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Ms. KK had planned a mid-day meal and we were joined by her mother after church for a gathering. It was an enjoyable time
as we talked and visited. The plan was to get back into the refuge with the family to spend some time together and to learn what else we may
find. Rob and I left in my truck later to be joined by Ms. KK, Abigail and James in the refuge. I was pleased to learn James was coming along so I’d have an opportunity to talk with him some more. KK asked if I’d take some family photographs at some of the many scenic
refuge areas and I agreed of course. Being photographed isn’t something James is particularly fond about I learned so I told her I’d work on this with him when I had a chance.
Smoke on the WaterCanon EOS 5d, 1/200 second; EF100mm f/2.8 Macro at f/8, ISO 640 |
Always keeping ‘the list’ in mind, Rob and I discussed where to go previous to meeting the family… Sunday is an exceptional day in the refuge for visitors so we decided to check out several areas we knew would be well populated. We could investigate whatever we
wished and obtain some activity shots of the visitors for the refuge archive. So we headed towards Mount Scott – always a significant draw for folks driving through the refuge…
Vertical Face on the MountCanon EOS Mark III 1Ds, 1/250 second; EF100mm f/2.8 Macro at f/7.1, ISO 640 with Flash |
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Driving the road up Mount Scott Rob mentioned he knew where the climbers often set up to ascend the vertical face. This was at or near where we’d photographed the sunset on my first visit to the refuge. We pulled off in the small area just off the road
and looked around. Rob wasn’t certain where to go but soon enough he’d located a path going down. There was a vehicle with a decorative silhouette of a climber on the rear window so we figured this had to be the right place. I thought about what
lens/lenses to carry with me – I didn’t know what to expect. I had the 400mm prime mounted on the 1Ds and decided this would be okay for detailed exposures, so down we went. Rob understood I wasn’t particularly well rested after the past few days
and took pity on me with the pace as we traveled the rock-strewn path. After a few minutes we viewed some activity and learned we were in the right place. We spoke to a fellow who was topside tending ropes for some climbers ascending and asked
if it were okay for me to take a few shots. He said sure and indicated a good place to go for a better vantage point.
Climber on Mount ScottCanon EOS Mark III 1Ds, 1/1000 second; EF400mm f/5.6L at f/11, ISO 800 |
I found a place near the edge that allowed a good view of the cliff and worked my way forward. I took some shots at 400 millimeters and quickly realized while this would be excellent for detailed shots on the climbers it wouldn’t allow the feeling of expanse of the surrounding
area. I can recall in my younger days walking the exterior red iron on high-rise construction without a thought… Now I was standing near a precipice using a boulder to brace my knee and I was nervous looking over the edge – it was a long way down… I believe Rob thought all this relatively
funny but in fairness he did mention it may be best if I didn’t fall off…
After taking a series of exposures I pointed out having a wider lens along would have been desirable but didn’t vocalize the fact I wasn’t overly interested in climbing back up to the truck simply to come back down again. I was going stay put and use what I carried. Rob instantly volunteered
to return to the
vehicle to fetch more gear – after all, it was for the good of the refuge. I told him I didn’t want him to make the trip back and forth and he indicated something I’d already learned in the past few days – he’s designed for this type of thing and it wouldn’t
bother him in the least… I’ve got twenty-years plus on Rob for sure but would comment that he probably runs marathons in his spare time for fun and all uphill at that... He certainly was conditioned to accomplish this. Later I joked with Ms. KK that her husband must have some camel and mountain goat in his family lineage...
The Crew BelowCanon EOS Mark III 1Ds, 1/160 second at f/5.6; EF400mm f/5.6L, ISO 800 |
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Climbers on Mount Scott
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Rob and I talked with Mike Troxell, the climb-master for the day and the leader for what we'd just witnessed. I gave him my card and later we corresponded so I could email some images to him. I learned that
the lady climbing is his significant other and this was her first climb after training for it
in the gym… Good for her! I’m pleased I was able to get some good glass in the field to memorialize the event…
End of the Summit...Canon EOS Mark III 1Ds, 1/640 second at 120mm; EF70~200mm f/2.8L at f/8, ISO 800 |
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We’d heard the roar of ‘rolling thunder’ all day long… It was another beautiful day in the refuge with blue sky and more than ample sunshine for even the most staunch sun lover. After we hiked back to the truck the plan was to
drive up to the top parking area to enjoy the view and take some images of the people enjoying the refuge. I’d viewed the scene at right previously and thought it would be neat to a get a few shots of it today. I called it ‘mountain riprap’ but
don’t know if the rock was placed there or if it’s a natural occurrence... In any event we had to be careful obtaining photographs because there was no place to get off the roadway with any degree of safety at this location.
