Created 22-Dec-24
replenish the soggy soils. Fulfilling a long-term promise to earth, the rain turns this year’s Audubon Christmas Bird Count into a quiet, introspective outing.
Before and after the rain, grey skies overarch grassland and woodland, last year’s expired annual grass sheltering new green shoots. Two Northern Flickers and an Acorn Woodpecker occupy treetops along the way. (At least, given the separate locations and times, I doubt it is the same bird again.)
Twice this morning, out and back, we pass a mistletoe-bedecked Valley Oak in a shallow valley. Each time, a mixed flock of small twittering birds gathers there as we arrive. Despite the wet overcast skies, they seem to be eating insects: darting up from a perch near the mistletoe, swooping across, diving back down to rest. Over and over.
Here are two galleries. The first shows the course of the morning, before and then after the rain; there was nothing especially worth sharing during the dark wet walk beneath the steady cold rainfall, as refreshing as it was. The second captures birds from the mixed flock(s) in the Valley Oak: perching, rising up, hunting, diving back down. 1/250th of a second proves too slow to freeze these darting denizens of dampness; blurred images have a poetry of their own.
Before and after the rain, grey skies overarch grassland and woodland, last year’s expired annual grass sheltering new green shoots. Two Northern Flickers and an Acorn Woodpecker occupy treetops along the way. (At least, given the separate locations and times, I doubt it is the same bird again.)
Twice this morning, out and back, we pass a mistletoe-bedecked Valley Oak in a shallow valley. Each time, a mixed flock of small twittering birds gathers there as we arrive. Despite the wet overcast skies, they seem to be eating insects: darting up from a perch near the mistletoe, swooping across, diving back down to rest. Over and over.
Here are two galleries. The first shows the course of the morning, before and then after the rain; there was nothing especially worth sharing during the dark wet walk beneath the steady cold rainfall, as refreshing as it was. The second captures birds from the mixed flock(s) in the Valley Oak: perching, rising up, hunting, diving back down. 1/250th of a second proves too slow to freeze these darting denizens of dampness; blurred images have a poetry of their own.
12/16/2024 Grey Skies in a Wet December
Visitors 55
16 photos
Created 22-Dec-24
Modified 22-Dec-24
12/16/2024 Mixed Flock Snatches Insects in Flight
Visitors 22
68 photos
Created 22-Dec-24
Modified 22-Dec-24
Dan Quinn