Lindy Low LeCoq

~ Lens-Artists Challenge #16 – Big Can Be Beautiful Too! ~

Posted on October 23, 2018 by Lindy Le Coq

Big (like small) is always relative…

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…and, subject to one’s perspective! Though the tower and power lines above, may be considered an ugly intrusion, the electricity they conduct safely across large swaths of terrain provide safety, warmth and light to many homes and businesses.

To those who regularly fish the oceans and rivers for BIG fish, this one may seem like small fry. To me, this lake trout (Mackinaw) is the biggest I’ve caught in a long time!

How big is this nest?

Featured in the front yard of a home in Portland, this folk-art is large enough for two or three small children or one adult to nestle into. Dandelions provide relative scale!

On its own, this could be “any old egg.” In my hand it is clearly, “one big egg!” Found on the beach, the underside is broken where a Bald Eagle chick emerged.

The eagle egg shell was discovered here, on Long Beach, WA. Many of the photos I’ve taken at Long Beach fail to give a sense of how big it is! In this one from my archives, the two women rushing to greet one another in the distance, give us a sense of scale.

https://travelsandtrifles.wordpress.com/2018/10/20/lens-artists-challenge-16-big-can-be-beautiful-too/

Posted in Lens-Artists Photo Challenge, nature, pacific northwest, pacific ocean, photography | Tagged fishing, Lense-Artists Photo Challenge, Long Beach, nature, pacific northwest, photography | 9 Comments

~ Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #15: Changing ~ Changeable ~ Bald Eagle ~

Posted on October 19, 2018 by Lindy Le Coq

~ A Five Year Odyssey to Maturity ~

Bald Eagle – One Year

When I first saw this beauty, I thought it might be a Golden Eagle. After checking with eBird (Cornell Lab of Ornithology), I learned it was a one year old Bald Eagle. Brown all over, lighter brown on the back. At one year old, it has just a hint of yellow on its beak.

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Seeing this one on the shoreline still asking adults to feed it, I thought it was a juvenile! Since then, I’ve learned the mottling on its chest and extensive white on the wingtips, plus the emergence of yellow on its beak indicate it is about two years old – an immature, but not a juvenile!

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By three years old, Bald Eagle’s still have some white on their chest and underwings, but black-brown feathering is dominant. In the top photo a distinct dark eye-stripe, between its white crown and grey chin-feathers, are characteristic of this still immature age.

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By four years old, Bald Eagles gain their stark-white head and tail-feathers, and their fully-feathered black-brown body. Between four and five, Bald Eagles are fully mature, mate for life and fiercely protect their progeny.

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When this Northern Harrier harassed a mature Bald Eagle, the scene changed in an instant!

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So many changes – some immediate – some gradual, some positive – some devastating. Sending prayers to those who have had their lives turned up-side-down by events beyond their control.

Lens Artists Photo Challenge #15: Changing and/or Changeable

Posted in birds, Lens-Artists Photo Challenge, nature, ornithology, pacific northwest, pacific ocean, photography | Tagged bald eagle, Lense-Artists Photo Challenge, ornithology, pacific northwest, pacific ocean, photography | 4 Comments

~ Wordless Wednesday ~

Posted on October 17, 2018 by Lindy Le Coq

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Posted in pacific northwest, pacific ocean, Wordless Wednesday | Tagged Long Beach Peninsula, Oysterville, pacific northwest, pacific ocean, Wordless Wednesday | Leave a comment

~ Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Things People Play With ~

Posted on October 15, 2018 by Lindy Le Coq

Let’s have some imaginative fun outside!

Nickels and dimes didn’t come easy when I was a kid, but oh, I would have loved to ride this into the horizon if given a chance!

Someone’s going to have a unicorn ride in the lake!

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Forts – a kid hide-away -no adults allowed!

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Sand, a bucket or cup, a trowel, a stick provide all a young person needs to be creative. Of course, walking or running on the beach with your dog is also a barrel of fun!

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And then there’s learning to fly a kite on a warm breezy day!

Cheers to playing outside!

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Posted in Cee's Fun Foto Challenge, pacific northwest | Tagged Cee's Fun Foto Challenge, kites, pacific northwest, playing outside | 6 Comments

~ Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #14: Windows ~ “The View From Here” ~

Posted on October 12, 2018 by Lindy Le Coq

Leya, challenges us to “find a favorite window and show our special choice,” for this week’s Lens-Artist Challenge.

