I’ve been very global-oriented lately in my perspectives as I consider what I share for Sunday Stills. Last week my world felt confined to the inside of a snowglobe, in a good way. This week, wildlife is the theme as I share wildlife in my current world of Eastern Washington and beyond.
Some people talk to animals. Not many listen though. That’s the problem.
A. A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh
This little rabbit has made a home under my studio (or she-shed). He frequently pops up to eat the random weeds that grow above the snow. Neighbors have warned us not to let critters live under the main house as they can destroy the insulation by trying to make a nest. Luckily our manufactured home is “pit-set,” meaning there are no entries for small animals like field mice, raccoons, and squirrels…and wascally wabbits!
The daily deer parade never gets boring. The neighbors’ five-acre property across from ours is home to the daily feeding. My neighbor sets out hay and corn cobs for the white-tailed or mule deer and at last count, over 16 came to dinner! Can you see the bonus goat in the first image?
Just south of the neighbors’ home is another residence that boasts the orange and brown outbuilding that beautifully frames the images. I love the young buck’s “lookout stance” as he contemplates gracefully hopping the 4-foot-tall fence and enjoying dinner.
Sometimes the young deer get curious at seeing my two brown dogs, Brodie and Aero, and come closer to check them out. I’m so glad there is a sturdy fence between the properties as I fear Brodie (on the left) might annoy a deer for the first and last time. Their hooves can kill! Bonus points if you can see this doe’s tongue as she licks her chops.
Animals exist with us and communicate with us in many ways. If we allow ourselves to become still enough to notice, and if we live in a sacred way, we shall realize that communication with them is natural.
Reverend Misa Hopkins
No photo collection featuring wildlife of the Pacific Inland Northwest is complete without the requisite shot of the magnificent American bald eagle!
A Former Wild Bird Gallery
Of course, bald eagles and other raptors are common here (aren’t I lucky?). Quail and wild turkey live here year ’round but the purple-green swallow is seen mostly in spring.
Wildlife is abundant here in rural Stevens County. We are near Lake Spokane/Long Lake which is part of the Spokane River that also includes the Little Spokane River—a popular waterway for kayaking and fishing. These waterways eventually flow into the Columbia River to the South and West.
Still Waiting to See…
- A moose. I did see one last August while kayaking on the Little Spokane River but couldn’t get the shot.
- I heard the mating bugle call of a bull elk in the hills around my nrighborhood, but still haven’t laid eyes on any yet.
- Big Foot? Hmmm…
For those of you who prefer indoors in the winter, you may like my wildlife pattern on our new-ish chair we bought at the Wild West furniture store in Idaho.
Staying Fit with Photography
All truly great thoughts are conceived by walking.
Friedrich Nietzsche
I love walking and when I’m smart enough to take my real camera with me, I’m rarely disappointed. Saturday, we took the two-hour drive to the Grand Coulee Dam in central Washington. No pics of the dam at the moment, BUT, as we walked the trail around the dam, a white-tailed deer family caught my eye. Despite two humans and two noisy dogs tromping around in the snow, the deer didn’t move too much and I got within 30 feet of the deer and caught this adorable close-up you see here.
I would edit Nietzche’s quote to read: All truly great photographs are conceived by walking! I logged 6000 steps walking around shooting (ha!) deer in 25F degree weather!
And One More Very Wild Animal
Little 13-pound Aero loves his half-acre on which to run and play, but all this cold white stuff is NOT for him. After he does his duty, he comes tearing into the house!
Photo Challenges this Week
Each week I am inspired by my fellow bloggers’ photo challenges. I find it fun to incorporate these into my Sunday Stills weekly themes, when possible.
- Cee’s Flower of the Day (If you can count the weeds and pine needles as flowers, right?)
- Johnbo’s CellPic Sunday
- Lens-Artists: Memorable Events (Photography always helps me remember the special times that insisted I stop to take a pic!)
- Marsha’s Writers Quotes Wednesday: Fitness (Walking and photography go hand-in-hand)
Sunday Stills Photo Challenge Reminders
Sunday Stills weekly challenge is easy to join. You have all week to share and link your post. Feel free to “double-dip” with other photo challenges!
- Please create a new post for the theme or link a recent one.
- Entries for this theme can be posted all week.
- Title your blog post a little differently than mine.
- Tag your post “Sunday Stills.”
- Don’t forget to create a pingback to this post so that other participants can read your post. I also recommend adding your post’s URL into the comments.
This Week’s Links
Sunday Stills is a wonderful community of bloggers and photographers who desire to connect with one another. Below are this week’s links from bloggers who shared their wildlife (or wild?) photos.
- YOUR NAME HERE!
- Always Write
- Bushboys World
- Bushboys World adorable ducks
- Cats and Trails and Garden Tales
- Calling All Rush-Babes
- Cee’s Photo Challenges
- Easin’ Along Image shared in comments
- Geriatrix FotoGallery
- Graham’s Island
- Kamerapromenader
- Light Words
- Leya
- Loving Life
- Musin’ With Susan
- My Forever
- Now at Home
- Nut House Central
- Philosophy Through Photography
- Picture Retirement (not-so-wild thoughts on the future)
- Priorhouse Blog
- Retirement Reflections Image shared on Instagram
- Robert’s Snap Spot
- This is Another Story
- Travel With Me
- Wind Kisses
- Woolly Muses
- NEW Xingfu Mama
Special Request
I always share your Sunday Stills post when possible, mostly using my Facebook page and Twitter. If you are on Facebook and haven’t visited my Second Wind Leisure PAGE, please do and like the page. This way I can share your posts on that page, and your name will appear. Also, I recommend that you select your featured image on your posts because that is what is shared on social media. Not every blogger is concerned about sharing posts on social media, so no pressure.
I’m excited to see your posts of wildlife this week, or perhaps your “wild” life?? Please feel free to be creative! Have a great week!
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