Laura Brownlee's Natural Expressions

(Surprised By) White-Tailed Deer

2012-02-20T17:06:00.002-08:00

While out in the field today, I sensed eyes on me. Across the field, I noticed these four deer "hidden" in the tall grass.

I zoomed in for a better look at them, and after snapping a few pictures, I was startled when they began to run--and suddenly, about five or six more deer, which were REALLY hidden, popped out from the brush right in front of me and bounded away!! Can you see them in the top photo? No matter how hard I try, I cannot! But.... they are there!!

They don't call them "White-Tailed Deer" for nothing! As the deer leaped and bounded for thicker cover, their tails stood straight up like white flags, signaling an alert to the rest of the herd. The sudden commotion was a littl unnerving, to say the least!

Winter Birdwatching

2012-02-18T16:16:00.000-08:00

I crossed the state line, where a light snow was falling all day.

These birds seemed to be enjoying it as much as me!

It really was a beautiful day.

A Fowl Mood

2012-02-14T02:32:00.000-08:00

An array of waterfowl caught my attention as I spent time at a nearby lake for a little peace after a busy day.

I'll have to consult my reference books to learn the names of most of them, but strictly for viewing pleasure, I offer the following:

Hungry Hawk

2012-02-14T01:50:00.000-08:00

Same Route, Different Day

2012-02-14T00:59:00.000-08:00

A promise kept, I re-visited the 'new route' I took earlier in the week to view the rolling hills of this scenic landscape.

The swamp, harshly lit the previous time I was there, was now more subdued under a cloudy sky. It was ready to snow.

And today this heron was there, too. Fishing.

One of the charming things I found along this route was the tunnel.

AAAHHHGGGG!!!

On the Way Home - Alpacas, Deer and Mallards, Too

2012-02-14T00:34:00.000-08:00

I took a different route home from work the other day.
I love doing that! I never know what surprises lie around
each bend, and today was no exception.

First, I came across--literally in the middle of nowhere--this sculpture. I had pulled over to the side of the road to gaze across a swamp. Lookingout the window over my left shoulder, a sparkle caught my eye.

Over the other shoulder were these mallards:

Which took off in a frenzy upon my presence!

Around the next bend I drove past small farmyard nestled in the woods. These alpacas smiled at me.

Continuing on my way, I saw this precious scene sprawled out ahead of me, of which I promptly pulled over and snapped a few photos.

The rest of this new route home proved to be scenic, and I vowed to return during different daylight conditions for more dramatic images.

Thanks for following along!

Wintering Bluebirds

2012-01-29T13:47:00.000-08:00

While visiting a friend yesterday, I was amused by the antics of a couple pairs of Eastern Bluebirds that flew around her yard. It was the perfect opportunity for an impromptu photo shoot of these pretty birds.

A Snowy Weekend - Part II - *Tracks in the Snow"

2012-01-29T13:33:00.000-08:00

The next morning I awoke to a bright, sun-shiny day, sparkles everywhere! And tracks. Tracks were in the snow. Those were the first things I noticed, and it set the theme for my morning shoot.

Because the sun was so low, there was a strong contrast between the sunlit spots on our property and of the cool hues in the spots where the sun hadn't reached yet.

I can't resist taking a self-portrait every time I capture my shadow or reflection through my own lens. And
I can't resist giving a cheery wave 'hello' too!!

While looking around the grounds, I was struck by the similicity of this dried plant sticking out of the snow,
surrounded by sparkles.

Human tracks.

Kitty cat tracks.

Squirrel tracks.

Another tall and rather slim shadow of myself....

Over-and-under tracks.

Tufts of snow adorned evergreen boughs.

This blue jay, along with several others, was flying about the trees. I was able to catch it as itperched momentarily on a nearby tree before flitting off to join the others.

Lastly, looking over the swamp, across to the pond, my gaze followed the joyful sounds of people on the lake. I saw these guys playing hockey on the frozen lake. I like when others enjoy the outdoors, too!

A Snowy Weekend - Part I

2012-01-29T01:08:00.000-08:00

A snowy day, and I just had to go for a walk along the river! All was quiet... all was still....

A crystal pond was below the pines.

Ice Crystals

2012-01-17T16:18:00.000-08:00

Tiny, intricate details usually escape our sight when it comes to snowflakes.
I was able to capture a bit of it in the images below. I was amazed at the
feather-like, fern-like quality these ice crystals took on, and I loved the way
some of them picked up/refracted light, giving some color, sparkle, shine,
and even flecking some with gold! I hope you enjoy these photographs.

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From Dawn til Dusk 1/15/12

2012-01-17T15:25:00.000-08:00

I spent much of Sunday lakeside, watching bald eagles, swans, and other waterfowl. Captions tell the story:

This plane was the only object on an otherwise clear sky at dawn.

As the world began to wake up, a gull flew in from the west.

A couple ducks quacked overhead.

I had my eye on an eagle nest, seen as a silhouette.

And wouldn't you know... an eagle came flying in!

I was so focused on the scene before me, that I was taken aback when I turned around

and saw the trees washed in brilliant orange light from the sun, now risen.

I turned back to watch the nest.... skies now gray.... and then I noticed--

...a juvenile bald eagle flew in from the other direction.

So did this cormorant.

Since I could no longer feel my toes from standing at the water's frigid edge for such a long time, it was time to leave. Inside my car, through the tinted window, I saw this adult bald eagle fly by.

Deciding to remain in the car, I left to explore another area up the road that

allowed a view of the nest from another angle.

After a while, I left.... only to return to the nest again in the late afternoon.

Suddenly, swans (with such blue wings!) flew into the scene.

The setting sun added a nice layer of primary color to the scene.

The swans circled the lake and then flew off.

Flying solo.

A plane flew overhead and a smile of fondness spread across my face.

Ducks flew too.

Light was diminishing. Dusk was falling. I took one final look at the eagles' nest

with a rose-colored sky behind it, and left. Sort of.

A flash of white caught my eye.

An eagle flew down to the water and splashed itself a few times.

And then it began the ascent to it's nest.

As a mere flicker of white...

...it circled around...

...til it reached the rosy-skied nest.

