Just Fluff

Another photo from our recent trip to Hawaii, this one of a lanai visitor, caught in early evening.

Perfect Timing

Spotted doves are everywhere in Honolulu but photographing them is a bit tricky. They constantly bob their heads up and down as they dart here and there looking for bits of food. I won't tell you how many pictures I snapped before I caught this one in my view finder. Yes, he managed to swallow that chunk of whatever it is.

Flash of Brilliant Color

Sailing

Liquid Gold at the End of the Day

Along Waikiki Beach on Oahu in Hawaii, at sunset.

Linnet

The common house finch, known in Hawaii as "Linnet" or "Papayabird." This one serenaded us on the lanai at sunset.

Sunset in June on Hood Canal

Wild and Beautiful

Multi-colored berries growing on the shores of Hood Canal.

Fish Hawk

We were treated to an evening show each night from the deck on Hood Canal as groups of Osprey (sometimes called Fish Hawks) circled overhead, soaring, swooping, and diving (feet first!). They make a little chirping sound that does not at all sound like it could come from these powerful birds of prey.

Among Giants

Taken in the Olympic National Forest in Washington state.

Beachcombing

Beachcombing, photography, digital enhancement. Fun!

Showing Off

We're home from a week away at our favorite spot to kick back and DO NOTHING. Hood Canal, our home away from home. These gulls came withing minutes of our arrival to see what we were all about. They put on quite a show. What fun for the camera!

Honu: Green Sea Turtle

A tale for Wednesday....

Kauila
Hawaiian Turtle Goddess

Hawaiian legend, as reported by historian Mary Kawena Pukui, tells the story of a mystical sea turtle named Kauila, born on the black sandy shores of Punalu’u, in the district of Ka’u on the Big Island of Hawaii. Kauila was born the daughter of two supernatural sea turtles, the mother named Honupo’okea and the father named Honu‘ea. Honupo’okea came out of the ocean to give birth to a very special egg, the color and shape similar to a piece of kauila wood. She buried her special egg in the sand to be warmed by the Hawaiian sun until ready to hatch. Before returning to the sea, Honupo’okea and Honu‘ea used their flippers to dig deep into the earth forming a fresh water pond near their precious nest. After a time, Honupo’okea returned to the black sandy beach to wait for her special egg to hatch. Soon the egg cracked open and a beautiful baby turtle emerged - dark and glossy, like kauila wood. Mother and daughter made their way to the fresh water pond to live until Kauila was old enough to be on her own. Kauila made Punalu’u her home and would often rest at the bottom of the fresh water pond. The air bubbles from her breath would rise to the top of the pond delighting the children of Ka’u. Kauila loved all children and would sometime change herself into a little girl so that she could play with and watch over the children on the black sandy shores. The people of Ka’u cherish Kauila for her fresh water pond that gave them drinking water and for ensuring the safety of their children.

From the Turtle Tales World Turtle Trust, a collection of legends, personal stories, and aphorisms about turtles and peoples' profound experiences with them. Honu is the Hawaiian word for Green Sea Turtle.

Photo taken on island of O'ahu, September, 2005 and enhanced in MS Digital Image.

Thursday Challenge: Tree

This week's Thursday Challenge is "TREE"(Timber, Forest, Branch, Leaves, Wood, Bark, Trunk, Lumber, Saw, Maple Syrup, Amber, Family Tree...) I couldn't decide between these two photos taken last fall in Hawaii.

Winter Moon

Early Morning on Hood Canal

Looking east from the cabin in the early morning mist on Hood Canal. Another photo taken using time lapse.

Winter Color

Looking west on Hood Canal.

Keeping an Eye On Us

This gull stood guard on the deck railing one day and did not take his eyes off us. Love the way they can swivel their heads!

Another Heron

Herons are notoriously skittish, and of all the times I have tried to photograph one, this was by far the closest I have ever been allowed to approach. This Black Crowned Night Heron clearly saw me from quite a distance and kept his eye fixed on me at all times, but he let me approach and linger quite close to him. The experience far outweighed the resulting photo!

Fun with Time Lapse

Barrow's Goldeneye

Most of the waterfowl kept their distance last week where we were staying on Hood Canal, but I managed to sneak up on this lone Goldeneye. We saw lots of Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead, and Barrow's Goldeneye, all very striking in their crisp black and white garb, and often in large groups.

Evening Light on Hood Canal

The ever-changing weather, reflected light and constantly shifting clouds made for some breathtakingly beautiful scenes.

Glenn with the Camera

Every once in awhile, my husband, Glenn, manages to get the camera away from me. Good thing, since he is a talented photographer! Guess it's time to think about a second camera.
A group of about 30 small gulls entertained us last week lining up on the railings and sitting on the pilings on Hood Canal. We enjoyed a wonderfully relaxing week away from all the hustle and bustle of the city. Here are just a few of them caught in the camera's eye.

Reflections on Hood Canal

A True Star

Originally, this was a disappointing, nearly colorless shot of a starfish seen through the waters of Hood Canal. Here it is after some doctoring in MS Digital Image.

Hibiscus Revisited

Here's the original hibiscus photo taken in Hawaii last September.
Here it is with a little doctoring...
And again...
And one more time...