March 2019 SOLC–Day 30
A huge thank you to Two Writing Teachers for all that they do to create an amazing community of writers and a safe, welcoming space to write, learn, share and grow.
http://www.twowritingteachers.org
This morning I swung down by the river to catch the sunrise. As I pulled into my parking space, a juvenile bald eagle flew right before me. I thrust the car in park and grappled for my camera, hoping to catch a quick shot. I didn’t realize yet that the hour ahead would be full of such opportunities.
Quick! Take a pic! It’s an eagle!
I noticed my friend, Roger, was already at the water’s edge snapping photos. I took a few pictures and then wandered over to join him. Last weekend I’d seen him, but I’d been in a total stress zone. The river magic hadn’t worked on me. This weekend Mother Nature was pulling out all the stops, and together, we were a rapt audience.
We took picture after picture, delighting in the beauty unfolding around us. I went back and forth between gawking and wildly swinging my camera around trying to capture the cauldron of activity. The seagulls were back, ducks flew, floated and fished, and eagles swooped by periodically. The air was filled with song, and bird after bird made an appearance–cardinals, red-winged blackbirds, pigeons, hooded and common mergansers, grackles, robins and more. The fish were jumping, and the river ice had receded dramatically, bringing back those intoxicating reflections. I could have spent hours watching bird shadows swimming amidst reflected clouds. Add the rising sun to the mix, and it was intoxicating. An ambrosial springtime brew!
Hard to catch a sharp photo when everything’s moving!
Hooded mergansers coming in for a landing
Seagull at sunrise
Incoming! (This one cracks me up!)
Swimming bird reflections
After sunrise, the sun still puts on a show
juvenile bald eagle
Nix the comfort zone 
Wow, these pictures are amazing! I love the switch you eloquently note from last week to this week: from stress zone to rapt audience, the ambrosial springtime brew. Thanks for sharing!
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Thanks! Nature really put on a beautiful show this morning. It was amazing how much difference a week made for me personally and for the scenery and wildlife at the river.
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These pictures are gorgeous. My goodness! If I keep reading about all this beauty I may have to start getting up early myself!
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Thanks, Amanda! Mornings are magical!
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Beautiful photos. I love the imagery in your words too. Thank you for sharing.
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Love your photos of this amazing morning. The miracle of nature!
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It was pretty amazing!
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Stunning photos! But oh my goodness that seagull looks so intense! Could he have been hungry or angry? Hangry?
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Isn’t he funny? I laugh every time I look at that photo. That’s one intense bird!
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These are stunning…and evidence of why I love Maine so much! Thanks for sharing photographs as visual slices to inspire, energize, and amaze us this month. I am so grateful.
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Maine is an inspiration! I am ever more grateful that I transplanted here a couple of decades ago. Are you a native Mainer, Paula?
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No. Transplanted from the midwest as soon as I got out of college. Been here 32 years!
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You beat me! I’ve only been here about 23. I grew up in the midwest–PA and OH—I guess we have more than Maine in common 🙂
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I was born in Wisconsin and grew up in Illinois. Beautiful places for sure, but not Maine!
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