Tag: adventures outdoors

Its a Bird Its a Plane

Its a Bird Its a Plane

Its a Bird Its a Plane, its lots of birds with wings down. I have put two videos on my you tube channel showing these little birds roaming around the beaches. Along with my camera settings I typically use while photographing birds. The videos are a little longer than usual so I will just put the links here; 5 Tips for Sharper Wildlife Images and Shutter Speed Settings – New Bird – Sting Rays

Its a Bird Its a Plane

Wings up

Its a Bird Its a Plane

I can’t remember if I told you all, but I made a list of all the birds in North America, I think it is 900 plus. I made a spread sheet of the names and I check them off as I photograph them. So I have two new birds to add to the list. This one below is called the Greater White Faced Goose. They are found mostly west of the Mississippi.

And these two below are called Black Neck Stilts, I am wondering is it because of their long legs, stilts? But they don’t have black necks either. But that is what they look like when I tried to find what type of bird these are.

I am up to 104 different birds photographed as of today.

Oh and this one below, just two wings. It is kind of a bird in the air.

Its a Bird Its a Plane

by Sandra J

The Real World is Hard

The Real World is Hard

The Real World is Hard and often draining on the mind and body. Human beings have been drawing on cave walls since the dawn of time to inspire themselves.

Human brains are wired to appreciate and be inspired by art. The right brain, for example, is stimulated deeply by art. Artworks inspire creative and innovative thinking; the right brain takes what it sees and expands upon it.

The Real World is Hard

Staring into a picture of a forest, the right brain envisions walking through the forest, looking to the corners just beyond the frame to see animals and new vistas. 

That is what I do when I look at artwork and photos and it inspires me to create art with my own photos. Like the top photo, I took that photo early one morning. There wasn’t any reflection but the water was calm. So I made a reflection to show you what I was picturing as I stood there on the beach watching this shrimp boat sitting still on the water.

The Real World is Hard

Sometimes nature creates its own art work, like the photo below. I think the curve of the sand along the edge of the island is so unique. I walked this spot quite a few times and it only looked like this once. It changed everyday I was there.

Have a Great Weekend

The Real World is Hard

by Sandra J

The Sands of Time

The Sands of Time

The Sands of Time keep on blowing. Time is like ever-shifting sand, it is never at a standstill. 

The Sands of Time

For what is life, it is even a vapor, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away.

The Sands of Time

The Sands of Time

by Sandra J

Piper Plovers

Piper Plovers

Piper Plovers, these are the cutest birds on the shores. They are so tiny but move very fast. There are about three dozen species of plovers, 15 to 30 centimetres (6 to 12 inches) long, with long wings, moderately long legs, short necks, and straight bills that are shorter than their heads. 

Piper Plovers

If you look close you can see this Plover pulling a very small worm type thing out of the sand. You can imagine how small this bird is, there is probably no way we could see this little worm in the sand.

Piper Plovers

I read that birds tuck one foot up in their feathers to preserve their heat. They lose heat through their feet and on this morning it was pretty cold out. But they still stand in the water.

Cuteness overload.

Piper Plovers

by Sandra J

Reflections of Times Past

Reflections of Times Past

Reflections of Times Past We sometimes take Light for granted. It turns out that, with a bit of persuasion, Light would show us things we thought we would never see.  A beautiful reflection of you or me.

Reflections of Times Past
reflections on water
Reflections of Times Past
dock reflections
Reflections of Times Past

Reflections of Times Past

by Sandra J

Happy New Year

Happy New Year

Happy New Year, hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and here is to a new year full of love, laughter and faith.

“There is no fear within the walls of faith with our Father.”

Happy New Year
Happy New Year

“There is no fear within the walls of faith with our Father.”

Happy New Year

by Sandra J

INCOMING

INCOMING

INCOMING!!! Look Out 😉 As the one brown pelican checks its backside to get his tail feathers out of the way for the two diving behind him. Whew, close call.

