Back in Africa!

Greetings from South Africa – I safely arrived two days ago and am happily at home in the bush at the wonderful nThambo Tree Camp in the Klaserie game reserve just to the west of Kruger National Park. 

My travels halfway around the world was as pleasant and uneventful as any 10,000 mile voyage could have been! I wish to single out two people who made my travel from Dallas to Johannesburg more enjoyable. First is Jerri Thomas one of the flight attendants on my Dallas to Atlanta flight. When space for my carry on camera gear was sparse, she went out of her way to find a way to keep my precious gear in the main cabin rather than forcing me to check it --- and she did all of this with a genuine smile while working on July 4th.  THANKS Jerri!  Second was my waitress at the Atlanta airport TGIFriday’s Devona was absolutely as welcoming, pleasant, and funny as I could have hoped for given that she was working a very busy shift on the 4th of July. Her great good cheer and ready laugh was another bright spot which made a long trip much better than it might have been. THANKS Devona!

16 hours across the Atlantic Ocean was tiring but thankfully easy. I was warmly greeted and hosted for the night by my friend Dave, one of South Africa’s great caving pioneers. The following day, it was back to the Airport to catch my flight to Hoedsprit, the gateway to the Kruger region of South Africa.

After a short and enjoyable drive to nThambo with Enoch, I settled into my “Chalet”, a luxurious tent set on top of a platform 20 feet high. Camp Manager Lily did a fine job of welcoming me to the camp and orienting me to the daily pulse of this great camp. A delicious lunch was followed by getting to meet my guide Luan, and our tracker, Isaac. I also became acquainted with the other guests who were from Germany, South Africa, and Seattle. 

Our first game drive began slowly as the only unusual animal we encountered in the first hour was the threatened Ground Hornbill – It was busy trying to make a meal of a Leopard tortoise. Looking at this bird you might think I had made a wrong turn into "Jurassic World"!

As the sun sank and the sky began to take on the hues of a lovely sunset, the rhinos made their appearance – We started with one young bull and were joined by two rhino cows within moments! 

 

Thing then got better as we followed them to the local water hole where we were treated to the presence of three more rhinos! We enjoyed our sundowners there as we watched the rhino calf suckle as the sky grew progressively orange. 

We then began our trip back to camp and dinner, but were treated once more to the beauty of the bush when we came across two lionesses known as the Ross Pride Breakaway females because they left the larger Ross pride to strike out on their own. 

 

Seeing them relaxing in the darkness was exciting and a perfect end to my first full day back in Africa! 

2013 Blue Lion Year in Review- Part 5 of 6

Welcome to PART 5 of my 2013 review! This post will take us down from #5 in the countdown to #2 - My image of the year will be unveiled tomorrow here on the Blue Lion Blog! 

For this year’s review, I have selected 30 images that represent a combination of my personal favorite shots as well as my most widely viewed images on my website (http://www.bluelionphotos.com), social media such as my Facebook page and my Twitter account (@BlueLionPhotos).

 I hope you enjoy this journey through my photographic year – I welcome your comments below as I savor getting to know how my images impact you the viewer! Each of the images is viewable and available for purchase by clicking on the image here, which will take you to my website. 

If you missed earlier posts in this retrospective series just click the links below! 

PART 1     ~     PART 2     ~    PART 3     ~     PART 4

ONWARD! 

#5 ~ Leopard Stare ~ Ngala Game Reserve, South Africa

#4 ~ Cheetah Portrait ~ Ngala Game Reserve, South Africa

#3 ~ Lilac Breasted Roller ~ Ngala Game Reserve, South Africa

#2 ~ Waterhole Sunrise ~ Ngala Game Reserve, South Africa

SURVIVOR

This bald eagle image was my very first photograph of a raptor. I was chaperoning my students on a field trip to a renaissance festival near Dallas. The festival had a small birds of prey demonstration. As a science teacher, I was immediately drawn to it, as renaissance festivals are not known for their plethora of “sciencey” offerings. The star of the show was this bald eagle who was missing most of its right wing as a result of a hunting mishap several years earlier. 

Click in the image to see the high resolution version

Thankfully, the wounded bird had been brought to a licensed animal rehabilitator and made as full a recovery as possible. Since it could no longer fly without the missing wing, it joined this show as an education ambassador to help young people appreciate the majesty of our national bird, but also to gain a better understanding of responsible hunting here in Texas. It was very used to having people close by and I was able to get this shot. I particularly like the detail in both the feathers and the eye – the success of this shot inspired me to seek out future chances to capture other animals in “portrait” style images! 

