... and the audience watching with a critical eye. Gulls of Mt. Trashmore.
(Click pictures to enlarge)
"No bird ever flew nonstop from New York to Tokyo, or raced 15 miles high at triple the speed of sound. But birds do something else. They do not conquer the air; they romance it." ~ Peter GarrisonCarmi's theme this week is transition... and today he has two lovely photos of seagulls in flight.. preparing to land... in transition. It jogged a memory of this photo of our Mt. Trashmore seagulls.. though I really don't know if the same seagulls stay at Mt. Trashmore all the time or if groups simply come and go as the food sources do. This fellow was coming in for a landing on a rough hewn fence and he had two spectators in the background, watching his every move. The closest, in particular, seems to be giving him a very critical eye... a teacher or parent perhaps... grading a young fledgling on his landing prowess? Personally, I think landing on a rough wooden fence rail in any way shape or form and doing it without getting a splinter in one of those webbed feet is successful.. do you suppose they ever do get splinters?
Awkward in flight, but smooth in transition. Norfolk Botanical Gardens.
Our Canada geese and mallards have been rotating between the neighborhood ponds more this past week. Late in the day, just about dusk, you can see them make their approach.. a large curved path while loosing altitude and a really strange screaming sound just before touchdown. This is the first time I've heard that sound but I guess some of them are a bit bumbling and have to warn the others to clear out of the way. The smaller mallards are not so graceful in the sky, flapping their wings almost hysterically, as if they would at any instant simply fall to earth if they didn't... no gliding or finding the air currents... the mallards simply fly to get from one body of water to the next... if it isn't close enough to just walk. But... their landings and takeoffs are more smooth and controlled than those lovely geese. I wonder if they know how magical their gift of flight is.
(end of post)
Carmi's Theme ~ Transitions
World Bird Wednesday
17 comments:
I saw birds "romancing the air" today. It was 80+ here, and a hawk and several other large birds were riding the thermals overhead. I watched them for 8-10 minutes and wished I could be doing it with them.
You have caught a fascinating moment of flight in that first photo.
I love the way you are talking about this and what you are saying. The first picture, though very skillful and a wonderful catch, is humerous. The second picture is just plain beautiful.
Delicate control and power in two separate shots. Tremendous.
Well done! These action images are beautiful.
Have a nice day.
caught, yet full of movement...........brilliant
Great action shots. Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
Two great captures; but I love that first shot.
I am lovin that touch down, exqusite and oh so beautiful. maybe their feet are touch like leather, never thought about it. i know they can sit on hot pavement that i can't walk on without shoes. also the sand at the beach cooks my feet and does not hurt them. built in leather shoes?
our lot is 100 x 100, very small and in a sub division, we just don't have grass, only plants and bushes and trees.
Great flight shots....
Outstanding flight shots to say the least! I also enjoyed the quote. Birds do "romance the air". :)
Those two gulls do seem downright unimpressed by their comrade's landing skills. What a terrific shot!
What a beautiful, fancifully written post. I wonder those same things with you!
I like the Mallard with the beautiful rippling water for the background but the shot of the gull with the other two critically observing is just priceless. A gorgeous, perfectly timed photo.
Your two wonderful photos are excellent illustrations of that Garrison quote! Great post!
I love the way you captured mid air flight. It's very "uplifting!" http://looseleafnotes.com
I stopped by your lovely place to comment on your "shadow cat" only to discover that he'd apparently disappeared into the shadows...but these photos are stunning. Beautiful captures. LOVE the first one especially...and who would have thought that a gull would make a stunning photo...but it is....and so interesting...the way the gull to the right is reacting. I think that is one of the joys of photography....capturing a moment that we can now drink in...a moment we would otherwise miss because of its brevity.
I'll be back for that shadow cat later. =)
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