Happy New Years Eve,

We went for a walk along the beach on a windy day and there were dozens of brown pelicans diving all in one area, but when I looked closer I noticed they appeared to be following some dolphins. As the dolphins moved around the pelicans were not to far behind. A short video below will show this amazing sight we saw.

INCOMING

I mentioned before about how the brown pelicans turn ever so slightly to the left to protect their esophagus. You will see this in the video below.

Watch this video on YouTube.
Sandra J's Photography

Have a Great Weekend

INCOMING

by Sandra J

In the Morning Light

In the Morning Light

In the Morning Light

When the world is screaming
Stirring up fears
I long for a place
Where the noise disappears

In the Morning Light

A walk into this place
Surrounding me here
In the morning light
Where the noise disappears

It’s so refreshing
The Word spoken clear
This glorious sound
Where the noise disappears

In the inner room
Of intimate prayers
Let my soul dwell
Where the noise disappears

In the Morning Light

Genesis tells you this, there is eternity in the Spirit.  By the time your eyes open in the present the future has already become your past.  

In the Morning Light

by Sandra J

The Royal Terns Have Left the Court

The Royal Terns Have Left the Court

The Royal Terns Have Left the Court, well this is the closest I have been to these birds this week. I have driven by this marina many times since I took these photos and have not seen any birds there since. But I am always on the look out for the next exciting bird sighting. There are some new birds still to come as we venture along the gulf coast.

The Royal Terns Have Left the Court
The Royal Terns Have Left the Court
The Royal Terns Have Left the Court

The Royal Terns Have Left the Court

by Sandra J

Merry Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas Eve from our home to yours. A variety of colors from all our feathered friends. To brighten this day with cheer and love. Have a wonderful Christmas.

Merry Christmas Eve
Chickadee
Merry Christmas Eve
printed bird photo
Merry Christmas Eve
songbird,gray cat bird, nature, wildbirds,
Gray Cat Bird
Merry Christmas Eve
tiniest of birds
birds by Christmas tree

Merry Christmas Eve

by Sandra J

The King of the Royalty Court

The King of the Royalty Court

The King of the Royalty Court standing above all the others is of course the Brown Pelican. Mostly because of their size, they take what ever post they want and make the other birds leave. But they are such a beautiful bird as well I think. Dressed in all their brown plumage.

They are a facinating bird, especially when they are fishing. But I have noticed one thing here on the gulf coast, when the dolphins are around the pelicans follow them. Looking for the fish the dolphins round up I suspect.

The King of the Royalty Court
The King of the Royalty Court

The King of the Royalty Court

by Sandra J

There is More

There is More

There is More, I took plenty of photos of this beautiful bird in case I never see one again. There is one in the line that is different from the rest. Can you see it? 3rd bird down, he wants to be a Royal Gull I think. Standing with all the other Royals.

There is More
Watch this video on YouTube.
Sandra J's Photography
There is More

There is More

by Sandra J

Its the Tern’s Turn This Week

Its the Tern’s Turn This Week

Its the Tern’s Turn This Week, The Royal Tern to be exact. We stopped at a marina because we saw a lot of birds flying around down at the end of a dock. So I got my camera out thinking they were all going to be Gulls and Brown Pelicans, but to my surprise there is a new bird at the end that I have never seen before.

The gorgeous birds with the orange bills of course, what a surprise. I love seeing new birds to add to my list. There are a lot of different kinds of Terns like most species, I looked at them all to determine which one this is and I believe it to be the Royals. They do sport a bit of a crown of feathers on their heads.

Its the Tern's Turn This Week

They seem so arrow dynamic on windy days as they lean into the wind perched on post.

Its the Tern’s Turn This Week

by Sandra J

Portrait of the Snowy Egret

Portrait of the Snowy Egret

Portrait of the Snowy Egret, we went out for a bike ride on this particular morning. The sun was still low in the sky and as we crossed a small bridge we came to a sudden stop. As we noticed this beautiful Egret perched on a branch just above the creek.

I slowly got my camera out, the sun was behind us creating a beautiful spot light, it turned to look towards me and I took the photo as you see. Sometimes when I am least expecting it, an average morning bike ride turns into a site that can take my breathaway.

