Drops of Beauty #127

August 25, 2023

I wonder what the egret sees as it soars so high in the sky…

Hello friends! It is hot, hot, hot for one more day here. Haven’t had the camera out since Friday because 100% humidity and cameras are not a good pairing, plus the walk needed to be as swift as possible then back inside. I am missing the wide-open skies and can’t wait for this cold front to come through. Even so, we’ve been luckier than many this summer. It is true that with absence comes gratitude for what I do have.

Today I am thinking about the majestic birds that soar high above the earth. In my darkened room (to keep the heat out), I’m doing a qi gong move called “flying” and imagining myself soaring above the problems of the day, gaining a new perspective. Here are a few recent photos of birds soaring above the noise:

Great egret, taking off.

Two great egrets high up in the clouds.

One of our resident eagles, who does make a shadow as she goes over. I saw a youngster flying around the lake last week, these parents have had a successful summer.

A first-year red-tailed hawk soaring over the trees. Notice the striped tail feathers that are not yet solid red and the light eye in the next photo, these are the marks that tell me this is a first-year hawk.

Here’s an adult red-tailed hawk for comparison. Note the darker eye and the solid (red on top) tail feathers.

While we are comparing, how about this adult red-shouldered hawk. The red-tailed hawks have dark patagials, which I’d describe as the top of the shoulder. The red-shouldered has that large reddish area under the shoulder without the dark top. The stripes on the tail are wider than the juvenile red-tailed hawk and the “fingers” on the end of the wings look different.

This chimney swift came down to see me but often this time of year there are dozens of them swirling way, way up where they look so small you might think they were dragonflies. Apparently there are bugs that high in the air - who knew? They are also called flying cigars for a reason!

A soaring bird I usually only see at dawn or dusk, the common nighthawk. (Which are not common at all!)

I don’t take a lot of pictures of blue herons way up high because I take them down lower, but this one was coming in for a landing. Every one of these hot mornings in my neighborhood I’ve seen a blue heron fly across way up high, above the sunrise and he reminds me I will be back out near the lake soon.

Turkey vultures are often seen “kettling” where many turkey vultures swirl around each other high in the air. The first thing I remember learning about birds was from my high school science teacher, Mr. Ellis, who was also the softball coach. He’d point up and say, “vulture or hawk”? He taught me that turkey vultures hold their wings in a “V” where hawks are more flat and turkey vultures wobble when they fly. Even way up high I can still tell the difference!

Just starting to see the osprey’s return, soaring high over the lake and diving for fish. (This was taken in April)

At some point, we all come back in for a landing.

May you all find a peaceful place, whether above the cares or the world or with your feet firmly on the ground.