Usually muskrats are seen as a pair of eyes and a snout speeding ahead of a stream of ripples in a marsh pond or river. If the water is clear, its long, hairless tail might be seen propelling the muskrat forward. They look very sleek when swimming.

This muskrat swam to the marsh bank, apparently not noticing that I was standing there. It emerged from the shallow water, looked up and gave this startled "husky" appearance, and swam away.

Muskrat have been hunted for their fur, and for some people, a source of food.

European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)

18th March 2021 - Shropshire

Not by me!

“A person is always startled when he hears himself seriously called an old man for the first time.”

Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

DSCN7602 SOOC

I think they kind of startled each other in this shot, LOL

Newark, CA

In 1890, there were no European Starlings in North America, and then 100 or so were released into Central Park, New York, by Shakespeare fans, who wanted to introduce animals from his plays to the USA. Now they thrive coast to coast across the USA in 10's of thousands and have no doubt negatively impacted indigenous species in the process.

Barn Owl didn't expect to see me in it's path. Heavy crop

New foliage standing out in bright fresh green, contrasting nicely with the tree trunks and the background scenery.

Northern Flicker

Cosumnes River Preserve, Galt, California

Lapwing disturbing a resting Snipe at Rutland water.

Reed Bunting taking off.

Walking in the first morning light,

lost in thought.

Suddenly a flutter in the air.

Startled!

- a flock of birds by me.

- and I out of my thoughts.

Aufgeschreckt

Spazieren im ersten Morgenlicht,

versunken in Gedanken.

Plötzlich ein Flattern in der Luft.

Aufgeschreckt!

- ein Vogelschwarm durch mich.

- und ich aus meinen Gedanken.

Red-Tailed Hawk

Near Woodbridge Ecological Reserve, Lodi, California

I heard a noise... was it you?

This one was crossing the road as I came upon it on my bicycle. I turned around and parked the bike away from the snake and took a few pictures. I stayed a safe distance away at all times.I think the initial encounter with the bicycle startled it.

To live is so startling it leaves little time for anything else. ~Emily Dickinson

While I was off trail, I first heard, then saw this Red-bellied Woodpecker foraging on the forest floor. He then hopped up on this downed tree and posed so nicely in the morning sun. A magnificent bird!

High res, so zoom on in!

Red-Bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)

They were as surprised to see me as I was them. On the pond near my house this spring.

I was walking a forest track today when I met this Scottish Blackface Sheep - I thought it fitting with it being Burns Night tonight to add something from North of the Border :-)

Telegraph Tuesday

While heading to Trumansburg we encountered a huge flock of Starlings feeding along the side of the road.

... the little furry Dragon is hiding and waiting for unsuspecting passerbys. He loves to pounce out like a jack-in-the-box and startle them. The preferred victims are Filou and Sethi as he knows that Cleo would teach him a lesson and Fynn simply wouldn't be startled at all.

Late afternoon in northumberland this hare and others came in very close and heard the shutter of my camera.

Piazza Navona – Roma

If you were a bug, you might be.

According to AllAboutBirds.org, the male American Redstart, such as the one shown here, "flashes the bright patches in its tail and wings. This seems to startle insect prey and gives the birds an opportunity to catch them."

Our Daily Challenge "Motion"

...and she climbed the tree in front of the kitchen window.

#1 in series of 5

This sleepy head was startled by my activities and expression seemed to be that of rightful indignation.

I was looking back at some of my frames from a few years back and came across this image that didn't quite make the cut the first time around. It can be quite rewarding sometimes when you come across images (that you now like) from the past that were neglected (and forgotten) when first viewed....Thanks for looking.

Momma moose and two of her young have alerted to something in the distance as all three have their ears up and are listening. I had pulled up and was sitting in my vehicle, shooting out the window as they worked on the bits of grass next to the roadway. The young ones are yearlings that will be become independent this spring when momma turns them loose, aka "kicked to the curb" ;)

Taken 27 April 2022 off the Glenn Highway near Glacier View, Alaska.

I inadvertentently scared this pair of ducks. I had no idea that they were in the reeds in front of me.

Red-tailed Hawk on preferred perch in sunrise fog at Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge.

FXT21682_P1

Holidays in Scotland in winter always stir the imagination that there will be a decent amount of snow about and the already startling landscape will be transformed into a winter wonderland. The added bonus is that whatever the snow situation there are such a wide range of stunning places, and Gruinard beach is a wonderful spot on a sunny day!! Cold day in the sun by Foo Fighters is perfect , but it's not as cold as last time we visited, when I paddled through sheets of ice!