Water, Freezing With Each Lap

2012-01-17T14:19:00.000-08:00

Spending time at the water's edge on a frigid morning over the weekend, I noticed that the water, thickened by the freezing temperature, was beginning to transform into a frozen state each time it lapped against the shore, creating rippled patterns.

Hittin' the Slopes!

2012-01-17T14:10:00.000-08:00

It seemed that if I wanted to see any substantial snow this winter, so far, I had to hit the slopes!
I'm not a skier or snowboarder but living in a mountainous region, I did take advantage of
spending time time on the slopes photographing others who enjoy those outdoor winter sports.
A benefit was the snow itself--it reassured me that dispite unseasonably warm temperatures, the
season was indeed winter!

Just Another Fabulous Day in My Life - Bald Eagles, Winding Roads & Other Cool Stuff

2012-01-08T11:26:00.000-08:00

                            Yesterday was filled with pretty awesome things around every bend!
                                Winding roads and narrow bridges lead us through rocky terrain
                                    to a place where Bald Eagles and hawks compatibly flew.

(Hi Diane!)

This Red-Tailed Hawk joined the pair of eagles, all soaring overhead on this beautiful day.

A third Bald Eagle, seen coming in for a landing, was at another location in the same general vicinity.

A few geometric structures caught my eye on the ride home..

It was just another fabulous day in my life!

Other People

2012-01-02T01:55:00.000-08:00

One of the things I like about being out in nature is being 'at one' with it. Solitary. Quiet. But then I get thrilled when life from the animal kingdom appears seemingly out of nowhere, entering the scene, sometimes lingering for a while before it naturally moves on, or sometimes, like birds flying above, quickly pass by on a mission. From time to time, human animals will appear. Rather than viewing them as an intrusion on my solitude, I welcome the new subject of interest and observe them as I do of all animal behavior, particularly when I see them first--before they see me--to catch them in their own natural state.

The other morning while photographing the "fractured sky" (see previous post) this kid strolled into the scene. It was a clear, cold morning, but layers of smoke from wood stoves burning inside homes from around the lake created a misty aura as it dissipated. I watched this kid walk over to the water's
edge of another pond and bend down to get a rock. He turned around and 'skipped' the stone over the pond before turning back toward the direction he came and left as quickly as he came.

These two guys walked all around the lake looking at the extensive damage done by the beavers.
(Images of felled trees that I, too, had been observing and shooting that morning will follow in another post.)

I also love seeing other photographers stopping to capture something along their way.
I recognize that we're kindred spirits and I immediately draw inspiration from them. I
appreciate that their perception differs from mine, causing me to look again, curious to
see what they see.

I also like sharing a space with sport hunters, like this small game/wild bird hunter.

Although different forms of shooting, we still utilze mostly the same skills to achieve our desired outcome.

Fractured Sky and Other Abstract Ice Images

2012-01-02T00:39:00.000-08:00

Early in the morning on the last day of 2011, I was walking around a small pond. I noticed a thin layer of ice had formed on the water, thus creating a 'fractured' effect on the reflection of the sky above it. Focusing on the ice itself, then, with no reflections, I was also drawn to the sharp geometric shapes that appeared.

Christmas Gift

2011-12-26T04:44:00.000-08:00

One of my Christmas gifts, this Red-Shouldered Hawk, was outside for me to find.
Thanks Avery and Mike for pointing me in the direction!!

Red-Tailed Hawk, Here and There

2011-12-23T22:13:00.000-08:00

Cardinal

2011-12-19T22:00:00.000-08:00

(For)Ever-green

2011-12-13T01:52:00.000-08:00

One of the joyful aspects of the season is choosing and cutting down an evergreen tree. I hug trees as much as the next guy, but because we choose to go to a farm where trees are grown for this reason, just like the food we eat or the cotton like in the clothes we wear, we continue the tradition of bringing a tree indoors and adorning it with tiny lights and sparkly, beautiful trimmings during the holiday season. As much as I appreciate them in the ground, I appreciate them in the purpose they now serve as well!

Walking among the grounds through narrow pathways (and watching out for previously-cut little stumps) we searched for The Perfect Tree.

When I say "perfect", I mean "perfect for us". Of course height and width is important in the small space we place it inside our home, but we don't necessarily want it perfectly symmetrical, perfectly triangular, perfectly-spaced branches... in fact, sometimes we look for imperfections--it is beautiful regardless (even without decorations! We prefer sparcely-branched trees to allow our ornaments the 'dangle-and-shimmer' factor. And if it has something on or inside it's branches, such as an old nest or a leaf or something, we regard it as a treasure and a reminder that the tree had it's time and place alive in the natural world and we leave it in as a decoration.

The needles, appropriately named, aid in survival, protecting the tree from drying out during the winter months, and their waxy-coating, besides adding beautiful shine, is water-proof! To me, they're just gorgeous.

This year's Perfect Tree:

With an old saw that's cut many a tree in it's lifetime by a special tree man himself, our Perfect Tree was removed from the field, soon to be prepared for the next phase of it's life, thus fulfilling it's purpose.

This picture of a beautifully-adorned tree is in memory of a dear friend--exactly one year since his passing.

His beauty lives on forever.

Wild Turkeys in Flight

2011-12-11T09:06:00.000-08:00

The sound of loud clucking caught my ear as I drove passed the river the other day. Initially, I thought the sound came from ducks as they swam in the freezing water but as I got closer, I followed the sound upward. There in the treetops were dozens of wild turkeys!

When the flock noticed me, their clucking became frantic! One by one the large birds, with an air of disapproval of my presence, flapped their big wings and left the trees. I caught as many turkeys in flight as I could as they came whizzing by.

The Full Moon - December 2011

2011-12-11T07:43:00.000-08:00

This weekend's full moon was also a lunar eclipse moon, although in this part of the hemisphere it occured after the moon set below the horizon. I spent each (freezing cold) morning of the weekend scouting good places to shoot the moon as it set.

A Pair of Bald Eagles

2011-12-04T15:54:00.000-08:00

Out for a drive today, we passed a lake. On the shoreline way across on the opposite side of the lake, a tiny speck of white caught my eye. I knew at once it was a bald eagle! We parked the car and got out for a closer look.

