Beginning softly

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Beginning softly

January 1, 2024 by Mike Powell

A new year begins, full of promise and possibilities. Perhaps for you it starts with fireworks and loud noise, but for me, it is more quiet and introspective, like this tender little Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) that I spotted on Saturday at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Normally Song Sparrows are quite frenetic, but this one paused for an extended period of time with its feathers puffed up to stay warm, seemingly lost in its thoughts.

Happy New Year! Best wishes for a happy and healthy 2024.

Posted in Birds, Nature, new year, Photography, wildlife, Winter | Tagged Canon 7D, Melospiza melodia, New Year 2024, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, song sparrow, Tamron 150-600mm, Woodbridge VA | 23 Comments

23 Responses

on January 1, 2024 at 8:55 am | Reply Birder's Journey

Lovely!
on January 1, 2024 at 8:56 am | Reply Michael Sammut

Awesome shot!
- on January 1, 2024 at 9:40 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks so much, Michael. Happy New Year!
  - on January 1, 2024 at 10:40 am Michael Sammut
    
    Happy New Year.
on January 1, 2024 at 8:57 am | Reply shoreacres

Happy New Year! I hope it’s filled with wonderful opportunities, photographic and otherwise.
- on January 1, 2024 at 9:39 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks so much. This year I will turn 70, so I am a bit more conscious of the fleeting nature of some of those possibilities than I was in the past. Best wishes to you for a wonderful 2024.
  - on January 1, 2024 at 9:40 am shoreacres
    
    Well, this 77 year old thinks you’re still a bit of a baby!
  - on January 1, 2024 at 9:52 am Mike Powell
    
    I love it. Age really is just a number, but this year I will finally begin receiving Social Security and I guess that makes me feel a little bit old. Still, I can’t complain, because I am more active and energetic than most people my age. 🙂
  - on January 1, 2024 at 9:41 am shoreacres
    
    Or perhaps better, a youngster!
  - on January 1, 2024 at 9:54 am Mike Powell
    
    I like thinking of myself as a youngster. Youngsters are full of boundless curiosity and are not very self-conscious. As I have gotten older, I have started to care less and less about what others think.
on January 1, 2024 at 9:21 am | Reply kenneturner

Happy New Year, Mike.
- on January 1, 2024 at 9:37 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, kenne. Happy New Year to you and best wishes for a blessed 2024.
on January 1, 2024 at 10:16 am | Reply lnn61

A warm welcome to the 70’s awaits your arrival…it is a club of which I am already a member! I suppose one could say this will be the second time around as you must remember those other 70’s years. I do not add comments often anymore due to the change in my nonblogger status. However, I could not let 2024 begin without a greeting to you in the form of a quote. “What the New Year brings to you will depend greatly on what you bring to the new year.” – Vern McLellan. I must also express my gratitude for bringing smiles to my days via your marvelous blog posts. Thank-you, Mr. Mike!!
on January 1, 2024 at 2:02 pm | Reply Louella Lester

Lovely. Happy New Year.
- on January 1, 2024 at 7:23 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Louella. Best wishes for a happy and healthy 2024.
on January 2, 2024 at 1:22 pm | Reply Anuran & Sayoni

It seems you found something truly beautiful as the year proceeded to its end. Beautiful!
- on January 3, 2024 at 9:07 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thank you so much for your kind words. Happy New Year.
  - on January 3, 2024 at 10:38 am Anuran & Sayoni
    
    Thank you so much 🙏🏽🙏🏽 happy new year 🎊🎊
on January 2, 2024 at 3:39 pm | Reply Mitzy Bricker

I love this capture, Mike….beautiful. Happy New Year to you.
on January 2, 2024 at 7:04 pm | Reply Molly Lin Dutina

Love it!
- on January 6, 2024 at 10:12 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Molly/
on January 3, 2024 at 10:17 pm | Reply Jill Kuhn

What lovely feathers on this sweet little bird! Happy New Year Mike!
- on January 5, 2024 at 7:47 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Jill. Sparrows don’t get the spotlight very often, but I love to feature them whenever I can.