Melissa Greenawalt

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Animals

Encounters with feather and fur, wing and claw, moo and meow.
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The painted turtles were out in force at Campton Bog. I came around the bend in my kayak and heard a "sploosh!"...but I couldn't find the source. Another sploosh...still no sign of anything. Then I happened to look a little further beyond, and there were these turtles, sunning themselves on the vegetation. Dozens of them.<br /> <br /> I had some trouble getting close enough slowly enough, but I think I lucked out on this guy/gal. Seconds after I shot this...sploosh!<br /> <br /> Gone.
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The painted turtles were out in force at Campton Bog. I came around the bend in my kayak and heard a "sploosh!"...but I couldn't find the source. Another sploosh...still no sign of anything. Then I happened to look a little further beyond, and there were these turtles, sunning themselves on the vegetation. Dozens of them.

I had some trouble getting close enough slowly enough, but I think I lucked out on this guy/gal. Seconds after I shot this...sploosh!

Gone.

  • Hi there! I'm an eft! Don't you just want to smile, right now?<br /> <br /> This little fellow was all of an inch long. I was en route to photograph sensitive ferns illuminated by sunlight...but cute newt was so much more enticing!
  • When you simply, absolutely HAVE to turn the car around and investigate! Sleepy barred owl on a signpost en route back from skiing.
  • This wee newt was so young, it really didn't know what to make of this huge thing (me) bearing down upon it. I promise you: I did not pre-arrange the baby newt in front of the baby fern for maximum adorableness. Things simply happened that way. If I do say so myself, the "awwwww" factor here almost rivals <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/melissadilla/5757172466/">the baby flying squirrel</a> from last May.
  • Up close and personal with a Meadowhawk dragonfly in Hancock, NH. She stayed still just long enough for me to get this shot, then danced tantalizingly, just out of reach.<br /> <br /> Dragonflies are amazing eating machines. Their delicate looking wings conceal a strong ability for agile flight; their compound eyes allow them to see prey in all directions; and their mouthparts...don't even get me started. Freakin' cool.
  • Barred owl seen from speeding car. Again. This makes twice since Thanksgiving this has happened. Last time, I shot a few from inside the car, but when I got out, it flew away.<br /> <br /> This time, I pushed the boundaries. I shot a few photos from inside the car, then walked slowly across the street, waiting for the owl to fly off.<br /> <br /> It didn't, simply swiveling its neck to look at me, brown eyes alert. I paused, and it relaxed again. I took another step...a photo...another step, over the snowbank. With the crunch of the snow, the owl again looked my way...and right at me. We held that gaze for a few seconds, and, seemingly unconcerned, it looked away again. Perhaps it was searching for something in the snow below. Perhaps it was trying to stay warm. Perhaps it was just tired. I stepped forward again...an was greeted by that owlish gaze, liquid brown knowledge. It was a cold day, but that's not why I shivered just then.<br /> <br /> I shot a few more photos, the owl watching me, until it made itself tall, looked out and above me, and took off in complete silence across the road and off into the safety of the trees, leaving me happy and thanking the universe...again.<br /> <br /> I. Was. Giddy.
  • The painted turtles were out in force at Campton Bog. I came around the bend in my kayak and heard a "sploosh!"...but I couldn't find the source. Another sploosh...still no sign of anything. Then I happened to look a little further beyond, and there were these turtles, sunning themselves on the vegetation. Dozens of them.<br /> <br /> I had some trouble getting close enough slowly enough, but I think I lucked out on this guy/gal. Seconds after I shot this...sploosh!<br /> <br /> Gone.
  • Who knew that frogs, up close, actually have Mona Lisa smiles??<br /> <br /> "Kermit Theee Frog" appeared to be unfazed by my presence. I tried reassuring the frog that I meant it no harm, and, if it stayed for just a bit, I'd not even try to pick it up and say hi. I was able to shoot this and a few other photos from about six inches away from the frog.<br /> <br /> In thanks for its cooperation, I was true to my word. No frog slime on these hands.<br /> <br /> Not that day, anyway...
  • Two of the Echo Farm gang strain to see what's up. Actually, they just want another apple. These are some of the most photogenic cows around, IMHO.<br /> <br /> If you look really closely, just below the ear and eyes of the cow to the right is a wavy white line. Something on my monitor? No...it moves with the picture when I scroll. Damn; an artifact, or did I not notice the fence, so excited was I to photograph curious cows?<br /> <br /> Then I remembered: it was a really windy day. That's flying cow drool. Awwwwwwwesome.
  • Fletcher the Common Man cat (a.k.a. The Most Widely Pampered Cat in the World) reminds me of a saying I've seen in many places: "Dogs Have Masters; Cats Have Staff."<br /> <br /> Indeed.
  • It's a posse of moo at Echo Farm in Rumney. Grass fed, sucka...
  • Innocent-looking squirrel suggests a route up in Tuckerman's Ravine, Mount Washington, NH.
  • Doreen and Eric Gitschier, along with their two children, breed and raise pigs at Gitch's Funny Farm in Hill, NH. These guys were enjoying the April sun, and, although they look tranquil, there was actually quite a bit of shifting going on as they rotated to get the best exposure!
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