Suddenly, with a gull-like squeak, it began to call until another eagle flew into the scene. After a brief exchange, the birds traded places--the second bird now perched in the same spot and the first eagle flew across the lake and up over the trees and out of sight.

Turkey on Our Minds

2011-11-23T12:09:00.000-08:00

While some of us have 'turkey' on our minds, I thought I'd share a few of my Wild Turkey photographs in honor of Thanksgiving. Here's wishing each and every one of you the very best of a beautiful, bountiful, peaceful and blessed Thanksgiving.

Gobble! Gobble!

All in a Day's Walk

2011-11-22T03:09:00.000-08:00

I started out in the woods. I passed a small swamp which I've never witnessed any sign of life there before other than croaking frogs in the spring, although I'm sure there must be creatures inhabiting the area as well. So I was taken by surprise when a cormorant shot up out of the water and flew overhead. I missed that shot, but promised to stop by this swamp again on the way out to see if it returned. I did. No cormorants were there, but I did startle a pair of ducks! I managed to catch them through my lens.

I couldn't very well leave the swamp without photographing a cattail or two.

Not much was moving around in the woods except for lots of squirrels. These two stopped from their incessive scurrying to each enjoy a little snack.

This one zoomed in on me as I zoomed in on him!

Later in the day I explored a spot I'd never been to before. Right away I noticed this Belted Kingfisher, perched on a stick, surveying a pond filled with geese.

A few birds flitted about, but I had my eye on an adjacent vast field. I hoped to see a hawk or perhaps a fox and went closer to investigate.

Sure enough, there was a hawk waiting for me! I believe this to be a Northern Harrier.

After a moment or two, I followed it as it flew for cover, giving me a nice view of it's wings and flight feathers.

Waterfowl and a Broad-Winged Hawk

2011-11-20T15:26:00.000-08:00

While traveling through back-country roads this morning, I noticed a family of swans--the cygnets now juveniles--swimming in the lake we were passing by. I couldn't resist taking a few shots.

Walking back to my car, I saw this Broad-Winged Hawk land on a branch of a tree.

Another lake.... more waterfowl.....

And more birds up in the sky..... and coming in for a landing.

Structurally Speaking...

2011-11-14T21:55:00.000-08:00

These structures caught my eye during my travels in the past few days.

A Frosty Morning in the Swamp

2011-11-14T16:49:00.000-08:00

A coating of frost crystalized everything in the swamp.

Bird Watching

2011-11-10T22:55:00.000-08:00

Falling . . . falling . . . falling . . .

2011-11-05T18:02:00.000-07:00

What better way to while away a crisp November morning than to sit quietly on a small dock of a big lake watching the leaves on the trees along the shoreline--blowing from slight winds, coming loose, gently fluttering downward till they reach the water. Falling... falling... falling... down... around... twisting, turning, upside down, carried on a breeze...

And we can't forget about these 'whirligigs' which we used to call 'poliwags', or, simply, 'helicopters' when we were growing up. Once these maple tree seeds landed, we'd pick them up and toss them in the air as high as we could so we could watch them twirl back down again. We even used to open them at the seed and stick them onto our noses just for fun! Ahhh, memories... on this crisp November morning... just watchin' the leaves fall...

Coyote in the Field

2011-11-03T16:40:00.000-07:00

A coyote ran across the road yesterday; it seemed to have a purpose. I followed it into the field where it stopped and began the process of "mousing". Somewhere under the snow, a rodent skittered about--and the coyote knew it. I enjoyed having the chance to observe the coyote for quite some time. The following still images are a few of many that show what unfolded before me:

October Snow

2011-11-02T01:49:00.000-07:00

Nearly 20 inches of snow fell on our property this past weekend! Saturday afternoon, a few hours after it began snowing, I walked around with my camera enjoying the first snowfall of the season. I liked how it looked with some colorful leaves poking through the snow.

During the night when the snowfall was the heaviest, the motion of the falling snow kept our neighbor's motion-sensor light on, lighting up the trees in their yard, creating stunning images.

The next day, we awoke to abundant, brilliant sunlight. I marveled at the dazzling contrast between the vivid blue of the sky and the snow-laden trees.

Trademark signs of autumn, like colorful leaves and a ripe, juicy apple were covered with a blanket of snow.

In the aftermath, an uprooted apple tree is a mild result of this October snowstorm.

A thawed mountain.

This tree shed it's winter coat, tossing it on the ground, so we could admire it's beautiful autumn dress.

...and now back to fall...

Reverence

2011-10-27T03:12:00.000-07:00

Reverence. Deep, profound respect.

Take the King of the Jungle--the brave and mighty lion. We put the label on the animal and treat it as such. But does the lion regard itself with a haughty nature? Is it even aware of our perspective? Do the other animals of the jungle who know nothing about labels 'bow down' to the lion or treat it differently than any other animal? Do they not fight for survival against the lion regardless of it's size or stature or place on the food chain? Is there really an animal that rules the jungle, or is it just our perspective.

What about the skies? From an American point of view, we regard the Bald Eagle with honor and majesty in it's role as a symbol of what we hold important to this country. But it's our perspective. Granted, those who live in a place where dozens of the birds can be seen regularly in one sitting might not be as awestruck as those who rarely, if ever, get the chance to see one. But does the American Bald Eagle know it's importance? Does it sense that it carries a certain weight not only to us, but among the animal kingdom? In competition for survival in the wild, does it win out because other animals give way to the eagle?

I pondered that question while observing eagles last spring. I watched how a "lowly, common" Canada Goose threatened an eagle, flying after it in attack mode, assuming it wasn't over food, but more likely in defense of a nest it was guarding.

Watching this, my first instinct was to mentally scold the goose, saying "How dare you treat our symbol that way! How disrespectful! Don't you know who that is?? What nerve!!" I caught myself in my thinking, realizing that while observing these two animals' interactions, neither bird was aware of the labels I had attached to them. They were equals, fighting for what they wanted or needed on a level, even playing field and the Canada Goose had every right to stand up for what was important to it, regardless of the animal it was opposing.

