The nuthatch population seems to be thriving as there are many at our feeders every day. They flit so quickly its hard to 'catch' them in a photo. I'm grateful that this one paused briefly, and posed in such a classic nuthatch posture. As a bonus for this shot, we can see something of what he's caught for his lunch.
Turkey Vulture
The Turkey Vulture is one of the strangest of the winged creatures here on the island. Its naked red head seems all out of proportion to the rest of it’s large body. Soaring overhead, its broad span casts a shadow on the grass, and at rest on the tangle of dead limbs, its folded pinions make the high collared look caricatured in drawings of vultures and vampires.
On its stark perch, the image above is one that, for me, holds an ominous tension. It is not what I would call a ‘beautiful’ bird, but it is a marvel of design and function, consuming carrion right down to the bone, finding its life in the scouring of the shore and forest.
Driftwood Sculpture… and NEWS!
I'm surrounded by the creative hand, revealing unexpected beauty in even the flotsam the washes in with the tide— this particular piece of such grace-given beauty is hanging above a friend's workbench where it serves as a reminder and inspiration.
Here's the NEWS!
A further note of gratitude today: I finally figured out, or at least mades some progress in posting web galleries. I've put a menu up top of my Curious Spectacles Blog, and also want to include the link to my Galleries page here.
I'll be posting more galleries now that I've got the process figured out (mostly... still learning!)
With the very encouraging response to my offering of photo prints, cards, and more at the Galiano Saturday Market this summer, I've started offering my photo prints and cards for sale. You can let me know if there's anything on the Gallery Pages or anywhere else that you're interested in obtaining a photo print or some photo cards. Just drop me a note / email, or leave a comment and I'll get back to you!
Warm good wishes from the Curious Spectacles Studio!
a golden crown…
The day is a little duller and thankfully, cooler,so I've been reviewing my bird visitors and enjoying them all over again.
The Gold Crowned Sparrow is a particular delight to me, as his richly coloured 'gold crown' glows brightly regardless of the weather.
Sand Patterns…
...the smooth sand bared by the low tide is etched with extraordinary shapes... graceful lines drawn by the ebbing tide...
Evening Reflections…
Wandering out to Flagpole Point after sunset, the glow was still bright, and the water magnified the beauty in reflection...
The colours last night were intense — so lovely I felt I wanted to share this glimpse of the awesome beauty of nightfall.
in the morning light …
The smooth water, contrasted with the shapes of the sandstone and logs... a pleasing mix, in the morning's light, of shape and texture. Maybe it's an indication of what the day holds —
Painted Sky at Sunrise
Among the benefits of early rising is the gorgeous sunrises we get here: always different—
On the particular morning of this photo, the patterns of light and colour in the cloud captivated me and inspired this work of 'photo art'.
Extraordinary Seaweed Phenomenon
This pattern of wrinkled humps of seaweed on the rising tide is relatively unusual. It takes several different weather and tide conditions conspiring together to create it.
It goes something like this: First, a southeast wind must blow at low enough tide to accumulate a build up of copious amounts of sea lettuce on the beach. Then, the further receding tide must distribute that sea lettuce over a large patch of the shallow sloping sand, a few inches thick. Then, day must be hot enough to dry the surface of the sea lettuce while the tide has ebbed. The third requirement is that the wind drop, allowing a calm windless period while the tide rises. The result is that the thick layer of sea lettuce is moved slowly from beneath, while the baked-dry surface of the sea lettuce layer is more resistant to movement, and makes for these extraordinary folds.
To me it looks something like colourful elephant skin. Or perhaps a satellite photo of mountain ridges. Or the flowing of some strange green river flowing from the distant rocks... What do you think??
evidence of an unseen visitor…
Sometimes when we go down to the sandy beach, it’s absolutely smooth, pristeen, untouched. Other times we can see there have been others there before us: crabs, dogs, people, and occasionally the deer whose hooves leave their characteristically deep impressions as they bound across the sand. But today it was a racoon that had been to the beach.
The angled sunlight highlighted the perfection of the clawed toes and foot pads: evidence of the quiet creature’s leisurely stroll across the sand. He’s out of sight now, but he’s left us this sign of his visitation.
I wonder who else’s tracks we’ll see today?