Blue Lion Birds: The Exhibit (Part 4)

This post is the fourth in the series sharing with you my exhibit of bird images at the Allen Pubic Library during the month of February. In addition to sharing a few more images from this collection, I am also inviting you to join me at 7:30 PM (CST) on Thursday February 7th  for a webcast of  the panel discussion, "It's for the Birds". The link to this event is http://www.ustream.tv/channel/allen-public-library   I hope you have the time to spend with us via the marvel of modern technology!

Please use the links below to visit earlier blog posts about this exhibit!

PART 1                          PART 2                           PART 3

All prints at the exhibit as well as sets of exhibit greeting cards (10 per set) will be available for purchase at the Allen library’s circulation desk or by contacting me by email. (john @bluelionphotos(dot)com) You can also purchase prints by clicking on the image in these posts and then clicking the “buy” button in the upper right hand portion of your screen.

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT! 

I'VE GOT MY EYE ON YOU!

PRETTY IN PINK



BAD HAIR DAY

Blue Lion Birds: The Exhibit (Part 3)

This is Part 3 of my series of bird images related to the exhibit mentioned below. Click HERE to see the images from Part 1 or HERE to see images from Part2. 

In conjunction with a local reading group called ALLen Reads, an exhibit of my bird images will be on display at the Allen Public Library for the entire month of February. In addition to the exhibit, I am honored to be a part of a panel discussion on February 7 at 7:30 pm with two wonderful local conservationists from the Connemara Conservancy and the Blackland Prairie Raptor Center. If you are in the Dallas area and wish to attend, the discussion titled, “It’s for the Birds”, – Here’s the press release for more information.  My photographs will be featured in the gallery case in the lobby as you enter the library. 

All prints at the exhibit as well as sets of exhibit greeting cards (10 per set) will be available for purchase at the Allen library’s circulation desk or by contacting me by email. (john @bluelionphotos(dot)com) You can also purchase prints by clicking on the image in these posts and then clicking the “buy” button in the upper right hand portion of your screen.

Since many of you do not live close enough to visit – I am taking this opportunity to share images from the exhibit here on the Blue Lion Blog. If you DO live close by, I hope you stop by the exhibit to take a look and support the both the Allen Library and ALLen Reads! 

(If you’d like a larger view of any image, just click it to enlarge it to better suit your screen size. )

Ever Watchful 

Resplendent Roller

HOWDY!



Stay tuned for the next installment in a couple days! 

Blue Lion Birds: The Exhibit (Part 2)

This is Part 2 of my series of bird images related to the exhibit mentioned below. Click HERE to see the images from Part 1. 

In conjunction with a local reading group called ALLen Reads, an exhibit of my bird images will be on display at the Allen Public Library for the entire month of February. In addition to the exhibit, I am honored to be a part of a panel discussion on February 7 at 7:30 pm with two wonderful local conservationists from the Connemara Conservancy and the Blackland Prairie Raptor Center. If you are in the Dallas area and wish to attend, the discussion titled, “It’s for the Birds”, – Here’s the press release for more information.  My photographs will be featured in the gallery case in the lobby as you enter the library. 

All prints at the exhibit as well as sets of exhibit greeting cards (10 per set) will be available for purchase at the Allen library’s circulation desk or by contacting me by email. (john @bluelionphotos(dot)com) You can also purchase prints by clicking on the image in these posts and then clicking the “buy” button in the upper right hand portion of your screen.

Since many of you do not live close enough to visit – I am taking this opportunity to share images from the exhibit here on the Blue Lion Blog. If you DO live close by, I hope you stop by the exhibit to take a look and support the both the Allen Library and ALLen Reads! 

(If you’d like a larger view of any image, just click it to enlarge it to better suit your screen size. )

Touchdown! 

Golden Eagle Stare Down

Spectacled Owl


Stay tuned for the next installment in a couple days! 

Blue Lion Birds: The Exhibit (Part 1)

In conjunction with a local reading group called ALLen Reads, an exhibit of my bird images will be on display at the Allen Public Library for the entire month of February. In addition to the exhibit, I am honored to be a part of a panel discussion on February 7 at 7:30 pm with two wonderful local conservationists from the Connemara Conservancy and the Blackland Prairie Raptor Center. If you are in the Dallas area and wish to attend, the discussion titled, “It’s for the Birds”, – Here’s the press release for more information.  My photographs will be featured in the gallery case in the lobby as you enter the library. 

