I've gone to the beach

I miss them already....

birds of a feather

This was the original image. I used a 400mm lens on this old but beautiful pelican. The image below is a more conventional shot. I like the feather trails on the first image and the mountainous feel of his worn beak on the head shot.

paths

Lets see how you do with this shot. Can you guess what it is? I'll show you the original image tomorrow. It may or may not be more helpful.

childhood

This Grace full creature landed in the pool and flew underwater to the other side.

feeding time

mom has regurgitated a fish into it's simplest form of life's substance and is feeding gently her tiny chicks. If you look very closely you can see the chick in the nest.

flight times

Every time dad flew in with reinforcements I pretty much missed the shot. I was either too zoomed in or  focused on another bird! 

So I was pretty happy to get his total flight arrival.

And a close up as well.

the greatest of blues

This is a resilient great blue heron pair. Their little chicks were killed earlier this season and they were left with an empty nest. It broke my heart but apparently they have carried on.

 There are tiny brand new chicks in their nest right now, they are busy repairing and strengthening the nest and she never leaves them. I watched these parents care for their littles and made lots of images that I'll share over the next few days. But the image that means the most to me remains in my memory of them.

(by the way yesterday's post was tree bark, did you guess right?)

painterly

Can you guess what this might be?

Nature has released her hidden treasures once again.

 I see this as an impressionist painting that has been touched by human hand to draw out the vibrancy and form.

The calm and the beyond

This female blue winged teal was pruning in the late morning. I loved the hint of blue beyond her beak, a peak of things to come.

 And then feather madness, an explosion of her hidden gift to me. I'm still trying to take it all in...

anhinga chicks

shhh the littles are sleeping

one has awoke and in no time the other will be up

I'm hungry

That's it lets eat, where's mom?

female anhinga

ready for takeoff

one more time

anticipation

gathering momentum

VABOOM!

Blowing Rock

A few things happens to me yesterday. I learned that sometimes I have to push myself to experience opportunities. I was tired and it was very late in the day and I just wanted to sit. But I gathered myself up and went to the beach again, second time that day, to witness high tide and huge waves. I went to Blowing Rock Preserve and was blown away so to speak. When the waves crashed they spilled on to this beach and soaked the few hardy people who witnessed the sun go down. Can you see that tiny little person in the right of the image. It helps give you perspective of how small we are in front of nature and all it has to offer us. 

I am thankful to have been there. 

purple as promised

 

Ring around the rosy a pocket full of purple....

pink today purple tomorrow

It's time to dive into some color.

I have something to say

Mom has heard that some of you followers have been very nicely responding to this blog by clicking on reply from the email alert that you receive when she has a new post. She does NOT receive any of them! nada zippo none. She has asked me to tell you that she is sorry that you may think her rude for not responding to you, but those comments have gone poof, I mean woof,

 hang on I need to go smell some stuff.

OK Tully I can take it from here. This is how I recommend you view the blog. When you receive the email click on the title of the post or on phyllisweekesphotography and it will take you to the internet site of the blog. That takes you away from the email and sends you to the actual blog which is the best place to view it. When you are there you can comment if you want under the day's post. You can also see old posts that you may have missed or want to see again. Many of you have sent me an email responding to the blog and that is also a nice way to hear from you. 

My email is weekeswork@mac.com

hanging out

This green heron greeted me as I arrived at Wakodahatchee in the early morning last week. She was across the boardwalk from the black crowned night heron who sat hidden in the low bushes. I now understand that the night heron could possibly go after the great blue heron chicks. 

It's a tough world out there...