Lindy Low LeCoq

~ Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #146: Focusing on the Details ~

Posted on May 7, 2021 by Lindy Le Coq

Flowers are blooming, shrubs are alive with fragrance and color, and spring is in full swing. Last Wednesday, I posted landscape shots of the front yard, and today I offer details of some of those lovely bloomers.

Rhododendron thrive in the Pacific Northwest. Their broad evergreen leaves provide an understory cover for birds, and their brilliant blossoms, while short-lived, are a vibrant addition to spring gardens.

This particular Lilac is so fragrant folks walk across the street to breathe in it’s essence.

I was pleasantly surprised to find this pot of Sweet Alyssum and Chrysanthemum wintered over and is quite exuberant in it’s place on the entryway to our home.

Self-seeding and a sun-lover, Columbine is a welcome wildflower.

A transplant from my sister’s garden, Calla Lily is a graceful, sensuous addition to my spring gardens. Thanks to Patti for this challenge. With an overcast sky, and no wind, I was able to use the macro feature on my camera to take these photos today. What a treat!

Wishing everyone safe harbor, as we navigate onward. Please mask-up and stay safe.🐾

https://pilotfishblog.com/2021/05/01/lens-artists-photo-challenge-146-focusing-on-the-details/

Posted in flowers, Gardening, landscape gardening, Lens-Artists Photo Challenge, nature, nature photography, pacific northwest | Tagged flowers, landscape gardening, Lens-Artists Photo Challenge, nature photography, pacific northwest | 7 Comments

~ Wordless Wednesday + Cee’s FOTD ~ Welcome Home Gardens ~

Posted on May 5, 2021 by Lindy Le Coq

Wishing everyone safe harbor, as we navigate onward. Please mask-up and stay safe.🐾

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

~ Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #145: Getting to Know You ~

Posted on May 1, 2021 by Lindy Le Coq

What I love is being in nature – somewhere near water. Here are some photos of favorite places.

Wishing everyone safe harbor, as we navigate onward. Please mask-up and stay safe.🐾

https://scillagrace.com/2021/04/24/lens-artists-photo-challenge-145-getting-to-know-you/

Posted in birds, Lens-Artists Photo Challenge, nature photography, pacific northwest | Tagged birds, crescent lake, Lens-Artists Photo Challenge, Long Beach Peninsula, nature photography | 5 Comments

~ The Evasive Marsh Wren ~

Posted on April 30, 2021 by Lindy Le Coq

From the middle of a thicket of vines, or on the ground amid dense marsh grass, a rattled trill calls out in defiance of my presence. Wrens are notorious for sounding like they are scolding – this one seems more so because it is essentially invisible. My attempt to get a clear photo finally panned out with one clear shot after many blurry images or simply snaps of empty brambles!

Marsh Wrens forage low to the ground feeding on insects and spiders. Males build up to six spherical nests and females choose one to line and lay eggs. (Birds of the Puget Sound Region)

Wishing everyone safe harbor, as we navigate onward. Please mask-up and stay safe.🐾

Posted in Birding, birds, nature photography, ornithology, pacific northwest | Tagged Birding, birds, Long Beach Peninsula, nature photography, ornithology, pacific northwest | Leave a comment

~ Wordless Wednesday ~ Small Beauties ~

Posted on April 28, 2021 by Lindy Le Coq

Breeding Male American Goldfinch – *Spinus tristis*

Wishing everyone safe harbor, as we navigate onward. Please mask-up and stay safe.🐾

Posted in Birding, birds, nature photography, ornithology, pacific northwest | Tagged American Goldfinch, Birding, birds, Long Beach Peninsula, nature photography, ornithology, pacific northwest | Leave a comment

~ Report from the Edge of a Continent ~ Eagles ~

Posted on April 25, 2021 by Lindy Le Coq

On my beach walk this morning, there were at least 10 Bald Eagles waiting near and vying for a place to feast at the carcass of a Pacific White-sided Dolphin (not endangered) that had washed ashore at high tide.

Five mature Bald Eagles and two subadult ~ *Haliaeetus leucocephalus*

Several crows were in attendance as well as one Turkey Vulture.

