These Japanese Beetles clearly had a romantic evening the night before I made this picture.  It is also clear that they fell fast asleep in this position and even collected some dew overnight. 

Fishing bridge on a foggy morning.  Bong State Recreation Area, Wisconsin. I have written a lot about places that are special to me.  I have never included Bong even though this may be the “most special” place of all to me.  I began going there in high school when it was an abandon airbase.  I have made more kinds of pictures here than anywhere I have ever been.  I have also made more human friends here than any single photo place.  My first Snowy Owl, Short-eared Owls, Great-horned Owls, Rough-legged Hawks and Red-shouldered Hawks were photographed here.  I have witnessed a thousand Sandhill Cranes lift off at sunrise, and then spent the next day hunting for something to photograph.  My memories here are powerful and vivid. 

This image of a Male House Finch is the most recent picture I have made.

Mute Swans.

Semipalmated Plover.

Without a doubt, for a pure landscape location White Sands New Mexico is my champion.  I forget about the subject here and just work graphically.  There is a time to do that with all photography, including wildlife but this place just brings it out of you.

The visual and emotional joy of nature can even be appreciated through a kitchen window. A few days ago I woke up and headed for to the kitchen for my morning bowl of cold cereal.  I took a brief peek out the window only to see a beautiful Red Fox trotting through the countryside.  The past four years of my life have revolved around this species and the memories that my redheaded friend brought back were welcome.  Given the time of year, the time of morning  and the fact that this fox had a recently deceased squirrel in its mouth, I would suggest that this was a proud papa taking breakfast home to the wife and kids (kits).

I wrote a while back that all of my internet related activity was in essence hacked.  That occurred because of some careless activity on my part.  I used an unsecure wireless system and I was observed by another person (computer).   I fixed it easily (except Facebook).  In fact all of the various website system’s software recognized what was happening and stopped the hacker.  Having said that there remains issues on Facebook. This is the only location where I am having trouble. Someone manages to make posts in my name or shows “likes” when I have made none.  I will monitor this issue for a while, and if it continues, I will cancel my account.  The posts are from political groups on both the left and the right.  While I am an avid voter, and have many political thoughts of which I often share with others, I have no affiliation with either group.  I do have some agreement with one group but that is irrelevant.  Frankly I have more important things to think about right now.  I and only I decide who I affiliate myself with.  Many of the friends that I have on Facebook and I can remain in contact via personal email.  Still others share a membership with me on Birds-Pix, Digital Photos-pix or Flickr photos.  Along with Twitter those photography related sites are the only ones that I still remain (somewhat) active on today.