Sometimes I take a photo, like the one below, of a subject (Bufflehead duck) and I’m disappointed when the featured subject is unclear.

Then, when I look at the same photograph as a composition, I am pleasantly surprised!

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Northern Harriers course low over the marshes and meadows frequently, yet in three years of attempts, my efforts to get a good photo were always blurry or just of the sky or marsh with no bird to be seen! Capturing this shot of an adult male carrying a twig to its nest, was very gratifying.

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For a few days a female House Finch appeared at our living room window, looking very much like she wanted to build her nest right there!

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Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology hosts Project FeederWatch, a Citizen Science program from November thru April (https://feederwatch.org). Creighton and I have participated for the past 12 seasons. This winter we were visited by a bird we’d never seen before.

When I entered my weekly report, Cornell experts questioned if I had the right identification. The cautious bird, a Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis), came to our feeders for about a month – such a lovely surprise!

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In May, a young American black bear rambled across the meadow while Jello and I watched from the living room (https://lindylecoq.com/2020/05/19/sunday-surprise/). A week or so later, as we walked back from the beach, I was startled to hear Jello discharge a guttural growl. Looking toward her, I saw a black bear emerge from the dune grass and cross the trail right in front of us. Jello’s hackles were up and she took off after the bear. I yelled my one word command for all similar occasions: STOP! …and she did!

Wishing everyone safe harbor, as we continue to navigate uncharted waters.

🐾

I wish I could say I’m surprised that my country is leading the world in novel corona virus infections. Sadly, I’m not surprised – I’m embarrassed, disgusted and impatient to replace the current administration. We can do better.

Thank you Leya for sending me looking for happy surprises – or at least surprises with a happy ending!

https://lagottocattleya.wordpress.com/2020/06/27/lens-artists-photo-challenge-103-surprise/