August 2013 Marsh Life

I'm really behind in my blogging!  Here are some photos from recent marsh visits.

Fun with Pups

Never a dull moment with our three pups!

Tessa the German Shepherd-ess

Tessa is a distinguished older girl who likes to take long rests on the dock, woof at people who may or may not belong on the property, and snuggle with her mom.  I had the privilege of spending some time with her on the weekend and couldn't resist taking a few (hundred) shots.

Tessa just heard the joke about the cat that goes into a bar...

Beautiful pup!

Tessa with Mom

Thanks for being such a great host this weekend, Tessa!

Osprey in the Kawarthas

It's Osprey Country in the Kawarthas.   They are everywhere - in nests tending to young, fishing, and flying back and forth with food or twigs to further embellish their nests.

No words can add to the experience of being in the presence of these majestic birds. 

Annual visit to the Osprey nest

Every year I visit a pair of Osprey who nest 45 minutes from my house.   Usually the photo ops aren't great because the nest is pretty high up, but I enjoy watching and learning about them (though I secretly hoped to get even a distant photo of one of the parents bringing a fish to the nest).

Mama Osprey and I waited for 45 minutes for dad to bring her breakfast and, despite my diligence in constantly scanning the skies, he somehow delivered grub to the nest without me seeing.  I watched the couple for a few minutes and then started to pack up my gear, wishing them a successful clutch and feeling a little outsmarted.  But the male must have taken pity on me because he suddenly left the nest, still carrying the fish I thought had already been consumed, and flew toward me, slowly glided overhead for several minutes.  I wouldn't have even known had I not seen his shadow on the ground in front of me.

I managed to snap a few photos despite my excitement.

Male soaring overhead with fish

Did you get your shot yet??

Mom and I waited patiently for dad to bring breakfast

White-Tailed Deer / Taking Photos with Friends

Despite my best efforts to be really quiet when I'm photographing nature, stealth doesn't come easy.  Sticks crack underfoot no matter how hard I try.  So how is it that a 250+ lb deer can sneak up on me?  Make that two!

This is now the fourth time that I`ve been absorbed in taking photos in this forest, which is adjacent to a marsh, when deer have joined in.  This time I was crouched on the shore photographing trumpeter swans when I felt suddenly like I was being watched.  When I turned around I saw two large buck curiously looking at me, about 25 feet away.  How is it that I didn't hear a thing?

We checked each other out and assessed any possible threats, but all parties decided we could coexist in the same forest.  Though I certainly kept my eye on them more than they did on me!

This beautiful buck was one of two that was slowly approaching me as I was taking photos of swans.

At one time he swished his tail and opened his ears and I admit I was more than a little nervous!

We mutually determined that as long as we all respected each other's space,
we could share the forest with non issue (thankfully!).

A few weeks earlier I was in the same forest taking photos along the shore and three female deer did the same thing.  Once they decided I wasn't going to hurt them, they snacked on leaves and berries 30 feet away from me - really special to have the opportunity to observe them in a comfortable state in their natural habitat.

One of three sneaky deer watching me take photos in the same forest back in May.

That's one of the many things I love about wildlife photography - you never know who is going to show up!

You just never know / Eastern Kingbird

Bad weather doesn't discourage me from going out and shooting even though, usually, the result is a lot of  "delete, delete, delete".   But rain enhances nature's colours, and the higher ISO can create a painting-like effect in certain lighting conditions.

Sometimes you get lucky! 

Taken on a gloomy, rainy morning.

DeliCATe Rescue!

After a day of fun but stressful wildlife rescue with TWC I long to see some healthy animals in their natural habitat so I took a few backroads home, hoping to see just that. After several unsuccessful attempts I made my last turn and drove toward a prime coyote field and...finally I saw a critter!

I went through my mental wildlife library trying to place it...squatted down in the mud, white, fluffy...hmmm.  I pulled to the side of the road quietly waiting until it turned around.  When it finally did, my heart sank.  It was a purebred white Himalayan cat alone in the middle of nowhere, and it was a mess.  The look on its face said "please help me" and "please don't come near me" at the same time.

One of her eyes looked infected, she seemed depressed and her fur looked horrible. I slowly approached her to see how she would react and when she turned around to run from me I then realized how bad it was.  She was scampering and dragging her back end - she was mobile but her legs weren't really working.

I then realized I had one more rescue of the night or I couldn't live with myself so I got my net out and ran toward her. She scampered as fast as she could (which wasn't that fast) and I was able to net her. 

I never thought my rescue day at TWC would end up like this!

She remained under the net growling and hissing while I ran back to my Jeep to assemble a kennel cab.  To my relief, after a few minutes I was able to coax her from the net into the cab.  She scampered into the cab for safety - I had her!   Whew!  After a few phone calls I was happy to learn that an on-call staff member from Pickering Animal Services was willing to meet me and scan her to see if she was chipped.

To my surprise, I heard some sweet m-e-o-ws from the back of my Jeep, totally different from the growling and hissing I'd  heard a few minutes earlier.  I opened the hatch and there was this beautiful kitty rubbing her cheeks and chin along the bars, wanting me to pat her!  I gave her head scritchies and she started purring and looking so grateful for the warmth of the blanket and the safety of the kennel cab. That was the first time I realized that maybe her injuries only seemed severe, maybe she would be okay!

You can see her poor condition, with bare and matted underbelly.

When Jen from Animal Services arrived we took her inside and she was scanned (unfortunately no chip) and we discovered that the likely reason she couldn't walk is because she had mats underneath, as large and as hard as pingpong balls from front legs to tail - hopefully that is the only reason she can't properly walk.

Jen put her into a very cozy cage with more food than a hungry kitty could want.  It didn't take a second before her dirty face was in the bowls.  She was ravenous!

In order to be in the condition she was in, she was either badly neglected or on her own for a very long time, and how this declawed, luxurious puffball of a cat survived in farmers fields with predators is beyond me.

Last I saw her she was still eating and seemed very grateful for the hospitality.

She will need to be shaved, then spayed or neutered (if necessary), microchipped, given any medical attention and if unclaimed, will be ready for adoption in five days.

If it weren't for Osgrrr (canine king of the cat haters) I would take her in a heartbeat. 

IF YOU KNOW OF ANYONE WHO HAS LOST A HIMALAYAN CAT IN NORTH PICKERING THEY NEED TO CALL PICKERING ANIMAL SERVICES RIGHT AWAY:
905-683-7575.

Huge thanks to Jen and Pickering Animal Services - it was so nice to see how genuinely concerned she was about this kitty's well-being. 

I left feeling so relieved...a really happy ending!