The Brown Pelican
The Brown Pelican
This morning along the quiet Gulf waters, I found myself in the gentle company of a single brown pelican. It drifted close beside me in the marina, unbothered by my presence, as if we had silently agreed to share the moment.
There is something deeply calming about watching a pelican at rest. No dramatic dives, no urgency—just the steady glide of a bird perfectly at home in its world.
This one gifted me more than just proximity; it offered a glimpse into its seasonal beauty.
Its soft yellow crown caught the light, glowing gently against the morning sky, while the rich tones along its bill spoke of breeding season—subtle, yet striking if you take the time to notice.
I was able to capture clear, crisp images—those rare moments when everything aligns: the light, the stillness, the trust. But beyond the photographs, it was the quiet connection that lingered. A reminder that sometimes the most powerful encounters in nature are not the grand or dramatic ones, but the peaceful, unspoken exchanges.
The Brown Pelican
Spring Birds
Spring Birds – As the earth awakens in spring, we’re reminded of something deeper than the season—the power of new life, of hope restored, and of victory over death itself.
This is a time of quiet renewal, where what once seemed lost is made alive again. In the spirit of grace and redemption, we reflect on the beauty of rebirth, the promise of light after darkness, and the everlasting truth that life rises again.
Have a wonderful weekend.
This photo below is my favorite of the season. Showing the great blue heron in all its beautiful glory.
Spring Birds
Have a great weekend.
Just a Couple of Birds
Just a Couple of Birds
Wings just touching the water as this heron skims across the water. This is one of my favorite type of shots with birds flying.
The laughing gulls have arrived. A fitting scene with the boat in the background I thought.
Just a Couple of Birds
Belted King Fisher
Belted King Fisher – it is a rare moment when you can catch this bird sitting still and not to far away. Which is how I got this shot. Pulled up to a little park and he was sitting on this post. I slowly opened the door trying to be so quiet, it does not take much movement to scare these birds off.
I had my camera in hand, took a couple of quick shots and he was gone like that. 🙂
Belted King Fisher
Tree Tops
Tree Tops — Nesting season has arrived for the blue herons, and it never stops amazing me how these large birds settle high in the tallest trees, stepping across branches as gracefully as if they were walking the shoreline.
Tree Tops
Have a wonderful weekend.
Just a Few Herons
Who Knew
Who Knew swans go completely upside down when taking a bath. This is the first time I have seen this. Looks like it is having a good time. 🙂
Who Knew
The Only Birds
The Only Birds that I photographed in this area, geese, swans and one gull. I am hoping to see more birds soon as we travel. Have a great weekend.
The Only Birds
Resting its Foot
Resting its Foot, at first I thought there was something wrong with its webbed foot. But they can actually get their feet way up there on their backs, because I saw it drop the foot after awhile.
Resting its Foot
This Week the Swan
This Week the Swan, we are in Grand Haven Michigan, and by far this is the most swans I have ever seen in one area.
I will share a few of my favorite photos that I took of them this week. Such a beautiful bird.
This Week the Swan
Chic Chic Chickadee
Chic Chic Chickadee, so many different poses. Taking a photo of these little birds perched on a branch is easy, and lots of different looks. But trying to get them flying is more of a challenge. Fast little birds.
But oh so cute
Chic Chic Chickadee
Sandra J’s Adventures Outdoors
Real Christianity the Great Awakening
By RJ Dawson
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“Capturing the world, one breathtaking moment at a time.”
Overlooking Its Domain
Overlooking Its Domain – I am just getting to my eagle photos that I took a couple of months ago. I never get tired of seeing these amazing birds.
This one has one eaglet in the nest behind it. Amazing when you can find a nest and just sit back and enjoy watching them.
Have a great start to your week.
Overlooking Its Domain
Sandra J’s Adventures Outdoors
Real Christianity the Great Awakening
By RJ Dawson
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“Capturing the world, one breathtaking moment at a time.”
The Hot Days of Summer
The Hot Days of Summer are here. The little birds like staying in the shade of the thick bushes.
They sprint out quickly to grab a quick bite and off they go.
The Hot Days of Summer
Sandra J’s Adventures Outdoors
Real Christianity the Great Awakening
By RJ Dawson
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“Capturing the world, one breathtaking moment at a time.”
Northern Flicker
Northern Flicker, I was sitting on the porch watching this beautiful bird as it is looking for food. I have a pair of these that nest near the cabin every summer.
They love going in the soft dirt of the garden as they hunt for food. I don’t seem to have that many birds this year. But I can always count on seeing a couple of these.
Have a Wonderful Weekend
Have a Wonderful Weekend
No matter how many twigs you drop, you’re still my favorite 🙂
Have a Wonderful Weekend
When the Raven Flees
When the Raven Flees
This morning, I watched a raven—a mighty bird in size and strength—being chased off by a much smaller blackbird. The raven didn’t fight back. It simply flew away, retreating from the smaller bird’s fierce determination to protect its territory. I captured the moment with my lens, but it lingered far longer in my heart.
It’s a scene I’ve watched many times in nature, but this time it stirred something deeper. I couldn’t help but think about what’s happening in the world—the constant unrest, the senseless killing in countries across the globe, the headlines filled with pain and violence. It’s relentless. And it’s easy to feel helpless, or worse, numb.
