ROUND ROBIN PHOTO CHALLENGE: Reflections

Pelican Pond

Every year, right about this time, a flock of pelicans fly in to the pond down the way, which the locals refer to as 'Pelican Pond'  to herald the arrival of summer.  They have not make their appearance this year as of yet.  There is a surreal feeling in the air as I feel I cannot begin to appreciate the season until I have seen the pelicans.  The water of the pond is almost always a dark, murky brown, but on this day it was lit up brightly to reflect the rich colors of the marsh surrounding it.  The pond so far this year has remained murky and uninviting, as if it too awaits a sign that summer has arrived.

Cousins In The Creek

I love the many facets of light and this simple silhouette, lit up by the summer sun reflecting off the ripples of Fountain Creek remains one of my favorites.

Round Robin Challenge: Reflections (for 5/24/06)

DUSK

Today was the first time in several days that I have been able to take my camera out and about.  Sometimes I get so caught up in the chaos that is my life and I forget how beautiful and peaceful this same life can be for me, all it takes is a step back and open eyes.

There is something so intelligent about the piercing stare of an owl, even a baby one.  These two little guys (who really aren't that little at all!) snapped their beaks loudly a couple of times but quickly calmed down when they realized that I wasn't coming any closer (I used my zoom lens for this shot).  Although I couldn't see them, I have no doubt the parents were watching me the whole time, ready to attack at the slightest sign of a threat.

A storm loomed over head and the Canada geese were unusually quiet this evening as they paddled slowly across the still water.  I love this time of night, when the world is just beginning to wind down and relax after a busy day.

MAY FLURRIES

I woke this morning to the calming beauty of falling snow.  I stood outside and closed my eyes, call me nuts, but I swear I could hear the snow falling. And the smell... its different from rain, its fresh and cool, and it stirs the memory of other scents like a crackling fire in the hearth and fresh pine needles, but by itself, it is the fragrance of clean air and mountain breezes.  Its the soft aroma of fluffy white clouds.  At the age of 45 I still get excited by fresh fallen snow.

NIGHT VISION

Last summer my kids and I adopted a Canada goose couple who had nested on a little island near the end of the waterway at the Cattail Marsh.  Sadly the nest was raided, probably by raccoons, and the geese mourned for a couple of days before abandoning the nest.  Much to our delight they returned to the nest again this spring and successfully hatched a clutch of 6.  These goslings are 9 days old.  Believe it or not they were swimming before they were even a full 24 hours old.  While the parents brought the babies right over to us for bread crumbs, they kept the other geese at bay.

This picture was never intended.  My night vision is not the greatest and I used the flash to see if there were any animals near the creek.  The light didn't reveal any creatures hiding in the dark, but the resulting picture is almost hypnotic.