Driving home from Logan this morning I was blessed to see this beautiful vivd ruby and intense blue-gray sky story beginning to unfold. I was so hoping to get to the backshore before all the color had evaporated. Shots from Atlantic Road and Brace Cove.
The West Coast wildfires continue to cast a strange and eerie haze over Eastern skies. The sun appears redder and later in the sky in the morning and disappears behind a thick gray haze earlier in the afternoon.
Gloucester Harbor Cape Pond Ice Sunset
Paint Factory “Great Auk” Sunset
Eastern Point Sunrise
Sunday’s sunrise
Glorious light and colors at Good Harbor Beach Monday morning. 
Brace Cove Sunrise
Turning violet to orange, within moments, a glorious Good Harbor Beach third day of summer sunrise.
Channeling Edward Steichen
Jones River Salt Marsh West Gloucester
Red Sky Sunrise Niles Pond
Red sky in the morning,
sailor take warning.
Red sky at night,
sailor’s delight.
This old saying has an explanation and you can read about it here on the NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory website.
Not the prettiest of sunsets, though not bad for a chilly January first morning. Initially it looked to be a bust, but the clouds parted a bit and the sun shone brightly through. Happy New Year wishes. I hope the coming year brings you much love, joy, happiness, and peace <3
Sunrise sequence January 1, 2017
Contrast in blue – photo one was taken Saturday morning, the second photo on Sunday morning.
Brace Cove Gloucester
Bedazzled by a single morning’s sunrise–every shade all at once–from hues of rose-violet-blue giving way to fiery bands of red-orange-yellow. I can’t decide which I like best, you choose 🙂
Salt Island in the foreground, Thacher Island in the background
From Long Wharf at the Jones River Salt Marsh
My grandmother was fond of saying “the early bird catches the worm.” I assumed she said that because I adored getting up early to eat breakfast with my grandfather before he left for work. In a large family with siblings and cousins, I had him all to myself in those day break hours. Having developed a passion and love for wild creatures and wild places, I understand better what she meant. She and my grandfather built a summer home for their family in a beautiful, natural seashore setting and both she and my parents packed our home with books and magazines about nature. Now I see her design…
Day break, beautiful scene, beautiful creatures by the sea’s edge
Song Sparrow breakfast
American Robin fledgling, note its speckled breast feathers
Mockingbird feeding its fledgling
Song Sparrow and Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) flowers and fruit
Sanderling
Saturday’s sumptuous sunrise
Luxuriously barefoot warm Good Harbor Beach sunrise photos from May 26, 2016
Scenes from this morning’s Good Harbor Beach sunrise.
Pink and violet hues when I arrived at 5:15 quickly gave way to reds and yellow, and then the looming gray mass of clouds overtook the sky.
Beauty abounds–from the grandest skies to the smallest creatures–that’s life at the edge of the sea.
This fearless little Song Sparrow ate breakfast at my feet
Morning songster
Kildeer trying her hardest to distract me from her nest
Photos from around Eastern Point early morning walks.
Two Male Red-Breasted Mergansers Sunning on a Rock
Black-crowned Night Heron ~ One of a nesting pair possibly?
https://instagram.com/p/1p4QoDjyg-/
Male Red-winged Blackbird Love Song (turn up your volume)
SEE MORE PHOTOS HERE Continue reading
I keep trying to find different ways to show the increasing amounts of snowfall in this most historic of snowy winters and think the panoramic view lends itself well. More snapshots from this morning’s luminous sunrise over East Gloucester later today when I can take another break.
Click to view larger
While filming B-roll of gorgeous herons, ducks, geese, and gulls this morning, the homies were particularly cooperative. Click images to view larger.
Come to think of it, the sunbeams, the herons, the pearly pink-hued surf caught in the dawn light, and sand turned-brilliant-gold were also cooperating. It must be my good fortune! Several nights ago on my way home from work I purchased my first ever lottery ticket and, although unfortunate in that I did not win the half billion dollars, I feel fortunate everyday, for our shared beauty that is Gloucester.
Good Harbor Beach November 29, 2012
The Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) is easily distinguished from the Great Egret (Casmerodius albus) by its smaller size, plume of feathers atop its head, and bright, sunny yellow feet. The Snowy Egret is about 24 inches long and weighs approximately 13 ounces. The Great Egret is roughly 37-40 inches long and weighs about 35 ounces. Plume hunters for the millinery trade hunted both species of egrets to near extinction by the turn of the previous century. Under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, the Snowy is protected by US law and the population has rebounded.
The Snowy Egret’s diet is diverse, consisting primarily of shrimps, snails, small fish, frogs, and aquatic insects. Snowys stalk prey in shallow water, and in the video, you can see it flushing prey into view by shaking and shuffling its feet. While filming (see last half minute of video), the Snowy stepped out of the water, turned gracefully towards the camera, and stood for a moment–providing more than a quick glimpse of it’s substantial, bright cadmium lemon feet.
Luminous silvery light