Sunday, April 30, 2006

As the sun goes down, my local neighbors begin stirring about. The following images were shot in the last light of the end of April, just before sunset. As the days wax longer and the beavers become more and more trusting, I'm hoping to get better and better pictures!

These guys are a blast to photograph. Once they become accustomed enough to ignore me, they started to reveal some of their more endearing habits. Like loud chomping when they eat, and little growly noise when they think I'm getting too close or moving around too much!

Then, of course there's the ultimate insult... A smack of that huge tail on the water, like a gunshot, usually, but not always, followed by a plunge beneath the surface. Actually, they hardly do that at all anymore. Guess they are starting to think that maybe I'm some sort of strange beaver, too!
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A pair of beavers cruise towards their twig larder where they will be joined by a juvenile pup... Posted by Picasa
Suppertime or, perhaps, breakfast since beavers are nocturnal... Posted by Picasa
Coming across this lump in the pond, you might think it's a grass hummock at first, but note the ripples and the green twig sticking out of the hummock's mouth! Posted by Picasa
An evening cruise across the glassy surface... Posted by Picasa
I have noticed that beavers often close one or both eyes when eating. I wonder if that is so they can concentrate more on enjoying the tender bark! Posted by Picasa
Beaver's fur is instantly dry as soon as they pop out of the water. It is also thick and beautiful! There are still some fur trappers in the nearby Adirondacks, but these guys are safe as long as they want a home on my pond... Posted by Picasa
Mother and pup. The males are more wary and still sometimes wack the water with their tails to let me know about keeping my distance! Posted by Picasa
Beavers are noisy eaters! As you can see this one has become very trusting over the past days. I am about ten feet away here... Posted by Picasa
Beavers have poor eyesight. As with dogs, they check each other by smell. He a juvenile stays close to its mother. Posted by Picasa

Saturday, April 29, 2006

Spring fiesta! Posted by Picasa
Out of the drab earth... Posted by Picasa
Milkweed study: Cast your fate to the winds... Posted by Picasa

Friday, April 28, 2006

Crab on a beach in Phuket (image by AKP) Posted by Picasa
World in a flower (hybiscus)... Posted by Picasa
The pelican pack... Posted by Picasa
Asleep and awake... Posted by Picasa
Gull... Posted by Picasa
Anhinga watching the sun set... Posted by Picasa
Wading for lunch... Posted by Picasa
Last rays of the sun over Cocoa Beach... Posted by Picasa

Thursday, April 27, 2006

In the very last light of day this beaver silently cruises his world. Posted by Picasa
Moving across the water just before dark, he is starting his "work day" and will continue it through much of the night. Posted by Picasa
The little guy decided he wanted to eat his lunch somewhere else. He even dove with it several times... and each time he came up the branch was shorter! Posted by Picasa
This beaver was definitely curious about the guy sitting on the bank with the camera. He kept circling back to get a closer look, torn between apprehension and curiousity! Posted by Picasa