An even playing field. Mutual respect. I recall a time, coincidentally also, last spring, when I was doing an activity with the children in my class. It involved their handprints and footprints. (Parents tend to hold dear and cherish artwork that has true identifying characteristics of their young child.) When it came to doing the footprints, the kids squiggled and squirmed when I painted their foot with the color of their choosing and they giggled when they stood up on the paper and the paint squished under their foot. I had a tub of warm, bubbly water readily available to immerse their foot in for a quick washing, and individual paper towels for them to dry their foot. For the 5 seconds it took for me to get the paint out from between their toes, there was a momentary humble respect in the act of washing each foot. Yes, of course in the clean-up after an activity such as this, the teacher certainly must assist the children, and although a religious biblical story came to mind, it was moreso the level of respect and honor, regardless of our roles, that I felt for each child which left an imprint not only in their artwork, but in my heart.

To see more images of the eagles taken that day, go to the March 2011 link on my blog archive to the right of your screen and click on "A Different Pair of Bald Eagles". More eagle photos of another pair are in the February '11 archive, and more recently, two seperate posts in September: Bald Eagle and Freedom.

Bear Scare! (Now you see it. Now you don't!)

2011-10-18T21:47:00.000-07:00

I'm not the one being scared -- hopefully the bear is! You see... now that I've been home during the day, I'm able to see what goes on while we're usually away. What I've noticed is that this bear has been coming to our yard several times every single day!

It's been making itself very comfortable, it seems, like it's one of the family! It sits down, scratches itself, lays down and nibbles on stuff or settles in for a nap! It's gotten to the point that it's not detered by my presence--tripod and all--or even that of our cats. As cool as is for me to study it and photograph it right out our back door, it's not in our best interest, or that of others, to have this bear not fearful of humans. So now, when it's present, we've taken steps to deter it from 'hanging out'. I know our property is rich in the protein it's really after, between the ants and nuts and all, but I'm sure the woods are loaded with them and it would have no trouble finding these food sorces elsewhere.

My main objective on the day I took the following images, is to show how these animals--as big and as black as they are--can 'hide' in their natural surroundings. They can become camouflaged so well and blend in so thoroughly, so completely, that they almost disappear right before your eyes!! Many time they'll be right under my nose while I'm outside photographing something or other, and until they make a move or I hear crunching while they're eating, I won't even know they're there!

For example, on this particular day I stepped out our back door to photograph the trees beyond our orchard which were changing into their fall colors. It was a foggy day and while the ground remained clear, the mist lent the canopy of leaves an air of enchantment as the visibility faded to gray as my gaze traveled upward.

I sensed a presence. I looked around but didn't see anything. I heard the faint sound of crunching and tiny bits of shell falling onto the ground. I knew there must have been a bear nearby, but where? I followed the sound with keen eyes, and that's when I first noticed that one of those dark shadows on the ground was not a shadow at all!

Scroll through the next few images by clicking on the first one, which will take you through them without spaces in-between, and watch how this bear will come out of the shadows, and then with just a few steps, will walk behind the little bush and disappear right before your eyes! It will then step away from that bush and walk to the next, only to disappear once again! You know it's there, but.... is it???

I zoomed in for the sake of reality, but upon regular viewing, it's hard to tell it's even there! Amazing.

Eyes to the Skies

2011-10-17T14:36:00.000-07:00

This morning's moon.

This morning's hawk.

This morning's pileated woodpecker.

Doctor's Orders - Part III - Wake Up Fall Call

2011-10-15T02:46:00.000-07:00

The last few rainy days sort of 'forced' me to stay indoors more than usual, which I realize in the current phase of my recuperation that it's necessary, anyway, for me to rest my body completely horizontally during a good part of the day. Without pain medication to dull the sensations, the reality of the physical state of my body is a 'wake-up-call' to the long road of healing that's ahead.

Backtracking to last week when I dawdled on the swing or other sitting spots on our property with my camera alongside me, passing the time feeling the breezes and watching the hawks, you'd think boredom would set in. Watching a movie indoors is one thing, as is reading a book. Your mind is engaged in or transported to another world. Sitting outdoors doing 'nothing' is really no different, depending on how active your mind is--how imaginative your are--or whether you choose to just 'be' in the moment and allowing your senses to be the director or author of the scene you're involved in.

For instance, I could be gazing in one direction, say, at our garden, and a slight movement of a squirrel's tail at the edge of the woods just above it will catch my eye. SNAP!

From the distance, we made eye contact momentarily, but I stayed with that squirrel for a few minutes more and watched the antics of it skimming up and down the fallen branch it was on, heard it chattering (sometimes arguing) with the other squirrels and see how they'd engage in their foraging, and you can really learn a lot just by observing a small segment of their lives.

After watching them for a while my gaze might return to where it was before it got sidetracked, only this time, my gaze will see things differently than before. Something will call my attention to a particular flower, that might be standing taller, prouder than the rest or perhaps it's the way the sun falls on it, causing it's petals to appear brighter or more brilliant than the others, so I'll meander over to the chairs set up there and spend time there for a while appreciating the flowers enough to do an impromptu shoot while recalling the roots (no pun intended) of where or whom the original bulbs came from and the sentimental significance they have in our lives. Several endearing moments or stories will unfold just from changing the place in our yard that I sit and rest.

An unopened bud is glorious to me and celebrated, for similar to an unborn child developing in the womb, it will emerge--burst forth--in it's own time, revealing delicate beauty and the newness of life. What wonderful thoughts come to mind, while sidetracked by the flowers of the garden!

There is a special, real-life connection between this actual flower and the child growing inside this belly. Every fall when these flowers bloom, the bonds of love spanning through generations grows as well.

*

A flash of white turns my attention back to the woods. Ah.... a little kitty.... the cats around here love exploring... what a fabulous place for them to do it! Of course, with my camera handy, they, too, become interesting subjects.

Back to a wild side of things....

