Good Day Sunshine

Even when my internal atmosphere is jumbled and chaotic and gloomy...

a bright invitation from the sun is most welcoming and I excitedly join the
animal kingdom as they celebrate a long-awaited glorious day.

A Great Blue Heron glides from tree top to tree top,

displaying her delicate balancing act

until she is sure-footed...but soon spies something that catches her fancy

and off she goes.

Cormorants soaking up the warmth as playful sea gulls flit about

and loudly enjoy a game of chase.

An American Kestrel (also known as grasshopper hawks) waits patiently...

watching with keen eyes for any movement below...and then

catches a juicy grasshopper...carries it to a safe location...and enjoys his snack. 

Then he returns to his wire...first giving me a stearn look as if to say:
"This is MY territory...no grasshoppers for you!"

A red-shouldered hawk lands in a nearby tree

and snuggles down for a short rest.

A family of turtles sun themselves.

A red-winged blackbird enjoys the coolness of the leaves before

perching on a branch...shouting "Good morning" for all to hear.

I was watching this pair of Greater Scaup enjoying the weather
when I heard the distinct call of a hawk.  I turned around and looked in all the
trees and it took me several minutes to locate him

due to his being cleverly camaflouged in this berry tree.  But as I was photographing him,
I heard the same call and realized it was coming from across the road so I hurried over

and found this pretty lady.  I saw more hawks in this one day than I have the last
several months put together. I guess it's because the sun is out and they can spot
their prey easier. Or...maybe they just enjoy a beautiful day like I do!

The ever shy Black-crowned Night Heron even came out to soak up some sun...

as did this colorful pigeon - whose kind I enjoy photographing -
though my husband says it's a waste of film!

The geese, like this White Chinese, were out honking for food

and were NOT happy (like this Greater White Fronted hybrid) that I came empty handed!

This Brown & White Chinese was smart enough to just stay afloat to see if it was
worth her time to come on land...and, of course, it wasn't!

There were little birds close to the ground

and hefty squirrels overhead.

There were Cormorants

and Coots drying their wings

and this Mallard cleaning his. (I wish I could have gotten a closer photo because
I LOVE how the sun and shadows have colored his bill and feathers.)

And, of course, my beloved White Pelicans who will soon be flying north.
I do so enjoy enjoy watching them

play with toys...

hop onto logs...

keep their balance...

preen...

scratch...

do funny things with their mouth...

and the sound of webbed feet walking on water

as one takes off...

then two more...

immediately followed by all his buddies...

as across the lake they head

until the last one is gone.

Yes, this beautiful day has been a welcomed respite as I return to "my life"
carrying warm memories of Mother Nature.