My online journal where I share my interests in photography, nature, coffee life, journaling, fountain pens, bicycling, spirituality and asking deep questions.
I had a quiet walk at Reservoir Ridge Natural Area yesterday evening. It was a hot and muggy day so I was sweaty by the time I returned to the car. May have to take my monthly shower a week earlier than scheduled.
It was also very quiet. In the hour I was there I only heard one meadowlark, far off in the pasture, a half dozen red-winged blackbirds chattering in a tree and this mourning dove, who was mourning.
It is preoccupation with possessions,– more than anything else — that prevents us from living freely and nobly.
Bertrand Russell
Wonder if the freedom from possessions is why birds enjoy singing, everyday.
Sixty-seven years, oh Lord, to look at the clouds,
Mary Oliver
the trees in deep, moist summer,
daisies and morning glories
opening every morning
their small, ecstatic faces—
Or maybe I should just say
how I wish I had a voice
like the meadowlark’s,
sweet, clear, and reliably
slurring all day long
from the fencepost, or the long grass
where it lives
in a tiny but adequate grass hut
beside the mullein and the everlasting,
the faint-pink roses
that have never been improved, but come to bud
then open like little soft sighs
under the meadowlark’s whistle, its breath-praise,
its thrill-song, its anthem, its thanks, its
alleluia. Alleluia, oh Lord.
patient fisherman
ms
focus is on the present
misses tries again
I watched this Great Blue Heron for several minutes as it slowly moved along in stealth mode. They fish without a lure but wade slowly while stalking their prey in shallow water or flooded meadows, and will strike using their neck to throw their sharp, dagger like bill at their prey. On this morning they actually had a three for three success rate for small fish while I watched. An adult heron can easily consume up to 1 lb of fish per day. Their diet consists mostly of fish, but also frogs, salamanders, turtles, snakes, insects, rodents, birds.
Since I’m learning to identify more birds I am giving you my best guess at what each one is. This is one of those guesses. Some birds it’s no problem but these birds are all so related, hang out in the same family, sound alike, fly similarly and look just like their cousin. Anyway if this is not a spotted towhee, forgive me. 😁 Have a great weekend!
If you will stay close to nature, to its simplicity, to the small things hardly noticeable, those things can unexpectedly become great and immeasurable.
Rainer Maria Rilke
Awareness of the Divine begins with wonder.
Rabbi Heschel
Unknown to me, White-faced Ibises wander through our area during the warmer months of breeding. I do not know that I’ve ever seen them before simply because I pay more attention to this book of nature now. In fact I enjoy reading it. I just sat and watched them with wonder. I found these birds along Weld County Road 13 in a marshy area with no name on any map I could find. Both images from Saturday afternoon.