Nature Pics

For the appreciation of the glorious beauty of nature and in unexpected places.
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Primula Baggins
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Re: Nature Pics

Post by Primula Baggins »

No, there’s no doubt about the herons. You walk along the riverside and suddenly sense an affronted presence, and there it stands, looking as if it’s saying “What is it now?” The river and park run right through the center of town, so the herons don’t get much peace unless they hide in the culverts.
“There, peeping among the cloud-wrack above a dark tor high up in the mountains, Sam saw a white star twinkle for a while. The beauty of it smote his heart, as he looked up out of the forsaken land, and hope returned to him. For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
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Voronwë the Faithful
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Re: Nature Pics

Post by Voronwë the Faithful »

Another 'stop and turn around on a bike ride' pic.Image

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"Spirits in the shape of hawks and eagles flew ever to and from his halls; and their eyes could see to the depths of the seas, and pierce the hidden caverns beneath the world."
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Primula Baggins
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Re: Nature Pics

Post by Primula Baggins »

Ohhhh, that's beautiful. :love: Are those contrails at the top? And where was it taken from?
“There, peeping among the cloud-wrack above a dark tor high up in the mountains, Sam saw a white star twinkle for a while. The beauty of it smote his heart, as he looked up out of the forsaken land, and hope returned to him. For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
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Voronwë the Faithful
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Re: Nature Pics

Post by Voronwë the Faithful »

I don't think those are contrails at the top; I think they are just wisps of cloud. But I couldn't swear by it.

This is on the west side of Santa Cruz, looking across the Monterey Bay to Monterey.
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Voronwë the Faithful
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Re: Nature Pics

Post by Voronwë the Faithful »

A refugee from Mirkwood Forest?Image

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Frelga
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Re: Nature Pics

Post by Frelga »

Is it in your area? I've never seen black squirrels here.

Googles.

Turns out it's a color morph of a gray squirrel. Or maybe a servant of the Dark Lord.
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Re: Nature Pics

Post by Voronwë the Faithful »

Yes, on the streets of Santa Cruz (right outside the Santa Cruz Diner). I saw a black squirrel for the first time a couple of weeks ago, and then this one. Maybe it is the same one, though it was blocks away. And, of course, as one of his rangers told Faramir, 'They have black squirrels there [in Mirkwood], ’tis said.’
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yovargas
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Re: Nature Pics

Post by yovargas »

Perhaps a grey squirrel dyeing black to keep themselves looking young.

(PS - "Dyeing" is a weird looking word.)
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Re: Nature Pics

Post by elengil »

Voronwë the Faithful wrote:A refugee from Mirkwood Forest?Image
SQUIRREL! :shock:
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was a 2020 planner.

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Re: Nature Pics

Post by Inanna »

yovargas wrote:(PS - "Dyeing" is a weird looking word.)
I’ve always thought that!
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Primula Baggins
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Re: Nature Pics

Post by Primula Baggins »

Well, that keeps it from being mixed up with "dying," I guess.
“There, peeping among the cloud-wrack above a dark tor high up in the mountains, Sam saw a white star twinkle for a while. The beauty of it smote his heart, as he looked up out of the forsaken land, and hope returned to him. For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
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Voronwë the Faithful
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Re: Nature Pics

Post by Voronwë the Faithful »

A visitor in our yard.Image

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Inanna
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Re: Nature Pics

Post by Inanna »

OH! Wow!
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Maria
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Re: Nature Pics

Post by Maria »

Is that a golden eagle? Or some other kind of predator bird?
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Re: Nature Pics

Post by Voronwë the Faithful »

Its a red-shouldered hawk.
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Re: Nature Pics

Post by Voronwë the Faithful »

My solstice bike rideImage

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Re: Nature Pics

Post by Jude »

Whoa. Awesome lighting.
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Inanna
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Re: Nature Pics

Post by Inanna »

Wow. Maybe UC Santa Cruz is hiring....
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Re: Nature Pics

Post by Jude »

I've read that there's a larger number than usual of snowy owls in Ottawa this winter. Does anyone know where I would be most likely to spot one, if I wanted to get some photos?
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Re: Nature Pics

Post by Voronwë the Faithful »

I don't know, but I sure look forward to seeing the pictures!

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