All prints at the exhibit as well as sets of exhibit greeting cards (10 per set) will be available for purchase at the Allen library’s circulation desk or by contacting me by email. (john @bluelionphotos(dot)com) You can also purchase prints by clicking on the image in these posts and then clicking the “buy” button in the upper right hand portion of your screen.

Since many of you do not live close enough to visit – I am taking this opportunity to share images from the exhibit here on the Blue Lion Blog. If you DO live close by, I hope you stop by the exhibit to take a look and support the both the Allen Library and ALLen Reads! 

(If you’d like a larger view of any image, just click it to enlarge it to better suit your screen size. )

Steely Eyed Glare

Drying Darter

Night Watchman


Stay tuned for the next installment in a couple days! 
PART 2 is now posted! 
PART 3 is now Posted!

The 2012 Countdown - Part 6

The 2012 Countdown - Part 6

As 2012 winds down, I hope it’s been a happy, healthy, and enlightening trip around the sun! This year has been personally rewarding for me as I saw my daughter married this past month as well as having my son get engaged at the wedding reception.

Photographically, the second half of the year was slow as wedding plans and my teaching demanded more of my time. I was not planning to post my annual countdown, as I did not feel I had shot enough to warrant a year-end retrospective. However, after sitting down and looking over my 2012 images, I have to say I am pleased with the results and have changed my mind.

The rankings of the Top 25 of 2012 came from a formula I created that takes into account the feedback received from Facebook, Twitter, and 550px.com as well as the traffic the image generated on my Blue Lion Photos website. I hope you enjoy seeing a few familiar shots mixed in with some you might have missed in the past year.

Part 6 of the 2012 Countdown (# 2 - #5)

#5 - Blue Morpho

#4 - Flame Lilly

#3 - Ural Owl Landing

#2 - Eastern Screech Owl - Red Phase 

Thanks for visiting and spending a few minutes here --- Tomorrow I'll post the most popular Blue Lion image from 2012!  Hope to see you back! Feel free to share the 2012 countdown with you friends on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+! 

Please comment below & let me know your favorite of the images above! 

Thanks for your support and  best wishes for a healthy and prosperous 2013!

The 2012 Countdown - Part 5

The 2012 Countdown - Part 5

As 2012 winds down, I hope it’s been a happy, healthy, and enlightening trip around the sun! This year has been personally rewarding for me as I saw my daughter married this past month as well as having my son get engaged at the wedding reception.

Photographically, the second half of the year was slow as wedding plans and my teaching demanded more of my time. I was not planning to post my annual countdown, as I did not feel I had shot enough to warrant a year-end retrospective. However, after sitting down and looking over my 2012 images, I have to say I am pleased with the results and have changed my mind.

The rankings of the Top 25 of 2012 came from a formula I created that takes into account the feedback received from Facebook, Twitter, and 550px.com as well as the traffic the image generated on my Blue Lion Photos website. I hope you enjoy seeing a few familiar shots mixed in with some you might have missed in the past year.

Part 5 of the 2012 Countdown (# 6 - #9)

#9 - Bluebonnet Siesta

#8 - Juvenile Black-Crowned Night Heron

#7 - Emerald Tree Boa

#6 - Hydrangea

Thanks for visiting and spending a few minutes here --- Tomorrow I'll post images 2 - 5 here! Hope to see you back! Feel free to share the 2012 countdown with you friends on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+! 

Please comment below & let me know your favorite of the images above! 

The 2012 Countdown - Part 1

As 2012 winds down, I hope it’s been a happy, healthy, and enlightening trip around the sun! This year has been personally rewarding for me as I saw my daughter married this past month as well as having my son get engaged at the wedding reception.  

Photographically, the second half of the year was slow as wedding plans and my teaching demanded more of my time. I was not planning to post my annual countdown, as I did not feel I had shot enough to warrant a year-end retrospective. However, after sitting down and looking over my 2012 images, I have to say I am pleased with the results and have changed my mind.  

The rankings of the Top 25 of 2012 came from a formula I created that takes into account the feedback received from Facebook, Twitter, and 550px.com as well as the traffic the image generated on my Blue Lion website. I hope you enjoy seeing a few familiar shots mixed in with some you might have missed in the past year.

