• Avian,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area

    American White Pelican

    May 12, 2022

    I mentioned pelicans in a post a week ago and one commenter was surprised to know we have them out here. When people who live along the coast talk pelican they are referring to the Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis). What we have out here is the American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos). American White Pelicans are one of the largest North American birds. Watching them fly is amazing. They soar with incredible steadiness on broad, white-and-black wings. On the water they dip their pouched bills to scoop up fish, or tip-up like an oversized dabbling duck. This is a group of them on Dixon Reservoir working together to herd fish into the shallows for easy feeding. We find them in this area during spring while they feed and nest. If you’re interested here is a good read on them.

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  • Avian,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area

    … all the above

    May 11, 2022

    I have seen several Bullock’s Orioles around Dixon Reservoir at Pineridge Natural Area over the past week. This morning I walked on the west side of the reservoir along the water’s edge. I gratefully accepted this lovely image and the song that accompanied it. The males are a bright orange and easily seen by this new bird watcher. When I got home and saw this image I began to wonder if they sing their morning song of joy because they like the color they have be given, or they like to sing, or they’re happy or all the above?

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  • animals,  coffee life,  coffee shops,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area

    Passed

    February 28, 2022

    My barista had trouble this morning when making my lotus flower latte art. So we agreed to just call it abstract latte art this morning. The real test was how it tasted. Passed.

    Before going to the coffee shop I spent some time at Pineridge Natural Area. If you use a magnifying glass you’ll see the four coyotes making tracks over the snow covered ice on Dixon Reservoir. They were having a good time.

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  • clouds,  landscape,  Mary Oliver,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  poems

    Paying Attention

    October 13, 2021

    I don’t know exactly what a prayer is.
    I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
    into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
    how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
    which is what I have been doing all day.
    Tell me, what else should I have done?

    Mary Oliver

    I spent an hour at one of the natural areas this afternoon. The sun felt good as I sat on the bench and looked out over the meadow, being idle and blessed. The trees along the edges of the reservoir are taking on the colors of fall, while some already stand naked of leaves. A fall wind blows in my face from the northeast. I watch clouds casting their shadows over the meadow and I could hear the prairie dogs bark as people walked along the trails. I was practicing how to pay attention.

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  • clouds,  haiku,  landscape,  sunrises,  writing/reading

    Brush Stroke of Pink

    September 20, 2021

    light brush stroke of pink
    kisses clouds on canvas sky
    a gift of nature

    ms

    Scenes like this at Pineridge Natural Area are one of the perks for waking early. As I watched this miracle unfold I wondered what if would be like to lie in bed, snuggled under warm blankets, looking out at this scene each morning. Then I realized this awe and wonder moment I’m experiencing is because I’m standing there as a part-of nature rather than some observer laying in bed. The owl greeted me again, asking me “who-hoo” I am. Or, maybe they were asking me if I’m in touch with “who-hoo” creates these scenes each morning. I believe I know! I’ll be here again!

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