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Posts Tagged ‘Wizard of Oz’

Winged monkey?

Posted in Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife, Winter, tagged , , , , , , , , , on January 3, 2024| 6 Comments »

Two Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) were perched together in a distant tree early in the morning last Saturday at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. One of them suddenly decided to take off and I captured this fun shot. I encourage you to click on the image to get a closer views of the details, including the expression on the eagle that was in mid-air.

Somehow the eagle’s pose reminded me of the winged monkeys in the Wizard of Oz. I guess it has something to do with the dangling legs that look like they could easily snatch up Toto.

The early morning light gave this image a glow that I really like. Photographers sometimes refer to this time of the day as the “golden hour,” though it often lasts for a much shorter period of time.

Bald Eagle

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Posted in Birds, Humor, Nature, Photography, wildlife, Winter, tagged , , , , , , , , , on January 3, 2018| 9 Comments »

On Monday, I was having a nice little portrait session with a male Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, but I wanted more than just a glimpse of his “ruby crown.” Amazingly, he bowed in my direction to make my wish come true.

For those of you who may not be familiar with kinglets, they are tiny birds that are even smaller than chickadees. During this past fall, I became aware that they spend their winters in my area and I have been hunting them ever since. Both the Ruby-crowned Kinglet and the Golden-crowned Kinglet are energetic and elusive and rarely sit still long enough for me to get a shot. When it comes to the “ruby crown,” only the male has it and it is only occasionally visible. That is why I was ecstatic to be able to get such a clear shot of the ruby crown of this kinglet.

Wishes do come true—maybe a ruby crown is better than ruby slippers.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Happy little bluebird

Posted in Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife, Winter, tagged , , , , , , , , on February 25, 2014| 5 Comments »

I saw a flash of blue in the distance and I smiled, for I knew it was an Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis). Bluebirds have that effect on me. Why?

I suppose that I can blame the Wizard of Oz, a movie that I watched repeatedly during my childhood. Who could forget Dorothy singing of happy little bluebirds flying beyond the rainbow?

“Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly.
Birds fly over the rainbow.
Why then, oh why can’t I?

If happy little bluebirds fly
Beyond the rainbow
Why, oh why can’t I?”

bluebird_feb_blog

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved

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Eastern Bluebird in December

Posted in Birds, Nature, Photography, tagged , , , , , , on December 4, 2012| 11 Comments »

I always associate bluebirds with happiness, and I am invariably happy when I see one. There is something exceptionally beautiful about the combination of colors, the brilliant royal blue and the warm reddish brown, especially now as winter approaches and the other colors seem so muted.

I grew up with the Wizard of Oz and remember almost all of the lyrics of the the song Over the Rainbow, sung in the movie by Judy Garland. In the song, bluebirds are one of the symbols of hope. “Somewhere over the rainbow, bluebirds fly. Birds fly over the rainbow. Why then, oh why can’t I? If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow, why, oh why can’t I?”

Well, I wasn’t beyond the rainbow this past weekend, but I did see this little Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis), perched on a small tree in the middle of a field. He was a bit far away so I had to crop the images, which are a bit soft in focus. Nevertheless, I am sure you will agree that his beauty shines through.

If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow, why, oh why can’t I?

Eastern bluebird

Eastern bluebird

Bluebird in a tree

Bluebird in a tree

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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