Trail of LightHiking trail at the Churchville Nature Center.

The other morning while running errands, I drove by the Churchville Nature Center and decided to stop for a few minutes to check out the garden area. I always end up here in the colder months and the garden area is pretty bare as a result. I had only planned to stay about a half hour, but I had my camera with me and well......Two hours later, I was on my way. The above shot was on one of the nature trails. Most of the trails are handicap accessible. This particular trail I have shot before during the first snow of the season, see below.

First SnowFirst Snow of the Season. Churchville Nature Center, Bucks County, PA. 2012.

The garden area is filled with native plants and habitats. This includes several ponds complete with resident wildlife. I captured the Bullfrog peeking out at me after several failed attempts to sneak up on him. Dragonflies and butterflies were quite plentiful, though I wasn't able to shoot any on this trip. 

Good MorningBullfrog peeks out of a pond.

I don't consider myself a nature photographer, but after hanging out in the garden stalking this frog and a chance run in with a fawn last week, I might start to get into it a little more. 

These were all shot with a Canon 70-200mm F4L lens. Coming from a street photography background and shooting 24mm and 28mm primes, this lens feels like telephone pole. But, even at 200mm, I still needed to be right on top of the poor frog. Now I have a whole new appreciation for nature shooters and their giant lenses. Not to mention their patience. 

Bullfrog Bullfrog at the Churchville Nature Center