Vegas Wildlife

When people think of LasVegas they think of casinos, neon lights, showgirls and wedding chapels.

These are my least favorite things about the area. 

I prefer the animals and beautiful plants that I don't get to see in Pennsylvania. 

We recently returned home from a trip out west to visit my 81 year old grandmother. It was Zoe's first time in a plane and we had quite an adventure... Valley of Fire, Hoover Dam, Mount Charleston and more!

We saw wild burros around Red Rock Canyon,

and mustangs around Cold Creek.

A desert rabbit in Valley of Fire (and a quail family too but they were too quick for me). 

Hummingbirds in my grandmother's back yard. The purple one is a black chinned hummingbird.

A spiny lizard with a beautiful blue belly. 

Red dragonfly in Bonnie Springs. 

In Boulder City they have a flock of desert bighorn sheep in Hemenway Park.

I was waiting for the young ones to jump on the playground equipment. 

Nothing like sharing adventures with your child!

(even if the desert was 100 degrees!)

Middle Creek

Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area - Kleinfeltersville, PA

Friday, February 10

So far there are about 15,000 snow geese. The numbers can climb to over 100,000. Wild bird enthusiasts

from all over the globe come here to watch the annual migration. I saw a camera lens pointing out of a SUV that looked like a bazooka!

"The tree which moves some to tears of joy is in the eyes of others only a green thing that stands in the way. Some see nature all ridicule and deformity ... and some scarce see nature at all. But to the eyes of the man of imagination, nature is imagination itself."
William Blake (1757-1827)

When the snow geese decide to go from one area to another it is the most intense noise you will ever hear. 

I get chills just thinking about it. 

I have a few more snow geese photos on my Flickr page. 

Wise Owl

Wisdom outweighs any wealth.  - Sophacles

"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Turkeys

I am a fan of turkeys. They are sort of ugly but they are beautiful too in their own way. 

Last week I watch the documentary "My Life as Turkey" on PBS. It was about a man who raised a clutch of wild turkeys from egg to adulthood. It was very interesting and at times quite sad.

You can watch the whole doc by clicking here. 

"Tom & Tanya Turkey - Landis Valley Museum"

These photos were taken at my friend Sandy's farm. You can read her blog here. 

Wild Deer and Turkeys

There is something so magical about being in the presence of wild animals.

The deer and turkeys at Sandy Sandy's farm are quite used to her and her husband Jerry being around. 

I was another story.

I had to sneak up on them and and act like I wasn't there.

 It didn't last long but I got some great shots before their self preservation

instincts kicked in and they trotted away.

"Who goes there?"

"I'll stomp and I'll snort and I'll hope you go home!"

“Our task must be to…

embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty.”

- Albert Einstein

Hummer Land



I've been a long time follower of Sandy Sandy's blog and recently I saw that that she was letting hummingbird enthusiasts come out and photograph her little birds. Well, you can believe I jumped at the chance! Sandy and her husband Jerry were wonderful hosts sharing their home with me for the weekend. There were so many animals- hummingbirds, deer, turkeys, wild birds, horses, and even a darling chipmunk. I truly believe I have made a friend for life and feel like I have met a very kindred spirit. Please check out Sandy's website as well when you get the chance, she is an amazing artist!

So here are a few of my favorite hummingbird photos from 'Hummer Land'. Please click on each photo for a larger view, some of the details are amazing!