Meet Bill Rathfon: Wildlife Photographer and Rhoneymeade Fan
Rhoneymeade: a Great Place for Wildlife Photography Opportunities
Bill Rathfon is a regular visitor to Rhoneymeade. Why? The opportunities for wildlife photography. “I usually visit with a camera in tow: either with a lens for macro photography (closeups of flowers and insects) or the opposite, a long zoom lens for capturing subjects a long distance away, mostly birds. One of the most exciting pictures I have ever captured was a Northern Harrier hunting over the fields in the winter. They are a unique raptor with an owl-like face that winters in Pennsylvania. Another regular visitor is the Baltimore Oriole, which is always so beautiful to see and photograph.The pollinator field is very active in the summer with butterflies, bees and hummingbirds. It’s just a great place to take a walk and enjoy the outdoors.”
Bill and his wife, Dana Reed, came to the State College area about 7 years ago and moved to Centre Hall last summer. They had visited several of the farms held in conservation easements in Penns Valley, including Rhoneymeade, and decided they wanted to live close by. Bill and Dana support Rhoneymeade as volunteers. In addition to the photos below, you can see more of Bill’s pictures in some of the blog entries on the Rhoneymeade website at https://www.rhoneymeade.org/blog .
Female Oriole with Nesting Material
Spicebush Swallowtail on Beebalm in the pollinator field
Female Ruby Throated Hummingbird visiting Milkweed