Bald Eagle ~ *Haliaeetus leucocephalus* & Turkey Vulture *Cathartes aura*

Immature Bald Eagle ~ *Haliaeetus leucocephalus*

Wishing everyone safe harbor, as we navigate onward. Please mask-up and stay safe.🐾

Posted in Birding, birds, nature photography, ornithology, pacific northwest, pacific ocean, photography, Report from the Edge of a Continent | Tagged Bald Eagles, Birding, Long Beach Peninsula, nature photography, ornithology, pacific ocean, Report from the Edge of a Continent | 2 Comments

~ Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #144: Taking Flight ~

Posted on April 23, 2021 by Lindy Le Coq

Tina dished up a favorite subject for me with this challenge! I’m in Long Beach, WA – USA and have been enjoying listening to songbirds and taking photos. Though I have a vast catalog of shots I could use, I decided to draw from this week’s sightings only.

Song Sparrows have a complicated series of chirps in their song, which varies by region, and always cheers me. Pretty sure this guy is calling for a mate!

The marshes have shrunk substantially in the month since I was last here. These Mallard drakes (Anas platyrbychos) caught my attention, then I noticed the Bairds Sandpiper (Calidris bairdii) working the edge! Below a Mallard hen tends her brood of chicks.

Black-capped Chickadee – *(Poecile atricapillus)*

On my morning walks chickadees, juncos and sparrows flit through the Coastal Pines, gleaning bugs and making a cheerful racket!

White-crowned Sparrow – *(Zonotrichia leucophrys)*

Savannah Sparrow – *(Passerculus sandwichensis)*

Semipalmated Plover – *(Charadrius semipalmatus)*

A few small flocks of Sanderling swooped above the shoreline, some gulls and crows gleaned along the beach – and then there was this lovely little plover.

At low tide, an adult Bald Eagle swept across the sky and landed in the sand within walking distance. Lucky me!

Bald Eagle – *(Haliaeetus leucocephalus)*

It is goose migration time. For the past two days, I have seen and heard several flocks flying over on their way north.

I’m hopeful that by this time next year I will be ready to change my sign-off. For the present however, it is still a timely reminder!

Wishing everyone safe harbor, as we navigate onward. Please mask-up and stay safe.🐾

https://travelsandtrifles.wordpress.com/2021/04/17/lens-artists-challenge-144-taking-flight/#like-18788

Posted in Birding, birds, Lens-Artists Photo Challenge, nature, nature photography, ornithology, pacific northwest, photography, Report from the Edge of a Continent, travel | Tagged Birding, Lens-Artists Photo Challenge, Long Beach Peninsula, nature, nature photography, ornithology, photography, travel | 4 Comments

~ Wordless Wednesday ~ Report from the Edge of a Continent ~

Posted on April 21, 2021 by Lindy Le Coq

Wishing everyone safe harbor, as we navigate onward. Please mask-up and stay safe.🐾

Posted in birds, nature photography, pacific northwest, Report from the Edge of a Continent, Wordless Wednesday | Tagged birds, Long Beach Peninsula, nature photography, pacific northwest, Report from the Edge of a Continent, Wordless Wednesday | Leave a comment

~ Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #142: Colorful April ~

Posted on April 15, 2021 by Lindy Le Coq

Seems when I’m home in Vancouver, my photos are all about what is growing in my gardens and around the neighborhood, and when I’m at home in Long Beach, my snaps are of birds and beach critters! Amy has invited us to feature the colors of April so here is another batch of flora!

I love to look up at a clear blue sky through the screen of bright yellow forsythia. An early bloomer, the shrub is somewhat unwieldy, needing hard pruning, however its yellow blossoms yield to a bright light green leaves as the flowers fade.

Grape Hyacinth naturalize and spread yearly. These were nestled amid the green grass looking like there should be an Easter egg hiding nearby!

Flowering Quince in the foreground is enhanced by forsythia in the background.

Naturalizing together, jonquils, hyacinth and candytuft make a pretty pattern in this corner.

One of my most fragrant lilacs is just starting to bloom.

Evergreen Hydrangea trails along the hand rail to my front door. The flowers bloom early, and hardy, dark green leaves soften the hard edge of steel and brick all summer long.