In Monterey at one of the downtown historic state parks, Cooper Molero,
the barn and the sky prompted me to pull out a camera.
Later in Pacific Grove....
January sunshine lit the distant sails of a small boat .
Since February 1, 1855, the Point Pinos Lighthouse has flashed its beacon nightly to guide ships off the rocky coasts.
Birds are often beacons of light for me.
I know there are observable differences between Great Egrets and Snowy Egrets. As I watched this bird today, I even knew what the differences were, but wasn't sure I was remembering which of the distinctions went to which bird. So I checked when I got home and made this little chart to re-remind myself once again.
Feature Great Egrets Snowy Egrets
Color White White
Size: 39" 24"
Bill Yellow Bill Black Bill
Legs & Feet Black Legs & Feet Black legs bright yellow feet
To complicate matters, when Little Blue Herons are immature they are also white with black bills but they have yellow facial skin at the base of their bills and their legs are black in the front and yellow in the back... Seriously, confusions are easy to come by, I am not making this up.
I don't need to know "who" the bird is for my heart to leap, but the beauty of creation does deserve to be appreciated in all its details. And it seems good to me and for me to pay attention and to exercise and double check my ability to retain and retrieve information details.
To complicate matters, when Little Blue Herons are immature they are also white with black bills but they have yellow facial skin at the base of their bills and their legs are black in the front and yellow in the back... Seriously, confusions are easy to come by, I am not making this up.
I don't need to know "who" the bird is for my heart to leap, but the beauty of creation does deserve to be appreciated in all its details. And it seems good to me and for me to pay attention and to exercise and double check my ability to retain and retrieve information details.
Sometimes rocks proclaim their distinctiveness too...
Black feet, yellow bill...big bird: it's a Great Egret Ardea Alba
Even at a distance...this smooth round stone stands out.
The waves washed in and it would disappear...and as each wave subsided
I saw it again and marveled anew.
12 comments:
LOVE the pic of the barn. Also the round rock amidst the turret shaped rocks is rad. Thanks for sharing!
Your composition is excellent, at least for me. The two pictures of the rocks in the seascape show the beautiful geometry of the world around us. Thank you, JgT
Such lovely blue sky and blue water. Hope your enjoying a lovely restful Sabbath day.
Fondly,
Glenda
Do you remember what was on the other side of the road from the round rock? I want to run out tomorrow and see if I can find it. Nice captures of the great egret!
Try Esplanade Park and go toward Lover's Point...I started at the golf course and walked down to the water and toward the point...
You've definitely captured some cool shots! And I especially love the round "alien egg" (LOL) rock!
Great shots, especially the Lighthouse... Cheers, Neal
Thought of your lovely blog, Neal, when I took the Lighthouse shot.
Beautiful! Oh how I have been missing the seaside! Your pictures gave me a mini-trip until we can actually get away to see/smell/hear the ocean I love so. Just beautiful!
Thanks for the kindly comment on my blog. It was wonderful to hear from you. : D
The info on distinguishing between egrets and herons was helpful...and the pics are wonderful. Thanks for sharing! :)
Really great pictures.
I’ve been following and enjoying your blog for a while now and would like to invite you to visit and perhaps follow me back. Sorry I took so long for the invitation.
Ah thanks for the little chart to tell the two egrets apart. Aside from the size i wasn't sure what differences their might be.
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