"2024 me is committed to being kind to myself and giving my body what it needs." Thank you for that commitment. And for this amazing look at the mayflies--love their flying behavior!--and the swallows and other birds that come to feast on them. Those swallow parents must be so relieved when the kids can catch their own meals! Blessings to you and your inner singer.
Music and lyrics are also how my heart sends me messages! I wonder if it’s like they say, that music is the language across all the dimensions of this mysterious universe.
There are still a few elk in the valley these mornings when I am determined to get enough good meadow lark calls to make into my phone ring tone. It might actually motivate me to answer my phone.
Such a wonderful feast of pics and your narration. So glad you stopped the car to capture those flames in the morning sunrise! Mayflies! A world completely unknown to me until this morning. The feast fed more than the baby birds. ✨🥰
I LOVE mayflies! This is a wonderful window into your mayfly world. Around my parts the mayflies hatch from cold mountain streams and are devoured by trout.
I would not be comfortable with all those bugs flying around me, so thanks for videoing YOUR experience! Haha.
In my part of the world—Southern California—bunnies are proliferating. Early Morning Walks reveal scores, some very brave at just a few feet from me. (Watch out for coyotes, my little Thumpers!) Crows chase red-tailed hawks from their nests, and small wrens nest in my patio rafters.
And I'm learning ways to help the good bees in the summer heat. Shallow bowls with rocks that stand above the water level (changed often), and watermelon halves offer both moisture and nectar to the buzzing pollinators.
Keep up you beautiful documentation of the world around you! We love it.
Oh, I love that about bees. I didn't know they liked watermelon halves. We have plenty of bunnies, or as I call them poppy mallow eaters. I'm hoping the plants I planted are hearty enough to survive the bunnies!
Oh Karen, while you always have wonderful stories to tell, for me , this one is your best.
Quite a few gorgeous quotes, all equally claim first prize. Though this one is my favorite
“The songs in my head are the gift that keeps on giving. I hope my singer is done with her hiatus and will return on a more regular basis, my life is better the more present she is. Maybe it’s not surprising I am drawn to birds?”
The Hex hatch ! I’ve been out in the cool waters of the night in late June. Watching Hexagenia , one of largest of mayflies in North America, emerge from the dark waters. Truly magical to witness. Tiny sailboats cover the surface and the trout go crazy. Fly rod in hand.
(safety glasses on so you or your buddy does not cast a stray hook too close in the dark).
I’ve never seen birds feasting on the hatch. Thank you for the photographs. The first Hexagenia was on my screen door yesterday evening. In Vermont, and so it begins…
Thank you Lor. I didn't know their name is hexagenia. Yes, like little sailboats! I have seen them on the water but I didn't see that with these. I was hoping too because then the swallows swoop at the water and that's one of my favorite things to photograph! Your nighttime fishing sounds lovely.
A beautiful and meaningful experience and commentary. Thank you for sharing it with us. I am so glad your soul voice is speaking to you in a way that you can hear. I don’t know if you follow David Knowles, he wrote a very lovely piece about mayflies last month that I highly recommend. xo
Oh my goodness, this linked post is amazing - and his voice is so soothing. Thank yo so much for sharing it with me, I hadn't come across David Knowles yet.
What a lovely "sermon" from nature about the self-sacrifice of the mayflies for the youngsters of another species and the hard work of the parents on behalf of their children. Bittersweet in how life seems to be woven through with suffering and death, and yet birds and mayflies continue to exist for us to enjoy and be inspired by. And having witnessed this through you, the song that comes my mind this Sunday morning is an old hymn with a similar backstory about love and loss: "It Is Well with My Soul." If you're not familiar with the hymn or the story of the man who wrote it, be sure to Google it. Have a delightful day, Karen. (And don't let a huge swarm of mayflies carry you off!) :-)
Amazing photos, thanks so much for sharing them with us.
Thank you Jennie
"2024 me is committed to being kind to myself and giving my body what it needs." Thank you for that commitment. And for this amazing look at the mayflies--love their flying behavior!--and the swallows and other birds that come to feast on them. Those swallow parents must be so relieved when the kids can catch their own meals! Blessings to you and your inner singer.
Thank you Susan
Beautiful Karen...awesome images...makes me want to go fly fishing.... No mayflies here...just flies.
Thank you Ken
Music and lyrics are also how my heart sends me messages! I wonder if it’s like they say, that music is the language across all the dimensions of this mysterious universe.
