Sunday, March 11, 2012

"Today, I'll Buy No Sorrows"

Last week, I walked up to a park about two kilometers (about a mile and a bit) from home. As I approached the pond, I could hear seagulls distressed about something. Amid their calls, I could discern another, less familiar cry. Seconds before the vocal birds came into view, I realized that I was hearing a hawk. The gulls were chasing the hawk from their territory.



hawk5
By the time I was in an open enough area to focus, the hawk had climbed the sky and was soaring amongst the sun-tinged clouds. This was among the best I could get. I had a 100 mm macro lens on me and nothing zoomier. Beautiful creature, isn't it?




hi guy
Hide yourself, little guy.




bark door
This tree clearly received a serious injury at one time. Its bark is gaping and growing away from the trunk, and looks a bit like a hinged door. Does anyone else hear an old Creedence Clearwater Revival song? Doo, doo, doo, looking out my bark door. (The post title was also lifted from this song.)




fluffy
I love how the golden sunlight warms this fluff. The lake behind it was still frozen on that day. I like the contrast between the two.





golden needles2
And the sunshine on these evergreen needles warmed me.





hawk7
Fly free, my beauty.


I'll fly by with some more photos in a few days.

57 comments:

Cloudia said...

"G" to the ORIOUS!

GLORIOUS!!!!!!


Aloha from Waikiki
Comfort Spiral

>< } } ( ° >

Brian Miller said...

that tree looks like it is the opening to a secret compartment...sunshine on the needles looks warm too...smiles. happy sunday!

Cloudia said...

doot doot doot lookin` out YOUR back door!

stephen Hayes said...

Very pretty and evocative.

Karen (formerly kcinnova) said...

bark door.... you made me giggle! :)

Sueann said...

Love the photos...esp. the pine needle one. Gorgeous
Hugs
SueAnn

June said...

Frequently these days I see red-tailed hawks flying over my country road as I head down the hill to work. I always feel as if I should know some Native American lore so I would know what the sighting signifies for my day.

Ruth Hiebert said...

Your posts never disappoint. All the pictures are fantastic,but I especially like the fluff.

DJan said...

I always enjoy your pictures, but the hawk, I am so envious of that first shot! I am always just behind the curve when it comes to birds in flight. As usual, I love gazing at your beautiful world through your eyes.

Indrani said...

Excellent DOF in the images.
Great captures. No doubt you observe a lot.

Dianne said...

I've heard the gulls all crying out together at the marina
it's both haunting and beautiful

sweet wounded tree
and majestic hawk

Anonymous said...

We hear hawks way too often in our backyard. They are beginning to encroach a bit too much for my liking.

Tabor said...

Amazing the songs of the birds that we hear this time of year. They are flirting, mating, checking out the real estate, demanding space in their territory and on and on. Many people miss this soap opera in the spring.

ethelmaepotter! said...

Oh, that first photo is incredible. Without reading your description, I heard the caw of the birds, I felt the cold air as I raised my face toward the sky. What strikes me about the picture is that it could have been JUST THAT - flight of a hawk on a cold slate day...but for that bit of warmth the sun shines on the cloud. It makes the whole thing come alive.

By the way, I'm amazed that gulls can chase a hawk away!

ALL the photos are fabulous; Hilary, you never disappoint!

Country Girl said...

Laughing at the bark door reference to the CCR tune. I knew I'd heard the words to the post title somewhere before. Beautiful images here, btw. Beautiful ~ I love spring too.

ellen abbott said...

oh so beautiful.

Kerry said...

Nothing beats CCR!

When I try to take a pic of sunshine warming a surface I'm always disappointed. My little camera has a lot of trouble with that. Your shots are beautiful.

Kerri Farley said...

~ Heavenly Hawk ~
Super post!

Bob Bushell said...

Good photos all done with a 100mm macro lens, pretty nice. And, I've got the music Creedence Clearwater Revival albums, I must try and remember it on my blog.

Anvilcloud said...

You are a true hawkeye.

laveta'splace said...

All your photos are so beautiful but I like the bark door the best.

Barb said...

Oh, my gosh - I always thought it was "back" door! I like "bark" door better... I like the grass fluff in golden light.

