Lady Fern (Athyrium filix-femina)

A lady fern (Athyrium filix-femina) emerges from rocks along the banks of the Salmonberry River. Spring, western Oregon. Native americans would use this fern to cover food, and eat the filddleheads in early spring.



lady fern (Athyrium filix-femina)

Skipping Rocks

I have been teaching my daughter how to skip rocks at Tryon Creek. The location is not ideal, but there are  lots fabulous flat rocks to skip across the water. I spent hours of my youth perfecting my technique - mostly in the calm bays off of Shaw Island in the San Juans. Practice makes perfect, and these days I can usually skip a single stone seven or eight times.


I spent many hours not long ago trying to photograph a rock just skimming the water's surface. The trick here was to get the rock to land in the camera's narrow zone of focus. And getting to hit the water at just the right angle...



rock splashing



rock splashing



rock skipping

Southern Leopard Frog (Rana sphenocephala)

I love how frogs can have just their eyes and nostrils above the water line while the rest of them is hidden below the surface. 



juvenile southern leopard frog (Rana sphenocephala)

Predacious Diving Beetle (Cybister fimbriolatus)

Another interesting beetle adaptation. The predacious diving beetle lives and hunts underwater, but when it needs to relocate, it can take to the air until it locates another suitable body of water. These beetles are large enough to kill and consume small fish, however they typically hunt other invertebrates.



predaceous diving beetle (Cybister fimbriolata)



Predacious Diving Beetle (Cybister fimbriolatus)





diving beetle in action

Whirligig Beetle, or Gyrinidae Beetle, (Dineutus sp)

Small and fast moving, these little aquatic beetles often swim in agitated circular patterns. They are so adept at avoiding predators, that getting close to one can be quite a challenge. Seen in detail, they have a surprising beauty and personality. 


whirligig beetles also called Gyrinidae beetles, (Dineutus sp)


They have divided compound eyes. The upper part of the eye sees above water while the lower part of the eye can see under the surface.



swimming whirligig beetle also called Gyrinidae beetle, (Dineutus sp)



swimming whirligig beetle also called Gyrinidae beetle, (Dineutus sp)

Jump! Leopard frog (Rana pipiens)

Continuing with the frog theme: Another technically challenging image that was accomplished with
the help of my friend Dr John Abbott at the University of Texas. I was in Texas to photograph bats (more on that later) but how can you pass up a cute frog?