Monthly Archives: February 2014

Day 037: Morning Reflections and Misses!

Year 1

Before heading over to the hospital this morning, I decided to spend some time near some ponds and marshes which are a short walk from my Dad’s house. Thus, I walked over before sunrise and waited for enough light to enable good bird photography.

I hope you enjoy today’s photos of the Sandhill Crane and Great Blue Heron, but as always in life … wow, did I miss the real photo opportunity. While sitting on a bench overlooking the pond around 6:45 am, half asleep, I was awakened by a huge splash and explosion of water 20 yards away from me. An Osprey had stooped from above and enjoyed some fish for breakfast. If I had been more alert, it would have been a fantastic photograph. Over the course of the next hour I often saw this bird swing again. I now know his hunting haunts. Maybe I will get lucky again … with some advance planning!

Great Blue Heron
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Sandhill Crane
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Day 036: Wood Stork Hospital Bird

Year 1

In Europe storks are looked upon as good luck, and people hope that these birds will nest upon their roofs. Throughout western civilization the stork is often identified with delivering new babies to happy families. Given I am unexpectedly down in Florida dealing with my Dad’s surgery, it seems appropriate I found this Wood Stork to photograph outside the hospital in a nearby pond while I was taking a quick break. I hope the stork is bringing my family good luck.

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Day 035: Sunshine Finale Magpie

Year 1

I had expected to be taking photographs of magpies and crows for 10 to 12 more days, but sometimes life throws you a curve ball. Instead of finishing up my volunteer work at Snow Mountain Ranch deep in the Colorado Rockies, I will be flying down to Florida in a few hours to help my Dad who has emergency surgery today.

Before catching my shuttle to the Denver airport, I had a few minutes to look for today’s bird. This magpie not only obliged, but posed in the pine tree next to my room. Florida should have lots more birds, and no snow.

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