Tuesday, January 20, 2009

IN THE MORNING...






The past few mornings offered a couple of pleasant surprises. A pair of Mourning Doves and a large squirrel have found there way to the feeder. The doves and the squirrel were photographed from inside the cabin. Now, I know that I have my work cut out for me as far as the squirrel visiting the feeder, but I was thrilled to be able to capture a few good shots. This big guy(girl?...despite the pose, I'm not sure!) was positively frightened when he saw me. I admit, I do look pretty scary in the morning! He must've scurried on every branch of this tree twice over. Up, down and all around...until I opened the side door and he took a flying leap from about 15 feet high and landed on the ground about 12 feet from the tree! I expected to find an empty feeder this morning. So far, it's still intact and my fingers are crossed.

















Saturday morning as I looked out one of my back windows up the hill to see how the day was about to greet me...I was greeted with this view. This was the most colorful, spectacular sunrise I've seen yet here in the woods!








Of course, I had to venture out in the frigid cold twilight to capture this vivid sunrise, keep in mind, the coloring in these has not been enhanced, these are true colors.









Same view, I cropped the previous photo.
Here's the same view once again, only about eight minutes later, as more of the sun peeks up over the horizon.

The early bird gets the seed in this case, the first one I saw at the feeder before heading back in the cabin was a Dark-eyed Junco. My granddaughter, Celine, built that feeder out of scrap wood when she was bored one day...she did a fine job!








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20 comments:

Nutty Gnome said...

Wow, what fantastic photos and a stunning sunrise - you are so fortunate to live in such a beautiful place!
I've only just come across your blog, but it has brought me great joy - thank you.

Anne said...

I just loved your sunrise photos. Spectacular! Keep shootin' away! =)

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

SD: Those were beautiful captures from nature. You did that so well in your walk through your area.

Anonymous said...

What an amazing sunrise! And so nice to see that your wildlife is getting fed from such a lovely feeder in such frigid weather.

Richard said...

Great sunrise pictures. I would like to use one of them. Please contact me thru my blog and I'll show you what I have in mind.

Lona said...

Don't you just love Dove's? The red squirrel will probably empty your feeder since it had found it.It looks pretty healthy though. I am glad to see you have started putting your name on your pictures.It makes them harder to steal and you take such great shots.

flydragon said...

That second pic of the dove sure shows how nice and plump she is, just in case you get snowed in and can't get to the store for supplies:)
Love your sunrise pics. Even through the trees, you have a great view.

spookydragonfly said...

Hi Richard...Thank you! I'll contact you.

spookydragonfly said...

Hello Nutty Gnome...Great screen name! I am fortunate for our woods, I thank God everyday. I'm so glad that you stopped by and I hope you come back again! It was the most beautiful coloring in the sky. Thanks for stopping by and the nice comments. I'm off to visit you!

My Little Family: said...

The sunrise photo are beautiful although the icicles a bit scary. you are a good photogrpaher.

spookydragonfly said...

Anne...Thanks Anne...I'm shooting! It's been awhile since I've seen a real pretty sunrise here!

Fishing Guy...Thank you, I had to brave the cold, the morning was just to perfect and pristine!

Mo...Yes, it was! Thank you, my Celine did a fine job, didn't she? She even drilled it together with her own drill..she lived with us a couple of years, and had a hand in helping alot!

Lona...That was one LARGE squirrel! So far, the feeder still hasn't been emptied (fingers are still crossed!) I'm telling you...I am scary in the morning! One look at me that close, he/she just might not be back!
My picassa program just updated and added that text feature. I decided to use it that way I know which of my photos I have already published. I don't do it to all of them.

Flydragon...Flydragon...Flydragon!!

Just for that comment...you'd better go out and make some more snow angels!! (or remove that halo!) It would be nice to have a clear shot of the sunrise somewhere in the woods, maybe when the weather is warmer, I'll go searching.



Thanks to all for the visit and commenting!

spookydragonfly said...

Hello My Little Family...That truly was the most vivid sunrise that I've seen here in the woods! It was worth freezing my nose, toes and tush for! I'm surely not a photographer and sometimes my captures turn out well...I delete many of the photos that I take! BUT..as I always say...I'll take your compliment and run with it! Thanks for stopping by and the nice comments!

Amila Salgado said...

Stunning shots of the sunrise!
Those morning doves are also nice.
I think the Squirrel is a girl!
BUT, I am happy to be corrected.

spookydragonfly said...

Hi Amila...Thank you, my guess is a female, too. About 10 years ago, I managed a retirement community and I found a litter of kittens tucked away in one of our open courtyards. When I took one of the kittens into our facility to ask our visiting physician(not a Vet.) the sex of that kitten...he determined it was a male. Well, Wild-Boy Whiskers was dropped off for shots, etc., I received a call from the animal hospital, Whiskers was a female! Long story just to say you never know!

MyMaracas said...

Beautiful sunrise shots! And the doves look so peaceful and patient. Kudos to you on braving the cold to get these photos.

spookydragonfly said...

Hi Vicki...Thank you, you're right, Doves always look serene. That sunrise was just too awesome not to go out and experience it. Thanks for the visit!

Anonymous said...

That's one intense sunrise. What a great way to bring in the day.

spookydragonfly said...

Hi Bernie, It was amazing, I hope we have more that intense. The only problem with a beautiful sunrise is that they don't last long enough! Thanks for the visit!

Greg Silsby said...

Beautiful photos; they bring back memories of our decade in Akron. I especially love the squirrel pics. Thanks for sharing the beauty you see around you with the rest of us.

spookydragonfly said...

Hello Greg...So you spent a decade in Akron? Hmmm????..Akron, Ohio or the State of Washington?? Hands down, Washington! I have never been there, someday I'd like to make that trip. I love your header photo on your blog, I'm partial to the daylily. Thank you so much for the visit and nice comments!

To my guests...Greg has a new blog, very interesting with fantastic photo captures!