Category Archives: animals

More Reality Behind the Shot- The One that Almost Got Away

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A small Atlantic puffin floating on calm gray-blue ocean water, holding several silver fish crosswise in its colorful beak.

Red fox kit Monday afternoonFinding Gems in the Tedious Work

This photo‑tagging project can be tedious, but every so often it hands me a little miracle. That special shot I thought I’d missed.

I’ve been digging through older folders — the ones full of “not bad, but not good enough” pictures I skipped over during my first sort — and I’m finding gems I never appreciated at the time.

Why I Take So Many Photos

When I’m out on a photography excursion, I take tons of pictures. Way more than anyone needs. Birds and animals don’t pose on purpose, and sometimes I’ll see “The Money Shot”… only for the lighting to shift or the subject to wiggle out of frame. It’s hard work, but it’s also exciting. My adrenaline spikes, my heart races, and I’m basically running on pure wildlife‑photographer joy.

The Not‑So‑Fun Part: SortingBreaching Whale

Then I come home, load 200+ images into Lightroom, and the real work begins. I do a quick pass to eliminate the truly blah or out‑of‑focus ones, narrowing it down to the handful worth polishing. This part isn’t fun, but I do get lost in the art of “imaging.”

Why I Keep the “Almost” Photos

The good news? I rarely delete those second‑tier pictures. Time changes my perspective, and sometimes one of those “almost” shots ends up being exactly what I need for a post.

And that’s how I found him — my little puffin with a beakful of fish.

 

 

Award Winning Photo from the Internet

The Inspiration Behind the Shot

This photo earned an international award years ago and was one of the inspirations behind my puffin photography trips. If you do a Google search for puffins with fish, the web is full of these photos. On Machias Seal Island, I saw puffins returning with their catch, but the best I managed was a mouthful of shrimp. That was my last puffin trip.

Shrimp, Its what’s for dinner

A Foggy Day, a Rocking Boat, and a Forgotten Puffin

But while reviewing older shots from the Egg Island tour — yes, the foggy day on the rocking boat — I found a picture I’d kept only because it showed how tiny puffins look in the vast open ocean. This time, though, something caught my eye. A tiny detail. A shape.

It wasn’t so much “How did I miss that?” as “How did I see it now?” Sheer luck, maybe. Or just the magic of looking at a photo years later with fresh eyes.

Zoom… Zoom… Zoom

I zoomed in. And zoomed. And zoomed.

There they were. Fish.

My little puffin had a mouthful of fish after all.

Polishing the Shot That Waited for Me

I sharpened, cleaned up the color, and cropped the heck out of it. It will never be a gallery‑sized 16×20, but a small 5×7 will work beautifully. And sure, it would never pass even the first round of a photo contest — I had to zoom in way too far — but I don’t care.

I love my little puffin. I thought this was going to be “the one that got away.” Turns out he was waiting for me all along.

 

WMEO Special Report- Black Cat Appreciation Day Confusion

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MEO SPECIAL REPORT

Late last night, chaos swept through the WMEO newsroom. Papers flew, chairs toppled, and Balboa — our black‑furred co‑anchor — went full house‑panther berserker mode.

Why? Because yesterday was Black Cat Appreciation Day, and WMEO failed to appreciate the black cat.

A black cat with bright yellow eyes lies stretched out on a wooden mantel beneath a wall‑mounted television, with a small red digital clock beside it and plants visible in the background.

Balboa, deeply committed to dismantling anti‑black‑cat superstitions (and to earning bonus treats), waited all day for his tribute. When none appeared, our usually mild‑mannered co‑anchor went postal, launching a dramatic protest with teeth, claws, and interpretive rage‑dancing.

An emergency archive check uncovered the truth: Dusty (Deborah) has always celebrated August 18, not the 17th. The newsroom calendar listed the wrong date, and Balboa did not take the oversight lightly.

Mom corrected the calendar, restored order, and soothed the newsroom. No humans suffered injuries, and the WMEO schedule now reflects the proper date for 2027.

WMEO issues heartfelt apologies to Balboa, Champion of Black Cat Awareness.

End of WMEO Breaking News Alert. Please return to your regularly scheduled chaos.

BREAKING NATURE NEWS ALERT- Sea Turtle Nesting Season

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WMEO 9 – We Meow-You Listen

A sea turtle glides gracefully underwater through clear blue ocean, its green‑and‑brown patterned shell catching the light as it swims above a sandy sea floor.

Sea Turtles Score a Big Win This Nesting Season

Anchor: Banner, WMEO Nature Desk

To begin with, Banner here with a rare burst of good news from the coastline. Wildlife biologists across multiple regions are reporting a strong and successful sea turtle nesting season. As a result, nest counts are higher than usual, hatchling survival is up, and disturbances on key beaches have dropped thanks to expanded protected zones and smarter nighttime lighting policies.