Why so they may well be!
Oh, I love that Priscilla!
Trout are also fond of mayflies!
There are still a few elk in the valley these mornings when I am determined to get enough good meadow lark calls to make into my phone ring tone. It might actually motivate me to answer my phone.
I knew that fish would eat them if they landed on water, I didn't know they were trout, but everyone here agrees! I can't wait to hear that ring tone.
Such a wonderful feast of pics and your narration. So glad you stopped the car to capture those flames in the morning sunrise! Mayflies! A world completely unknown to me until this morning. The feast fed more than the baby birds. ✨🥰
Thank you Sandy
My point of view is if you don't give the body what it needs, you get removed from the gene pool. Knew nothing about mayflies, but I do now.
That seems right Sharon!
I LOVE mayflies! This is a wonderful window into your mayfly world. Around my parts the mayflies hatch from cold mountain streams and are devoured by trout.
That you Tricia. I love that you love them!
I would not be comfortable with all those bugs flying around me, so thanks for videoing YOUR experience! Haha.
In my part of the world—Southern California—bunnies are proliferating. Early Morning Walks reveal scores, some very brave at just a few feet from me. (Watch out for coyotes, my little Thumpers!) Crows chase red-tailed hawks from their nests, and small wrens nest in my patio rafters.
And I'm learning ways to help the good bees in the summer heat. Shallow bowls with rocks that stand above the water level (changed often), and watermelon halves offer both moisture and nectar to the buzzing pollinators.
Keep up you beautiful documentation of the world around you! We love it.
Oh, I love that about bees. I didn't know they liked watermelon halves. We have plenty of bunnies, or as I call them poppy mallow eaters. I'm hoping the plants I planted are hearty enough to survive the bunnies!
Oh Karen, while you always have wonderful stories to tell, for me , this one is your best.
Quite a few gorgeous quotes, all equally claim first prize. Though this one is my favorite
“The songs in my head are the gift that keeps on giving. I hope my singer is done with her hiatus and will return on a more regular basis, my life is better the more present she is. Maybe it’s not surprising I am drawn to birds?”
The Hex hatch ! I’ve been out in the cool waters of the night in late June. Watching Hexagenia , one of largest of mayflies in North America, emerge from the dark waters. Truly magical to witness. Tiny sailboats cover the surface and the trout go crazy. Fly rod in hand.
(safety glasses on so you or your buddy does not cast a stray hook too close in the dark).
I’ve never seen birds feasting on the hatch. Thank you for the photographs. The first Hexagenia was on my screen door yesterday evening. In Vermont, and so it begins…
Thank you Lor. I didn't know their name is hexagenia. Yes, like little sailboats! I have seen them on the water but I didn't see that with these. I was hoping too because then the swallows swoop at the water and that's one of my favorite things to photograph! Your nighttime fishing sounds lovely.
Wow. I have no words except who'd have thought a mayfly could be so fascinating
Thank you Cali
The mayflies swarm is something to behold. As always, beautiful photos.
It really is! Thank you Mary
A beautiful and meaningful experience and commentary. Thank you for sharing it with us. I am so glad your soul voice is speaking to you in a way that you can hear. I don’t know if you follow David Knowles, he wrote a very lovely piece about mayflies last month that I highly recommend. xo
https://open.substack.com/pub/davidknowles/p/the-mayflies-song?r=makle&utm_medium=ios
Oh my goodness, this linked post is amazing - and his voice is so soothing. Thank yo so much for sharing it with me, I hadn't come across David Knowles yet.
He is a wonderful writer!
What a lovely "sermon" from nature about the self-sacrifice of the mayflies for the youngsters of another species and the hard work of the parents on behalf of their children. Bittersweet in how life seems to be woven through with suffering and death, and yet birds and mayflies continue to exist for us to enjoy and be inspired by. And having witnessed this through you, the song that comes my mind this Sunday morning is an old hymn with a similar backstory about love and loss: "It Is Well with My Soul." If you're not familiar with the hymn or the story of the man who wrote it, be sure to Google it. Have a delightful day, Karen. (And don't let a huge swarm of mayflies carry you off!) :-)
Thank you Lauren. That's an interesting hymn. I take it to mean no matter what happens, I can be at peace.
Fantastic! So well written and your photos are just phenomenal!💕💕💕
Thank you David