Again, even the tiniest of movements catch my eye. Something was different over on Shade Rock. Our children and their friends used to play on Shade Rock. And while they were at school, Shade Rock became a quiet meditating place for me to sit, where I'd usually ring my Indian brass bell. It's one you don't shake or strike with a mallet, but with a thick wooden stick held at an angle the bottom edge of the bell, when rubbed round and round, as smoothly and as slowly as you can, a solid sound begins to resonate, louder and louder until the woods and our backyard become filled with a steady tone; a steady hum. It's a 'patience bell', for the ringing technique cannot be rushed and the motion must be continuous, or the sound will immediately break. Fire ants have since taken over Shade Rock, so now, in only a matter of seconds, they find you and let you know it! Quite a different experience than joyful play or meditative bells! Today Shade Rock was occupied by something else:

Sitting... looking... I loved how this image captured the fall season, as this Jay became a silhouette before a background of yellow.

This Red-Bellied Woodpecker flew briefly into the scene, pecked a few holes, then flew away.

Although it wasn't by choice, I couldn't have picked a better time to be home in convalescence than during the fall season--as if it's not beautiful enough, the world is alive with color! What a better way to stimulate healing! It's invigoraging!

Laura gets all arsty. This was actually shot from outside looking in through a screen at an image of fall colors behind me that bounced off a mirror.

I'm sure as the season unfolds and I continue to snap away, I'll be sharing more of the beauty with you, but I end this three-part series with this cross that I noticed on the wooded floor.

GlauraB!

Doctor's Orders - Part II - The Elusive Pileated Woodpecker

2011-10-13T05:59:00.000-07:00

One morning while following Doctor's orders to do as little as possible, I was sitting out back, wrapped in a blanket, a cup of steaming tea beside me, and watched the rising sun saturating the trees on the mountain with deep golden color. Suddenly, a quick flapping of large white--then black--wings drew my attention to my left. Engaged in an early-morning phone call and with the unexpectancy of a sudden emergence of a bird flying into view, my camera had been idle on my lap. My first instinct, always, is to grab my camera and snap a picture. Under the circumstances of surprise and unreadiness, some of the images will of course be out-of-focus, but to me, capturing 'something' is better than nothing, and sometimes I want others to see what I see, regardless of imperfection. And, of course, I'm always hoping for a second shot. One of the most fascinating aspects of nature is that sometimes you're treated to just fleeting moments of awe.

These two images show the woodpecker as I first saw it--the flapping of wings revealing both black and white sides of it's feathers and the flash of it's red crest, confirming the species.

Noticing that rather than perching on a branch, it skimmed upright along the trunk, I knew immediately it had to be a woodpecker. Sure enough, I quickly gathered the bird into my lens as it hopped around the tree until it found a spot to begin it's drilling. It flew to several different trees, but was not satisfied in whatever it sought, thus flew away.

The next morning, besides having my camera at hand, I brought a notebook and pen outside with me to write my observations. I was hoping the woodpecker would return. Today I transcribe my notes from that morning:

I'm set up in the backyard: tripod erected on the hill--steady and even, camera lens pointing upward to my right, but I look straight ahead toward the sky over our rooftop. Sunlight brightened the clouds and a hint of blue highlighted the otherwise dark sky. I saw a female Pileated Woodpecker in our trees yesterday around this time; she, being distinguished by the non-existant red 'moustache' characteristic of her counterpart. Perhaps it favors these trees at sunrise most mornings--I'm usually at work at this time of day--but it's what I'm hoping for today, anyway. My ear is keen to the sounds around me--nuts and small twigs cascading through limbs and leaves on their descent downward as if I needed a reminder of which season it is, and a
few intermittent bird calls can be heard emerging onto the scene, although most birds seem to be sleeping in today. The few I hear as the sky continues to brighten, both pique my curiosity and hone my birding skills. Suddenly I do hear a few taps--hammered beats--the sound I'd been hoping to hear! It's much deeper into the woods to my left. I keep my lens pointing in the other direction, but my eyes scan distant dead trees for any movement or a flash of the red crest of it's head or a sudden flutter of bright white--the underside of the woodpecker's wings visible only when in flight. Usually found upright against a trunk, it's dark body, well over a foot long, darts and spirals lengthwise along the tree. But no movements can be seen. The elusive woodpecker teases, continues to call my attention with it's tapping, which I follow with my eyes....

But alas.... no movement that I can see ever follows.

Once back inside the house I searched my archives for a photo I knew I had taken last year of a male Pileated Woodpecker. I wanted to compare... examine the moustache.... fulfill my desire, temporarily, to see one again.... Here's that image below:

...just another way to pass my idle time...............

Doctor's Orders - Part I - Look Up, Cheer Up!

2011-10-12T05:47:00.000-07:00

People.... who have five holes in their belly.... their innards removed..... and the holes stitched up.....

...are given Doctor's orders to do as little as possible (basically 'nothing') to allow the body to heal from the inside, out. Time--and plenty of it--is necessary. Healing cannot be rushed, for it will only backfire and delay progress.

"Do as little as possible...." Okay.... besides sinking your teeth into some good reading material, to most people, that means guilt-free plopping on the couch in front of the TV, clicking through the stations, or going through a stack of movies you'd been wanting to watch. Cool. Now's the time to do it.

But Laura Brownlee is not like 'most people'. Not being a "TV person", nor a "movie person", nor even a "couch person" the feeling of being cooped up indoors participating in that type of limited activity would have adverse affects, being anything BUT healing.

I've been taking my idle healing time outdoors. Dressed accordingly to the weather, I'll choose different spots on our property throughout the day to relax and do 'nothing', althernating between reading (I've voraciously devoured a couple books already) or watching my very own Nature Channel on the Big Screen of Real Life, and my remote is attached to the shutter button on my camera. I am perfectly content watching the natural world around happening *LIVE* from where I sit. It holds my interest for hours at a time because it's ever-changing. There's non-stop action, even though it might appear otherwise.

Looking up at the sky alone--

The same gentle breezes, soft as feathers that lightly stimulate my flesh to promote the natural meshing process at each incision site, are the same breezes that bring awesome cloud formations into view--and out again--from one minute to the next. With my finger on the remote, I captured a few of my favorite 'sky' moments that occured throughout the past 7 days--one just as the sun was rising, the others during midday.

