Thursday, April 09, 2009

Spring Time White and Blue


I wondered what the view would be like from this airplane as it flew across the waxing Pascal moon last week. The moon is full today but it has disappeared from the daytime sky for now.


I had been out looking for the first pussy willows of the season and finally found a stand of them at the edge of a swamp. All of the lower branches had already been cut by people wishing to make a spring bouquet so I just admired the furry white catkins against the clear sky.


The flower of this willow is one of our earliest signs of spring. I did manage to reach one small branch and have it in water at home. It has come into full flower with miniature yellow stamens and the leaves are starting to come out in the warm indoor air. I have heard a branch can rooted and planted in soil and may see if it survives in my garden. But I doubt that our dry, sandy soil will support a willow that prefers wet roots.


My best early spring treat was this beautiful Eastern Bluebird perched on a wire on a country road along the river. Eastern Bluebirds are not commonly seen in our area but efforts are being made to encourage them to nest here. This bird and its mate were checking out a numbered Bluebird house that had been placed on a post in the field.

These white Tundra Swans were making the spring journey north to their arctic nesting grounds. This day was favourable for migration with light winds and clear skies.

Spring sky watching is most rewarding!

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37 comments:

  1. great photos, I love the 3rd one the best.

    Gill

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  2. I wish I'd been with you to catch those swans! And I've never seen a bluebird except in pictures. Glad I sa the swans and bluebird here.

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  3. Beautiful photos, a day time moon is always a pleasant surprise and how could one go past pussy willows, they are a delightful signal of spring. Thanks for sharing with Sky Watch Friday.

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  4. what a lovely series of shots...each and every one. like the birds of course and the pussy willow is lovely too.

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  5. I like the upmost pic. Escaperocket from moon. Happy SWF!

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  6. What a great picture that first one is! I love them all, but the birds are really special.

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  7. Wonderful series, I love them all.

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  8. Oh I love the light on the Pussy Willows and the birds in the sky...
    I would love to join in their flight. Beautiful Photos.

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  9. All are wonderful shots, the first one with the moon and the jet is my favourite.

    Have a great weekend
    Guy
    Regina In Pictures

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  10. How nice to see beautiful clear spring skies behind those wonderful catkins and birds!

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  11. Beautiful pictures you show us! :o)

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  12. Beautiful pictures ! ! !
    Gr.
    P-TER

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  13. It's always fun to watch for the signs of a new season. That swan photo is really great.

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  14. All great but the first one is the kind of capture I love to get.

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  15. All great piccies, but I love the geese!

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  16. this is amazing, wonderful picture for a wonderful friday... thanks for sharing..

    Check out mine here:
    Happy Friday!
    HISTORY of SUPERNOVA and SWEETPAIN
    ANGELS IN MY LIFE

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  17. All lovely shots, love the swans. And the pussy willows.

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  18. What wonderfully blue skies. The pussywillows are especially striking against that sky. Tundra swans I never heard of. I wonder if it is the same as whooping swans. They look like whooping swans. Lovely shot of them flying overhead.

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  19. Brilliant skies, trees blossoming, & birds. What more could one wish for on a lovely spring day. Have a good week.

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  20. I am amazed at how many different kinds of birds you have! Love it!

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  21. Ruth these are all great captures against a gorgeous sky. The first image looks like the fet flew from the moon. As akid pussy willows meant spring.

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  22. All your photos are quite amazing, but my favorites are the pussy willow closeup with the moon behind, and the tundra swans. Wonderful shots!

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  23. Anonymous7:00 pm GMT-4

    I can't think of who sings it or the name of the song, but your photos reminded me of it - "Nothing but blue skies, from now on!"
    Happy Sky Watching!

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  24. Check out my other blog at http://birdman-birdquiz.blogspot.com

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  25. Nice visuals with the blue background.-Those Swans are impressive.They look so big-nice photo of them.

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  26. Our own blue skies are gone ... gray and raining off and on today. The juncos and thrushes didn't seem to mind however.

    We have willow in our yard surprisingly enough. We feel an underground stream went through just off of our back deck ... both D and I independently witched for water ... with the same results when we first moved here.

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  27. NIce! i esp like the geese you caght them so close

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  28. Love your sky photos. The ones with the pussywillows (3rd one)and the moon is great and the Tundra Swan photo is fantastic!

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  29. I love pussy willows. In Holland I bought them every Spring in the flower store. I miss that (I haven't seen them in California).
    Wishing you a happy Easter.

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  30. They are all great - but the last tree are the very best :)

    Happy easter :)

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  31. Nice shots. I particularly like the third one.

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  32. What glorious skies and even more beautiful subjects. :c)

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  33. I love these!! It's so much fun trying to capture the moon in its various stages. I find I do best shooting it just around dusk - enough light to make the shoot less grainy but the moon itself is also bright!

    The the pussy willows. I don't see them around here in my neighborhood.

    Great shots! Happy SWF!

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  34. Wonderful series of sky photos. The birdlife for me is always special but I do love those pussy willows. It is such a neat plant, so beautiful. Your first shot of the plane and the moon that's a great capture too. It has been an enjoyable visit, thanks for sharing.

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  35. It's the swans such a wonderful capture of very elegant birds

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  36. wonderful shots! I esp love the one of the pussy willow branch reaching for the moon.
    We don't have them here in calif, nor do we have forsythia. I miss them both.

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  37. Pictures are nice...the color of the sky is wonderful and the photo really made a stress of the sky even there are amazing creatures added on it

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