It's been a bleary winter for the most part thus far in 2008. We've had a few finches—purple finches and pine siskins—but still no redpolls or pine grosbeaks. And we've had a good bit of snow, too.
Today started out gray and bleary again. Then the carpet of clouds lifted slightly and the world turned a lovely warm peach color.
Sun shining over the eastern treeline and under the clouds drawing down.
Even the leafless whip-like branches of the weeping willow tree looked beautiful, like golden strands of hair.
The sycamore and trees in the old orchard, though leafless, took on a fall-like glow. From the orchard came some bird song, encouraging the sun to stay a little longer—a cardinal, a pair of Carolina wrens, a tufted titmouse, an eastern towhee.
At the peanut feeder, a pair of harlequin book ends: a red-breasted and a white-breasted nuthatch.
I thanked the sun and invited her to come back again any time. It's the sun's golden warmth that brings on the optimism making us smile and making the birds sing.
What a beautiful post Bill. What brilliant light you were so lucky to catch!
ReplyDeleteIt was a day to make one smile; truly lovely! We took a late afternoon/early evening drive along the river for that very reason, to catch that autumnal glow behind the hills and trees, but we only LOOKED; we didn't think to get pictures!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Bill.
Oh, Bill. The sunset, the sun's warm glow... Beautiful photos! In the dead of winter, you found light. The days are getting longer :o)
ReplyDeleteBloody cold! It was like -5 in Buffalo! But the sky was pristine and everything was beautiful so I could not help myself but go out on a hike.
ReplyDeleteThat warm peach glow time has always been my absolute favorite time of the day. Everything looks beautiful at that time of day. Thank you for the lovely photos!
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