Drops of Beauty #188

May 10, 2024

“Slow down, you move too fast…” (Simon & Garfunkel)

Hello friends! One of my biggest supporters asked me if it was possible to make the photo captions larger/easier to read so I am experimenting a bit today. So far it seems I can make them bold but I can’t change the size. I know a lot of my subscribers are writers here on Substack, so if anyone knows of a way to do this, could you let me know?

I have been trying to slow down and yet I still feel like I barely know which way is up by the time I reach Thursday evening. Hoping for a lot of slowing down over the weekend…but it is still spring migration!

Meanwhile, here are some photo choices for today, maybe they will help all of us slow down just a little:

Sunrise, May 8, 2024, just before an unexpected storm blew in

I turned around and this tree swallow was sitting right behind me, staring at me. Look at that color! Even on a gray day, those feathers are stunning.

He then proceeded to show me his amazing wings. He obviously was there for his photo shoot!

Swainson’s thrush, hiding in the bushes as they do.

Those storm clouds coming in. I was marveling at them right up until the severe thunderstorm warning went off on my phone! Luckily the storm split and missed me to the southeast and the north west.

Clouds fascinate me. Here’s a close up.

Here’s a wide view of that storm to the southeast.

Mr. Baltimore oriole may not have his full adult colors, but he was singing up a storm. Or rather, singing after a storm.

Very early on a cloudy morning when I was the first to arrive, I found this beaver quietly having breakfast. He was unbothered by me. Beavers are one of the gentlest creatures I’ve ever encountered.

Someone was having fun with colors! There was a moment where the adult in me wanted to say how bad this was for the environment - and it probably was. Then I looked at it like a child would and realized the bright colors and probably been some kind of fun. It didn’t last long, the rains washed it away. Hopefully it wasn’t harmful. The colors made me smile once I relaxed!

A discussion among friends…or rather, there didn’t seem to be enough room here for two male Baltimore orioles.

The chase continued until they were out of sight.

The robins are singing every morning. One pair has a nest under my deck.

Still a few yellow-rumped warblers hanging around.

Least sandpiper sticking out his tongue. Maybe he didn’t like whatever he ate?

I still haven’t seen many shorebirds so I am even more thankful for the small group of spotted sandpipers!

I love the mornings when I make it out early and manage a few photos of swallows over the colors of the sunrise. It’s harder now that sunrise is 2 1/2 hours earlier than it was at mid-winter!

May your weekend be full of whatever makes you happiest. I’m hoping mine is full of beauty and rest.