Photo Journal

The Silence of Pelicans

The poignancy of a photograph comes from looking back to a fleeting moment in a floating world. The transitoriness is what creates the sense of the sacred

Allen Ginsberg

Pelicans sailing

slowly toward me -

squadron of silence

it seems impossible such a large bird can fly so gracefully

and float so easily.

Powerful wings lift them, soaking wet, from the ocean,

as they fly, and turn, and dive back into the water.

The heavens are full of floating mysteries.

Thomas Buchanan Read

Tuesday morning was exuberant chaos on the beach. The waves were crashing, the wind was thundering. Surfers were shouting to each other back and forth about the best spots, then fighting their way through the chop past the break. Along the coast, people who gathered for the sunrise were laughing and talking and taking many, many pictures.

Then came the pelicans, drifting gracefully on the wind, wings wide, almost, but not quite - hovering. I looked up and the hush of delight I felt created a vacuum of sound that seemed to be so beautifully long but was really only a moment. I was sure when I let down my camera that there would be a group of people around me, all staring off to where the pelicans flew, but it was just me - returning to the sea of sound. And that was also magical. Like it was just my moment. What a gift.

Thank you so much for being here. See you next week!

A line of pelicans flying close to the surface to spare their wings some effort.

Scenes from a Long Walk

Walking sometimes means undertaking an inner voyage of discovery. You are shaped by buildings, faces, signs, weather and the atmosphere…Walking as a combination of movement, humility, balance, curiosity, smell, sound, light and - if you walk far enough - longing. A feeling which reaches for something, without finding it.

Erling Kagge, from Walking

A seagull flying into the sunrise over the Atlantic

fighting for scraps of food in the air

lizard basking in sunshine on the rocks at the marina

Fish crow gazing into the water of the shipping channel

rock dove perching on a ledge above a small local grocery store

egret fishing in a public fountain.

a single white flower floats on the surface of a pond

Everywhere is within walking distance if you have the time.

Steven Wright

This was not just a single walk, or even a single day, but in hindsight it felt like one continuous experience. I am on the cusp of a change, trying to decide how and where to focus my time in the near future. I may begin blogging a little less frequently to make space for other work. Decision making is hard. Walking helps.

Thank you for being here.

Ode to a Blue Jay

Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.

Henry Van Dyke

To be a Blue Jay  

In a blur of white, black and blue

You flew into my garden -

Landing under the feeder,

Pecking at the ground,

Picking up seeds,

Hopping around

Unbothered by my watching.

 

I want to live like you-

Able to fly from danger,

To pierce the silence

of the cold morning air

With the longing call

of my wild heart,

Unashamed.

I want to land softly

In the warm grass -

To dance in the sun,

and then just take off

for the trees when it’s gone -

leaving this comfortable cage

behind.

A blue jay and its partner are nesting in one of the trees behind my house and are regularly visiting the feeders in the yard there. I chose the opening quote not just because I think people should be able to share their talents, but also because the blue jay’s call is annoying to some people. Loud and piercing. Personally, I love the sound - especially on an otherwise bleak and quiet day.

Here is a link to check out if you want to hear the sounds (and learn more about the birds) : Audubon Society: About the Blue Jay (with sounds) - The calls I most often hear are the Jay (or Jeering) and the hawk imitation calls; but I recognized most of the other sounds; not realizing they were Jay sounds too.

This bird is very calm and curious. I read that when they are afraid; the feathers on top of their heads stand straight up - so he was unafraid, hopping around and tilting his head from side to side.

I also read that they are not really blue, but that the color is a trick of light … here’s a link to that explanation, if you’re interested: NOT in Blue.

Holding a little seed in its mouth and looking ready to jump again.

Pensive.

Standing tall and unafraid.

may my heart always be open to little birds who are the secrets of living

e. e. cummings

Thank you for being here, and thank you for your support. I appreciate every comment and suggestion!