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Posts Tagged ‘sentinel’

Song Sparrow Sentinel

Posted in Autumn, Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife, tagged , , , , , , , on December 10, 2023| 2 Comments »

What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you look at this photo? Are you attracted to the autumn colors in the background? Do you notice the texture in the rotten tree and how it matches the feathers of the little Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)?

The sparrow’s pose is what caught my attention. As my eyes examined the image, I was suddenly transported to a medieval era and imagined a sentinel positioned along the top of a castle wall, vigilantly keeping watch, alert to any danger.

Yes, I have an overly active, often child-like imagination. Wouldn’t it be fun to be able to experience the wonders of the world with the energy and curiosity of a child? Our adult lives are often way too complicated—I encourage you to find joy today in simple things.

Song Sparrow

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

 

 

 

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Solitary sentinel

Posted in Autumn, Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife, tagged , , , , , , , , on December 4, 2014| 7 Comments »

Shortly after spotting the Great Egret that I featured yesterday, I caught sight of this Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias), almost hidden in the trees. From his perch on a fallen tree, he had a view of the grass field that opened into the marsh and seemed to be keeping watch over it.

The heron’s upright posture somehow reminded me of the sentinels at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery, just a few miles away from Theodore Roosevelt Island, where I took this photo. At the Tomb, elite soldiers of The Old Guard, a US Army unit, are on duty twenty-four hours a day, keeping watch over the monument dedicated to American service members who have died without their remains being identified.

It is important that we never forget the military, police, and other dedicated people who are conducting the often solitary duty of keeping us safe and free, while we are awake and while we are sleeping. During this Christmas season especially, be sure to keep in your hearts and prayers the men and women who will be on duty in distant lands, separated from their family and loved one.

Great Blue Heron

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

 

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Green Heron Sentinel

Posted in Birds, Flowers, Gardening, Nature, Photography, wildlife, tagged , , , , , , , on August 17, 2012| 1 Comment »

After I got home from work today I rushed to a nearby garden to get in a few shots before the light disappeared totally. I was happy to spot a green heron (I’ve photographed them before at the pond area of this garden) and managed to take a photo of him that I really like. The green heron is standing the edge of a rocky cliff and appears to be keeping watch.  (In reality it’s more like a rock wall).

Green Heron Sentinel

I decided to add one other photo of the green heron that I managed to take before he flew across the little pond to the rock wall. It is a little more of an unposed shot than the first one, which almost looks staged, and captures him in his more natural environment.

Candid shot of a green heron

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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