Fishing With an Osprey, it hovers overhead looking for the fish of the day.
It spotted the one it wants and off it goes.
It gains speed as the wings tighten to its body.
Talons are Out
And under the water it goes.
Stay tuned for tomorrow’s post to see if he caught his fish. 😉
Fishing With an Osprey
Sharp Hooked Claws A bird’s talons are the sharp, hooked claws at the end of the toes. Birds have one talon on every toe, and they may differ in overall shape, curvature, and thickness depending on how the bird will use its talons and how worn individual talons may be.
I was walking along a pier and this beautiful Osprey was perched on a pole. It wasn’t to spooked as I got closer and closer so I was able to get a wonderful photo of this beautiful bird.
On tomorrow’s post I will show you this bird going into a head dive to catch a fish. It actually went full body into the water. I thought they just swooped down like an Eagle to get their fish.
Sharp Hooked Claws
Birds Can Make You Smile, they sure do lighten my day and that is why I love birding. Not only is it a challenge at times but some photos you just can’t help but smile when you see their expressions.
The pelicans of course, if you can catch them while they are doing a stretch, makes it look like they are smiling.
Take this photo of the Reddish Egret, it looks so regal and beautiful the way it holds its head up and the feathers blowing in the wind.
But you take a photo with it looking right at the camera does make one smile. Taking a photo of a bird looking at the camera is usually a no no just like photographing a person looking right at the camera. You always want the person to have a bit of a profile look, as they turn their head slightly and chin up is usually the best way for people and birds.
I don’t know what this bird is below, but looking right at the camera makes it look like it has a lot of feathers on top of the head.
Birds Can Make You Smile
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.
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.
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
The Sands of Time keep on blowing. Time is like ever-shifting sand, it is never at a standstill.
For what is life, it is even a vapor, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away.
The Sands of Time
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.”
“There is no fear within the walls of faith with our Father.”
Happy New Year
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.
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.
Have a Great Weekend
INCOMING
In the Morning Light
When the world is screaming
Stirring up fears
I long for a place
Where the noise disappears
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
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
Sunrise on the Gulf Coast, The sun is rising and I am preparing to paint a new canvas today. Have a Wonderful Day
Sunrise on the Gulf Coast
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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.
The Snowy Egret below enjoying the fresh catch of the day.
What is Snowy and Great
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
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”,
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
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
Through the Tunnel & Over the Bridge to New Adventures We Go 😉
Someday is Here
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,
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
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.
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
Squirrel !!
Osprey; Be gone, I am busy.
No I don’t Want to Look
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.
She was framed by His words to represent His Creation
Have a Wonderful Weekend
Twist and Turns
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.
But there wasn’t any fisher’s on this particular morning, not a person in sight.
Riding the Waves
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.
I can’t decide, I find so much beauty in both.
Who’s Feet Are These
A Wonderful Day to Give Thanks, flowers tend to dress up any thing we put them on. Whether it is our tables for special holidays like today, or like this old brick walkway, that has beautiful iron railings and worn bricks leading into a rose garden in this particular park. Video Below showing the flowers as we walk through this park.
They added cascading mum plants to this entry way, which changes the look to a more colorful vibrant entrance on it now. What I can not share with you here is the wonderful aroma coming from these flowers. I never realized mum plants smelled this good, but when you get enough of them together it is amazing.
Happy thanksgiving for many folks today, I hope everyone can enjoy a peacful day with family and friends or just spend some time out in nature. That is where I like to be the most.
Thank you to all of you who happen to come across my blog post here, I appreciate the time you take to view these photos and leave comments. I enjoy reading your words and am thankful for all the kind thoughts that you share every day. I enjoy sharing what I see through the lens of my camera with you and hope it brightens your day.
Happy Thanksgiving
A Wonderful Day to Give Thanks
Precious Are We, these two lovely ducks were walking along in the park. One looks a little ruffled, maybe it is the younger of the two. I added some flowers to the photo because they just looked like they should be enjoying flowers on this beautiful Autumn day. But there was another duck not far behind them. A grumpy looking duck to say the least.
Now it could just be the dark feathers around his eye, but he looks like he is having a bad day, giving my the ole stink eye like some of the deer did last year when I photographed them. 🙂
He is unique, but I have to say his feathers are just as beautiful as the two from above.
His back feathers look like a warm throw blanket, with a beautiful design all his own.
Precious Are We
Trees of the South, I love photographing trees, in the south the moss is what captures my eyes. Elegantly flowing from the tree branches above. Natures way of celebrating the outdoors by decorating the trees with natural tinsel.
Trees of the South
Eye Catching Colors, Green and Red. Wonderful colors of Christmas as well. I see roses in bloom down here in the south still and the palm leaves are such a vibrant green. Especially when the sun is shinning through them. It amazes me to see flowers in bloom here in November.
I am so used to seeing snow this time of year, so to see all this color right now is heart warming to say the least. He promises He will water the seeds we plant and bring them to life.
Eye Catching Colors
She Blends Right In, there is a small lake in the campground we are at which is the home to this one alligator. When the sun is shinning in the late evenings, it blends right in to its surroundings as the cover photo. This is our first sighting of an alligator.
They are such a strange looking animal, I was wondering what they eat, especially in this small isolated pond. There are lots of turtles swimming all around it. So I am guessing if it is hungry enough that would make a meal.
There is a board walk over looking the pond, that is where I am standing looking down on it. I will put photos on tomorrow of the pond itself. The reflections are mezmerizing in the late afternoons.
She Blends Right In
