Wild Westhampton

Shot through a chain link fence (hence the strange patterned bokeh), this guy was brandishing his stick, as though to conduct the rest of his clan in song.

The Lemur with a Stick
18 September 2007
Long Island Game Farm, Manorville, NY

The passing of time.

The Reeds in the Sunlight
07 October 2008
Pike’s Beach (Bay side), Westhampton Beach, NY

I love these guys. To me, these guys are the bird equivalent of the small, snotty teenagers who act like they’re the shit. They’ve got poise. They’ve got grace. But they’ve also got attitude. Don’t mistake them for a juvie great egret — they won’t like that.

The Snowy Egret’s Landing
01 July 2008
Quiogue, NY

Gerry the giraffe is a long time resident of the Long Island Game Farm. We’ll overlook that he’s a summer person giraffe, and hope that his hoof has recovered sufficiently for him to return this year (last year he had to summer at his winter residence in Tennessee, I believe).

I like to think that his expression in this photograph is his way of asking me, “Isn’t a hundred pictures enough?”

Gerry the Giraffe
18 September 2007
Long Island Game Farm, Manorville, NY

This guy has learned to watch for people just like the birds have. He followed us along the trail, hoping we would drop something good to eat.

The Chipmunk in the Trees
10 July 2008
Elizabeth A. Morton Wildlife Refuge, Sag Harbor, NY

Sometimes here on this blog I get carried away, and forget that nature doesn’t mean just wildlife. People can connect with nature through a variety of ways, from the sand on the beach to a blazing fall sunset.

The House in Silhouette
07 October 2008
Pike’s Beach (Bay side), Westhampton Beach, NY

It is hard to photograph fish, even when they’re swimming around in their tanks! Most tanks are too dark, and it’s hard to even get a focus lock on them, much less take the photo with the proper exposure.

Fortunately these guys were polite enough to be in one of the better lit tanks, drifting nicely in and out of the nooks and crannies of their environment.

Fun fact: all clownfish are born male. When the current female dies, the dominant male will change sex and assume her place.

The Clownfish in the Aquarium
14 September 2007
Atlantis Marine World, Riverhead, NY

After the season (you know which I mean), my mother and I took our dogs down to Pike’s Beach. It’s always a laugh, seeing how scared Charlie (our black lab) is of water, and Boone (the mutt) has to smell everything he can get his nose near.

However, this particular day, there were hundreds of starfish washed up along the shore, for reasons unknown to us. They were among hundreds of mussels, as well, so perhaps the reason is tied to that. After seeing the animals washed up, we turned around and drove the dogs home (Boone probably would’ve eaten one if he could), although we returned nearer to sunset (sans dogs) to see if they were still there and to take photos.

The Starfish After Dying
07 October 2008
Pike’s Beach, Westhampton Beach, NY

Still after that elusively shy GBH — this is probably the best shot I’ve taken of one “in the wild” and actually alive (on purpose, anyway). This one flew over the roadway by the duck pond while I was stalking an egret on the south side, and soon after its mate flew over as well.

The Great Blue Heron in Flight
17 July 2008
Quiogue, New York

I usually stay away from too many flower photos, as they tend to lead to folks insinuating a resemblance to genitalia. But I couldn’t resist this orange daylily. These beautiful perennials pretty up our driveway and garden every year.

Fun fact! Some species of daylily are edible, but be careful when crafting your recipe — other species are toxic!

The Daylily
25 June 2008
Quiogue, NY