Monday in Nature April 25, 2016

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<p><strong>Basic Guidelines</strong>: Nature based subject matter. Please, declare captive subjects. Keep your image at/under 700 pixels on the long axis for in-line viewing and try to keep file size under 300kb. Note that this includes photos hosted off-site at Flicker, Photobucket, your own site, etc. Feel free to link your image to a larger version. <strong><em>In the strictest sense, nature photography should not include hand of man elements. Please refrain from images with obvious buildings or large man made structures like roads, fences, walls. Minimize man made features and keep the focus on nature. </em></strong><br>

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<strong><em>Are you new to this thread? We post one image per week. For more <a href="/nature-photography-forum/00cgtY">details on guidelines please read this</a> helpful information. </em></strong><br>

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<p>Monday Morning Greetings,<br>

I hope you've had a great week in nature. We'll dive right in this morning with an unfurling fern. I'm not sure of the species here. We don't always need to know the name to appreciate the beauty.</p>

<p>Our love of nature is never a question on Monday in Nature.</p><div></div>

<p>Cacti Blooms in Austin.</p><div></div>

<p>Spring forest.</p><div></div>

<p>Richmond has a Great Blue Heron rookery on the James River that has been active since about 2008. A unique hiking trail along the river opposite the little island that is home to about 40 herons affords lots of opportunities for viewing.<br>

<strong>Great Blue Heron with its prey</strong><br>

<a title="HeronPrey" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/outwithmycamera13/26598715106/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1614/26598715106_83206dfdbc_z.jpg" alt="HeronPrey" width="607" height="640" /></a></p>

 

<p>Bubble-scum on a fresh-water pond out at the wetlands.</p><div></div>

<p>Lost Creek falls near the south shore of Lake Superior</p><div></div>

<p>Tired of carrying around heavy equipment, I decided to sell off some of my gear, including my 'wildlife' lens, and purchase the Panasonic Lumix FZ1000. Took it to one of my favorite spots, and the experience was very pleasurable not only due to the ease with which I could simply stand and enjoy the surroundings, but because the camera itself seems to perform nicely.</p><div></div>

<p><img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/18223532-lg.jpg" alt="" width="720" height="540" /><br>

<strong>Canon 7DII and EF 100-400LII</strong></p>

<p><strong>Bring It Home</strong> (nest building)</p>

<p><a title="Bringing It Home" href=" data-flickr-embed="true"><img src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1511/26483844372_7f54169356_c.jpg" alt="Bringing It Home" width="800" height="640" /></a></p>

<p>Laura, unfurling ferns are one of my favorite aspects of spring. Almost looks like the leaves of a Christmas fern, although it's not quite unfurling like I think of Christmas ferns doing.</p>

<p>Sand trapped in beached whale bone trabeculae.</p><div></div>

<p>Song Sparrow posing:<br>

<a title="Song Sparrow" href=" data-flickr-embed="true"><img src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1596/26512807671_f1c2064958_z.jpg" alt="Song Sparrow" width="640" height="427" /></a></p>

<p>Sometimes it pays to split up. My son wandered a different path through a field and discovered this very large (for Iowa) snake. Not sure what it is, but it was at least 5, maybe even 6 feet long.</p><div></div>

<p>McWay Falls, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, Big Sur, California</p><div></div>

<p>Joshua trees at sunrise, Mojave desert.</p><div></div>

<p>Blooming saguaro.</p><div></div>

<p>The first of our Warblers are showing up.</p>

<p><img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/18223056-md.jpg" alt="" width="680" height="521" /><br>

Northern Parula in Redbud, Indianapolis, IN. K3 150-450mm</p>

<p>Belted kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)<br>

<img src="http://www.leonin.net/img/s6/v135/p1957604771-4.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>Somewhere on the Oregon Coast.</p><div></div>

<p>I believe this is an aloe plant in the SW desert/</p><div></div>

<p>Winter wheat, and friend.</p><div></div>

<p>There are some wonderful shots this week, especially the birds, none of which I can match, but there were some pussy willows out, so pussy willows it is.</p><div></div>

<p>Patrick S.-looks like a Bullsnake to me.</p>

<p>I found two pink-hued Dutchman's Breeches (<em>Dicentra cucullaria</em>) plants at our nearby Wildflower Reserve - I've never seen anything but bright white before.</p>

<h3 ><a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwi-lvKt_arMAhWqCsAKHfToBSUQFggcMAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FDicentra_cucullaria&usg=AFQjCNErUlW7uBxzWGqYbrowZb0-OaaV8g&sig2=WdFiNbt7gF8_rPujByybHw&bvm=bv.120551593,d.cWw" data-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dicentra_cucullaria"> </a></h3><div></div>

<p>Patrick S. - I second the bull snake. My first thought was king snake, but I found a good Iowa herp ID site at https://www.iowaherps.com/<br>

I spotted my first green heron. Like bird photographers everywhere, I found myself wanting more mm and more mp.<br>

<img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/216/Birds/i-RpcbQZx/0/700x700/20160424-IMG_9389-700x700.jpg" alt="" /><br>

<strong>Canon XSi, Tamron 70-300 vc</strong></p>