wildlife – Page 30 – LLOYD'S LENS PHOTOGRAPHY LLC

Echoes Of Spring & The Flilling Of The Lake

Color Photography, Summersville Lake, wildlife

Hello Friends! Tonight’s Feature Image is titled “Echoes Of Spring 41321” and is available for purchase by clicking the thumbnail and reaching out to me on the contact page.

The Forest edges come to life in the glow of the new light. As the sun flows through the hills surrounding the lake more of the tiny buds open like sleepy eyes on the perfect morning. Slowly the delicate pedals unfurl to welcome visitors that come on lacy wings. Woodpeckers drum the sides of dead wood in the distance in a conversation carried out over nature’s telegraph. The tales they tell are of the coming days of lush green leaves and voices in the forest. Steadily the water recovers the sunken world of the lake bottom. The large rocks and high cliffs yield only to the swelling Gauley River as it fills the land that once was. I look forward to the filling of the lake. Not just the return of the water to summer pool but to the filling of the water with boats and the laughter of the lives as they paddle about the edges.

Good night friends and be blessed throughout your days.

Announcement 2.0

For those who have been following me on Facebook and know of the struggle content providers have to get circulation from big tech I’ve been recommending for people to adopt MeWe as a social media platform. One of the problems I’ve run into on MeWe is that people don’t know how to navigate the platform. So to help with that I’ve created a permanent page on my website as a basic Basic Beginner’s Guide To MeWe I’ve tried to anticipate all basic questions there and You can bookmark the page to have as a reference and if you have any questions or suggestions don’t hesitate to contact me. I do still have a day job and I help admin several pages on both platforms so replies might be a little slow but I will answer you.

We also have the Lloyd’s Lens Photography Discussion Group on MeWe that is set up as a fully functional community. There you’ll not only be able to see and connect with me but you can also make your own posts and interact with each other.

I want you to join my group on MeWe: https://mewe.com/join/lloydslensphotographydiscussiongroup

Click the link below to jump to the Basic Beginner’s Guide To MeWe.

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/guide-to-mewe/

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.

If you’re enjoying my blog and don’t want to miss a post then you can sign up for email alerts on my website.

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

Lloyds Lens Photography web link — Click here to visithttps://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

Have you checked out the Zazzle Store?

I’m now using Zazzle to fulfil orders. What this means for you is a secure way to place an order, discount codes & a broader product selection! Simply use the contact form on my websiteand tell me which image you want and I’ll reply with a direct link to where you can place the order.

Clicking on the photo takes you tohttps://www.zazzle.com/lloydslensphotos?rf=238248269630914251

Lastly, all of the photos and writings are my original work unless otherwise specified and are not to be copied or reproduced without expressed written permission from the photographer

Thank you again for your support of my page!❤

Spirit Of Air And Water

Color Photography, wildlife

The big blue truck delivers me once more to that little spot on Muddlety Creek where the fishers gather. A strong Spring breeze ripples through the cattails as the song of the red-winged blackbirds sweeps across the marsh. The cattails are filling the landscape with their fluffy windblown seeds and if not for warm sun it would be easy to imagine myself in a snowstorm. I am parked behind some tall bushes that hide me from the songbirds well enough that they ignore me if I stay in the truck and shoot through the open windows. The challenge is to find an opening through the branches that doesn’t interfere with the lens. I was focusing in a male displaying his red shoulders and calling for a mate when he suddenly dropped into the reeds and the whole swamp fell silent. It was like someone turned off the radio. Out in the distance I saw the movement of a huge set of wings as pumped their way to altitude and locked. At first I thought a great blue Heron was on its way to wade the area where I was set up. But as the airborn shadow came closer I could tell it’s neck and legs were way too short. Then the massive bird banked and saw the white belly. This was an osprey.

Image Titled “Spirit Of Air And Water 41021b”.