Later while doing some research on the geology of the mountains I read on the refuge website about drainage depressions and subsequent boulder accumulation that filled them. One of the most striking examples of this is the scene I photographed on the south side of Mount Scott. It was referenced as a natural phenomenon and called the ‘River of Boulders’, which it clearly appears to be.
River of Boulders at Mount ScottCanon EOS Mark III 1Ds, 1/400 second at 58mm ; EF24~105mm f/4L at f/11, ISO 400 |
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As I got back in the truck to head topside a large group of motorcyclists were making their way up and I waited for them to pass. I turned to Rob and commented that Oklahoma sure does have its share of ‘scooter trash’ running the
roads… I gathered Rob hadn’t heard this term before – he asked me to repeat it to ascertain he’d heard me correctly – he thought this was amusing considering that I too own & ride a pair of Harleys - yep, scooter trash indeed... I
laughed and indicated it was a
general term and not necessarily derogatory, however, I did advise him to be careful who he may try it out on… When we got into the
parking area where all the bikes were I noticed a group shot of bikers being taken with a point and shoot camera. I walked over and asked if they’d like me to take a photograph which I could forward later. They said sure – go ahead. I took multiple
exposures of the group, indicated I was a fan of all scooter trash – even my riding buds - and wished I was riding now on a day like this - it wasn't even close to being this warm at home. I told them I would definitely follow up provided they emailed me at the address found on my card, which
I provided. And yes, all this did happen… Before I returned to Maine I received an email from Mark Black and forwarded several images, one of these can be viewed below…
View from the Summit - Mount Scott...Canon EOS Mark III 1Ds handheld, 1/400 second at 24mm; EF70~200mm f/2.8L at f/14, ISO 400 |
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After leaving Mount Scott we started on a leisurely drive as we looked for subjects of interest. I spotted a sparrow off the side of the road and wanted to attempt to photograph it. I’d seen so few birds that any were exciting at this point so I got out of
the truck with a 400mm lens and did my best to get a few shots. I did accomplish this although none were anything to write home about to say the least. The photographic series did serve to identify the bird later however – it was a Vesper Sparrow, a
species I had some excellent detailed images of from past field sessions.
Vesper SparrowCanon EOS Mark III 1Ds handheld, 1/500 second at 400mm ; EF400mm f/5.6L at f/7.1, ISO 400 |
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Today we were doing much the same as the past several, but at a less hectic pace. Rob inquired about checking out some new territory which sounded great. There is so much I didn’t see or so many places I didn’t visit in the
time I had available. Having Rob along on a daily basis was definitely the way to go although I’m sure this was disruptive to his schedule. There was a drawback to this however… Because I didn’t need to refer to an area map to
find different locations, in essence, I never knew where we were in the overall picture… Rob always knew of course so it didn’t matter all that much to me. Later, as I tried to piece together this account - there was never time to
jot down any notes as I usaully do - it was a bit of
an issue and I had to walk him through the days mentally more than once. Off we went to Burford Lake…
Turtles at Water's EdgeCanon EOS Mark III 1Ds handheld, 1/500 second at 400mm; EF400mm f/5.6L at f/8, ISO 640 |
Burford Lake proved to be a fortuitous stop as we found all kinds of interesting activity to photograph – I viewed some insects that I’d never seen before. This turned out to be one of my favorite mini-sessions of the
Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge experience. Rob was at his best locating some unusual subjects and we made good use of our time.
American Bird GrasshopperCanon EOS Mark III 1Ds, 1/800 second at 400mm ; EF400mm f/5.6L at f/10, ISO 400 |
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Although I don’t recall the exact wording from ‘the list’ at this juncture, one item we were asked to look out for is evidence of animal interaction with trees and plants. The image at left is clearly this type of evidence and not a difficult one to find
where Beavers are present. Beavers had felled this tree at Burford Lake. We kept our eyes open for other activity of this type.
Beaver Remnants...Canon EOS Mark III 1Ds handheld, 1/320 second at 105mm; EF24~105mm f/4L at f/7.1, ISO 640 |
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I took a series of shots on a pair of damselflies. I should have changed the system over to obtain a better image scale and shot with flash, which I did not do, so this sequence didn’t turn out as well as I’d hoped.
