Song Sparrow
In spring males perch on snags and fence tops
beaks open to the sky announce—
(in complex musical notes)
— a personal invitation to the ladies!
Song Sparrow Silhouette
California Gull, Immature Heerman Gull, Sanderling
Sanderlings
At the crest of a knoll in the dunes, Jello stops, looks, sniffs and waits!
White-tail deer reside in the area and Jello has encountered them on our walk through the dunes before. Not this morning though!
Land Snail – Lewis & Clark Discovery Trail – Long Beach, WA – August 8, 2017.
Since Cee likes more than one image in her challenges — I offer these extras!
Roses seem to be the last of the lovelies blooming now. Once again they are served up in the crystal vase with Hebe ‘variegata’ as background.
Rosa ‘Graham Thomas’
Rosa ‘Tiffany’
Rosa ‘Memorial Day’
Rudbeckia is fading and Echinacea heads are drying — ready for migrating finches to feast. Hydrangea still holds its mopheads in shades of green, though there are few bright blue and pink ones left. I always feel a kind of sadness as summer wanes and autumn approaches. Soon it will be time to put the gardens to bed, and haul in some firewood!
Thanks to Cathy at Rambling in the Garden for providing space to enjoy creating with cut flowers!
Gardening is an act of faith –we plant, tend, nurture and believe.
July 27, 2017
Then we wait…
September 9, 2017
…and we water, tend, inspect and wait some more!
August 31, 2017 ~ Long Beach, WA – USA
Why is this adult Canada Goose lingering at the edge of the reeds, and wherefore such a malignant eye on me? Could there be a nest nearby?
Canada Goose tending nest ~ Long Beach, WA – USA ~ April 2017
This week we are challenged to “notice the structure of everyday things around us and imagine the biological blueprint that created them.”
April, 2017
This wetland marsh is re-created every winter and spring in front of The Breakers. It hosts a diverse population of migrating (and resident) birds.
June, 2017
As the rains decrease and days grow longer in summer, the wetland recedes transforming to meadow and dune.
wetland to meadow
biological blueprint
organic design
My roses are still blooming and this Rosa ‘Double Delight’ seemed a nice feature for today’s vase. I liked the creamy color of the Hebe ‘Variegata’ as an accent in a crystal vase — my favorite for holding stems upright.
Smoke from wildfires burning throughout Washington, Oregon and Montana are causing a haze here that surpasses the shade we experienced during the eclipse. These photos were taken on my deck in what would have been bright morning sunlight.
Thanks to Kathy at Rambling in the Garden for hosting this fun challenge!
These Dowitchers seemed unfazed when I walked toward the flock as they fed at the ocean’s edge, August 30. I had no idea what bird they were until after I was back in the cabana with my reference books — either Long-billed or Short-billed Dowitcher.
Lymnodromus scolopaceus or Limnodromus griseus ~ August 30, 2017
One of the few ways to distinguish between the two is that “Long-billed flocks keep up a constant soft chatter, while Short-billed flocks are silent.” (Sibley)
It seems they were murmuring as the waves washed in and I approached but I can’t say for sure — next time I’ll pay attention!
When Jello and I take our early morning walk at Long Beach, there’s always something imprinted in the sand that draws my attention. Here are three examples with nice shadows.
Thanks to Cee for giving me reasons to play with my photographs!
The Sibley Field Guide To Birds of Western North America, David Allen Sibley
Lindy Low LeCoq 