The ospreys are really just now making a significant comeback to my mountains. Like the eagles they suffered from use of DDT and low birthrates made them a rare sight that was only experienced on the coast. The fact is that this is only the second time I’ve seen one in West Virginia. The large predator silently circled in and was way to swift for the narrow field of my long lens and way to high for a wide angle. One of the most amazing things in nature is the sight of a large raptor hanging motionless in mid air for several seconds but that’s exactly what he did. The range was still well outside of the comfort zone of my 300mm lens but it was the only chance I had to capture the moment. I could tell he was scanning the water below and that he was about to dive. Suddenly he dropped from the invisible perch created by the air currents and fell like a living bomb. His dive took him below the line of sight and I lost him behind the cover of the bushes. I could hear the splash but couldn’t witness the action. It was only a matter of 50 yards or so but it was more than enough to prevent the shot of a lifetime. This time. After a talking to a few people I learned that the osprey is favoring my favorite marsh as his hunting grounds and so there’s a chance that if I can be in the right place at the right time I’ll have a second chance. After the splashing ended I saw him take to wind once more and he circled for a while but never came within decent range of the camera. Some days are like that. Actually, a lot of days are like that. But as they say, ” The third time is a charm.” Within the realm of photography the moment was a “qualified success”. I did manage to catch a few shots but I can do better if the bird cooperates. For now I’m obsessed with the idea. There’s only two ways to deal with it. Give up and blame rotten luck and not quite being in the wrong place or learn from the experience and make adjustments for when the next opportunity comes along. I know he’s in the area and I know that I’ll be back in that spot from time to time. I’ll also know not to pick that angle again if I can avoid it. The difference between winning and losing is the ability to not quit. It’s a quest now.

Image Titled “Spirit Of Air And Water 41021c”.

I moved the truck to the spot where the osprey had made his splash down hoping that he might circle back to grab another fish. However the gift he gave me was a parting shot that cemented my resolve to keep trying. Never give up.

Good night friends and be blessed throughout your days.

Announcement 2.0

I want you to join my group on MeWe: https://mewe.com/join/lloydslensphotographydiscussiongroup

Click the link below to jump to the Basic Beginner’s Guide To MeWe.

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/guide-to-mewe/

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.

If you’re enjoying my blog and don’t want to miss a post then you can sign up for email alerts on my website.

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

Have you checked out the Zazzle Store?

Songbirds Update, April 11, 2021

Color Photography, wildlife

Male And Female Cardinals 41021 — Hello Friends! Tonight’s Feature Image is collage of the male and female cardnials that have kept me company for the past year. Images can be purchased by clicking on the thumbnail and reaching out to me on the contact page.

For the past year I’ve kept to my mountain more than usual but I’ve never been alone. I started by setting out different feeders for the birds here and there. I learned that drilling the right size holes in used coffee cans and painting them subdued colors I could simply screw them to the sides of trees and create nesting for several species of songbirds. It wasn’t long before a mated pair of cardnials began to frequent my yard. The first to become comfortable with my presence was the female.

Female Cardinal 40621a. — Image Titled “Female Cardinal 41021a” and is available for purchase by clicking the thumbnail and reaching out to me on the contact page.

I say comfortable as a relative term. I began speaking to her through the closed window almost as soon as she got brave enough to come to the feeder on the deck. At first she flew off but eventually she became accustomed to being addressed. I speak to all of the birds come close enough. One of the local Carolina wrens even sits behind the safety of the glass and watches me working at my desk. As long as I don’t get too close to them at the moment they don’t flee immediately. The female has gotten close to the window but isn’t quite brave enough to actually sit on the sill yet. The male is never too far away. Wherever the love of his life is she’s never out of his sight. When she’s at the feeder he’s normally either on the roof of the shed, carport, house or in the branches of the surrounding forest. At the slightest sign of danger he gives a loud chirp and she flies away to safety. He’s totally dedicated to her. I’ve seen him take on four blue jays and chase all four from the feeders to clear the way for her to enjoy a meal in peace. After losing enough feathers the jays have yielded to the authority of fiery male cardnial. But, he seldom came to the feeder on the deck himself until about a week ago. I’ve also noticed that when he’s at the feeder she watches over him the way he does for her.

Image Titled “Male Cardinal 41021a ” and is available for purchase by clicking the thumbnail and reaching out to me on the contact page.

Being cardnials I doubt they’ll ever be as accepting as the chickadees and wrens but I’m glad that they do get as close as they are. I’ve also noticed an additional benefit of having a yard full of songbirds over the past year. Nobody else included my wife can enter the property without the birds alerting me. The alarm calls can even be heard over the TV and the sudden movement outside of windows is hard to miss. That’s it for this update on the songbirds. Good night friends and be blessed throughout your days.

Announcement 2.0

I want you to join my group on MeWe: https://mewe.com/join/lloydslensphotographydiscussiongroup

Click the link below to jump to the Basic Beginner’s Guide To MeWe.

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/guide-to-mewe/

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.

If you’re enjoying my blog and don’t want to miss a post then you can sign up for email alerts on my website.

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

Have you checked out the Zazzle Store?

The First Honeybee Of 2021

Color Photography, wildlife

Hello Friends! Tonight’s Feature Image is titled “Redbud & Honeybee 41121” and is available for purchase by clicking the thumbnail and reaching out to me on the contact page.

