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Look Closely…

I was so focused on a songbird on this tree’s branch, that I barely heard my guy gasping, in a barely audible whisper…. “Ohmahgawd. You’re gonna freak.” I love frogs — well, I seem to say that about everything — but I do love them and appreciate their vital role in our ecosystems.

I couldn’t even see what he was pointing at — did I need my spectacles? I had my telephoto lens working hard, so as to not disturb the bird. I quietly crept up to the trunk, and there it was: a tiny frog — he had to be two inches, at the most — nestled comfortably in the depths of a knot within the tree’s trunk. My eyes quickly became bigger than the knot itself.

I’m continually amazed at how much life trees support — seen and unseen.

Instructions for living a life.
Pay attention.
Be astonished.
Tell about it.
—Mary Oliver

A Tree?

Tree Frog… Closer…

Tree Frog Face… Peek-a-boo!

53 Comments Post a comment
  1. Pam #

    This is great! What a wonderful surprise!

    July 2, 2012
    • Isn’t he wonderful? I was SO THRILLED to spy on him — although, like I said, I can’t take the credit for actually *finding* him, hee!

      July 2, 2012
  2. looks like this frog enjoy its new home 🙂 great find 🙂

    July 2, 2012
    • He was so perfectly nestled in that little knot, it couldn’t have been a better location + protection from all the birdies! I give ALL the credit to his discovery to my guy — I still have absolutely NO IDEA how he found him, and from that distance.

      July 2, 2012
  3. Deborah Lee #

    I have a tree frog who likes to live in one of my wind chimes. My reaction was the same – am I really seeing what I’m seeing? Than I ran and got my camera.

    July 2, 2012
    • Oh, I LOVE that! You think they’re part of the decor, yes? And then you do exactly what I do… Frantically run for the camera (I don’t know about you, but my stealth is sometimes not so great).

      July 2, 2012
  4. sandy #

    I love it! Almost missed the frog in the hole, though.

    July 2, 2012
    • Isn’t it wonderful? I was missing him in the knothole until I was literally face-to-frogeye with the tiny guy! I still have absolutely NO IDEA how my guy found him, and from that distance (the original photo).

      July 2, 2012
  5. That was amazing that you were able to spot it…just his eyes poking out.

    July 2, 2012
    • Isn’t he wonderful? I was SO THRILLED to spy on him — although, like I said, I can’t take the credit for actually *finding* him, hee! I had to get face-to-frogeye to really see him…

      July 2, 2012
  6. WAY TOO CUTE. Absolutely wonderful.

    July 2, 2012
    • Isn’t he just perfect and wonderful? I was SO THRILLED to spy on him — although, like I said, I can’t take the credit for actually *finding* him, hee!

      July 2, 2012
  7. I love how frogs can climb trees. 🙂

    July 2, 2012
    • They’re so beautiful — I love seeing them, in all their varieties, climbing about our home and trees. ♥

      July 2, 2012
  8. I thought it was a snake!! 🙂

    July 2, 2012
    • Hee! I honestly had *no* idea what I was seeing, till I was literally face-to-froggie-eye! 🙂

      July 2, 2012
  9. Wow – amazing shots! Fabulous find. Be astonished – such a good motto for life!

    July 2, 2012
    • Thanks so much! He was a tough capture, for sure… And I still can’t believe the find!! Isn’t that the most beautiful quote, too? I think most artists follow it naturally!!

      July 2, 2012
  10. Uh… did anybody else notice that this tree kind of looks like a woman’s nether-regions, as seen from below?

    July 2, 2012
    • LOL, I see a frog, but I haven’t had my wine yet….

      July 2, 2012
      • I totally thought that was the point of this post, the whole “Look Closely” thing felt so much like a set up for a dirty joke. Sigh… it sucks when your brain is so hopelessly in the gutter!

        July 2, 2012
      • Hahah! I think I’m too old for that kind of post… Or just too hiker-/nature-oriented in this forum. Although, I do have a toad one coming up that won’t stretch the imagination! Let’s just say I thought they were cuddling.

        July 2, 2012
  11. I love it! (My daughter says that a frog is her spirit animal. It fits.) ❤

    July 2, 2012
    • That’s perfect that she’s (it’s?) chosen it as her spirit animal / totem! I absolutely love frogs…. So many varieties, colors — and their help, just wonderful!

      July 2, 2012
  12. AMAZING Capture – thanks for sharing – COOL!!! Happy Monday:)

    July 2, 2012
    • Thanks so much! I couldn’t believe that he was able to spot this little guy, from that distance (the first photo)… It was definitely a tough capture, but I tried. 🙂 Happy Monday to you!!

