 William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder of God’s creation. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message  Green Heron on telephone power wire. Wading bird bittern crane, Butorides virescens. Walton County, Georgia USA Friday, 7:25 AM – “What kind of a bird is that?” inquired one of trustees that come to clean the kennels. Up flew a juvenile Green Heron to a power line over the shelter parking lot. I could tell he was an inexperienced juvenile as he allowed me a closer approach than the adult Greens back on the ponds. It appears the Green Herons have been successful in raising some young this year and have given me several photo opportunities this summer. I was able to catch another one the next week back on the “duckweed bog” near the firing range. Walton County, Georgia  Green Heron Wading bird bittern crane, Butorides virescens. Walton County, Georgia USA
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 William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder of God’s creation. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message  Thumb Butte is a volcanic plug, part of the Sierra Preita mountains in Prescott, Arizona, USA Friday, 9:44 AM – I brought along my camera during a brief morning walk around the courthouse square in Prescott Arizona. We were visiting for our fellowship’s International Bible Conference. Off in the distance Thumb Butte towers at what appears to be the end of the road. Several beautiful sculpted monuments grace the Yavapai County Courthouse steps; sculpted by Solon Hannibal Borglum, America’s first cowboy sculptor. Twice this week I also had the pleasure of running/hiking the beautiful red boulders of Lake Watson. The trails were wonderful and challenging. We turned and circled the boulders, climbing and descending, walking and running. We ran from the highway side parking area down into the “gully” below the dam. The scenery was beautiful, but the water stank. And not just a mild odor, but strong, sewer-like smell. Down in the gully we had our shirts over our noses. On the way back to the car I found a large, yellow and brown Bullsnake hunting rodents among the rip-rap lining the roadside. They normally make a loud hissing that resembles the rattling of a Diamondback. Wanting to impress my friend with this spine-tingling sound, I grabbed him and pulled him out of the rocks. But no hissing. He turned to strike my hand, so I quickly placed him back in the rocks. As he shot into a small hole, a small rabbit rapidly flushed out, scaring me half to death!  Bucky O`Neill monument sculpture by Solon Hannibal Borglum out front the Yavapai County Courthouse in Precott, Arizona, USA. Old west equestrian statue of cowboy and horse. Bronze, marble.  Placard to Cowboy at Rest and Bucky O`Neill monuments sculpture by Solon Hannibal Borglum out front the Yavapai County Courthouse in Precott, Arizona, USA. Old west equestrian statue of cowboy and horse. Bronze, marble.  Cowboy at Rest monument sculpture by Solon Hannibal Borglum out front the Yavapai County Courthouse in Precott, Arizona, USA. Old west equestrian statue of cowboy and horse. Bronze, marble.  Statue of Liberty at night. Liberty Island in New York. June 15, 2017 The United States was founded upon the great and costly stone of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 1 Kings 5:17 And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house. "Inspiring" – in one word, that is how I could describe my trip to New York for my nephew’s graduation from the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point. Standing on our feet with hands on heart as the National Athem played; current and veteran members of each branch of the Armed Forces standing for recognition as their branch’s song filled the stadium; my dad watching his grandson graduate from the same academy from which he graduated 45 years prior; a retired U.S. Marine administering the oath of enlistment to his son the day before Father’s Day; and the sight of Lady Liberty standing tall in the night. All inspiring. The United States of America is the greatest country to have ever stood on this earth throughout all of history! The story of America is an inspiring story. The lives of the Founders are wrought with inspiration. But what inspired the Founders? What inspired them to risk all, including their lives, to establish this great nation and its freedoms? That point is argued and debated by many, but what were their own words?
"When we view the blessings with which our country has been favored, those which we now enjoy, and the means which we possess of handing them down unimpaired to our latest posterity, our attention is irresistibly drawn to the source from whence they flow. Let us then, unite in offering our most grateful acknowledgments for these blessings to the Divine Author of All Good." James Monroe, 5th United States President "While we are zealously performing the duties of good citizens and soldiers, we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of religion. To the distinguished character of Patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of Christian." George Washington "Patriotism is as much a virtue as justice and is as necessary for the support of societies as natural affection is for the support of families. [Patriotism] is both a moral and religious duty…What did not Moses forsake and suffer for his countrymen! What shining examples of Patriotism do we behold in Joshua, Samuel, Maccabeus, and all the illustrious princes, captains, and prophets amongst the Jews! St. Paul himself almost wishes himself accursed for his countrymen and kinsmen after the flesh. Even our Savior Himself gives a sanction to this virtue. He confined His miracles and gospel at first to His own country." On Patriotism, October 20, 1773. Benjamin Rush. “Heaven has crowned all its other blessings, by giving [America] a fairer opportunity for political happiness, than any other Nation has ever been favored with.” George Washington, Circular Address to the States, June 8th, 1783  William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder of God’s creation. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message  Black Vulture, Coragyps atratus, carrion crow perched on rotten Sweetgum tree snag, blue sky background. Athens, Georgia, USA.