The Light falls softly in the misty forest of my mountain. The redbud opened a few days ago in anticipation of the arrival of the Honeybees. And today they arrived ahead of rain. I’m overjoyed to see them because a few years ago I only had one and then after that there was a couple of years with no honeybees at all. She doesn’t seem to mind the camera as long as it doesn’t interfere with her work. She floats delicately through the mists grooming the flowers and then returning to them a few minutes later. Her legs are well packed with pollen and the bloom rewards her efforts by making the nectar sweeter. The visitation is a mark in my natural calendar. The bumblebees arrive first, then the Honeybees followed by the large Carpenter Bees and the tiny Mason Bees. And sometime this coming week or so the Hummingbirds are expected to return. The tiny Honeybee eventually decides that she’s done with this bush for now and vanishes into the mists headed for home as the rain begins to fall slowly. Which is also a sign for the photographer to get his equipment into a dry house and start the editing.

Good night friends and be blessed throughout your days.

Announcement 2.0

I want you to join my group on MeWe: https://mewe.com/join/lloydslensphotographydiscussiongroup

Click the link below to jump to the Basic Beginner’s Guide To MeWe.

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/guide-to-mewe/

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.

If you’re enjoying my blog and don’t want to miss a post then you can sign up for email alerts on my website.

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

Have you checked out the Zazzle Store?

Forage Friday #102 Serviceberry

Color Photography, Forage Friday, wildlife

Hello Friends! Tonight’s Feature Image is titled “Serviceberry In Bloom 40621a” and is available for purchase by clicking the thumbnail and reaching out to me on the contact page.

Please remember that Forage Friday is presented as trivia and not to be mistaken for medical advice.

One of the true blessings of the Appalachian Spring is of course the opening of the serviceberry bloom. The little frilly looking flowers with a set of tell-tale brown scales at the base just seem to suddenly erupt from the forest edges. They’re usually a few weeks ahead of the dogwoods but are often mistaken for some exotic form of dogwoods by the casual observer.

My grandfather would sometimes recall one of his favorite treats from his childhood during the Great Depression as being serviceberry pie. I can’t seem to recall the exact description He gave but I could tell from the look in his eyes that he was watching himself as child climbing into the trees to gather the berries. And I’ve heard similar stories from others of that generation. So much so that I don’t really understand why a cottage industry of authentic Appalachian serviceberry baked goods wasn’t a thing.

Serviceberry was apparently a favorite among Native Americans as well. It was often included in pemmican which, for those who may not know, is a mixture of meat, fat and fruit that lasted a very long time under primitive conditions.

Aside from pies the fruits can be used to make jam, pastries and as a general snack. The flavor is semisweet and often described as having a mild apple taste. The modern American diet has become so sugary that a lot of old time fruits and sweets don’t seem to trigger the brain’s pleasure centers like they used to. However I can assure you from personal experience that after you cut out heavy sweets for a couple of months those modern candies are almost intolerable and something like serviceberry becomes just right. It’s also a different experience because at that point you’re able to detect subtle nuances in the flavor that was overridden by the sugar before. I see it as being like noticing a masterpiece of art that you couldn’t appreciate before.

The nutritional facts are as follows:

Potassium – 133.3 grams

Vitamin A – 1.3% RDI

Vitamin C – 26.7% RDI

Calcium- 1.3% RDI

Folate – 2.7 RDI

Iron – 2.7 RDI

Magnesium-2.7 RDI

Phosphorus – 2.7 RDI

In reviewing a government study on the nutritional value of serviceberry I noticed that it seems to high in polyphenols which is the same classification of substances that is credited with giving chaga and turkey tail mushrooms some of their medicinal values. While the study didn’t cite any particulars on that they did list some traditional Native American medical uses.

It’s not surprising that Native Americans used the fruit juice as a laxative but what struck me was that it was used as eye and ear drops. The boiled bark of serviceberry was a handy disinfectant for the natives and boiling the roots made a treatment to prevent miscarriages after injuries. A tea made from the twigs was given to women after childbirth and a tonic from the bark was believed to help expel the placenta.

Native Americans also found the wood itself to be useful. The smaller branches and twigs were good for weaving. While thicker pieces made good arrows, canes, canoe frames and digging sticks. To be used as a digging stick in particular the wood had to be tough and hard. They even used it to make pipe bowls.

That’s it for tonight’s Forage Friday.

Good night friends and be blessed throughout your days.

Announcement 2.0

I want you to join my group on MeWe: https://mewe.com/join/lloydslensphotographydiscussiongroup

Click the link below to jump to the Basic Beginner’s Guide To MeWe.

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/guide-to-mewe/

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.

If you’re enjoying my blog and don’t want to miss a post then you can sign up for email alerts on my website.

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/