"Junco & Tracks"...

 
Hey, these tracks weren't here when I came through the first time...

Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) in the snow, 2021. Central Arkansas.
Photo # K02_3932-3acbw.
(c) Kelly Shipp

Gray Squirrel...

 The Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) is often known as the most ecologically essential natural forest regenerator. It has a white underside as compared to the brownish-orange underside of the fox squirrel. This particular photo captures it eating a fresh twig from a red-tipped holly tree.
What I like particularly about this photograph is the detail in the underside of the front foot. You can see the pads which allow for it to have a tremendous grip as it traverses the trees.

Near Conway, Arkansas.
Photo # K09_5449c.
(c) Kelly Shipp

 

"The Hunter"...

An adult Cooper's Hawk (Astur cooperii) pauses on a tree branch while hunting birds. This bird is often referred to as a "medium-sized hawk", but in my opinion, it's a small hawk, especially relative to the general raptor species. This hawk is about 16" long with a wingspan of about 30" (varies by gender). It was commonly known to be placed in the genus Accipiter, which are generally your woodland hawks who mostly hunt on the wing.

Interesting fact: Dashing through vegetation to catch birds is a dangerous lifestyle. In a study of more than 300 Cooper’s Hawk skeletons, 23 percent showed old, healed-over fractures in the chest bones, especially the wishbone.

This is likely an adult female.
Near Conway, Arkansas.
Photo # K09_5403c.
(c) Kelly Shipp

"Granite Falls"...

Woolly Hollow State Park, Arkansas.
Photo # KS8_8784bwb.
(c) Kelly Shipp

 

 

"Stormy Reflections"...

While the sunlight leaks through the canopy and highlights the leaves, the reflections in the water compete with the rocks appearing under the water. The result is quite a storm of reflections, while the large rock near center provides stability.

Lake Catherine State Park, Arkansas.
Photo # F2509677bw2.
(c) Kelly Shipp

"Rising Light"...

Morning fog and sunlight, February, 2026.
Central Arkansas.
Photo # P1050609bw.
(c) Kelly Shipp

"Tracks & Shadows"...

Arkansas. February, 2012. 
Photo # IM5_6545bw.
(c) Kelly Shipp

"Rocky Shore"...

The receded water level exposes a rocky shoreline, which appears as if it were another planetary surface.
This was a long exposure photograph shot on Ilford SFX200 film on a curved plane pinhole camera.

Lake Bennett, Woolly Hollow State Park, Arkansas.
Photo # F2508662-3b.
(c) Kelly Shipp

 

Morning Fog...

 

"Morning Fog I"

Conway, Arkansas.
Photo # P1050667bw
(c) Kelly Shipp
 

Stump and Reflections...

Lake Ouachita, near Mountain Pine, Arkansas.
Photo # IM7_7985bwsqb.
(c) Kelly Shipp

 

"Painted Wind"...

A rain storm approaches Lake Beaverfork, causing the clouds to paint their motion during the photograph.
If you look closely, you can see Canadian Geese at the end of the pathway, which moved during my exposure.

Conway, Arkansas.
Photo # IM7_8157-60bw.
(c) Kelly Shipp

"The Look"...

 "The Look"

There's just something about her look that draws me into this photograph. She's looking directly at me, but in a casual way.

White-tailed Deer, Conway, AR.
Photo # K09_4532ac.
(c) Kelly Shipp

 

"Clark Barn"...

Conway, Ar.
Infrared, Photo # IMG_9131sqbw.
(c) Kelly Shipp

"Look into my Eyes"...

Photo # K07_9706sqbw.
(c) Kelly Shipp

"Snow landing"...

This Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) gently lands in the snow.

Conway, Arkansas.
Photo # K09_2538a.
(c) Kelly Shipp

"Deer and Phoebe"...

 

I was so busy photographing these two deer, in the snow, and their interactions that I had missed the interactions of the Black Phoebe's (Sayornis nigricans) that were hovering about them.
I found this frame more telling of the interactions.

White-tailed deer with Black Phoebe.
Conway, Arkansas. January, 2026.
(c) Kelly Shipp


 

 

"Acrobatic foragers"...

Titmice often hang upside down to investigate the underside of branches. They take advantage of a bird feeder’s bounty by storing many of the seeds they get. Usually, the storage sites are within 130 feet of the feeder. The birds take only one seed per trip and usually shell the seeds before hiding them.

Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor).
Conway, Arkansas. 1/25/2026.
Photo # K09_2341_16x9.
(c) Kelly Shipp

"All Seasons"...

As most of you know, I have this affinity for trees, including leaves. I like how this leaf has done such a great job of representing all seasons at the same time.

Conway, Arkansas.
Photo # DSCF7132_16x9.
(c) Kelly Shipp

"Clearance"...

It's not often that I've discovered a large boulder, in the bottom of a ravine, with a fallen tree over it, but neither quite touching.

Lake Ouachita, Mountain Pine, Arkansas.
Photo # F2507547-59c.
(c) Kelly Shipp