Otters Elwood and Emmy about to take a dive into their pond at British wildlife centre, UK

I think this is Bea, though I'm still trying to tell the differences between Bea and her new love, Bain. She's a very young otter born at the British Wildlife Centre. The last time I met her, she kept sidling up and her mum (Emmy) kept shouting at her to come away from the people!! She's still stunning and I could watch their antics all day.

For me, presentation is part of the work, a way to voice the maker’s thoughts of his subject. I don’t think it can add appeal... perhaps more like clarity. I have begun to set some of my photographs before the public in small galleries these days and I find that imagining how something you have worked on looks to others’ eyes is as difficult as knowing what we look like if we are not looking at ourselves.

Northern Leopard Frog R7

Cheeky little brown bear Emilia in her pond enjoying the sun's rays and keeping cool in her pond at Wolds Wildlife Park, Lincolnshire

Common Toad - Bufo bufo

The enigmatic and very present Puma, Viktoria... loving that position she held.. Photographed with awe at the Big Cat Sanctuary, Kent

A frog in a pond daydreaming

Photo taken at our local pond. It is actually standing on a fallen tree trunk which is partially submerged in the pond, this is the same tree trunk that I took the turtle photo basking itself in winter when only a small portion was still visible above the water line.

No these two Macquarie River Turtles were not getting "Jiggy with it", lol, this was the only piece of submerged log poking out of the water and being a sunny morning they wanted to soak up some sunshine. In the end they both ended up pushing each other back in the water. It gave me a great opportunity to test my new camera and to post my first photo from it.

Bullfrog. Wildwood Lake, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Thank you for the visit!

1/80 sec. f/7.1 235mm ISO100

I captured this shot a few years ago at Oak Hill Park. Sadly, neither of the ducks have survived. One of them, nicknamed locally as 'Monty', survived a couple of years longer. Such a shame we no longer have them.

The beautiful mandarin duck was introduced from the Far East, where it can still be found in China, Japan, Korea and parts of Russia. It escaped, or was deliberately released, from captivity in the UK. Mandarin ducks are actually quite shy birds, often hiding beneath overhanging willows and usually only forming small flocks.

More information on these beautiful birds may be found here: www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/birds/waterfowl/...

Whenever I stand by a pond I think of the poem

Daddy Fell into the Pond by Alfred Noyes. If you don't know it, and you want to smile, it is well worth reading - whatever your age.

allpoetry.com/Daddy-Fell-into-the-Pond

Created this for Treat This 94 in the Kreative People group www.flickr.com/groups/1752359@N21/discuss/72157657089233649/

Many thanks to abstractartangel for the source image which you can see in the first comment box below or here

www.flickr.com/photos/abstractartangel77/20488454645/

Other photos, brushes and textures are my own

Thank you for taking the time to visit, comment, fave or invite. I really appreciate them all.

Small pond in our neighborhood in Monson. Walter (garden art btw) keeps a continued watchful eye on things from the center of this little paradise. Sometimes he invites his friends aboard.

Please visit my other Flickr gallery:

www.Flickr.com/photos/walkingbolsachica

Thank you and warm regards, Jane

Below freezing temps and some super ice on our pond today

A female Emperor Dragonfly ovipositing on floating vegetation.

Taken at Staveley.

Many thanks to all who take the time to view, comment or fav my images.

Naples Botanical Garden in Florida is graced by ponds that contain a mixture of water garden plants that reflect against calm waters rippled by gentle breezes.

Last Friday was the saddest day of my life, so far. It wasn't a thrilling weekend either, so I set out to make a fresh start this Monday morning. I saw how foggy it was as I got ready for work, and managed to get out the door with time to find a photo before I got to the office. My enthusiasm for a picture wasn't matched by the manager of an estate I met on the way who took me to task about trespassing. Again?! Me??? Why me? I hadn't even gone in through the ornate gates but was trying to shoot the mist hanging between the avenue of trees beyond which was apparently offence enough. In fact it turned into a reasonably amiable conversation, but I thought I could find something better, darkening thoughts chuntering away in my mind as I drove on. I knew I would find a picture here. Quiet, peaceful, beautiful.... a perfect place to rebalance my mind and thoughts before I got stuck into work. I know things can improve, I can smile again www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAzEY1MfXrQ

For absent friends

8 frame panorama

Family notonectidae

Found in pool along the northern shore of Lake Michigan. Photographed using small aquarium made from microscope slides and returned to pond.

Backswimmer_0029_sc01

Grass snake in our pond.

Thank you all who fave and comment on my photo'/video's,much appreciated.And thank you all for looking.

North County Dublin Ireland

Lazy Sunday afternoon

I've got no mind to worry

I close my eyes and drift away-

www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXeRB-3nDR8

and also as frog rhymes with dog it works for #79/121 Rhymes with dog

American bullfrog.

Thank you for the visit!

Wildwood Lake, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania..

Afternoon kayaker on Long Pond ~ Fiskdale MA

Cormorant at Kettle Lakes ~ CO Springs

Please visit my other Flickr gallery:

www.Flickr.com/photos/walkingbolsachica

Thank you and warm regards, Jane

#FlickrFriday - #Together

My favorite goldfish surfacing because he knows I have food...he is now 12 years old and the big guy of the group

... One goal, one golden glance of what should be

It's a kind of magic...

I couldn't help but appreciate the magic of lying by the side of this pond at Crombie Country Park watching and listening to the frogs.... so I thought a few lyrics from Queen's great song would be fitting for this upload.

This photo is pretty much straight out of the camera, except for a couple of very basics tweaks that are always necessary to a raw file.

They are ducks what can I say.

Thank you all who fave and comment on my photo'/video's,much appreciated