Part 1 of the 2012 Countdown ( # 22- #25)

#25 - Pretty in Pink

#24 - Blue Bellied Roller




#23 - Steely Eyed Glare



#22 - Reflective Green Heron

Thanks for visiting and spending a few minutes here --- Tomorrow I'll post images 18 - 21 here! Hope to see you back! Feel free to share the 2012 countdown with you friends on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+! 

Please comment below & let me know your favorite of the images above! 

The Stately Saddle Billed Stork

The winner of the latest poll on the Blue Lion Photos Facebook Page was Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis, or the Saddle Billed Stork. This bird is the largest of the African Stork and is found widely throughout Sub Saharan Africa. 


The Saddle Billed storks are most commonly found around open wetlands where they feed on fish less then a foot long. They will supplement their fish diet with crabs, shrimp, frogs, reptiles, small mammals, young birds, mollusks and large insects. The storks take advantage of trees near the lake shores to build their nests, which are usually deep and built from sticks gathered by the mating pair. 


The pair mates near the end of the rainy season so that the chicks can fledge at the height of the dry season which allows them to find food when it is most highly concentrated in the shrinking pools and ponds.


I encountered this magnificent bird at the Fort Worth Zoo where they are part of an ongoing breeding program. The Ft. Worth Zoo claims to be one of only two zoos in the United States to breed these impressive birds. 

Jackass - the Penguin

Looking back through my archives I thought I'd share one of my favorite and most overlooked animals with you. On my trip to South Africa in 2006 I had the pleasure to visit the area around Capetown for two days. On one of those days I was able to tour the peninsula that ends in the famous Cape of Good Hope, the most southwesterly tip of Africa.


Along the was I stopped in the community of Simon's town (map). This old naval town is now known for the colony of Jackass penguins (Spheniscus demersus) that inhabit the protected Boulders Beach area. Given that Simon's Town is located at 34 degrees south latitude, I was initially surprised to find a permanent colony of penguins. Other than the penguins that inhabit the Galapagos Islands of the equator, these are one of the most northerly colonies of penguin.

The government of South Africa protects these unique birds as they are endemic (native only) to South Africa and Namibia and their population is in historical decline. Back in 1930 the population was estimated at over 1.2 million birds. By 2006, their numbers were less than 120,000. The cause of their decline is multifaceted, but the main factors seem to have been guano harvesting for fertilizer and egg harvesting. Since the early 1990's two oil spills along the South African coast (1994 & 2000) also impacted penguin populations.

In addition to their unique geography, their name instantly draws quizzical looks whenever you mention their name. The more "normal" name for these penguins is the  African Penguin, but the name "jackass" penguin came about because when you encounter these characters they brey like donkeys. Even knowing this in advance, I found myself standing amongst them looking for donkeys! The sound is THAT realistic!


Here is a real donkey braying.............





Now listen to the Penguins from Boulders Beach......

If you were blindfolded, could you tell the difference?

Thanks for visiting and I hope you leave these birds with a smile on your face!

Where have all the chicks gone?

This past week I wandered by a Wax Myrtle tree that housed a family of Downy Woodpeckers back in the spring of 2010. As I showed the abandoned nest to some of the Nature Photography campers, I wondered where the little chicks are now. Of course there is no way to know for certain with those chicks, but I do hold out hope we may get others to revisit this coming spring. In the meantime, here are some shots of the cute little chicks before they fledged.

As always, clicking in an image will take you to the original gallery

Signs of Spring!

Ahhh.... Spring is truly arriving here in North Texas. I'll allow Mother Nature to share her show with you  - She speaks far more eloquently than I ever can!

White Throated Sparrow

Purple Wing Violas

Dark Eyed Junco

Click in each image to see it in the original Blue Lion Gallery

Enjoy Visions of other places through MY WORLD

A place where images do the talking- WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

More Feathered friends? Try WORLD BIRD WEDNESDAY

Fabulous Floral Fun? TODAY'S FLOWERS

A Visit from our Local Cooper's Hawk

The Highly efficient visit of our neighborhood Cooper's Hawk last autumn.He was yet to read "To Kill A Mockingbird".

Click in any image to see it in the original gallery.

This is a post to WORDLESS WEDNESDAY, WORLD BIRD WEDNESDAY, & CAMERA CRITTERS.