Partly sunny with high near 88° 
 William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder of God’s creation. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message  Baby North American Opossum caught in box trap. Didelphis virginianus. Monroe, Walton County, Georgia USA. Wednesday, 2:58 PM - Opossum in your bedroom? That’s just part of life in the south. Okay, maybe not for everyone. But when you work for animal control, it seems that way. I don’t know what it is about mobile homes that seems to attract wildlife and stray cats. Perhaps it is all those “tidy” human beings concentrated in one area. The little critters just want to be part of the group love action too! One particular young fellow was making surprise appearances here and there over a week. Normally, animal control would refer the caller to a nuisance wildlife company. But this older lady needed a little assistance. Junior was caught in a trap after a couple of days, came to the shelter for a photo shoot, and was released. After removing him from the trap, I placed him on a low branch for close up photos. But the little guy shimmied up the tree in no time flat. Sitting up about 20 feet in the air, I had to get out my telephoto lens for the session. Cute little guy! Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana)  Baby North American Opossum climbing pine tree. Didelphis virginianus. Monroe, Walton County, Georgia USA.  Baby North American Opossum caught in box trap. Didelphis virginianus. Monroe, Walton County, Georgia USA.  Baby North American Opossum climbing pine tree. Didelphis virginianus. Monroe, Walton County, Georgia USA.  Baby North American Opossum climbing pine tree. Didelphis virginianus. Monroe, Walton County, Georgia USA.  William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder of God’s creation. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message  Baby Eastern Bluebird songbird fledgling sitting in birdhouse. Athens, Georgia, USA. Sialia sialis Tuesday, 5:58 PM - Throughout the month of June the Eastern Bluebirds have been raising a second clutch of the season. I’ve watched the diligent parents making runs to and from the nest box all day long; bringing bugs, removing waste. Going out to grill some kabobs, I saw a brave fledgling peering out through the nest box hole. He kept a curious eye on me. I kept my distance and in about 20 minutes he gained the courage to come out of the box to the lip under the door. In another move of bravery, he flapped his wings, but didn’t make it far. He half-flew, half stumbled over to the ledge between the birdhouses. I left him sitting there with mom making frequent chirps from a distance while I went inside to enjoy the kabab. Upon coming back out, he was gone. I couldn’t find him on the ground around the turtle pond. So I’m hoping he flew off to a safe place. Athens, Georgia  Baby Eastern Bluebird songbird fledgling sitting by birdhouse. Athens, Georgia, USA. Sialia sialis  Baby Eastern Bluebird songbird fledgling sitting in birdhouse. Athens, Georgia, USA. Sialia sialis  William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder of God’s creation. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message  Female Eastern Towhee songbird bathing in bird bath. Athens, Georgia, USA. Pipilo erythrophthalmus Sunday, 7:11 AM – we are finally seeing a sunrise rather than the totally overcast and rainy skies of the last few days. There is so much bird activity in the backyard. The “usuals” are all there: Chickaees, Titmice, Cardinals, House Sparrows… But I keep hearing a different, higher pitched chirping of several birds in the Black Cherry tree. It is hard to get a good look with such quick flurrying in the leaves, but I see some black and white. Is it the Chickadees? But they’ve never sounded like that before. Finally, and just for a quick moment, one lands on the swingset. Obviously some sort of warbler that I haven’t seen before. Getting my Birds of Georgia book, the first little bird in the black and white section is, aptly named, the Black and White Warbler (Mniotilta varia). Cornell’s website says: the Black-and-white Warbler’s thin, squeaky song is one of the first signs that spring birding has sprung. This crisply striped bundle of black and white feathers creeps along tree trunks and branches like a nimble nuthatch, probing the bark for insects with its slightly downcurved bill. Though you typically see these birds only in trees, they build their little cup-shaped nests in the leaf litter of forests across central and eastern North America. To confirm my identification, I emailed Katy with Oconee Rivers Audubon Society. She replied: "Yep, the one and only! One of my favorite birds. They migrate here in spring and stick around until late summer, then they're gone. We do have occasional over-wintering birds, but I'd say seeing one on your feeder is a nice treat! Their song is like a squeaky wheel, unlike anything I've ever heard from a bird!" A new one for my photo lifelist! I’ll have to sit and try for a better shot soon. A bit later I was privileged to spy in on a female Eastern Towhee taking a bath in our birdbath. Athens, Georgia  William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder of God’s creation. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message  Red-bellied Woodpecker Saturday, 10:50 AM – a young doe has been boldly entering my backyard quite regularly lately. She is less and less spooked by our presence and movements. This morning, she remained unalarmedly grazing as my wife and I sat and talked over a cup of coffee on the back patio. She appears to be eating the grasses that grow from the spilled bird seed. She has also at times boldly wandered over to eat spilled seed underneath the feeders even when the dogs next door begin to bark. As she grazed, another critter, never lacking in boldness, visited the feeder. A boldly colored black, white and red Red-bellied Woodpecker hangs from the feeder. His bold calls always echo throughout my backyard and surrounding woods. Athens, Georgia
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In December 1993 I came to know the Designer and Creator of this wonderful planet and its creatures: Jesus Christ.
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