September 5, 2018

ACTION: Lens-Artists Photo Challenge

Patti selected the word Action for this week’s Photo Challenge.  When thinking about what to present, wildlife images immediately came to mind.  Wild animals and birds spend most of their life being active; always vigilant and searching for food to survive and raise their young.

 

“Your way of life is determined by the actions you take.”  Akiroq Brost

Beautiful Maine Bobcats (Lynx rufus) like this one are fairly common in many parts of the state.  It was mesmerizing watching this cat slowly saunter back into the woods when hearing someone approach in the distance. Fortunately, bobcats are reclusive animals and tend to avoid people.  Their diet consists of rabbits, geese, turkeys, rodents, birds and deer.

 

Four playful Bottle-Nose Dolphins following our boat.  Their long slender bodies precisely cutting through the water – Poetry in Motion! 

 

Unfortunately, we cannot see the action under the water but from all the movement, a lot of activity is taking place!  This pod of Bottle-Nose Dolphins is aggressively swimming as they “herd” a school of fish in a tight circle before driving them up on the bank.  Then, the dolphins beach themselves and grab fish as they fly in the air. This feeding behavior is called “strand feeding”; a learned behavior characteristic of dolphins around the SC coastline and only a few other places in the world.  This picture was taken in the Kiawah River in SC.

 

This Mute Swan seems to be showing off for the camera. He is standing upright beating his wings so hard circular ripples formed in the water.  

 

“Thoughts do more. Words do much. Actions do much more.” ∼ Israelmore Ayivor

These young Great Blue Herons decided to act on their own and began badgering their parents, clamoring to be fed. What a full time job – constantly searching for food to feed growing youngsters!