Photography of Natural Settings and Wildlife by Kozmic Dreams

My Photography of Natural Settings and Wildlife

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The Garden City, Michigan "A & W" Squirrel

Every time I go to this A & W and sit in the truck to eat around the side of the building, this same black squirrel (with a bit of brown undercoat) always walks along the overhead wires. When I was sitting there with Brian on November 8, 2009, I immediately thought of the squirrel and wondered where it was. Just a few minutes later, I saw it in the distance and it started walking on the wires. For a little while, I couldn't tell where it had gone, but then I saw it in what I believe is a bald cypress tree. Apparently, it has a favorite branch that is perfectly horizontal and just right for lounging. I don't think I've ever seen a squirrel just lay down on a branch, but that is exactly what this one did. It looked very relaxed. I happened to have my parents' point-and-shoot camera with me, so I took a few pictures of it (too bad I wasn't toting around my good camera). The last photo was when I got almost to the wall that separates us---it perked up its tail and its eyes opened wide. I decided to head back to the truck at that point so it could continue relaxing on this nice, sunny, 65-degree day.

Baby Toad in the Woods

On July 26, 2008, I was camping in Nelson, OH, thinking what a perfect day it was and how it would top everything off to see a toad. About a half hour later, I spotted this little baby in the dirt road hopping along.

Nest with Moon in the Background

On March 20, 2008, I took these photos of a bird's nest (likely last year's) with the moon behind it.

Waterfall at the Henry Ford Estate

In Dearborn, MI, right next to the U of M Dearborn campus, there is a beautiful place to walk around---the Henry Ford Estate. Anyone can just venture around the gardens, ponds, and favorite spots that Mr. Ford used to enjoy. I especially like the waterfall, which is part of the Rouge River. I have enjoyed sitting on the rocky ledge listening to it many times. On July 13, 2006, Brian and I brought a bullfrog and garter snake to release in these lush surroundings. I decided to take a few shots of the waterfall. We were even lucky enough to see a black-crowned night heron, Nycticorax nycticorax hunting for fish on the ledge across from us.

Wildlife in the Pittsburgh, PA Area

I first visited Pittsburgh on May 12, 2006 for the purpose of seeing my favorite band, Project Object, play at the Club Café. The following photographs were taken right outside of the hotel, which was in a very natural setting. I especially enjoyed the rocks, as they are something I don't see in Michigan. I also had the pleasure of hearing and photographing some very different sounding birds, which I have identified as Gray Catbirds. I discovered that they are part of the mockingbird family, Mimidae, so no wonder their songs were so interesting. Their scientific name is Dumetella carolinensis. Click here to learn more about Gray Catbirds and hear a recording of their call. I even saw a white-tailed deer foraging a few hundred feet from the hotel!