That raven reminded me of how even the strong must sometimes retreat. That courage isn’t always about fighting back—it’s about knowing when to move, when to rise above, and when to find refuge.
In the chaos, I find myself returning to one safe place: my faith in our Creator. The world may roar around us, but there is peace in His presence. There is order, purpose, and rest. It’s not always found in the news or the noise, but in the quiet of morning light, in the beating wings of birds, and in the whisper that reminds me I am held.
Maybe today, instead of trying to make sense of the madness, we simply lift our eyes. We look for beauty. We choose compassion. We stand firm in truth, but we also know when to fly—not in fear, but in wisdom. Just like that raven.
Have a wonderful weekend.
From my heart to yours,
Sandra J’s Photography
Sandra J’s Adventures Outdoors
Real Christianity the Great Awakening
By RJ Dawson
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“Capturing the world, one breathtaking moment at a time.”
The Ruby’s Are Back
The Ruby’s Are Back – every year I wait in anticipation to see the first Ruby Throat hummingbird arrive here at home.
They are not very afraid of us here and they allow me to get pretty close to take their photos. Always a challenge but so worth the effort.
The Ruby’s Are Back
Sandra J’s Adventures Outdoors
Real Christianity the Great Awakening
By RJ Dawson
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Singing a Song
Singing a Song as they are walking along. These Sandhill cranes were very vocal this morning. A short video below showing them strolling through the meadow singing.
Have a great weekend. 🙂
Short video of these Sandhill Cranes calling back and forth. Or click this link here; Sandhill Crane Call Songs
Singing a Song
Sandra J’s Adventures Outdoors
Real Christianity the Great Awakening
By RJ Dawson
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When Indigo Jack Found Sora
When Indigo Jack Found Sora
There are moments when the wind stills, and the world leans in.
High in the pines, where the sky folds softly into needles and light, I met a pair of great blue herons who seemed untouched by time.
I had seen them before from afar—graceful silhouettes skimming the water’s edge, sentinels of the marsh.
But that day, they flew right beside me. Not away. Not afraid. Just there, like I was part of the story. And in that moment, I was.
He came first, bold and brushed in indigo, his wings cutting wide through the blue. I call him Indigo Jack, a name that feels just wild enough to belong to a creature of wind and water. He carried a stick in his beak, not for himself, but for her. The one who waited.
Her name is Sora, meaning “sky,” and she wears it like a crown. There is a hush about her, a quiet knowing. She is moonlight in feathers. Not soft, but sacred.
Together, they built a nest—twig by twig, moment by moment. And I watched, breath held, as Jack passed a branch to Sora, their bills touching not in hunger, but in offering. A ritual older than memory.
Link Two Herons Building Nest Video
I often feel that nature lets us in only when we’re still enough. Quiet enough. Respectful enough to be trusted.
This was creation unfolding, and I was invited to witness it.
Have a Wonderful Weekend.
And the wings kept beating.
Sandra J’s Adventures Outdoors
Real Christianity the Great Awakening
By RJ Dawson
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Small Rookery
Small Rookery – I found a small rookery by accident actually. My first time getting to see herons up close as they build their nest.
They were so busy finding sticks that they did not seem to even notice me. Most of the time herons fly off the minute one moves.
I took lots of photos and I will share my video on Friday, I decided to name two of them. Because the male looks like he has a crooked leg and the majority of my photos contained this bird flying back and forth to the nest with sticks.
It is not easy to tell the difference between the males and females. Except that research states the males usually brings the nesting material as the female builds it. So that is what I am going on.
Small Rookery
Sandra J’s Adventures Outdoors
Real Christianity the Great Awakening
By RJ Dawson
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Bird Art
Bird Art
The Great Blue Heron
Bird Art
Sandra J’s Adventures Outdoors
Real Christianity the Great Awakening
By RJ Dawson
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King of the Sky
King of the Sky – I photographed this eagle in Kentucky. We have some friends who knew about a place where we can park off the edge of the road. It’s not far from an eagle’s nest along a riverbank.
The nest is in a dead tree, in the middle of some farm land. But there is a nice size lake not to far away. These eagles come back to this nest every year. They had one eaglet this year as you can see it looking at the parent.
Coming in for a landing.
Have a great weekend.
King of the Sky
Sandra J’s Adventures Outdoors
Real Christianity the Great Awakening
By RJ Dawson
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April Showers
April Showers bring May flowers as the old saying goes. From the gray colors of winter to the spring colors soon to come.
April Showers
Water & Birds
Water & Birds – Beautiful egret bird flying by. Have a great weekend. 🙂
Water & Birds
Sandra J’s Adventures Outdoors
Real Christianity the Great Awakening
By RJ Dawson
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Seeing Double
Building the Nest
Building the Nest, that is a big stick for the nest.
Have a great weekend.
Building the Nest
Sandra J’s Adventures Outdoors
Real Christianity the Great Awakening
By RJ Dawson
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Heron in a Tree
Heron in a Tree video below or click link. Beautiful balance and wing span.
Big Stretch
Big Stretch and ready for the weekend. 🙂
Big Stretch
Sandra J’s Adventures Outdoors
Real Christianity the Great Awakening
By RJ Dawson
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Is Valentine Day Here
Is Valentine Day Here 🙂
Is Valentine Day Here
Sandra J’s Adventures Outdoors
Real Christianity the Great Awakening
By RJ Dawson
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