25 Comments

i particularly LOVE the final splash with bubbles photo. These are great!

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Thank you Susi!

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Lovely, Karen. As always. Thank you! That sunset, those ice photos .... WOW.

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Thank you Jeanne!

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Love the photos Karen - especially the ice photos. They've really helped me to stop and appreciate ice crystals on my hikes in Nature recently.

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yay! thank you!

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Ice on a duck's back (and head) Wow. Who knew! Great close up.

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It's pretty amazing! Thank you.

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Lovely Karen. Your sunrises look a lot like our Arizona sunsets!

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Thank you Ken! I think they are, especially when we get the dry air in winter. I think sometimes about all the time I spent in Arizona back before I had a camera or knew anything about birds and it makes me shake my head.

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Southeast Arizona is the place! Let me know if you ever make your way back here...

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Oh I definitely will!

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Each ice pic is a celebration springing off the page. Along with that grand February 1st sunrise and the elfin mergansers, this is another treat for the eyes. So beautiful! Thank you!

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Thank you Sandy!

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Beautiful… love the landing photo❤️😍👍

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Thank you Sharon!

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Ah, I love the street murals! I could stare for hours.

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Thank you Misti! I did stare for a long while!

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Thank you for this happy way to start my Friday!

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Thank you Michael!

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Good morning Karen. A month or more ago I noted the pleasure of having Hooded Mergansers visit Tallahasse every winter. Their presence in a stormwater pond south of our home - 50 or 60 feet at the closest - I treasure. (Three pair earlier this week; one pair this morning.) I have become curious about the males’ displays, often to the indifference of the females.

I wondered exactly when do they mate reproductively and where? I found that 45° North Latitude is an accepted southerly limit of their Summer range. I thought it unlikely an impregnated egg bearing member of the species would travel that far north, then nest.

As I certainly admire your skills in photography and careful attention to details of bird behaviors, I wonder what thoughts you might share on my wondering. The very best to you today and always.

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I'm pretty sure they don't produce eggs until they reach their nesting ground...however...I have certainly seen the mating act here in the middle of winter. My theory is that we have this clinical idea of sex of other species being 100% about reproduction and perhaps, you know just perhaps, we are wrong. Maybe they just enjoy it!

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Take your girl to the dance or your guy to the pagan ritual? Possible theme of a children’s book? “Who Wants To Be A Dad?” Thanks for your thoughts on this.

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Yes nature creates but you have captured it so beautifully. Thank you❗️❗️❗️

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Thank you!

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