Oh, no doubt about it, it is a wild life in more ways than one! But this week Egidio has us concentrating on nature which constantly surprises me. Egidio encourages us to show our wild side, asking us to post no more than eight images. Paring down was the real challenge, so here goes.

Effie Yeaw. This unspoiled nature center is about 15 minutes from my home and along the American River. The deer, birds, coyotes, rabbits, etc. are left to fend for themselves. We typically see deer and small animals here.

Each year, Laura and I go to the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge which is a couple of hours away. It’s a great place to photograph birds. Armed with my 300 mm max lens and a great deal of hope, I usually come home with a few good pictures. Thank goodness for cropping images!

An occasional trip to Point Reyes National Seashore, again with my friend Laura (who is a great nature/wildlife photographer) usually provides a day of fun and photography. There is an elk preserve there.

And elephant seals sleep on the shore.

My go to place for swans is Mather Lake, maybe 30 minutes from my home.

And, this is my eighth and last image. Each year birds nest in trees in Lincoln. It’s not exactly in the wild, but these wild egrets and herons have found a safe nesting place.

This may be my photographic wild side, but right now the wind is gusting, reminding me of nature’s other wild side. This one, I don’t like so much!

Thanks Egidio for encouraging us to walk on the wild side. Please be sure to link your response to his post and use the Lens-Artists tag. Last week was another difficult challenge when Tina asked us to pick our favorites. What an array of photos we shared. It was so much fun. Next week Ann-Christine challenges us, so look for her post. Until then, stay safe and live in gratitude.

53 thoughts on “Lens-Artists Challenge #342: It’s a Wild Life”

  1. Oh those horrid March north winds, Anne! Sorry, apparently Washington may be sending them your way! We get wind here too, but it doesn’t inflame my allergies (to fruitless mulberry trees ubiquitous in Sacramento).

    What a gorgeous set of photos of wildlife! Northern Cal has so many wonderful areas to find them. Effie Yeaw is a great place, and I enjoyed seeing a variety of wildlife along the American River Bike Trail in Rancho Cordova over the years. Love that eagle! Have a great week on the wild side!

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  5. Thanks, Anne, for joining in this wild adventure. I admire the flying bird photos you share, especially. That’s art. It’s great being so close to those wild places in your area.

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  8. Beautiful set of images. The grace of a swan is pretty hard to beat, but I love the first shot of the rabbit.

    The eagle(?) on the tree is an amazing shot too.

    I think most of us are pretty close to wildlife centres or nature reserves. It’s all a matter of making the time to drive a bit further afield if we live in an urban area like me. Zoos are worthwhile a visit too.

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    1. Thanks Vicki! The eagles are something I look for when I visit wildlife areas. The Bald Eagle is so majestic. I did enjoy your zoo pictures, and I visit our local zoo often.

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  12. What a place to have on your doorstep. That eagle image is great. I’ve seen them from a distance but never close enough to get a picture 🙂

    Thanks Steve! Having a zoom lens helps.

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  13. These are lovely photos. I know that there are lots of wildlife refuges along the coast in your part of California. I didn’t know about the elephant seals, otherwise I would have made more of an effort to visit Point Reyes last year when I was there. Another time, perhaps …

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  15. All of these are lovely but I especially love your bird photos 😀 The bald eagle one is fabulous, as are the swan and egret shots! But I do have to mention the elephant seal too, that’s a great capture!

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      1. Ah the Spring season! It’s funny that when I lived in India, I never thought of Spring season being so temperamental. It used to be a nice transition period from winter to summer. It’s only after coming to Europe, I understand that moodiness of this season! I hope it gets better for you there 🙂.

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