Walking in beauty
Last night, in the grove, I was walking in beauty. The western tanagers are in town — those winged jewels that pass through seasonally. The first time I ever saw them they appeared as a full flock wheeling on the banks of a remote desert river, improbably brilliant against the browns, greys and greens of that land.
Scanning the tops of the sagebrush on the hills beside the grove, I spotted numerous of western meadowlarks. Possibly my favorite bird, if only for their musical song which fills long distances with the sound of falling water.
The evening air also carried the soft, throaty coos of the mourning doves. I saw two mating just the other night.
Two great horned owls sat basking in the light of the lowering sun. I didn't have my camera with me to capture that incredible view, nor the one of the fox that crossed the path, alert but apparently not bothered by such proximity to humans.
Photos found here, here, here, and here.
posted by MB at 8:31 AM
15 Comments:
Spectacular creatures.
Mermaid, the walk left me stunned. What a gift to see all that in twenty minutes! My post can't do it justice. It was sublime.
I'm really gealous, thankyou for shairing this
(o)
Sounds and would've looked like heaven too, I'm sure...
Delightful combination of poetry: images, words and song!
Thank you
It would be so fun to see the western tanagers again;-)
i am so eager to see a tanager. i have not seen one before.
i understand fully your reaction to such glorious beauty. sometimes i am awed to find so many moments strung together like that here in the pacific northwest.
saturday's drizzly afternoon was filled with adult and young eagles sitting above our heads patroling a lake which was empty of activity but for them and us. wondrous. :)
Great pics and love the sounds!
these beautiful birds made my heart leap! i love your description of the meadowlark's song... it was one of my favorite growning up.
Wow, wish I was there...
*sigh*
I love it when that beautiful overload happens.
We had Western Tanagers in our yard last year. They come for our fruit, and we're happy to share it with them. I am hoping they will return. Their color is truly magnificent. Sounds like you had the best twenty minutes on earth!
it is enchanting how each of those small lives and tiny moments can make someone's day! I understand completely! Thanks for sharing those gems with me.
Such beauties! Probably better not to have a camera so you can just experience it. Can be frustrating to try to get a picture! I've seen some lovelies here lately, too. Red-winged blackbird the other day.
We have meadowlarks hanging around our plant all summer; they are a treat. That tanager is gorgeous, like the flower in the post below!
Thanks for taking me on your walk!
alan
Oh, what lovely pictures. Thank you so much!
Aren't larks the best? We have a tiny, drab-colored kind here, I forget the name, which lives in the rushes at a nearby wildlife reserve. Every once in a while you see one not even bending the tall blade of grass upon which it has alighted, and it has opened its throat, and it is just pouring musical jewels into the crepuscule.
I love that mouth. That's a mouth made for singing -- and eating bugs, I guess.
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