Furthermore, green sea turtles, loggerheads, and hawksbills are all showing encouraging numbers. Conservation teams credit the success to cleaner beaches and dedicated volunteer patrols that helped guide hatchlings safely past obstacles and straight into the waves. In fact, one biologist called the season “a hopeful sign that long‑term protection efforts are paying off,” and WMEO agrees — this is a win worth celebrating.

Field Correspondent: Balboa, Reporting Live from the Box

Meanwhile, Balboa here with the soft‑focus update. Cooler sand temperatures played a big role this year, giving hatchlings a better chance at survival. As a result, beaches across the region are dotted with tiny flipper tracks — proof that thousands of new travelers made their moonlit dash to the ocean.

Additionally, in headline rescue news, Timmy, a 270‑pound loggerhead sea turtle, was successfully rehabilitated at the Turtle Hospital in Marathon, Florida. After weeks of treatment, hydration, and turtle TLC, she was released back into the sea with grand fanfare. Moments later, Timmy powered through the surf with strong flipper strokes, heading home like she had somewhere important to be.

 

Banner 

Additionally, the Florida Guardian reports that Florida has set a record number of sea turtle nests this year. However, the article also notes that recent federal policy changes may affect long‑term conservation efforts. According to several environmental groups, adjustments to protected‑habitat rules could make future recovery more challenging. Even so, biologists emphasize that this season’s success remains an important milestone.

Balboa

As always, WMEO will continue to monitor updates from wildlife agencies and conservation teams. For now, the beaches are busy, the hatchlings are thriving, and the ocean is welcoming thousands of new travelers.

Banner 

Overall, sea turtles still face steep challenges — plastic pollution, warming oceans, and habitat loss — but today’s report reminds us that small changes can make big ripples. For now, the ancient mariners of the sea are getting a well‑deserved victory.

And that concludes tonight’s WMEO 9 Nature Desk update. From nesting beaches to rescue triumphs, it’s been a strong week for Florida’s sea turtles.”

Balboa: “Stay tuned for more coverage from the WMEO team. Until then, keep your beaches clean, your lights low, and your flippers ready.”

This has been a WMEO 9 Nature News Update

End of bulletin. Please resume your regularly scheduled scrolling.

 

Moose on the Loose- A WMEO Breaking News Alert

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We interrupt your regularly scheduled scrolling to bring you this Breaking Wildlife News Alert.

🚨 WMEO 9 BREAKING NEWS ALERT — Moose on the Loose in Queensbury, NY🚨

Dateline: Queensbury, New York As if rabid beavers weren’t enough for the Adirondack region this week, WMEO 9 is now tracking a young moose tearing down a residential street in Queensbury — and yes, we have video.

A young moose races down a paved road in Queensbury, New York, walking past a vehicle. The moose is mid‑stride with trees and greenery in the background, creating a clear wildlife‑on‑the‑road scene.

Residents reported a “large, fast, and extremely confused” moose galloping past mailboxes, lawn flamingos, and at least one inflatable pool toy. The animal appeared healthy, energetic, and fully committed to whatever mission it was on.

Local officials are reminding the public to give moose plenty of space, avoid approaching, and absolutely do not attempt to interview it for WMEO.

Banner is reportedly shouting,

“THIS IS NOT A DRILL — THAT IS A LOT OF ANTLERS.”

Balboa has taken shelter under the WMEO news desk and is refusing to come out until the moose situation has been downgraded from “chaotic” to “mildly concerning.”

Moose still at large — Balboa remains under desk.”

This Has been a WMEO 9 Breaking News Update WMEO — We Meow, You Listen.

More updates as the WMEO newsroom continues monitoring this developing wildlife saga.

 

End of bulletin. Please resume your regularly scheduled scrolling.

Welcome MeowPicks to our Affiliate Family

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Introducing Our Newest Affiliate Partner: The MeowPicks

Let me introduce you to our newest affiliate partner, The MeowPicks — a high‑end, cat‑centric shop with a distinctly European flair. If you’ve ever looked at your cat and thought, “You deserve the good stuff,” this is exactly the place.

Their motto? “The Good Stuff, Nothing Else.” Honestly… that’s a cat all the way.

A close-up of a blue‑eyed gray and white cat beside elegant promotional text describing a premium cat brand, with buttons to shop the collection and learn how products are chosen.

The Meow Picks organizes their offerings into three curated categories:

  • Furniture – Those essential cat trees, loungers, and perches worthy of your feline royalty.
  • Technology – Automated litter boxes, kitty fountains, and clever gadgets that make life smoother for both humans and cats.
  • Lifestyle – Toys, collars, backpack carriers, feeders, and all the delightful extras that make daily life with cats more enjoyable.

This advertiser is Banner and Balboa approved. Banner gives The Meow Picks two paws up, and Balboa says they need more snacks, but he’s willing to share the spotlight.

This post contains affiliate links. If you use one of our links to make a purchase, we may earn a small commission — which goes directly toward cat toys, snacks, and keeping the WMEO newsroom running smoothly.