Steve Creek
@stevecreek
I’m a wildlife photographer based in Arkansas.
A male Eastern Bluebird pauses with a caterpillar before delivering breakfast to his hungry young.
Today, July 16, is World Snake Day. Snakes play an important role in healthy ecosystems, and they are often far more interesting than people give them credit for. This one had its jaws full while trying to swallow a fish. It was an impressive wildlife moment to witness and photograph. #WorldSnakeDay
Rainy weather did not stop this male Eastern Bluebird from feeding his chicks. I photographed him bringing a spider to the birdhouse in my Arkansas yard. This is the second nesting round for these bluebirds this year. The full story is on my blog.
Early yesterday morning at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, this White-tailed Buck stepped onto the refuge road and paused just long enough for a portrait.
A White-tailed Doe walked right up to a group of Canada Geese and then started prancing around them like it wanted to play. The geese just stood there watching, and after a few moments, the doe wandered away. It was one of the more unusual wildlife encounters I've photographed.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird activity has really picked up this past week, and this handsome male stopped long enough for a photo!
A juvenile Cliff Swallow takes a quiet break between flights at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma. These young birds don't stay still for long, making every moment like this worth capturing.
Well... I guess that's one way to pose for a photo. This Grey Squirrel made me laugh by sticking its tongue out at just the right moment.
Just last week I mentioned that my hummingbird feeders had been unusually quiet. This week, things are looking up. This female Ruby-throated Hummingbird is one of several that have started returning, and it's great to see the activity picking back up.
A White-tailed Doe pauses for a summer snack, reaching up to browse fresh leaves along the edge of the woods at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma.
I learn something new almost every time I'm out photographing wildlife. I photographed a male Six-spotted Fishing Spider and discovered how its enlarged spider pedipalps identify it as an adult male.
A female Ruby-throated Hummingbird getting a drink before zipping off again.
This Cottontail Rabbit has the right idea for these hot Arkansas days. Stretch out in a shady spot, stay low, and take it easy until things cool down.
This dragonfly paused just long enough on a for a head-on portrait, showing off its delicate wings and brilliant blue eyes at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge.
I'm used to photographing Scissor-tailed Flycatchers out in the open fields, where they often perch on fences or exposed branches. This one surprised me by choosing a perch tucked away in the thick summer greenery.
Painted Buntings are one of the most colorful birds in North America, but getting a photo of one on a natural perch can be surprisingly difficult. More often than not, I find them walking the refuge roads right in front of my truck, just like this male at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge.
My hummingbird feeders have been much quieter this summer than in years past. The occasional visitor still stops by, but the nonstop activity I'm used to seeing just hasn't been there.
I rounded a curve at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge expecting to photograph a White-tailed Doe and what I thought was her tiny fawn. Then I looked through my camera and realized it wasn't a fawn at all. It was a baby coyote.
A male Northern Cardinal pauses among the oak leaves. These brilliant red songbirds never fail to brighten a summer morning in my Arkansas yard.
I photographed this juvenile Common Grackle in my Arkansas yard carrying what appears to be a beetle, one successful catch in the process of learning to survive on its own.
A handful of ripening blackberries adds a splash of color along the trail at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge.
Yesterday morning, as I stepped out onto my deck, this young Northern Mockingbird was waiting to greet me. It perched nearby for a few moments, giving me the perfect opportunity to capture this portrait before continuing its morning adventure.
This female Eastern Bluebird made trip after trip to my birdhouse, carefully gathering the materials that will soon become a safe nest for her growing family.
A Northern Mockingbird shakes off the storm after a heavy Arkansas rain.
The female is actively building the nest, but the male wasn't about to leave the cleanup to her. Here he is removing a pine needle that was left at the entrance.
A heavy rain left this Northern Mockingbird looking a little worse for wear.
The Eastern Bluebirds are starting round two in my Arkansas yard. I photographed the female carrying pine needles into the birdhouse after a morning rain. I’m hoping this nesting is as successful as the last one.
A Bald Eagle stands watch over Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, always alert and always impressive.