Yesterday was the first time that I was able to get some shots of a muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) out of the water, eating and grooming.
The muskrat was at the edge of a patch of cattails that grow in the middle of the beaver pond at my local marshland park and I actually heard his feeding sounds before I was able to see him. He was a pretty good distance away, but the late afternoon sun illuminated the scene from the left and provided enough light for me to focus the camera.
I am going through the other shots that I was able to snap off before he slid into the water, but thought I’d share this image of the muskrat chewing on what looks to be a cattail stalk. I like the way in which the cattails help to frame the image, rather than block the view, which is usually the case.
I went to the marsh yesterday with the hope of getting some photos of the beavers, which did not make an appearance while I was there, but I ended up with something a bit better—one of the serendipitous joys of photographing wildlife.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved
Mike Powell 
Very nice capture.
Thanks. I am happy enough that I was able to photograph him in a way that he was recognizable. Maybe in the future I can get even better shots.
Always try , but I think that you are already very good .
Yes you definitely set up that scene well with planting the cattails and arranging the sun direction. Nicely done.
You can tell by the glint it its eye that he knew you were coming, and that you would give him equal time with all the others you’ve photographed in the marsh.
I have to share the love with all of them. I was happy to see him out of the water. Most of the other times that I have seen muskrats they have been in the water and they would dive as soon as they could sense my presence.