New Drawing

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I created this pencil sketch of my niece and nephew for my sister as a Christmas present. I was really happy how it turned out!

Merry Christmas

Greetings,
I wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. Enjoy the snow if you got it and savor the time with the family, eat some good food, and drink some good beer! 
   I got out for a great hike today and discovered this very cool pine cone that had been blown across the snow by the wind, it left a amazing pattern. I realized the snow needs to be perfect for this to happen. Crusty layer below with a dry light powder on top.

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Further into the hike I found a dark-eyed junco sitting on the ground . I took a few photos as it sat there. I was able to get unusually close. I looked at this bird for a while and wondered if it was hurt, I creeped closer and discovered indeed he/her was hurt. I picked the bird up in my hands and held it for a few minutes. The bird seemed 'with it' but seems like it may have been injured , perhaps by a hawk or owl. One eye was missing and he seemed hurt. I continued to try to make it warm in my cupped hands for maybe 10 minutes, then placed it on a branch off the ground away from predators and continued on my way.

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A few hours later I returned passed the same spot, sure enough my little buddy was still there, but on the ground again, I tried to pick it up again but it actually flew to a branch. This was a major struggle, but was somewhat encouraged to see it able to even do that. As I turned to walk away i felt really sad, my heart sunk realizing the poor guy would have a slim chance of making it through the night. This reminded me how precious life really is. 

Take time enjoy life everyday, laugh, hike, take pictures and go outside. Try hard not to get to caught up with the hurried pace we live.
Merry Christmas

Winter Hawks

Greetings,

I got these photos this morning in the orchard near my house on a trail cam. these two red-tailed hawks were feeding on the remains of a deer. This time of year wild creatures take what they can get to sustain the energy to stay warm and alive. It appears one of these hawks may be a young'n.

New Website!

Hello old friends and new friends. I am very happy to announce the launch of my new website. The goal of this new site is to allow the user to delve deeper into the images, and really explore the world as i see it through my lens or paintbrush. I have hundreds of images now all sorted by subject. I still have a few minor tweaks to work out but would LOVE to hear your feed back. Im off to explore the woods on this frigid New Hampshire morning. Enjoy the new site and please send me a message through the contact page with any questions or comments!
Thanks
Bill

Let it snow!

Well we finally got out first real snow up here, and it was amazing. Over night we received about 3.5 inches of the sticky whiteness. I spent a lot of time hiking with-out the camera because the snow was falling so often i was afraid to damage my equipment, but managed a few nice shots that captured the moment. More on the way wednesday!

Hello again

It has sure been a while since I posted but I am happy to say a lot of hard work on a totally new website is almost complete. It will be launched in the next 2 weeks! Make sure to check back. I hope every one has been enjoying fall! I can feel snow just around the corner!

I wanted to share a few shots of these American Goldfinches that we see around the office. Normally these bird have a very distinct bright yellow coloring. As winter approaches the color changes to a dirty almost greenish hue. I caught these guys feeding on some berries outside my window today. They are really fun to watch and arrive suddenly in groups, they leave just as fast as they arrive.

 

Barred Owl

Im still amazed how rarely I see these owls. I know there are supposed to be common but I average about 1 sighting a year, and the chance of having my camera, ( and have it ready to take a photo) is not very likely. BUT last week the stars must have been aligned! I was out on a short hike before work and heard this guy call out. Withing a few seconds of trying to determine where he was, I heard some branches moving and he flew right over to see what I was all about. I went back later that day and saw him again, but this time there was no chance of getting a photo! This has been good inspiration to get working on my Barred Owl Painting!

New Lens

 I love my new lens...

Orchard Hawk

Saw this guy sitting on a wire on my way to my house while driving. I got home, grabbed my bike and my camera and rode back to see if he was still there. He was, got some great shots, loving the new camera and lens combo. I THINK its a immature red-tail hawk.

Mallard X Wood Duck Hybrid

For the second time inside of a year since I have lived in NH I have identified yet another Mallard Hybrid, this time it was a group of ducks hanging out on a log near the side of the road. As I approached I noticed The wooduck ( females) did not take flight as they normally do. Carrying my new camera and lens I snapped a few photos when i noticed something funny, there was a patch of blue on the wing of the "Wood Duck" Turns out it was a genetically crossed female Wooduck that had been mixed with a Mallard, in fact there were 3 of them, all thinking that they were Mallards. Whats in the water up here?! This Website has some great information...
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A visitor today

Hello everyone,

Its been a while since I posted here, thats what happens when you get beautiful weather and weekends fill up months ahead.... but I have been loving every minute of it, lots of hiking, biking, and thanks to our friend hurricane Bill, Surfing!

I had a nice relaxing morning on this beautiful Sunday and decided to try a quick out door oil painting. I grabbed my paint and canvas and walked about 20 feet out my backdoor under a great shady maple. I chose to paint the flower garden just on the other side of the pool and the back porch. Simple, nothing to crazy.

There I was painting along, minding my own business when my nosy ( or beaky) neighbor had to come over to say hi. I was thrilled when this young Red-Tailed hawk landed in the yard, hung out under a hedge for a little bit, the proceeded to walk right over to me, literally 3 feet away. I am convinced he thought the cleaning brush for the pool was a mouse or something. I was VERY happy that my camera was an arms reach away. This hawk allowed me to take about 50 photos...thanks bud!

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My painting set-up

See him, look under the hedge..



Just coming over to say hi

getting closer

closer

Doh, its a pool brush..


.
Just before he left me.

Foxes!

Hello Again....
Very happy to share these with you all, its been a LONG time coming. These were taken a few weeks ago in Idaho, one set from Sun valley and the others from Hailey.

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Spring Backyard Birds

I have been a little behind posting photos, a few of you have kindly sent emails to give me a kick in the pants, so here is what I got. I have been going for lots of walks with the camera, in the orchards and field edges out my back door. In addition to the birds I was lucky enough to capture are all the ones who flew away before i had a chance to get a shot. All said and done, so far I have identified 7 new species that are new to me. I also started a new Birdlist for New Hampshire. According to the list New Hampshire has 389 species of birds. Check back soon
Bill



White Crowned Sparrow

Scarlet Tanger

Savannah Sparrow

Robin on nest

Freshies

Palm Warbler

Northern Oriel

Indigo Bunting

Blue Heron

More Fisher Cat!

The past week and a half I have been out to Beaver Brook scouring the edges of the fields looking for all the cool birds that are passing through, I have seen a great variety, from Scarlet Tangers to palm warblers, many of these I have never seen before. I will be doing a post in the next week or so with a collection of these images. Today I would like to share some images I captured this morning of a fisher cat. I was hiking quietly along a new trail and discovered a Fisher cat who was too busy to realize I was there, This would mark the second time I have seen one in person. Glad I had the camera.

Fisher Cat!

Just finished moving to beautiful Hollis NH, I am surrounded by vast tracts of forest and huge farm fields, I love it here. I have been hiking daily and shooting some photos, feeling a renewed urge to create, check back soon!

I was pretty happy to have captured a daytime photo of a fisher cat on my trail camera. I plan to have the camera set up as much as possible this spring. I have this dream that there must be bob cats around here! We will see.

Hybrid Mallards

This is a first for me. I had first thought this was a Green Wing Teal, but after looking at the photos I realized it was actually a Mallard that had been hybridized with a American Black Duck, this LINK makes it ver clear what happened. Nature never ceases to amaze me!