      July 2, 2012
  13. Wonderful! And, that Mary Oliver quote is my motto!

    July 2, 2012
    • Thanks so much! I just love that quote… It’s definitely something I live by (probably unintentionally!). ♥

      July 2, 2012
  14. What a find! That’s fantastic!

    July 3, 2012
    • Thanks so much! I still can’t believe that he was able to spot this teensy guy, from that distance (the first photo)… It was definitely a tough capture, but I tried.

      July 3, 2012
  15. What I want to know is how the heck he got up there? I love how he’s checking you out, but with a cool-dude attitude.

    July 3, 2012
    • They’re amazing… I just had one this morning (as I was feeding the birds) scamper up the drain pipe, scared by my kitty. Of course I tried to find him. 🙂 I love this guy though — he’s totally nonplussed!

      July 3, 2012
  16. Ribbit ribbit! He is so cute! 🙂 x

    July 3, 2012
    • 🙂 Isn’t he the greatest? I love the froggies!

      July 3, 2012
  17. marialla #

    HOW DO YOU DO IT??? I KNOW THAT I HAVE OFTEN ASKED THIS QUESTION BUT I CAN’T STOP ASKING IT. IT IS SUCH A PRICELESS PICTURE. ISN’T IT AMAZING HOW SOMETIMES AS YOU TAKING SHOTS OF ONE THING SOME LITTLE SURPRISE JUST STICKS ITS LITTLE NOSE INTO YOUR LINE OF VISION AND LIFE BECOMES SUCH A MIRACLE OVER AND OVER AGAIN!!!

    July 3, 2012
    • Beautifully said!! And completely true!

      You’re so kind — But I can’t take credit for this find… I wish I could! I still can’t believe my guy was able to spot this teensy guy, from that distance (the first photo)… I was literally face-to-froggie-eyes before I saw him, he was so well hidden/camouflaged! It was definitely a tough capture, but I tried. 🙂

      July 4, 2012
  18. Wow! That was surprising. 🙂

    July 3, 2012
    • I still can’t believe that my guy was able to spot this teensy one, from that distance (the first photo)… It was definitely a tough capture! I was literally face-to-frog before I even saw him, I was so focused on the *bird*, heh!

      July 4, 2012
  19. CAMO-FROG to the rescue!!

    July 4, 2012
    • Hah! He’s totally camo-frog! Teeny-tiny camo-frog!

      July 4, 2012
  20. How wonderful. I would have been shocked, seeing a frog in there. Or maybe wouldn’t notice. There are so many things to be seen out there.

    July 4, 2012
    • As avid hikers as we are… I was amazed! (Granted, it doesn’t take much to amaze me.) I still can’t believe that my guy was able to spot this teensy one, from across the aviary; I personally was face-to-frog before I even saw him, I was so focused on the *bird*, heh! But you’re right — how much more have I missed, given such amazing camouflaging? Mind-boggling.

      July 5, 2012
  21. How incredible! I have known about tree frogs but have never seen one in a tree.

    July 4, 2012
    • Isn’t he wonderful? That little knothole is such a perfect cubby / home for him (especially as a hiding-hole from the aviary’s birds!). And he was just so teensy-tiny… It makes me wonder how many others I’ve missed. Talk about camouflage…

      July 5, 2012
      • Yes, that is a delightful photograph of the tree frog. Amazing creatures.

        July 5, 2012
  22. These pics are adorable!

    July 4, 2012
    • Thanks so much! I was so thrilled to see him (I can’t take the credit for *finding* him). I was literally face-to-frog eye with the tiny guy when I saw him. 🙂 I still have absolutely NO IDEA how my guy found him, from across the aviary. Just amazing.

      July 5, 2012
  23. It’s too funny!! I never thought that frogs can be in trees! What beautiful pictures!

    July 5, 2012
    • Isn’t it wonderful? Such a perfect home for him… I never even saw him in the knothole until I was literally face-to-frog eye with the tiny guy! I still have absolutely NO IDEA how my guy found him, and from that distance. It’s amazing how much life trees support. 🙂

      July 5, 2012
  24. Val #

    Good heavens! I’d never have spotted that little chap (or chapess!) 🙂 How lucky you were!

    July 13, 2012
    • Heee!! Honestly, the only way I spotted him (her?) was the commotion he made in the fronds, before leaping onto that twig… We’re always cautious with noises on our hikes out there, because it could be a little lizard, a stumbling armadillo, or something bigger…!

      July 14, 2012
  25. bet cha that guy in the tree didn’t move an inch while you were there. amazing photos!

    September 3, 2014
    • Isn’t he a cutie-pie? He really didn’t move an inch: perfect camouflage! 🙂 Thanks so much….

      September 12, 2014

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