Panorama, Reichart Lake

Such a beautiful landscape of Reichart Lake, at Mustatatuck National Wildlife Refuge, taken back in the Summer when the water lilies loomed large along the far end of the lake.

I had hopes of capturing a nice image of the White Egret as he flew off into the distance, albeit he would have been much closer in the frame. Unfortunately, the Egret got a jump on me and was a little bit too far away. When I looked back at this image, I realized how beautiful it was. The stubs of trees from bygone days dotting the waterline, the blue water, the green algae growing in the foreground, those gorgeous 'humongous' water lilies in the middle of the image. And then there's the woods, the beautiful sky and well, it's got everything. While outdoors around my world is dotted with the remnants of recent snows, and while you may have inches or feet of the white stuff right outside your back door, I dove deep into the archives to reminisce of days with blue skies and green landscapes and came up with this. It's the dead of winter, what's a photographer to do. Mother Nature, I'm going to need sunshine this week. ENJOY!

Tundra Swans, Frozen Reichart Lake

Five Tundra Swans, that I've been able to see so far this winter, have taken up residence at Mustatatuck, as mentioned in an earlier post. On Saturday, on a quick drive down to the refuge, I found the Swans floating or standing on the frozen ice right in the middle of Reichart Lake. And obviously with a 200mm lens, this is as good an image, albeit cropped, that I could get. A good deal of Reichart was frozen from a cold snap we had had a few days prior. Mustatatuck is the perfect winter home for these Swans what with the marshes, lakes and ponds and better yet, lots of agricultural fields surrounding the refuge where the Swans can feed.

Amazingly these Tundra Swans summer during the breeding season all along the coastline of North America, hence the name Tundra Swans. They build large round nests along the edge of the water and generally lay 3-5 large cream colored eggs. One of the North American Migratory Flyways goes right through (traveling north to south) southcentral Indiana. Many Tundra Swans fly much farther South, but apparently this flock has decided Mustatatuck is their winter home. Lucky me!!! Have I mentioned lately I'm turning into a bonafide birder.

Oddly, Tundra Swans sound very much like Canadian Geese. And speaking of which, these six Canadian Geese were walking, or more like sliding, along the ice at Reichart just a few yards from the Swans.

It was so funny watching them. If one of a pair of Geese didn't keep up with his partner, and they got very far away, he would lift up like he was taking off and fly a few feet or a yard or two, and then come right back down. And all the way he's slipping and sliding on the ice, and in the case of the Goose on the right falling through the ice. It was hysterical to watch them. I plan to visit the refuge again this winter. Perhaps I'll get better images or perhaps not. I was just thankful on this visit that the Swans hadn't flown to the fields to feed and it was a beautiful sunny day. And on a more pressing matter, the New Year is almost upon us. Are you ready? ENJOY!

An Avid Fisherman!

Meet Joe Clark, an avid fisherman! He resides in Seymour, Indiana, which is a stone's throw from Mustatatuck NWR. How can I tell he's an avid fisherman, you ask. Well just check out his attire. He was such the perfect model of a fisherman I asked him if I could photograph him to post on my blog and he said ok. Notice his catch. He had been at it a while obviously. I pulled off the road in Mustatatuck and walked through a field to Reichart Lake. I saw him standing there patiently fishing more than knee deep in the water and couldn't help but ask him for a photo. Now if only I had that much patience. It was about 95 today in Louisville. No rain. ENJOY!