Have a Wonderful Weekend.

Portrait of the Snowy Egret
Portrait of the Snowy Egret

Portrait of the Snowy Egret

by Sandra J

A Southern Christmas

A Southern Christmas

A Southern Christmas at Bellingrath Gardens, a beautiful place to visit anytime of year. It is a historic home in Alabama where they have the most beautiful flower gardens all year long. In December they put up beautiful Christmas lights throughout their gardens in many different flower shapes and trees. Video below.

Merry Christmas and may we all have a wonderful season of love and giving. Have a Wonderful Weekend.

A Southern Christmas
Watch this video on YouTube.
Sandra J's Photography
A Southern Christmas
A Southern Christmas

A Southern Christmas

by Sandra J

What is Snowy and Great

What is Snowy and Great

What is Snowy and Great, that would be two different species of Egret Birds. The Snowy Egret has a black bill and a touch of yellow around the eyes. Much smaller than the great egret as well.

What is Snowy and Great
What is Snowy and Great

The Great Egret, as shown below, has always impressed me with their large wing spans. I love to try and photograph these beautiful birds when the are flying over water, to capture the tips of their wings just grazing the water is a fun challenge to do. One has to sit patiently for quite awhile to do this sometimes.

egret flying over water

The Snowy Egret below enjoying the fresh catch of the day.

What is Snowy and Great
What is Snowy and Great

What is Snowy and Great

by Sandra J

Birds Flying In Sync

Birds Flying In Sync

Birds Flying In Sync, I love watching birds in flight, especially in a group or a pair. Amazing how the timeing of their wing beats can be so in sync for just a moment in time as you watch them. To see them fly in formation is breathtaking to me as well.

There are two well-supported and complementary explanations for why birds fly in formation. One is to conserve energy by taking advantage of the upwash vortex fields created by the wings of the birds in front. The other is to facilitate orientation and communication among the birds.

Birds Flying In Sync
Birds Flying In Sync
goose landing on water
Birds Flying In Sync
  • pelicans in flight
brown pelicans flying together

Birds Flying In Sync

by Sandra J

Christmas in the Park

Christmas in the Park

Christmas in the Park; Bringing some holiday cheer. Christmas is a time of year where I find time to reflect on years past and present. It reminds me to think; “What’s Your Purpose in Life”,

Christmas in the Park

An age-old question that each of us tries to answer throughout our lives. In the cycle of life that whirls around us like a wheel from the time the Sun rises to the time the Sunsets.  We only have two absolutes to work with to answer that question;

Birth and Death an absolute that cannot be changed.

Male and Female an absolute that cannot be changed

Christmas in the Park

These are two absolutes that exist within our spirits that made us who we are.  If you try to alter the absolutes. All one is doing, is trying to create life, by changing the Laws of absolutes.  We all create an alternative reality that shines brightly in our eyes, like the moon at night, to displace the darkness that engulfs us all.

To give our lives meaning.  We run to and fro from one event to the next event in our lives picking up colorful jewels to hide our hurts.  That overtime lose their luster.  Then we look for other jewels to mask our hurts from prior events.  So, others cannot see.  We create a pseudo reality from the colorful jewels we clothe ourselves with.

This happens to so many people this time of year. Getting lost in the things of this world. Trying to become something they are not, trying to become what others say they should be like. I know, it happened to me years ago.

So, to answer the question, “What is my Purpose in Life?”.

I walked back one year to the Garden of Trees and sat in silence so that I may hear. 

I am the One that created you, I gave you my life, my breath within you. I gave you words within you to raise yourself from the dead to become like one of us.

I do not deny the One who created me. Cut out the middle man, the serpent that blocks your eyes to the One that created you.  That will only happen when your desire to live overrides what man told you on how to live.

Christmas in the Park

by Sandra J

Through the Tunnel & Over the Bridge

Through the Tunnel & Over the Bridge

Through the Tunnel & Over the Bridge to New Adventures We Go 😉

Someday is Here

Through the Tunnel & Over the Bridge

You know how some of us say; ” Someday I am going to go on that big trip”, or Someday I will do __________.

