of squirrels you have down there, but the red ones are feisty up here. They stand up to me all the time when I photograph them, flapping their tail and chittering. The grey ones tend to be quite a bit more shy. :)

Wow, another great shot!! Really up close too, are what kind of lens are you using?

;) Another great picture :)

I use a 370mm lens. This photo was taken at a distance of roughly about 5-1/2 to 6 feet.
Thanks. :)

Pretty cool that you could get so close to a wild bunny rabbit. Here they just run like hell if you get within 25 feet!!

At the risk of sounding a bit cracked or embarrassing Thomas, I think that is a measure of how "one with the universe" he is, that anyone can be... I know I come and go in that whatever it is and have experienced a few times where the wild things came right up to me. :eek:

I do find some animals are far easier to approach than others, but largely it's just been a matter of years of practice; learning about the animals' behavior and how not to seem too imposing to them. Crazy as this may sound, I do also talk to them reassuringly in my mind as I approach, as I do believe this affects the energy I emit, that I do feel they are to a greater degree sensitive to. I do as well always hike in sandals or moccasins which allow me to move almost silently over most terrain. That does helps greatly, as many of the animals don't seem to realize I'm there until I get quite close. And though that is definitely a key, I do find many animals seem quite comfortable with my presence.
I'm generally not fond of pictures of myself, but here I am, out for a typical hike. Birkenstock clogs and all! :D Effective, if not the most fashionable. Possible fodder for the next photo contest! ;)



Here is a friend from last season. A regular subject, I photographed throughout the summer. Sometimes seeing him a couple of times a week. Almost always perched on this tall stump, directly above his den. I nicknamed him "Divot", as he was very easily recognizable from the missing piece of his right ear. :)



This was one of my closest encounters from last year. A beaver I had spotted from the road on the way home. I climbed across a treacherous drainage ditch to get this photo, believing myself realtively safe. Despite their reputation of being extremely shy of humans, after slapping his tail in a territorial warning many times, he proceeded to get closer and closer. So close, in fact, I beat a hasty retreat shortly after this photo was taken, as they have been known to defensively nip animals as large as bear. So much for the wildlife guides! :D



This was perhaps one of my luckiest encounters last year, and one of the rarest things I have ever photographed. An endangered Blanding's turtle, complete with attached radio transmitter (upper-right).



And this is one the first photos taken with a new camera early in the previous year, of some Mallard ducklings. This is probably, undoubtedly the most popular photo I have ever taken. :)

Hay I appreciate your photographic skills ,they make you portray as if you are a nature lover.
That's cool

If you need any kiind of information about the biodiversity,I can surely help u,as I have taken 12 months course in biodiversity and ornithology .so let me know if you want their scientific names or their physiological characters.

OK

Feel free to contact me.
sovaira

U know what I guess ,divot got his ear bit ,in a fight with his friend or wife ,heheheh

Hay I saw the rest of the pictures after,, you are really a nature photographer
And I have a feeling tha tyou better biodiversity than me... well nice meeting you... before I came into my resaerch project I am continuing with ,I had planned to go into wildlife conservation project,but then I had to drop it ,cz I came for the molecular level research.since I got highest GPA... heheheh


Hay am impressed by the way and angles you got all those pictures shoot .great job really.

U know something in my country ,I went for a study trip with this wildlife conservation society,I was very much fascinated, when our guide took us to see the flying squirrel,it's a nocturnal ,and is endemic to Muree hills in pakistan,if I have its picture I will post the not you.


Well am amazed tha thow did you shot that blanding turtle.cz it retracts itself... well its great... keep it up

Hi Sovaira,
I'm glad you like the photos. Thank you very much. It sounds like you've had some very interesting courses of study thus far. Thank you for offering to help, as I'm often looking things up to identify or learn more about the behavior of.
I agree, I think Divot got bit. :) It seemed like an old wound though. I passed that same tree many times this summer, but never saw him again.
When I entered college as well, I had planned on going into Wildlife Management, and maybe becoming a park ranger. But I got accepted into a Biotechnology program, so I stayed there for a year and a half.
There are a species of flying squirrel here as well, where I live. They are also nocturnal, thus I have only seen one once. I would love to see the photo if you have it. That would be great.
Molecular Biology is a very interesting field, definitely worth pursuing. :)