Just like the title says I have a new respect and admiration for wildlife photographers. They must be the most quiet and patient people on this earth. It is so easy to take pictures of plants they don't move unless the wind tosses them about. But try and take pictures of wild animals and you have your work cut out for you. Domestic animals will normally cooperate especially if you bribe them with a little organic catnip in just the right places but what do you bribe a wild bird with ? I discovered yesterday that if you approach them they just move away from you as quickly as possible or even worse the parents charge you . The best thing to do is find a good spot to observe them and sit and wait. It could take a while but eventually they won't notice you anymore and you might get lucky. While waiting you can enjoy the air and beautiful sky, listen to the birds, watch the air show the swallows are putting on for you and think. When I stopped chasing the goslings, they came to me. Here are some of my favorite shots. 
I used the sit and wait quietly method to take a few adorable shots of a small squirrel munching on a nut in the forest.
I am having a much harder time getting good pictures of other birds with my not so fancy camera but I did manage a nice shot of a grosbeak on the weekend.
I've been loving your flora photos, but I'm quite a fool for babies. These goslings are so precious. I'm also very impressed with your close-ups. I took a bunch of pictures of a goose family last week and couldn't get nearly this close...I did have my children with me, but we were very quiet and still! Just a lot of hissing going on!
Posted by: mayalu | May 21, 2008 at 10:34 PM
LOVE the goslings!
Posted by: rebekah | May 21, 2008 at 10:55 PM
A zoom lens does wonders! My dad was a wildlife biologist and growing up I got to see more than my fair share of wildlife photos. He would bring his slides to my class every year (I was mortified by this at the time).
Anyway, the goslings are adorable. I like the one of them crossing the street :)
Posted by: Annie | May 22, 2008 at 12:22 AM
I think your photos is wonderful.....I love to watch wild animals.
But if you want to take closer shots of animals...you need a zoom lens....my camera has 18 x zom and thats helps a lot!!!
Did the gosling find hes way to the others ?
Good luck with your expeditions in the nature and take care!!!
Posted by: Clara | May 22, 2008 at 01:33 PM
Your photos are wonderful!
I've spotted a few batches of goslings recently, too----they are too cute for words. Spying them makes me feel as if I'm stealing a glimpse of nature herself----so precious...
Yes, I admire those nature photographers, too. That kind of photography makes me realize I don't have the time nor the equipment to pull it off properly...
Posted by: Berlinswhimsy | May 23, 2008 at 12:48 AM
Oh Margie, you were lucky because in the end you were able to take some great pictures. I know some friends who had such a bad experience when they went bird watching! you can see them in this link: http://elsita.typepad.com/elsita/2008/01/birdwatching-o.html
They are supposed to go back someday and I will give them some advices from this post!
Elsita :)
Posted by: Elsita :) | May 24, 2008 at 06:37 PM