Monday, April 13, 2015

Wings

Hawks were all over the place! Green Mountain road was free of snow and the sage and buttercups were reaching up, trying to grab the sun before the clouds took over that blue sky. At every bend in the gravel road, behind every cliff, a Red Tail's wingspan would appear and dip and then the bird would soar away. This happened so many times, for miles. Once, we stopped the car and got out to watch. C took pictures of one doing circles 'round and 'round, looking down on us, like he'd never seen humans before. Maybe he was protecting some nest tucked away on the other side of the cliffs. Maybe he was simply saying, look at me, I can fly!
Hawk lady, Helen Macdonald, has written a memoir. So far, so wonderful.
Could this be a little Warbler of some kind? He certainly was trilling like there was no tomorrow.
Here's Mama Owl! Her tail feathers, anyway. She made her nest deep this year. She's learning. Wise owl.
Here you can see her face. Somewhere in that nest is at least one fuzzy white owlet. We saw it, for only a moment.
I will go back there again today in hopes of seeing the baby balancing on a branch in the sunshine.
The sage is growing long and lush near the creek.
Cloud rumble. Or something like that.
Wherever we go, there they are. The Pronghorn Antelope is the quintessential prairie animal and my favorite of all the creatures that fly.
Peppergrass. The entire plant is edible.
The beginning of the end of the day.
 

 

 

 

22 comments:

  1. Oh my god, this post is so wonderful!
    1. Red Tails are so cool, aren't they? "I can fly!"
    2. I need to look into this book.
    3. Check out the mask on that little birdman! Is it a horned lark, perhaps?
    4. Dat owl! So cozy looking. Hope you catch a glimpse of the little fluff soon :D
    5. You are cute as a damn button!
    6. Crazy clouds! Beautiful lopers! Edible flora!

    xo!

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    1. Yep, you are correct! It's been confirmed (thank you Diana) that the bird on the rock is a horned lark!
      The songs he sang were most excellent. :)

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  2. Woman, your post sings with the beauty of all things wild! I can honestly say you've got me missing that wide, open prairie of yours!!

    A month or so ago I heard and interview with Helen Macdonald and she was AWESOME! She read excerpts from her book and her words were spellbinding. I must read it myself.

    Glad to see you out and running with the antelope, flying with the hawks. Do a circle in the sky for me!
    xx

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    1. I'm going to have to find that interview! She's very intriguing. And such a beautiful writer, my gosh.
      The prairie has been a kick. We've met a whole new slew of horse bands and waiting for Jigsaw to have her baby!
      (I'll tell you more about that in next blog) ;)
      :) :)

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  3. een prachtige foto hoe je van de salie staat te genieten.

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    1. Sage all around me, Bas!
      The prairie smells so dang good, right now!
      Thanks. :)

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  4. oh goodness, dear woman! this is a quintessential spring post, an embrace of the return of light and rebirth! I am in awe of your owl nest-- we have sighted our owl a few times lately but have no idea where the nest is. their hooting is a frequent accompaniment to the dusk and the dawn. the green is filling in the spaces around here just keeps coming! I love the daily changes that I pay attention to as well as the sudden explosions of color that take me by surprise! it makes me happy to see the changes that you notice up your way. given that rain is in the forecast for the next four days I'm guessing we'll see another big change real soon!
    and yes, I'm off to Monterey again a week from Friday. I'm glad to be going home again.

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    1. You've just GOT to find that nest, Janet! I know you have been out looking. Check under the tree for pellets! ;)
      We keep getting snow. Then rain. Then snow...but, hey, "we need the moisture!!" Haha
      I know how you feel about going home. Have a great time on the ocean, lady. Tell us about it when you get back.
      x

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  5. Soon beautiful....love the antelopes, they always look surprised..the prairie waking up to spring is amazing xx

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    1. They always do, don't they! After you made that comment, C and I went out again to chase some horses and I made a point to really take note of their expressions and yes, every antelope had a surprised, wide eyed look.
      Aren't they gorgeous? :)

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  6. Your blog makes my heart sing and opens all my senses! Thanks for making me feel so alive again. When can I come visit you???!

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    1. What a sweet thing to say, Mrs. J!!
      Your comment makes MY heart sing. :)

      Delete
  7. You captured spring on the prairie so well with your photos and words. Yep, that bird with the dashing black marks is a male horned lark. Wish I could have seen him! And the baby owl, too. I love your sagebrush buttercup. Here, the tiny pale pink bells of kinnikinnick are just starting to open in the woods as are the little yellow flowers on the woodland ground cover Oregon grape. But it snowed and rained off and on today, too!

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    1. I have a feeling that bird isn't one we'd see very often, am I right?!
      He is a cutie.
      I found out that in the owl nest are three (3) babies! I am trying my darnedest to get them on camera.
      We are getting off and on again snow and rain, too! :)

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  8. Weeeeeee,,, look at meeeee fly. :) Love that hawk! So majestic. Beautiful awakenings there, prairie sis. xo!

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    1. Weeee!! Spring on my prairie!!
      Having the best time, too, Sis!

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  9. have had a copy of "h is for hawk" since i first heard the interview on NPR and special-ordered the book. it's too good….i don't want it to end….

    love your photos. as always. especially you. in that striped toque.
    and that waxy greenish-yellow flower.
    and the owls.
    and the antelope.
    and the cloud rumble.
    ALL of it.

    xO

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  10. Oh! I'm so glad you're liking the book, too! Isn't she the best!
    It drew me in immediately. I just love the way she writes.
    You like that Buttercup! Me too. All waxy and cute out there in the sage.
    xO

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  11. I can only endorse all of the others comments. How wonderful to see an owl in her nest and I can smell the sage just reading your words. Truly beautiful writing and photography x

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    1. Audrey, thank you love.
      I visited the owl nest yesterday and got some nice pictures of mama AND one of her babes! I'll show you soon. :)

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  12. I need to print that hawk and cut his wings from silver sheet? would that be ok with you? the outline is just so beautiful... How are you woman, your land is looking just as beautiful as always, it makes me jealous living surrounded by concrete...
    xo the wren

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    1. Yeah! Go right ahead, little Wren. Silver hawk wings...ooooh.
      Come out here sometime! You'd love it.
      Just like I love your backyard, The Tonto! :)

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