Visitors 89
Modified 9-Dec-24
Created 26-Oct-24
44 photos
What's the rainbow you have seen longest?
And here I mean weather rainbow, rain rainbow - not what you can see in the spray of a waterfall, or in the spray that falls around you as you stand, ecstatic, on a warm spring morning, spraying a hose straight up and watching the spray rise and fall all around - seeing even a rainbow there, close to the ground!
Rainbows are edge creatures, appearing at the boundary. You need direct sunlight - and spherical raindrops. Edges tend to move, they are evanescent, fleeting. Grab the camera, focus, shoot, wherever you are. Then perhaps move to capture a better framing if you are lucky. A rain rainbow means you might be dry, but you will be wet soon. Or, it has been raining, but it will soon glow all around.
I think this was the longest I have ever seen a rain rainbow. It lasted almost an hour over the Portola Valley Frog Pond, the morning of February 26, 2019. Long enough for the Kite to appear, sit watchfully on the crest of the redwood, patrol the Frog Pond, then pause fixed in the firmament, wings beating, entirely still, searching for voles below. Long enough for the crows to notice the kite, take umbrage at the solitary predator in their territory, and move in to hassle it. Did they think the kite would attack their nest? Small chance. Kites eat voles, not crow eggs. Though I suppose many creatures would take advantage were a crow egg just offered up... Long enough for the ducks to take off, circle with loud quacking and flapping of wings, then angle back down to the pond. And do it again.
I had been feeling a bit down, nursing a cold, taking care of myself. But I left all this behind, immersed in the rainbow events.
Dedicated to the Frog Pond heroes Danna Breen, Nona Chiariello, and Judith Murphy, and everyone who cares about the whole Frog Pond ecosystem. To the citizens and leaders of the Town of Portola Valley, from the early days until now, who have acted to protect and maintain the diverse habitat, the seasonally wet part along with the necessary higher ground. With thanks to Caroline Ayres for production advice.
Dan Quinn
January 2020
“Once I thought the bottles would end someday, but I know now that conservation battles never end. We just pass the torch to new generations.” - Ollie Mayer, Committee for Green Foothills
BONUS: after the images from this morning, other times, other creatures.
Category:Travel and Places
Subcategory:North America
Subcategory Detail:United States of America
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