Linda at To Behold The Beauty said...

You did amazingly well with the hawk photos, especially considering your lens. The squirrel is my favorite, though. He looks as if he's heeding your advice.

Scott Law said...

Thanks for taking us on your nice walk enjoying nature. I hope CCW doesn't hear about your "Bark Door" line . . . They'll probably want to steal it.

messymimi said...

"Bark" door -- that gets my "seal" of approval.;)

Jayne said...

Beautiful creatures of the earth and sky. Even the injured tree looks glowingly alive. :)

Red said...

With these great picture you didn't buy any sorrows. The light on the pine needles is super.Always did like Credence Clearwater Revival. There were some awesome performers in that one group who went on the solo careers.

Wendy said...

You got some really nice shots of the hawk! "Bark" door - LOL! Great group. Actually, there were a lot of great groups way back then. I miss the music of the 60's and 70's.

Thanks for taking us along on your walk. Spring is in the air today and warm temps are predicted all week!

Laura said...

so beautiful dear hilary.

Barbara said...

Do, do, doo... you've got me singing it now! But I'm not complaining! Beautiful shots!

Unknown said...

This is a beautiful collection of photos that reveal to us that Spring is ushuring forth new life! :)

WritingsForLife said...

Oh what beauty... what freedom :-)

Grayquill said...

As always, I love your pictures. Stupendous!!

Dawning Inspiration said...

Love that golden light!!! Pretty!

Dave said...

That lil squirrel best watch out or he will make a good feed for that bird - Dave

Mental P Mama said...

Beautiful! And thanks for the CCR earworm. Not.

Sharon Wagner said...

I saw an eagle on one of my city walks over the weekend. You're smart to always have your camera.

Sandi McBride said...

your whimsical tours via camera lens always leaves me feeling fresh and ready to plow through the day. wow...
hugs
Sandi

Daryl said...

Hey its a good shot ... thanks for taking me along

Anyes said...

I am glad you were there to take us along, Hilary :-)

Liz Mays said...

You sure live in an area full of wonder. Love it!

Elizabeth Grimes said...

Hilary, that first one needs to be on a greeting card, or an inspirational poster or something! So beautiful.

Betty Manousos said...

you did a wonderful job, hilary.

what amazing shots, great lighting, too!

Lynne with an e said...

"doo doo doo, looking out my bark door"?! Now I've got that CCR tune playing on a mental loop,which I need like a bole in the head.

Suldog said...

You still need to publish a collection. Do it before Christmas and I guarantee I'll buy at least five copies.

NitWit1 said...

I love the bark "door" too and the tree definitely has suffered some injury or disease. The Dogwoods which are so prevalent in my area cannot survive in my yard because of a penicillium fungus in the soil of my yard. The bark cracks and peels and the leaves shrivel. It broke my heart after I bouth a beautiful pink/red dogwood only to have it die after one season. My entire lot is infected with it. I have to be careful what I plant. Many plants are resistant to the fungus, but unfortunately it would kill a plant I truly loved.

Leah J. Utas said...

I really like the organization of that first hawk shot. Well done.

Karen said...

I love watching the birds in flight. Great shots! Boy that lil' squirrel is sure fat for the winter. :) Ours stay thin...I guess so they don't look fat at the beach. :P

Friko said...

The grass seedhead (?) and the needles are magnificent.

ds said...

Love that hawk--magnificent!

Gillian Olson said...

Beautiful pictures, the golden ones and the squirrel are definitely a hint with me.

LadyFi said...

Oh, what lovely shots! The hawk is magnificent and the bark on the tree so lovely in that light.

Shrinky said...

Plucky bunch of gulls! What a gorgeous greeting to receive, as you arrived there, and well captured, you. That flap of tree bark reminds me of something out of a Narnia tale (smile).

Anonymous said...

Your pictures take my breath away, they're stunning.

Survival of the fittest as far as the birds are concerned, but those cries are pretty horrendous to listen to.

CJ x

Tammie Lee said...

lovely to take a walk with you and see through your lens.

Falcondawn said...

nice

lime said...

i know your winter has been mild as ours has been. i'm impressed that your water froze. the lakes and ponds around here never quite froze over, which is unheard of.