Yesterday was a day of driving and of visiting the butterflies (and other creatures) at the Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory. It's a special place, a wonder to stand among fluttering butterflies, to absorb pure beauty.
Photos can be viewed in the gallery flitter, flutter, butterfly! 2024.
As I walked on the beach yesterday I watched sanderlings skittering across the sand, in and out of the water.
It's amazing how fast they move, and even more amazing that I managed to capture one mid-stride with my camera. The blurred foot you can see was in motion, about to step to the sand.
I walked on the beach at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge this afternoon just after low tide.
Background music was provided by the ocean, the sound of waves crashing.
A tree stands tall against a sky that is starting to show a tiny bit of blue.
Its branches wear a thin coating of snow.
As the tide flows out it leaves ripples in the sand.
This mid-tide image is from my solo walk at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday.
I headed to the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge today to satisfy my need for a walk on the beach. The tide was at its midpoint, heading out, a perfect time to walk.
While the tides have swept the beach, a coating of snow remains on the dunes. I watched sanderlings scurrying in the shallow water. Somehow I paid enough attention to the water line to keep my feet dry. I don't mind wet feet in warm weather; even though today's temperature was warm for winter it was still too cold to be wet.
It's been a crazy weather week, moving from snow to rain, from cold to almost warm.
Field Pond in Harold Parker State Forest continues to wear a combination of open water and a skim coat of ice.
Blue sky returned this morning. Chill air allowed a coating of snow to highlight the branches of trees.
As I wait for the predicted snowstorm to arrive I look to the ocean for a sense of calm.
Parker River National Wildlife Refuge
