Branta Bernicla

Late Tuesday morning, I was wandering along the Birch Bay State Park beach, taking a mental health moment before heading back to the office; skipping rocks and looking for agates. I noticed a line of birds in the water; a l-o-n-g line of birds. It looked like there might have been, I don't know, at least 75-100 ducks, paddling along in a line.

I had my camera with me and had to use the zoom because the birds in question were too far away. Took a couple of photographs, and although no bird or wildlife photographer need concern themselves about competition from my efforts, it was fun to watch the ducks, Brants, as they are commonly known, cleaning themselves and eating in the shallows. Then something must have startled them and they all took off in a huge dark cloud of wings. It was quite impressive!

You can learn more about these incredible birds, and others, by attending the Wings Over Water Pacific Northwest Birding Festival to be held in Blaine, WA on April 18, 2009. Check out www.blainechamber.com/events.html for details about this upcoming annual birding event.

We have such a wealth of birdwatching opportunities in this area. Incredible!

Sunset du jour ...

OK ... OK ... I'm leaving the office. But, not before sending off today's sunset adios!

What's YOUR angle ...

I was thinking about how much I like angles. I appreciate how lines and shapes meet. I enjoy textures and contrasts of angles and shapes touching, contracting or expanding, and complementing.

I like the angles encountered in business dealings. Having an angle isn’t inherently a negative thing. It reveals how various goals align and make for a better whole. They individually can be disparate, but make a more attractive, an aesthetically pleasing entirety.

I suppose some human-related angles of intent can be catawampus rather than straightforward. But it is engaging and entertaining to see what’s put out there and what results.

I think I prefer the entirely random (?) relatively straight angles, triangles and clean shapes that catch my visual attention from time-to-time.

With only my Treo camera to capture those lucky happenstances , I feel restrained, but compelled to snap them, nonetheless.

Here are but a few …

A wee bit of sunshine ...

The day started off pleasant enough; a little bit of sunshine and warmth. People and dogs were out on the beach, as was I; cyclists were spinning up and down Birch Bay Drive; walkers were out; LOTS and LOTS of people were enjoying the day at the State Park Beach, sitting at picnic tables actually having a picnic at one table; bird watchers were wandering up and down the beach clicking pix of the variety of ducks and other water fowl out on the bay. A great day to be out and about in Birch Bay.

I took this photograph of some weeds growing in the grass at the State Park, because just days ago they were under 4" of snow and today they had cheerful little blossoms nodding in the morning sunshine.

Such a hopeful, spring image. It's coming! One can feel it in the air!

Then the late afternoon brought showers. The sunset tonight was silvery.

It was a good day, albeit hectic; a productive day.