Sunrise on the Gulf Coast
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
Sunrise With the Birds
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
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
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
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
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.
They seem so arrow dynamic on windy days as they lean into the wind perched on post.
Its the Tern’s Turn This Week
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
The Great Blue Heron to Music
The Great Blue Heron to Music, We were walking back along this boardwalk and this Great Blue was perched on the railing. So I had to just stop and watch it for a bit as the wind blows his gorgeous feathers to the beat of the music in the video below.
The Great Blue Heron to Music
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.
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
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
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
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
Mums the Word Again
Mums the Word Again, A few yellow mums to brighten your day today.
Mums the Word Again
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.
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
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
Dark morph adults are rich grayish blue bodies with vivid pinkish-cinnamon head and neck.
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
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.
She was framed by His words to represent His Creation
Have a Wonderful Weekend
Twist and Turns
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.
But there wasn’t any fisher’s on this particular morning, not a person in sight.
Riding the Waves
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.
I can’t decide, I find so much beauty in both.
Who’s Feet Are These
The Magic of Color
The Magic of Color
The Magic of Color
The Reflection of Light
A Wonderful Day to Give Thanks
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
October November Flowers to Remember
October November Flowers to Remember, Mums the word this November. I posted this first picture a couple of weeks ago and we went back to the same park yesterday and they had changed the flowers on the bridge to cascading mums. A beautiful sight to remember with colorful autumn mums.
All these colors have a way of brightning up ones day here in November.
October November Flowers to Remember
Life on the Beach
Life on the Beach yes another photo with people in it. But, actually I was watching the Blue Heron bird standing on the beach by the water. The people just happened to be in the background. (video below)
I do post photos here a little ahead of the videos I make for You Tube, the videos take a little bit longer. But if you would like to see the videos that go along with most of my post you can check them out here at this link and there is a subscribe button as well to be notified when I post videos. Adventures Outdoors Photography by Sandra J You Tube
I try to put them on You Tube every Tuesday when I can, it is a way to make my photos come to life. Thank you all for visiting this blog and commenting, I do appreciate it and enjoy conversing with you and meeting new people through this thing called blogging.
Have a Wonderful Weekend
Life on the Beach
New Birds to the Collection
New Birds to the Collection, well this first photo is a new bird to my eyes. It is called a green heron. It was at dusk when I took this photo, so it does not show the beautiful color this bird really is. It is a short stocky bird to say the least.
The Green Heron is one of the world’s few tool-using bird species. It often creates fishing lures with bread crusts, insects, and feathers, dropping them on the surface of the water to entice small fish.
This one is a Blue Heron, but I am thinking it might be a younger one. It is a lot smaller than the ones I usually see and its feathers were much bluer than the adults.
Of course one can not be on a beach without seeing the sandpiper birds. They are so commical to watch, they walk so fast, well they always look like they are running. They are not vey shy, they come right up to you most of the time to check out what you are doing on their beach.
New Birds to the Collection
Precious Are We
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
Craftmanship in the Park
Craftmanship in the Park, I happened across this beautiful gazebo in a park the other day. Nature is magnificant, but the craftmanship of a builder can be quite beautiful as well.
A simple bridge over a small pond and add some flower boxes on the side can really spruce it up.
Craftmanship in the Park
Two by Two
Two by Two, I took this photo of these two pelicans flying in unison and I was thinking, I wonder how many other photos I have of just two birds and I was surprised to find the photos placed below. None of these photos are photoshopped. They are exactly how I saw them. Two by Two
Two by Two – the Two Tablets were spoken by Him, to restore creation, to to become one as they should be for eternity.
The Two Tablets are the inside chambers of your Heart, “Love your Father” outside the chamber, “Love your Neighbor”.
Two by Two
Morning Noon and Night
Morning Noon and Night, there is always something going on at the beaches. From people just walking on the beach to fishing with very tall fishing poles. (video below)
To pelicans sunning themselves during the heat of the day. You can find them easy enough during the day stitting on a post in the water, cleaning their feathers.
But come sunset, the beaches empty out, the lights are low. That is when we enjoy a walk on the beach the most. Just remember to bring a flashlight if you lose track of time.
So the evening and the morning were the second day and the dry land could appear.
Sunrise of Gold
Have a Wonderful Weekend
Trees of the South
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