Well, the word someday usually means never. I heard that in a movie that the actor Tom Cruise is in. He said that line.

Someday is here and our journey continues. I look forward to sharing photos of God’s Country along the way. I wish you all a wonderful weekend. Try to never put off what you can do today until someday. Life is a gift,

Watch this video on YouTube.
Sandra J's Photography

Life is a gift and death is a homecoming to me.  Our body’s are on loan to us just for a short time to enjoy the wonderful things He gives us.  I did not grow up in a Christian family at all.  A neighbor told me a little bit about it when I was 10 years old and I have been searching for the truth ever since.

He never meant for it to be a mystery; it is the gift of life. Finding my purpose has been the journey, the end will just be the beginning.

Through the Tunnel & Over the Bridge

Pretty in Pink

Pretty in Pink

Pretty in Pink Doing a little art work today. The last photo is the origanal photo that I took and my imagination created the top two photos.

The One who created me in the Garden of Trees will not destroy me. 

Pretty in Pink

I am the One who gave you hands to use your talents to create life around you.

Pretty in Pink

Open your eyes Child, Look Up, I Am Right Here, I Never Left

Pretty in Pink

by Sandra J

No I don’t Want to Look

No I don’t Want to Look

No I don’t Want to Look;

Me; I am going to stand down here all day until you turn around and look so I can take your picture.

No I don't Want to Look

Osprey; Fine, what pose do you want from me this time?

Me; Something stately, head up and wide eyed please.

Osprey; How is this? (pose)

Me; Perfect

No I don't Want to Look

Squirrel !!

No, I don't Want to Look

Osprey; Be gone, I am busy.

No I don’t Want to Look

by Sandra J

Rare Find of the Reddish Egret

Rare Find of the Reddish Egret

Rare Find of the Reddish Egret, We happened across a new bird to add to my list last week, as we walked along the shoreline looking for a different bird at the time. I had no idea what this bird was, but believed it to be in the Heron family.

When I got back home I looked it up right away to find that it is a non breeding Reddish Egret. The species was adversely affected by plume hunting in the United States and extirpated from Florida in early 1900’s (Powell et al. 1989). It was recorded again in Florida in 1937 (Davis 1937, Desmond 1939) and since then has recolonized much of its former range

Rare Find of the Reddish Egret

Dark morph adults are rich grayish blue bodies with vivid pinkish-cinnamon head and neck.

Rare Find of the Reddish Egret

This bird stood patiently as we walked by, it did not seem to mind us at all. We pulled up our chairs that we were carrying and sat for a spell. I did capture some video as well and will show that at a later time.

In the stately and dignified world of herons, Reddish Egrets are the swashbuckling cousins. These big, cinnamon and steely gray birds put on a show as they forage in shallow saltwater. 

Rare Find of the Reddish Egret

Rare Find of the Reddish Egret

by Sandra J

Twist and Turns

Twist and Turns

Twist and Turns is the design of this tree, plus it is a great spot for the birds to perch on high above the forest floor. The trees in the south have so many different designs to them. Amazing how the branches seem to go in all different directions.

Twist and Turns

She was framed by His words to represent His Creation

Twist and Turns
Twist and Turns

Have a Wonderful Weekend

Twist and Turns

by Sandra J

Riding the Waves

Riding the Waves

Riding the Waves, I went for a walk this morning along the beach and I came across Darren the Heron looking like he is riding the waves on a branch bobbing up and down. He is trying to get a better view of the beach, looking for a fisher I suspect.

Riding the Waves
Riding the Waves

But there wasn’t any fisher’s on this particular morning, not a person in sight.

Riding the Waves

by Sandra J

Sand or Snow

Sand or Snow

Sand or Snow Who’s Feet Are These with the tiny knobby knees. Designed with a purpose, each species feet. Some are made for sand and some for snow.

Who's Feet Are These

I can’t decide, I find so much beauty in both.

Watch this video on YouTube.
Sandra J's Photography
Who's Feet Are These

Who’s Feet Are These