It's difficult at times to to decide what to carry for lenses when the choice of subjects isn't clearly identified and can be up close or distant. Even at 400mm these subjects were small in the overall frame with
harsh light and poor conditions to achieve critical focus. I’ll include a full frame version of this scene below to provide an idea of how it appeared through the 1Ds viewfinder.
Even here one can see the resolution of the camera shine through – I had to be at minimum ten or twelve feet from the damselflies to achieve a focus lock …
Tandem DamselfliesCanon EOS Mark III 1Ds, 1/800 second at 400mm ; EF400mm f/5.6L at f/10, ISO 400 |
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I spotted the grasshopper at left clinging to some greenery and changed position with the tripod to seek a better view for an exposure. As I moved in I realized the subject wasn’t alone – he/she had
company on the next blade over. Very cool I thought – I was in a neighborhood…
Differential GrasshopperCanon EOS Mark III 1Ds on tripod, 1/500 second at 400mm; EF400mm f/5.6L at f/7.1, ISO 800 |
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Rob and I watched as this insect climbed down the stem, moved across and started up the stem where the Differential Grasshopper sat – the grasshopper hadn’t moved an iota during this observation. This is interesting I thought viewing the scene – I wondered if the grasshopper would react in any fashion when the Squash Bug approached. In short, the answer was no - the two may as well have been on separate continents as far as the grasshopper was concerned… I moved a bit closer to see if this would cause a reaction. When I got really close finally the grasshopper moved but not by much, the insect shifted position on the stem to keep that fragile greenery between the two of us. Well – if he’ll let me get that close I’m going to take advantage of it – I changed over from the 400mm lens to my 100mm macro lens and moved in. For the next few minutes the grasshopper and I played a little game… I moved closer – the grasshopper would shift to keep the stem between us. Before it was done the grasshopper had moved 360 degrees around the stem and back to the starting point – but I did obtain some nice shots…
Squash Bug & Grasshopper...Canon EOS Mark III 1D4, 1/500 second at 400mm ; EF400mm f/5.6L at f/8, ISO 800 |
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Macro Views - Differential Grasshopper at Burford Lake - Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge
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Rob called me over indicating he’d spotted a frog and asked if I’d like to photograph it. Certainly – frogs are always worthwhile subjects… In the end result obtaining a few exposures on this critter required a good deal of
effort. Rob tried to follow the frog and kept me informed where it was so I could be prepared to take a shot if it broke cover. Two grown men spent twenty-minutes following a frog around as the creature guided us through the undergrowth towards the lake which was close by. I got a series of shots off during this time but the frog was cagey enough to never offer a good opportunity with a clear line of sight. I researched these images a lot trying
to identify the species. I believe it is a Plains Leopard Frog and this is what I’m calling it here…
Plains Leopard FrogCanon EOS Mark III 1Ds on tripod, 1/500 second at 400mm; EF400mm f/5.6L at f/7.1, ISO 800 |
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While Rob was chasing the frog around he spotted another bug of interest as can be seen at right… I thought this Leaf-footed Bug was amazing – if there’s anything like this where I live I’ve never seen or heard about it. Later investigation indicated this insect is found primarily in the southwest although it’s been noted as moving into the southeastern states as well. I also read Leaf-footed Bugs are considered a pest due to crop damage and
transmission of plant pathogens - most of the insects I've been reading about are considered pests... All the same I thought it was an interesting subject to photograph and we followed this bug around for a time…
Leaf-footed Bug...Canon EOS Mark III 1Ds, 1/500 second at 400mm ; EF400mm f/5.6L at f/8, ISO 800 |
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Macro Views of the Leaf-footed Bug
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After leaving Burford Lake we drove over to rendezvous with Ms. KK, James and Abigail. It was approaching late afternoon as everyone discussed where they wished to go. Abigail wanted to visit ‘heart rock’ – just like it sounds - a rock formation. I heard this as ‘hard rock’, you know - like the restaurant chain… I was clueless about how many hours on the road would be required to find a hard rock cafe when we spent way too much time seeking a simple bottle of water just two days ago…
We drove over to visit Rob’s office in the refuge. This building is where the fire staff is located and it appeared to be an excellent work environment with nice offices. I learned that Rob and his associates, being professional firefighters, work anywhere their services are required so are always prepared to mobilize. We spent some time as Rob showed me around while James and Abigail checked out the building grounds. Ms. KK's Photograph of James & Abigail at the Office... |
