Lindy Low LeCoq

~ Wordless Wednesday – Soup’s On! ~

Posted on November 21, 2018 by Lindy Le Coq

(Usually, I try not to comment, but just couldn’t resist giving this one a title on the eve of the celebration of Thanksgiving in the USA!)

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~ Lens-Artists Weekly Photo Challenge #19: Magical Light ~

Posted on November 17, 2018 by Lindy Le Coq

Sunsets and sunrises almost always create a magical light show. Yet, other atmospheric conditions contribute to stunning photographs. The following series of photos were taken from the same beach on different days and various times of day.

This autumn sunset over the Pacific Ocean, is enhanced by swirling cirrus clouds.

P1090396 Clear skies, soon after sunrise, with fog in the distance and a full moon setting.

Stratus clouds over the Pacific, create rainbows in the morning sunlight.

P1080340 Morning fog and waves are suffused with pastel colors at sunrise.

Foggy Dunes

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As days grow shorter in the Northern Hemisphere, I encourage all to look up into the sky several times a day (even if it’s cloudy!) and let the light of our star nurture your soul.

Lens-Artists Weekly Photo Challenge #19: Magical Light

Posted in Lens-Artists Photo Challenge, nature, pacific northwest, pacific ocean, photography | Tagged Lens-Artists Photo Challenge, Long Beach WA - USA, nature, pacific northwest, pacific ocean, photography | 5 Comments

~ Wordless Wednesday on Friday! ~

Posted on November 16, 2018 by Lindy Le Coq

Posted in nature, pacific ocean, photography, Wordless Wednesday | Tagged Long Beach WA - USA, nature, pacific ocean, photography, Wordless Wednesday | 4 Comments

~ Lens-Artist Photo Challenge #18: Blending In – Standing Out ~

Posted on November 8, 2018 by Lindy Le Coq

When I last was at Long Beach, bird migration was well underway. I’d forgotten to pack my Panasonic Lumix, so the photos in this post are from my iPhone 8. Though I could not get clear photographs of the birds, I love the textural quality in many of these images.

Soon after I spotted this Western Gull standing out like a sentry in the surf, a small flock of Dunlins streaked by…

…some landed.

Then, a pair of Marbled Godwits alighted standing out farther up the beach. Cautiously, they made their way from tide’s edge toward the Gull.

Being able to judge their size, relative to the Gull and Dunlins, helped me identify the Marbled Godwits. (Another first siting for me!) Though they blend in as shorebirds, they stand out with their color, long bill and behavior.

Snowy Plovers nest about ten miles (16 km) north of this stretch on Long Beach. It was a lucky accident that I stumbled upon this flock where males, females and immatures blend together on the afternoon high tide mudflat.

As I was getting my coffee ready to take on our morning walk, Jello belted out a guttural growl and started baying like a maniac at the glass patio door. Because it blended in so well in the meadow, I had a hard time seeing what was stirring her up. Do you see it?

I waited a while after this coyote moved beyond our path to the beach, however Jello’s nose was extremely active as she sniffed throughout the underbrush where it had been!

Speaking of Jello, her coloring allows her to blend into many environments. At the end of our dog park walk, I sat on a bench and Jello settled in front of me to enjoy the mild afternoon.

https://lagottocattleya.wordpress.com/2018/11/03/lens-artists-photo-challenge-18-blending-in-or-standing-out/

Posted in Beagles, birds, Lens-Artists Photo Challenge, nature, ornithology, pacific northwest, pacific ocean, wildlife | Tagged beagles, Lense-Artists Photo Challenge, Long Beach, nature, ornithology, pacific northwest, pacific ocean, shorebirds, wildlife | 5 Comments

~ Wordless Wednesday ~

Posted on November 8, 2018 by Lindy Le Coq

Posted in nature, pacific northwest, photography, Wordless Wednesday | Tagged autumn, nature, pacific northwest, photography, Wordless Wednesday | 2 Comments

~ Lens-Artists Weekly Photo Challenge #17: Just For Fun ~

Posted on November 3, 2018 by Lindy Le Coq

Going for our walk, whether at home or at the beach, is when Jello get’s excited! We have a game that includes her stealing one of my socks as I get them out of the drawer, then dashing around the house throwing it into the air, and finally taking it downstairs where she pretends to eat it!

Before I even have my shoes on, I’m laughing aloud, and all kinds of ‘happy endorphins’ are coursing through me! In our neighborhood, many people walk or run, and dogs on leashes take their humans out to explore 🐾

This little fairy fantasy appeared last spring under a neighbor’s spruce tree, across the street. We don’t know who created it, however it appears to be cared for, as the tiny hamlet remains upright and tidy!

One of my favorite ways to decorate is using the season’s theme plus plants that accentuate the effect. This neighbor consistently provides great displays along the fence in front of his property. More fun, more smiles, more happy endorphins!

Who knows what might emerge from the undergrowth in our damp Pacific Northwest autumn!

After our walk, my favorite “spooks” welcome us home with more smiles!

Cheers to fun – in its many guises!

Lens-Artists Weekly Photo Challenge: #17 Just For Fun

Posted in Beagles, Lens-Artists Photo Challenge, pacific northwest, photography | Tagged fun, halloween, Lense-Artists Photo Challenge, pacific northwest, photography | 6 Comments

~ Wordless Wednesday ~ Spooky! ~

Posted on October 31, 2018 by Lindy Le Coq

This gallery contains 3 photos.

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~ Wordless Wednesday ~

Posted on October 24, 2018 by Lindy Le Coq

This gallery contains 3 photos.

More Galleries | Tagged Long Beach, nature, pacific northwest, pacific ocean, Wordless Wednesday | 2 Comments

~ 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.