If you get up now, you could make it to the marsh for sunrise.
I woke around 4 am on Saturday morning, wrapped in my nest of warm blankets. The thought, once it entered my mind, would not be dislodged.
If you get up now, you could make it to the marsh for sunrise.
I had had no intention of making the 5:19 sunrise (a 45 minute drive away) and instead had planned to set out after sunrise to look for warblers. Still, my mind had other ideas and was somewhat insistent.
If you get up now, you can easily make it. You’re already awake. Just do it! You can go to the marsh and then go to the park to look for warblers. You know you won’t regret it! It’ll be beautiful!
It didn’t take too much persuasion. The lure of spending mornings outside with my camera is a strong one for me. So, I shrugged off my blankets and thoughts of writing and a lazy start to the weekend, and happily gave in. I rolled out of bed, quickly brewed my coffee and got my things together. Within 15 minutes I was out the door and on my way to the marsh.
While I love being at the marsh, the early drive down there always offers its own appeal. As the day unfolded around me, it struck me, as it often does, as a gift unwrapping. Bit by bit, it revealed itself. Ribbons of color and cloud unfurled in the sky.The light gradually intensified along the horizon, silvering the tops of rivers. Silhouettes of trees became more distinct as shadows receded. As I drove through the sleeping town of Portland, a shooting star flashed briefly overhead. It felt like another gift and a message: I was in the right place at the right time.
As I got out of my car at the marsh, I marveled at the warmth. The sun still hadn’t risen and the temperatures were hovering around 60ΛF! (Last weekend it had been in the 30s and my fingers had been aching with cold!) After a week of sunshine and warmth, everything was lush and full. The air was filled with bird song, the tide was high, and the skies were criss crossed with silhouettes of birds flying solo or in groups. Every salt panne and pond was filled with bird life or mesmerizing reflections of cloud and sky. Every where I looked there was something moving, singing, growing, breathing. The morning was suffused with beauty, and I was lucky enough to be out there in the midst of it, thankful for the gift of it all.
Nix the comfort zone 
This is the 3rd slice about observing nature, especially birds. I feel the nudge to get up and out! Thank you. Two lines that are sticking with me:
I was in the right place at the right time.
Every where I looked there was something moving, singing, growing, breathing.
Thanks for sharing this inspiring slice.
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I’m excited that we both blogged again! Congrats to us! π
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Oh Molly, how beautiful and exciting your post is. I wish my conscious would wake me up. Thank you for describing your adventure in detail and thank you for the beautiful photos! I feel like I was there with you. The last one of the singing-(is it a sparrow?) takes the cake. You should think about saving those photos for Audubon’s photo contest. Thank you for sharing your special early morning. Thank you for your inspiration; you have lifted me. I love egrets!
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Gail, I’m also a huge egret fan! There were snowy egrets and great egrets all over the place. I love watching their wings in motion. Also, you’re right, it was a song sparrow singing its little heart out. π I’m so glad you felt “lifted.”
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Your post is purely medicinal – – a salve for the complacent soul, a balm for the stressors of the week, with enough fuel to propel us to dream of weekends where getting up and living life is high on the agenda because we know who we are and what we love. Everything about this post is celebratory, starting with the nest of blankets and coffee, driving to a place in the wee hours to enjoy the tranquility. Those photos are absolutely stunning. I feel like I want a YouTube of how you do what you do so well so I can do the same. I would LOVE to get pictures that gorgeous.
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Thanks so much, Kim. I am lucky to live in a place that has so much beauty, and I’m happily an early riser by nature. Every time I get outside early, I feel rejuvenated!
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These photos show that removing yourself from your nest of blankets was well worth it! What a gorgeous sunrise.
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It was such a lush morning and I enjoyed every moment! (much more than I would have enjoyed another hour in that cozy nest!)
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Love them all! Cheryl
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Thanks!
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I love your morning photos and was with your sub-conscience, “If you get up now you can make it before sunrise.” I knew there would be photos and was tempted to scroll down and look at them first, but slowly scrolled as I read. The reward was worth it…your photos are phenomenal! And, you found the warbler. π
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Thanks! I’m pretty predictable when it comes to including photos π To me, photography and writing are linked so strongly!
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Ah…I’m so glad you got up and experienced that sunrise! Your glorious images are the perfect balm for this over-the-top Tuesday as the school year winds down. And these words: “Ribbons of color and cloud unfurled in the sky.The light gradually intensified along the horizon, silvering the tops of rivers. Silhouettes of trees became more distinct as shadows receded. As I drove through the sleeping town of Portland, a shooting star flashed briefly overhead. It felt like another gift and a message: I was in the right place at the right time.” Thanks so much for getting up…and for sharing your words and images. Perfection!
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Feels like “over-the-top” every day at school these days! Phew! I forget that it isn’t just March that’s crazy– April and May are as well! Then we have the final grading extravaganza in June. It was lovely to be out and about, not thinking of all of that, and enjoying the world around me. π
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Molly, it was well worth it to move from your blanketed world to the outside. You captured such beautiful sightings, especially the first photo. It really shows the beauty of a spring awakening. The paragraph with this line, “As the day unfolded around me, it struck me, as it often does, as a gift unwrapping”, sounds like a beautiful prose poem that could evolve into a haibun with the photo you shared. If you are interested in showcasing the 1st photo and creating a haibun or just a haiku from your beautiful prose paragraphs, I would love to add your work to the Springsations Gallery. The padlet is at https://padlet.com/cvarsalona/springsations-gallery-of-artistic-expressions-vol-2-for-npm–kf5c2nia2mez8d1n. Thank you for sharing this beautiful spring gift.
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Thanks so much, Carol! I love your galleries and would love to be a part of Springsations. I’m not sure I’ve ever written a haibun, so that might be a nice challenge! (Crossing my fingers that I get some writing done–my focus and available time have been limited lately!)
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