WESTERN TIGER SWALLOWTAIL, Part II

Up until a couple of weeks ago I had never heard of, let alone seen a Western Tiger Swallowtail.  Now they flutter about every where I go.  I wanted to post this shot close enough to my other swallowtail to make a comparison.  The butterfly I found today at the pond had more distinct patterns and much more brilliant color.  I'm thinking it might be a male.  Neither of the butterflies showed concern by my presence, unlike their skittish Monarch cousins.

YAHOO!

Western Tiger Swallowtail

Finally, my diligence paid off... or my stubbornness... which ever, but what ever it was, I finally got my butterfly picture.  Even the breeze cooperated just long enough for me to get a focused shot.  This may never happen again, so I am so grateful for the opportunity.  I am content.

Now... for that elusive lightning photo...

STORMY, and a delightful discovery

Storm To The West

Just the other night I was cursing the storm that grounded my son's flight and cost him a whole day of the short time remaining of his leave from the war in Iraq.  Last night, with him back home again, I found the time to enjoy the beauty of nature in its full glory.  Storms can be beautiful to witness under the right circumstances.  I had no where better to be, and could view the storm from a safe distance.  A hole in the clouds relected a brilliant sunset and reassured the residents that there were blue skies close at hand.

Storm To The East

I have been trying to capture a good shot of lightning for a year now but the majority of the times I am prevented by the rain.  Last night I was fortunate to have the opportunity to witness the storm from a distance before the clouds opened up above me.  Unfortunately I have reflexes as quick as sludge.  I only caught this bolt because my husband was able to tell me when to click the shutter.  I used a lower shutter speed and aperture setting to lighten the exposure and catch some of the fore ground.  When I loaded the pictures on the computer later I discovered, much to my delight, the reason behind the absence of my pelicans.  They had moved from the Pelican Pond and were now taking up residence at the Reservoir.  (that's them just above the right side of the sandbar). 

As for my storm photography, well, I still need a LOT of work on getting my settings and exposures right.  But I wasn't disappointed with last night's shoot for the storm had led me to my old friends.  Finally, summer had truly arrived for me.  The pelicans, the birds of summer, had returned.

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.