I am way behind in processing images made over the last several months, which includes images from a trip in November to Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge in Delaware and Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Maryland. To make matters worse, depending on how I look at it, this Friday and Saturday, I contributed significantly to my post processing “workload” by another trip to Bombay Hook and Blackwater NWRs.

I went to Bombay Hook and Blackwater this weekend, because they are very large refuges consisting of wetlands, tidal pools, rivers and creeks, wooded areas, and a wide variety of wildlife, and this time of year, many migratory geese and ducks. It was a great trip because I was able to see thousands and thousands of geese, ducks and other wildlife to include an otter and a fox hunting Snow Geese.

I have not yet transferred the images from my memory cards to my computer from this weekend, but wanted to finish this blog post that I started before leaving Friday morning for Bombay Hook. It contains some of the sunrise and sunset images that I made from my November visit to Bombay Hook and Blackwater. (Opening and below images:  Sunset at Bombay Hook)

Based on my recent blog posts, some of you who follow my blog may think that I am predominantly interested in birds, but that is not true. I love being outdoors in the peaceful serenity of a natural, unspoiled setting, like a refuge or preserve, and if I am fortunate enough to also see some wildlife, it just makes the experience even better. I greatly enjoy sunrises and sunsets–they are all beautiful, but some are incredibly spectacular. The nice thing about sunsets is that I do not have to get up before the crack of dawn to see and photograph them. However, when I see a gorgeous, memorable and photographic sunrise, it makes getting up very early worthwhile, like the two sunrises below. (First image: Bombay Hook, and second image:  Blackwater).

The following are a couple more images from last November’s trip.

It often pays when photographing a sunrise or sunset to look in the opposite direction, as in the images below. The setting sun made the clouds in the opposite direction glow in warm shades of pink.

I just want to mention that one of the things I love about nature photography is that it is a solo activity–not a “team sport.” Therefore, I am not dependent on others participating and all of the difficulties that may cause, but I must admit that when I am witnessing sunrises and sunsets like those in the above images, it is great to have someone along so that I do not have to contain my excitement. My friend and frequent photography companion, Ceaser was with me on this trip, and I can remember saying to him more than once that I was glad he was there to witness what I was seeing and so that I did not feel crazy when I was verbalizing the thrill of the moment, which I do sometimes even when alone.

Now, I am going to conclude this article and begin transferring and reviewing the images from this weekend. I cannot wait to see them on my large monitor, because it was another fantastic two days at Bombay Hook and Blackwater NWRs with a side trip to the Choptank River to do some duck photography. There were at least 500 ducks there.