Usually, while sitting on our swing (where the two previous images were shot) I would delight when a vulture would fly into the scene. Even better--hawks! The Red-Tails typically alert me that they're overhead by their signature screech. Others, like the Red-Shouldered or the other I haven't identified, will just silently sail by in large spirals--appearing one moment, gone the next. I'm thrilled each time one flies by. It adds a whole new dimension to the scene--it comes alive!

Cormorants

2011-10-10T03:52:00.000-07:00

Last week this trio of cormorants surprised me in a spot I'd never seen them at before.

The subdued fall colors created a beautiful ambiance to the scene.

3 B's in My Own Backyard - a buck, a bruin, & a bird

2011-10-10T03:43:00.000-07:00

from where I sit... bugs, bugs, bugs!

2011-10-10T03:34:00.000-07:00

A New Day Dawning

2011-10-03T13:09:00.000-07:00

I, along with a few geese, witnessed a new day dawning. Today I needed the healing elements only nature provides best for me, so I spent the morning lakeside, streamside, riverside, and fieldside. Tomorrow, and for a few days following, I'll be inside and things will look a little different through my eyes as I embark on a lifechanging event. It may be just a small change.... or perhaps a big one... Time will tell... Nevertheless, here's how this morning unfolded on this very cold, wet day.

Sea Breeze - a collaboration of music and images

2011-10-02T16:53:00.000-07:00

I recently teamed up with instrumental guitarist Glenn Zervas to create a video combining his music and my photographinc images.

The instrumental song "Sea Breeze" will take you on a journey into a pleasant vibe found on a tropical island.

Glenn states, "For me, the beauty of song writing and arranging is that you can go to places in your music that you want to be--- even if it isn't reality! I wrote this at a time when I needed a gentle sea breeze, white sandy beaches, and warm ocean waters to soothe my soul. I wrote the song " Sea Breeze" as a product of my imagining being on a Caribbean island. It helps me be in a vacationing mood even though I've never been to any tropical islands."

For me, Laura Brownlee, it makes my island images come alive with a voice and provides cohesive movement to otherwise still photos. And... I can certainly use a little vacation right about now!

Come along with us... kick off your shoes and dig your toes into the warm sand; let the breeze carry you away.

Watch the youtube video by clicking on: http://youtu.be/MFwjjBQrvuk
To hear more of Glenn Zervas' music, visit Glenn's website at: http://www.glennzervas.com/
or Glenn's blog at: http://www.glennzervas.blogspot.com/
Contact Glenn Zervas at: gzguitar@earthlink.net

Enjoy!

A Vibrant First Weekend of Fall

2011-09-25T12:41:00.000-07:00

The first weekend of fall was alive with color and majesty!

Petals and wings

An apple that clings

An eagle soaring high

Geese swimming by

A groundhog in mid-munch

Yellow leaves in a bunch

A sign in the sky

A fountain sprays high

Bald Eagle

2011-09-25T12:11:00.000-07:00

While on a Sunday drive through the rolling hills of the northwest corner of the state, I happened to see a Bald Eagle sitting on a branch of a dead tree on the other side of the road. I quickly pulled over and snapped a few pictures of it before it took to the sky to soar in spirals.

Seconds after the eagle flew high enough that it became a mere speck in the sky, this sign appeared, as a confirmation of the gift I'd just received.

Portraits of a Black Bear

2011-09-21T14:09:00.000-07:00

This bear either just made a fresh kill or had been feasting on wild berries. A second bear was up in the tree.

Random Natural Expressions

2011-09-21T00:52:00.000-07:00

Mother Nature's long flowing hair.

As dark clouds parted to make way for the dawning of a new day, a pair of geese honked thru the scene.

As dawn continued to unfold that day, fog slowly lifted to reveal subdued hues of the scenery.

Other folks were also awake at that hour for their own early-morning thrills, like catching this carp.

And a Red-Tailed Hawk surveyed the scene from it's perch.

Caught this duck flapping by...

While on a weekend retreat, I relaxed on a hammock. Looking up just before my eyes fluttered closed for a nap, I snapped this picture:

While this cheeky little creature (and many of it's friends) scurried around below where I gently hung and swung.

A hum that momentarily ceased, caught my ear, and then my eye.

Back a few weeks when the floodwaters raged, spilling up and around both sides of this bridge (you needed a bridge to get to the bridge!) this Great Egret surprised me. It seemed out of place, so far away from the salt marshes.

Freedom

2011-09-11T19:47:00.000-07:00

In timely fashion coinciding with the date being the 10th anniversary of 9/11, I saw a Bald Eagle today. Being on a moving boat, trying to photograph a flying bird was a challange, but I wanted to share the photos regardless of the quality. In the first photo, the bird is in the tree, left of center, above it's massive nest at the bottom of the image. It took off before our eyes and flew across the lake and landed in a tall pine tree, it's silhouette barely visible amidst the needles in the final photo.

"Let freedom ring!" Not just on a significant day, but every day.

Beauty in the Aftermath of a Turbulent Week

2011-09-04T19:47:00.000-07:00

During a storm last weekend, like so many others, we lost power. A deep and raging overflow of water caused us to lose a lot more--from the earth around our house to some of the belongings within it. After learning of the damages others suffered from this same storm, I realize how our losses pale in comparison. Our electricity came back into service just yesterday--6 3/4 days following the storm. Besides flooded roadways and inland flooding of many of the places I like to spend time, I was also flooded with other issues that arose during last week which prevented me from getting out with my camera. Things quieted down yesterday and I welcomed a weekend with limited physical activity. Not surprisingly, many things presented themselves to me as photo opportunities from various sitting spots around our yard, and once able, more was revealed through my gentle wanderings beyond our property. Here are some of the highlights:

This reflection mirrored an evening sky on a still pond.

A newly-risen sun burns itself through early morning fog and clouds at dawn yesterday:

A butterfly bush was alive with color:

This bird's joyful song was music to my ears!

I happened to catch out of the corner of my eye, a flapping of BIG wings and some kind of bird then settled onto a branch of a tree quite a distance away from where I sat on our front deck. I strained to see what it was. It's pictured below somewhat near the center of the image. I wondered what it was! A golden eagle, perhaps? A large bird of prey?

