Wildlife – Page 2 – Wandering Dawgs

Lens Artists Photo Challenge #340- Portraits

March 20, 2025Posted in Birds, Photography, WildlifeTagged Lens-Artists, Photo Challenge, Portraits, wildlife photography39 Comments

Ritva’s challenge is Portraits. She says “Whether you choose to ask a stranger, do a self-portrait, take the portrait of a friend, family member, or acquaintance, or photograph animals and birds, the goal is to connect with another person or subject and tell their story through your image.”

I enjoy nature and wildlife photography and am not comfortable asking strangers if I can take their picture. I didn’t have to ask this young man to pose for a portrait. I was holding up my phone taking pictures of a Junkanoo Band from the Bahamas performing as part of a St. Patrick’s weekend celebration when he walked over to me and posed. He liked having his picture made!

I’m much more comfortable capturing bird and other animal portraits.

This bear and the female elk seemed to pose for me.

I will end with my favorite portrait of Blondie, our beloved Yellow Lab who was part of our lives for many years. She’s been gone since 2017. I still miss her every day.

Many thanks to Ritva for this challenge Lens-Artists #340 – Portraits

Lens Artists Photo Challenge #339 – Life Changes

March 16, 2025Posted in Photography, WildlifeTagged Lens-Artists, Life Changes, Photo Challenge, wildlife photography34 Comments

For this challenge Anne asks us to share what has enriched and/or changed our life.

I’ve had many changes in my life but what changed my life the most was surviving ovarian cancer. In July, 2010 I began a ten month battle with ovarian cancer. I am grateful that my cancer has not returned since I finished treatment.

Most cancer survivors I know say that the cancer changed them. I know it changed me. I look at the world differently now. I have learned that life can change in the blink of an eye and no one knows what tomorrow will bring. I have learned that life is too short to put things off. I have learned it is important to enjoy life every day. I know that every day is a gift.

Two of my passions are travel and photography. One of the things that kept me going during treatments was planning an RV trip to visit family and visit a few bucket list places. We began the trip two weeks after I received the good news that I was in remission.

The RV trip was just what we both needed. We called it the “Celebration Journey”. Every day was an adventure and I was never at a loss for something interesting to photograph. The header image of the two seahorses was taken at the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga near the end of our journey. The rest of the images are of some of the highlights from the trip.

We camped with a view of Cypress trees at Lake Bistineau State Park, Louisiana

We met some Texas Lounghorns at Copper Breaks State Park, Texas

We explored the Petroglyphs at Petroglyphs National Monument in New Mexico with my brother and his wife

We visited the Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado

We saw lots of Elk in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

We saw herds of Bison in Custer State Park, South Dakota

We went to the headwaters of the Mississippi River at Itasca State Park in Minnesota with our daughter’s family

After we returned home I continued to enjoy my photography and we have been on many more fun adventures since then.

Many thanks to Anne of Slow Shutter Speed for this challenge Lens-Artists #339 – Life’s Changes

Sunday Stills: Discovering Brown Shades in Wildlife

November 19, 2024Posted in Birds, Nature, Photography, WildlifeTagged auburn and brown, brown, Color Challenge, Sunday Stills, wildlife photography19 Comments

Terri’s color challenge: “November’s color theme includes shades of brown and shades of auburn (a rich, brownish red). You are welcome to include images of both colors or pick one to highlight.”

When I first read Terri’s challenge I had no idea what kind of brown things to include. When I realizied that I’ve seen plenty of brown wildlife during our travels I knew what to do.

Wildlife photography is my favorite type of photography. Seeing wild creatures in their natural habitat is always a thrill. For this challenge I’m including some of my favorite brown animals and birds.

The first gallery features Brown Bears in Alaska and British Columbia, White Tailed deer in Virginia, Bison in South Dakota, and Elk in Canada.

I chose some of my favorite birds the bird gallery: an Osprey, an American Bald Eagle, Brown Pelicans, a hawk and a juvenile White Ibis. The Osprey is in Georgia, the Eagle in Alaska, and the rest of the birds are in Florida.

It’s not always easy to capture photos of wild animals when I spot them but it sure is fun to try. Sometimes it’s just pure luck to be in the right place at the right time with the right camera lens.

Shared with Terri’s Sunday Stills challenge Color Challenge – Shades of Auburn and Brown

Sunday Stills: Checking things off my Bucket List

November 4, 2024Posted in Alaska, Hawaii, Photography, Travel, WildlifeTagged Bucket List Images, Ireland, Scotland, Sunday Stills19 Comments

Terri’s challenge is to share images of places or things that are on our bucket list.

I created a bucket list many years ago. I’ve been checking things off and adding more items ever since.

Checking travel destinations off my bucket list.

Ireland and Scotland

Hawaii

Alaska

New York City

Statue of Liberty with Manhattan Skyline

Checking wildlife sightings off my bucket list.

Bull Elk Bugling in Cataloochee Valley, NC

My bucket list is constantly changing. I keep checking things off and adding new ones. Terri’s challenge has inspired me to start checking off a few more items!

“Life is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death!” – Auntie Mame

Shared with Terri’s Sunday Stills challenge Bucket List Items

National Bison Day – November 2

November 2, 2024November 2, 2024Posted in Nature, WildlifeTagged American Bison, Custer State Park, Land Between the Lakes, National Bison Day, Yellowstone National Park11 Comments

The American Bison was named the United States National Mammal in 2016. This year National Bison Day is celebrated on Saturday, November 2.

Millions of these animals once roamed the American west. They were very important to the Native American tribes who depended on them for food, clothing, and more.

In the late 1800’s, the American bison were near extinction due to over hunting, drought, and disease. Thanks to dedicated groups of ranchers, the federal government, and conservationists the American Bison population has bounced back to an estimated 400,000 animals..

Today, visitors can view Bison herds in places such as Yellowstone National Park, Custer State Park, and the Land between the Lakes.