We spent the most of our remaining time in the refuge visiting two areas – Post Oak Lake and Treasure Lake, finishing up at dusk at the dam at Quanah Parker Lake. Post Oak Lake is where the trail head for Charons Garden Wilderness Area is located which I found of interest, not that
we had any time to investigate today. This wilderness area of about 5,723 acres is in the
southwestern portion of the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge and is dominated by rough, craggy landscapes of granite boulders & mountains, wind-whipped summits, prairie and forests reserved for day hiking and limited backcountry
camping. The name alone states much about the place – Charon (pronounced like the name Karen) in Greek mythology was the ferryman on the River Styx who transported souls to the realm of Hades. Ever seen a movie where
coins are placed over the eyes of the deceased? This was payment of the passage for Charon to take the deceased across the river. If you can imagine this underworld scene then you can understand the reference to this
wilderness area… By the way, Pluto’s largest moon is named Charon after the boatman of mythology. In Roman mythology Hades is named Pluto - same god of the underworld and brother to Zeus (Jupiter) - so you can see the connection…
Abigail's Heart Rock...Canon EOS Mark III 1Ds, 1/500 second at 400mm ; EF400mm f/5.6L at f/8, ISO 800 |
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My memory is a bit blurred after the activities of the past days and the time expired since returning from this trip but looking at the image files most of my shots from this time appear to be from Post Oak Lake so I’ll concentrate this portion of the journal at this location. Every place we visited in the refuge offers scenes of beauty and much to investigate – this area was no different and soon everyone was spread out seeing what they could find.
Boulders, Mountains & Water...Canon EOS Mark III 1Ds, 1/250 second; EF100mm f/2.8 Macro at f/20, ISO 640 |
Rob and I walked across the dam and were looking at the water below when we spotted a spider hanging in line with the vertical concrete wall. It was three or four feet down so in order to take a shot I laid down
on the walkway and leaned over to see how close I could get to the subject. KK was around with her camera and took the shot at right while we were stalking the spider…
Spider Photography... |
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Photographing the Spider from the Dam with the 100 Millimeter Macro Lens
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I also took a few shots of the water going down the wall into the pool below while I was lying around the dam followed by some scenic shots afterwards. The image at left was taken at this time.
View from the DamCanon EOS Mark III 1Ds, 1/250 second; EF100mm f/2.8 Macro at f/9, ISO 800 |
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As we moved further back investigating the area I saw some activity near the water which had a group of Lily-pads not far from the shore. Rob and I spent some time here and he pointed out how these Lily-pads bead up
and shed water by splashing them. I took a series of shots of this scene.
View at Post Oak Lake...Canon EOS Mark III 1Ds, 1/250 second; EF100mm f/2.8 Macro at f/20, ISO 640 |
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The Lily-pad Files...
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As we hiked around the boulder strewn landscape trying to stay out of the water I spotted some dragonfly activity. Along the way towards the dragonfly perch this millipede was spotted
crawling down a rock and I stopped to take a few exposures. I liked the colors and contrast of the rock with the millipede…
North American MillipedeCanon EOS Mark III 1Ds, 1/250 second; EF100mm f/2.8 Macro at f/18, ISO 640 with Flash |
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I watched a dragonfly coming and going and noticed that if I could get below the perch I could get a blue sky background for a shot. Besides issues of holding a focus lock on the chosen subject, the background can make or break a good photograph – it’s
not always easy to achieve recognized components of a good exposure in nature photography where the subjects allow little latitude for composition or choice of background. One often has to shoot them where they are
found and quickly at that. I can’t begin to relate the many bird and other animal shots that weren’t successful because I delayed taking the split second opportunity for one reason or another. This case was different
and I thought I had an opportunity to get into position, which would certainly spook the dragonfly, but where Odonata are so territorial, I figured the insect would return once I was prepared – this turned out to be the case…
Variegated Meadowhawk...Canon EOS Mark III 1Ds, 1/250 second; EF100mm f/2.8 Macro at f/25, ISO 640 with Flash |
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More Dragonfly Files...