This morning, sunshine is pouring through the window of the keeping room, where I sit in my well-worn chair with my laptop to write, blog, catch up on emails/news, and enjoy the view.

It’s a fairly ordinary window, though the bay type shelf provides space for plants and some glass keepsakes. The Dove is a piece my sister gave me years ago, which provides beauty, as it functions to keep birds from slamming into the glass.

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Another favorite view is from the picture window of our condominium at The Breaker’s in Long Beach, WA.

We frequently see Black-tail Deer graze through the meadow, and watch Northern Harriers and other birds flying throughout the open space. In spring the meadow becomes a marshland which hosts many migrating birds.

Sunset over the marshes.

Sun setting over the Pacific Ocean.

https://lagottocattleya.wordpress.com/2018/10/06/lens-artists-photo-challenge-14-windows/

Posted in Lens-Artists Photo Challenge, nature, pacific northwest, pacific ocean | Tagged Lense-Artists Photo Challenge, nature, pacific northwest, pacific ocean | 3 Comments

~ Wordless Wednesday ~

Posted on October 10, 2018 by Lindy Le Coq

Posted in bugs & critters, nature, pacific northwest, Wordless Wednesday | Tagged bugs & critters, nature, pacific northwest, Wordless Wednesday | 2 Comments

~ New Dune Runes ~ Wordless Wednesday ~

Posted on October 3, 2018 by Lindy Le Coq

Alloniscus perconvexus

Posted in Art, bugs & critters, nature, pacific northwest, pacific ocean, photography, Wordless Wednesday | Tagged bugs & critters, dune runes, found art, nature, pacific northwest, pacific ocean, photography, Wordless Wednesday | 5 Comments

~ Lens-Artist Photo Challenge: #13 Look Up ~

Posted on October 1, 2018 by Lindy Le Coq

When I start to feel down, I tell myself to look up and find light coming through those clouds, and to remember the ancient adage:

“And this, too, shall pass away.”

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In spring, a bright blue sky glimpsed through fresh chartreuse-green leaves, lifts my thoughts and spirits.

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As spring melts into summer, birds call from trees, inviting me to figure out what particular species I’m hearing.

White Crowned Sparrow atop Coastal Pine

Summer is a time to explore and visit new places. These Silver Cedars at Crater Lake State Park, Oregon, are a favorite looking up photo!

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Autumn signals another bird migration, along with heightened intensity of color in deciduous foliage.

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With winter comes snow …

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…and Bald Eagles perched near the beach.

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Mature Bald Eagle

“Time keeps on slipping, slipping, slipping
Into the future

I want to fly like an eagle, to the sea
Fly like an eagle
Let my spirit carry me
I want to fly (oh, yeah)

Fly right into the future”

Steve Miller

Lens-Artist Photo Challenge: #13 Look Up

Posted in birds, Lens-Artists Photo Challenge, nature, pacific northwest, pacific ocean, photography, trees | Tagged birds, inspiration, Lense-Artists Photo Challenge, nature, pacific northwest, pacific ocean, photography, trees | 8 Comments

~ Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Pastel Colors ~

Posted on September 30, 2018 by Lindy Le Coq

Rose Quartz and pink Lamium maculatum.

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Morning light over Saturna and Waldron Islands.

Autumn Hydrangea

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Artichoke Heart

Ocean Foam

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Crescent Creek Sunrise

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Posted in Cee's Fun Foto Challenge, landscape gardening, nature, photography | Tagged Cee's Fun Foto Challenge, crescent creek, nature, photography, san juan islands | 6 Comments

~ Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #12: Path ~

Posted on September 29, 2018 by Lindy Le Coq

Back from the beach with fresh photos of trails and paths we explored.

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Every morning (and usually afternoon too!), Jello and I take the path maintained by The Breakers, to and from the beach. The weather was so lovely this visit, I took Jello to Cape Disappointment State Park, for a walk through the forest.

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The path from “Beard’s Hollow” connects with the Discovery Trail, and took us out to the beach just below North Head Lighthouse.

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A footbridge over wetlands.

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Deer path – of which there are many throughout the peninsula!

Earlier this summer Creighton and I toured the recently re-opened North Head Lighthouse. Below is a look back at it from the top of the trail leading to the light house keeper’s quarters.

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