I zoomed in for a closer look and chuckled when I realized by it's tail feathers that it was a wild turkey!
I know they roost in trees as dusk falls, but I've never seen one during the day, sitting up so high on a branch!

Today, outside one of our windows, I saw this pair of wild turkeys. I wondered if one of them was the same one up in that tree the day before?!

Sitting around a backyard campfire later in the day, I couldn't resist photographing the flames. I just love how fire photographs! It's flames, vivid and hot, dance with molten fluidity. I find them mesmorizing and hypnotic and calmingly theraputic. Each still shot is unique from any else, and provides eerily stirring images that magically appear with each viewing..

As dusk fell, I caught this dragonfly doing swirlygigs above my head.

A beacon drew me in from the boat launch we stopped at while on our way to get a pizza for dinner, and we watched a layer of fog begin to shroud the lake.

And that was just Saturday!

Today, Sunday, I had a little more energy to meander around. I spent time walking along the matted riverbank of our friends' property. You could see how the river reached above it's brim, stretching it's borders, spilling out many feet beyond it's bank by the nap of the grass which was now lying flat in the aftermath. Debris clung to trees above the ground where the crest of the water reached. Heavy benches and fences were pushed over by the force of the river and now layed askew on the ground. A variety of shells scattered themselves amidst the mud and the mingling of stone and leaf, glimmering under the sunlight.

There's a pond on the grounds--a rather enchanting pond! It's a shallow pool that had many big frogssitting along it's bank who let out a squeak-like shriek as they popped up and hopped into the water as I approached. What made this an enchanted scene, I think, was the clarity and the extraordinary color of the water. Turquiose water is not just for the Caribbean! For here, in a wooded lot beside the river, was this cool pool! Reflections were stunning in the stillness of clear water, and, with the ability to see right down to the botton, plants took on a magical quality.

Following the river along it's bends, I paused at bridges and milled about looking at the wildflowers and trees. Here are a few.

It's funny..... Sometimes I can spend a whole hour in just one spot. I might be surrounded by stillness and quiet, but don't let that fool you! The scene is always changing. There's constant sensory motion, whether it be of a buzzing bee zipping past me or the sound of a new bird call that's heard for just a moment or two--never again- as it enters and exits the scene. A small movement will capture my eye or an audible twitter to my ear... or... a few steps in another direction adds a whole new perspective to a flower. I may be photographing an insect and hear a slight sound behind me; I'll turn around to find an animal that wasn't there before, nibbling a leaf or a bird that has been silently watching me who now caught my eye in return. Even the walk back to my car--there's always something different that calls my attention. Retracing my steps is equally rewarding as treading new ground to an otherwise familiar spot.

Walking back to my car I noticed a family of hawks in a distant tree.

Unusual markings on this plant.

I like the layers visible in this scenic spot I drove through.

...And I passed these barns on the way home.

Late Bloomers-Wet & Dry Flora

2011-08-27T08:20:00.000-07:00

(Snow) Geese (?) and Beavers

2011-08-27T04:53:00.000-07:00

What struck me, besides the peaceful beauty of those geese floating on the river (could they possibly be Snow Geese? Do they travel this far south, this time of year?) was the enormous cloud of bugs surrounding them!

And in staying with the bug theme, this pond was loaded with shiny, white water bugs! Here's a small group:

What I really had my eye on while at that pond, was a pair of beavers. One of them came out of the water to nibble on some flowers!

It scooted eventually away, it's thick, long, heavy, flat tail trailing behind it, back into the water and swam around it's house--only it's head visible above water.

I walked away to leave and was surprised when I turned back around and noticed that now it's mate came onto land! I snapped a quick picture before I left.

Momma Bears and Their Cubs

2011-08-25T17:12:00.000-07:00

The other morning I set out to photograph a family of bears that I knew spent time each day in a nearby orchard. As I approached, I saw the two cubs crossing the road while their momma stayed behind in the woods.

As I was watching them, I suddenly heard a faint but crisp sound of a twig snapping. I glanced over my shoulder behind me and to my amazement, there was another mother with another set of cubs in tow! My attention turned toward them now and I watched Momma glide on by, her black coat shimmering; her cubs pouncing behind her in the woods. It's not often (like, never) to see two families of bears at once! I was surprised and excited. They were making their way through the woods and toward the road. I thought I was undetected, but I watched the mother stop and warn her cubs to be still and silent, and they indeed froze. She then, without hesitation, stepped out onto the road and for the first time (or so I thought) looked directly at me. She checked me out, cocking her head from side to side, seemingly trying to figure me out--it's probably not too often (like, never) that she ever saw a tripod erected!

She seemed a little confused as she studied me. She went back into the woods, but I knew any minute she would step out again for another look. She did.

She stood her ground, looking at me square-on. I didn't move. I don't think I even blinked.

Sensing I wasn't a threat but still wary of me (as bears should be) she went back into the woods to call her cubs to join her across the road.

Where I respectfully left them to do their own thing.......

*

Hawks

2011-08-21T13:19:00.000-07:00

While photographing sunflowers the other day, I heard the incessant, high-pitched screeching of baby hawks. There obviously was a nest in one of the trees lining the edge of the field. One long, loud screech in reply made me look up from what I was doing and turn my head in another direction from the flowers, and that's when I saw this hawk watching me. I wondered how long it was there before I noticed it! As soon as it saw that I had my lens focused on it, it bent low and let out one more long screech before flying off.

I'm excited for the slow change of seasons that will take place in the next few weeks--hawks are becoming more visible again. This morning, unlike yesterday's clear, blue skies, the sky was gray and foggy. I was out early taking pictures again when a movement way up high and in the distance caught my eye. Through the fog I noticed the fuzzy outlines of two hawks in a tree that was sticking out apart from the rest along the river. Hawks do not like to be photographed and these two quickly took off when they noticed I noticed them.

Field of Sunflowers

2011-08-21T12:43:00.000-07:00

I've passed this field of sunflowers every day since they've grown, but yesterday was the first time I joined the many others who couldn't resist pulling off to the side of the road to photograph them. Here's an up-close and personal look at these cheery flowers!