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It was approaching 6:00 PM and time to move on. We packed everybody up and off we went to Treasure Lake to have a look and to see what we could find. There was a marker at this site that read, ‘Never Go Alone’, placed there as the result of a tragic tale. Obviously this sparked my interest and Ms. KK expanded upon this sad story so I’d understand the true meaning… The tragic story relates to the year 1992 and Phil Mitchell, a young doctor who had just completed his residency. Phil was an enthusiastic rock climber and he and his compatriots had recently discovered a new area on Elk Mountain to expand this pursuit. Never go alone indeed – this is exactly what Phil did – he went climbing in this treacherous area alone, apparently suffering a fall and because he was alone was unable to seek aid. If you take a look at the photograph at left about half way across the face you can see a deeply shadowed feature on the mountain. Rob indicated Phil was near the top of this area and when he fell landed in a deep hole. It took several days of searching to locate him – even if you had a fair idea of where he may have been climbing the search area would have been large and conducted at a slow pace in the rugged terrain - by that time it was too late to do much more than recover the body. Taking the advice offered by the marker is both sound and warranted in this area…
Scenery Around Treasure Lake...Canon EOS Mark III 1Ds, 1/250 second; EF100mm f/2.8 Macro at f/20, ISO 640 with Flash |
Around the Lake...
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If you look at the upper left image in the template above you’ll see a shot of the dam at Treasure Lake… I decided to walk down the rocky slope – everything around here is boulder strewn and rocky whether flat or
otherwise I noted – to get out on this structure to take some exposures of the water and a few other items of interest. Rob and our group’s ‘refuge girl’ Abigail also crossed over to investigate the other side. As I
was taking some shots I heard Rob speaking to her. When I looked up Abigail was climbing down the vertical face that can be viewed in the shot. He was patiently stating that she shouldn’t be climbing there as it was
straight down to a long fall & hard landing in the event of a mishap and asked that she return to the top. After a time I watched as Rob went down and retrieved her ending the discussion… I talked to him about this
and he stated she’s pretty much fearless when it comes to this activity. I laughed and thought to myself - hmmm – wonder where she gets that from…
Treasure Lake & Reflection - Wichita Mountains Wildlife RefugeCanon EOS Mark III 1Ds, 1/250 second; EF100mm f/2.8 Macro at f/25, ISO 640 with Flash |
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Macro Views from the Dam...
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I’m going to post a few more images before we moved on to our last stop of the day - the dam at Quanah Parker Lake and sunset… The image at left is some of the local color which I found interesting. But below is one of my personal
favorites – nothing special perhaps as far as subject matter is concerned one would think – a cable guy projecting from granite ledge above the dam. However, I appreciate the character and detail in this photograph – you can almost imagine the
tales to be learned if this piece of metal could tell of events since it was affixed to the ledge…
Local Color...Canon EOS Mark III 1Ds, 1/160 second; EF100mm f/2.8 Macro at f/5.6, ISO 640 with Flash |
Cable Guy in Granite...
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We were in two vehicles on the highway heading towards our last stop when we spotted a coyote next to the road. Not a rare animal by any means but this was as close as I’d been to one in recent history… Because Rob was driving and the
coyote was on his side of the truck I handed him my camera just the way it was set up with a 100mm macro lens so he could try to get a few shots. He did well with this as can be viewed in the crop at right – he captured a sequence of the
animal going under the fence and into the prairie. Rob pulled over and I was out of the truck in a flash to pull the tripod out before the subject was out of sight or too far away.
Rob's Image of the Coyote Going Under...Canon EOS Mark III 1Ds, 1/250 second; EF100mm f/2.8 Macro at f/20, ISO 640 |
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Ms. KK was following behind and pulled off the roadway when she saw Rob do so. We were out of the truck with the long lens attempting some shots before trying to move in. The fence was a true detriment of course and at this distance focusing through it was
problematic. There was nothing to be done as the animal had crossed under so I crossed the road once traffic allowed getting as close to the fencing as possible. And yes, you can shoot through a fence if you’re close enough but not always with
success as you pan the subject through the obstruction. KK took the photograph at left of Rob and me in photographic pursuit…
KK's Image of Rob & Kiro Photographing the Coyote... |
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The coyote is also known as the American Jackal or Prairie Wolf (fitting in this case) and they are found throughout North America. I read there are nineteen recognized subspecies with sixteen of these found in Canada, Mexico and the United
States. Coyotes evolved in North America and their range has expanded along with humankind. They are known to be quite adaptable and are viewed with disdain by many who see them as undesirable predators. I thought getting this close to one
was pretty neat personally and I was pleased with the opportunity…
You can see the result of shooting through the fence on the image at right. The coyote’s right eye is obscured and the wave of the fence can be viewed in the top, at eye-level and upper portion of the shot through the ears. Coyote - Obstructed View...Canon EOS Mark III 1Ds, 1/250 second at 840mm; EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X at f/11, ISO 640 |
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While I was checking out the coyote a Killdeer flew into the area. The two eyed each other warily but no aggressive behavior was observed while both went about their business. I’d seen other examples of this species in the last few days and although
I’m used to seeing them around water more than is prevalent in this refuge, they are often found in fields and open areas where they ground nest. It was like seeing an old friend...
Killdeer on the Prairie...Canon EOS Mark III 1Ds, 1/250 second at 840mm; EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X at f/8, ISO 640 |
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Day's End and My Last Oklahoma Sunset - Quanah Parker Lake
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I’d taken some family shots over the course of the day but we’d planned this stop specifically to use the beautiful backdrop for a few more photographs before we lost the light completely. It was dusk and the light was fading so I shot everything with
flash from this point. There was still activity at the dam, people fishing, climbers returning from their day’s efforts and packing gear, etc. Everyone was winding it up… It had been a fun time and I liked having the entire Wood family for company as we
frolicked about in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge.
James in Self Portrait...'A Thing of Beauty is a Joy Forever' |
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Rob and I listened for the elusive Canyon Wrens but quickly gave up this pursuit as darkness crept in. Everyone was spread out doing whatever and all of us were fighting off the mosquitoes that appeared in large numbers. They must have been pleased with our company…
Rob Scanning with the Lens - Lake Quanah ParkerCanon EOS 5d, 1/100 second; EF100mm f/2.8 Macro at f/6.3, ISO 640 |
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We picked a spot to acquire some family shots… I set the ballhead tripod down low and got everything ready. By shooting up at everyone I hoped to gain a perspective different from what our eyes would normally see. I enjoyed the time as we laughed and
joked while obtaining these shots. I started out with my 5d camera and then switched over to the 1Ds for this session. You'll see later I even took a few with the camera timer so I could be included - not my idea necessarily but I was okay with this and now I’m glad to have the images.
I won’t go into much detail here but will display a few images from the end of the day….
Rob's Shot of the Posed Session... |
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All of Them...
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All of Us...
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It had been an excellent three days - tremendously prolific in a photographic sense & all of it spent in the best of company. Nobody can ever say that Rob and I didn’t make a
maximum effort to cram as much as possible into the daylight hours as we had during this period. We’d also created a significant archive of new images for the refuge. Being a Sunday we did slack off a bit – I recorded a mere 426 images in the archive
for the day... Tomorrow I was leaving Oklahoma, stopping in Missouri to check the job progress and soon would be making the drive northeast to Maine & home. However, there remained at least one task before this happened…
Prickly-pear CactusCanon EOS 5d, 1/100 second; EF100mm f/2.8 Macro at f/6.3, ISO 640 |
Conclusion & Aftermath...
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My experience in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge varied significantly from other refuges and nature preserves I frequent with my cameras. The open country, landscape and size alone indicate to me it would take a good deal of time to become familiar enough to learn all the ‘favorite spots’ I’ve come to know in other refuges. It would prove difficult also because in reflection, I’d have many favorites at this beautiful place and never enough time. As is the case with other facilities and the people I’ve had the pleasure to meet, I was impressed with the staff and dedication that is apparent in all their efforts. I would comment that Rob and his associates, regular staff and volunteers, truly love this refuge and I can see why… I was privileged to be allowed into the Special Use Area – ‘behind the fence’ and I thank everyone for making this opportunity possible and being made to feel so welcomed. I would urge anyone to visit this refuge if they find themselves in or near Oklahoma – it’s an experience like no other… I certainly plan to return...
Rob's Photograph from the Visitors Center...At right is a photograph Rob forwarded of my composite print taken at Antelope Flats on the first day, framed and displayed in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge Visitors Center. With the frame this piece is approaching eight feet in length – I think it looks great and I'm truly honored… |
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In closing I’d like to dedicate this humble effort to the Wood family – Rob, KK, James and Abigail, my hosts and companions for my time in Oklahoma… Except for our fortuitous meeting banding Wood Ducks in Georgia I may
never have learned how truly beautiful Oklahoma and your refuge are... I hope someday soon I can repay all your kindnesses and show you around the picturesque State of Maine…
The Wood Family in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge |
Kiro
November 2009
November 2009
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Return to 'Three Days in Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge' Page One or Page Two |