Bumps on a Log

2011-08-18T00:54:00.000-07:00

Frogs aren't the only bumps you might see on a log! I found these two turtles basking in the sun. I later returned to the same spot as the sun went down, and they were there, seeming to still enjoy the warmth held by the log. I love the mirror-like reflection that enables us to see the underside of the turtles, where we wouldn't have the chance otherwise if they were on land.

Birds, Bears & Other Wildlife

2011-08-15T15:28:00.000-07:00

It was a hot, hot July morning, when the temperature would later soar well over 100 degrees and a thick haze and high humidity was already heavy in the air. I was in one of the state forests doing a photo shoot with the rising sun, which did not cooperate. Oh it rose, alright, but it was stuck behind the clouds which also prevented not even a glimpse of the valley below in every direction. I climbed down from my perch and drove around the forest until I came upon an open swampy area. The sun, straining unsuccessfully to throw it's rays, instead cast a deep golden hue upon the scene. Because of the heaviness of the fog, the light reflected off it rather than burning through it, causing a diffusion of details and color--all except for a nearby tree which happened to have a heron sitting on one of it's branches. The big bird then flew off into the orange haze, settling on solitary long branch jutting upward in the distance--they, too, meshed with the diffusion. The colors are real; no editing was used.

I caught this bird in flight on another day.

These barn swallows were just a few of many who then broke off into pairs to do their nesting thing.

Backyard birding on lazy Saturday afternoon allowed me to notice this hummingbird perched on a branch...

I followed it to another...

...and saw this Eastern Bluebird in a tree...

...and this sparrow on a garden stake...

A finch enjoyed a few seeds.

This bird joined the others who visited our backyard...

...and this cheery robin foraged for bugs in in the grass.

A trip into town via the meadow route always provides a glimpse of a heron.

* * * * And now for Bears and other Wildlife * * * * *

This bear nearly jumped out of an apple tree to quickly obey it's mother's barked orders to come and follow her and it's two siblings into the nearby cover of evergreens when they saw me coming down the road.

This bear was all decked out with identifying and tracking 'earrings' and a 'necklace'.

These two chocolatey black bear cubs played in the woods.

* * * * Other Wildlife * * * * *

A red fox was wandering along the crest of a hillside.

This little wood frog inspected me as closely as I inspected it!

A beaver walked across the causeway to enjoy the ponds on both sides.

This herd of white-tailed deer nibbled the fruits found on an orchard's ground.

What's Buggin' Me!

2011-08-07T18:06:00.000-07:00

The fascinating world of insects, brought to you up close and personal.

These damselflies caught my attention by their vivid colors and their big, alert bug eyes!

This bee was so smothered in pollen, it almost looks like it's wearing a fur coat!

I was captivated by this bee in silhouette.

This tiny bee shone with metallic flashes as it darted about the lilies.

What the heck is THIS???

And whatever this insect is, it stayed on the hood of my car for about 8 miles while I drove!

                This leaf-looking bug, a Katydid, was crawling on my computer table the other night!
                                   These are the noisy bugs you hear on hot August nights,
                                     singing as part of a trio with the crickets and peepers.

                                                 This rusty fencepost was home to this bug
                            and also the tiny spider (who seemed to be as curious of me and I was of it!)
                                       that's peeking out from the post in the image after that.

Speaking of spiders...
I just had to include this web, shining with iridescent colors; the spider was not present.

This worm was hanging by a thread of silk.

A morphed 'pillar.... now a beautiful butterfly.

This fly took a break from it's buzzing and landed on a tree trunk where it basked in the warm morning sun.

Sea Level

2011-07-30T21:26:00.000-07:00

This summer we went from dancing on mountaintops down to sea level to photograph marsh and shore birds.
I spent hours observing these animals' behaviors and learned a lot in the process. I shot whatever I saw, then later used field guides to figure out exactly what the names were of those I didn't know. Conditions were brutal at times, being under a sweltering sun and being inundated and eaten alive (almost!) by flies, but we prevailed. The scenery for most of these shots, as far as the eye could see, was of gorgeous marshlands under a bright blue sky. It created a sense of peace you somehow get from wide open spaces.

White Egrets seemed to be everywhere! These birds are much larger than the Snowy Egret and lacks the yellow feet a Snowy has, not to mention differently-colored bills and eye markings as compared in the following images.

A Great Blue Heron popped up from a bank below me, and after being surprised to see each other, it quickly flew away.

I watched the fishing habits of this Forster's Tern. First, it would aggresively scan the water from just a few feet above it.

Then it would fly up and do it again from a much higher level.

When it found something of interest, it would hover, very much like a hummingbird, for a better look.

Then it would position itself directly above it....

...and dive-bomb with tremendous speed straight down into the water!

...and retrieve what it sought!

A Double-Crested Cormorant swam nearby while the rest of the flock circled over the marsh a few times before settling down into a faraway spot.

Nesting posts were erected in various places around the marshland. Most of these were occupied by Osprey families. If there wasn't already a tree in close proximity to the nest, another post was erected so the other parent (or both) may perch on it to keep watch over the nest.

More shore birds....

A Stilt Sandpiper and, perhaps, Short-Billed Dowitchers

A Semipalmated Plover.

Sanderlings.

A Black Skimmer.

A flock of resting Ruddy Ducks. (for you, B & J, of course!)

A small formation of Glossy Ibises flew overhead to join a hundred others at another spot in the marsh. We caught up to the rest of the flock a few miles away. As the field guide states, "These birds appear to be black when viewed in the distance", however their iridescent, colorful feathers shine under other angles of the sun. I spent a lot of time watching the ibises, seeing and hearing how they socialize amongst the group. I found them visually appealing as they appeared blended in with the verticle reeds--their long, slender legs a perfect natural camouflage--combined with the horizontal ripples (particularly in the last image) all darkened into silhouettes by the blaring midday sun. I kept the exposure 'as is' to contrast with the pinkish sparkles of the water and deep greens of the foliage. Photographing the Glossy Ibises was my own personal highlight!