Smashed - 3/29/15 - Image-a-day

It's been a while since I've seen a dead bird or animal of any kind on one of my walks, but today that drought ended. While out on a 5-mile walk today, I came across this dead and thoroughly flatten bird. Some may see this as a morbid exercise of sorts, but I see it as opportunity in abstract art and natural study. It is also a little reminder why it is important to live each day as fully as one can.

Farewell little bird. At least you had your time in the sky. Peace.

OK HW

Dead Bird Composite - 2/28/15 - Image-a-day

Icy northwest winds are still blowing and snow still covers everything. I got out on the beach once more to get some hiking in. This cold weather has been tough on birds. The last few hikes I've seen many expired birds littering the beach. This bird was one of the larger ones I've come across. The white feathers on the body were stiff with ice. Even in death, this bird is graceful and free.

OK HW

Times are Hard for Dreamers... 2/18/15 - Image-a-day

I got a brilliant walk on the beach today. The weather was a bit better, no more snow and the sun came out and warmed things up. Despite that,  where I worked was closed again, so the second "snow day" and I was glad to get it.

I saw many wonderful things on the beach, so many things that I'd have no problem filling this "image-a-day" project for the next couple of months. Out of all of those images, I have landed on a dead bird. I saw more then one of these kind of birds on the beach and it made me speculate that this species did not fare well in the cold weather. Look at the delicate, flipper feet and long lovely neck. Sad that this sweet animal is gone.

OK HW

Image for August 29, 2011 - The Aftermath

So the sun did come up Sunday morning as the last dregs of Irene drained from the sky to our north. We woke-up to no power (expected) and a yard carpeted in small branches and leaves. I set the grill up so we could make some coffee and breakfast, then we set to the task to return our life back to normal. The air was clean and bright like an Edward Hopper painting and my gal and I were glad to be alive. All things considered, we got damn lucky. We finished our chores and got out on the beach for a long walk. It was the perfect day to walk along the shore. Irene left the beach, packed, flat and wide and it seemed everyone was out enjoying the calm. Came across this pelican dead on the sand. Can only guess that the storm was too much for the old boy and the wind dropped him here. A sad reminder that lives were lost in this storm, five in our area alone. No one I knew took any serious hit, in fact most didn't even lose power (we are still without power as of this morning, but a minor hassle). I'm grateful to be done with last week, a week that brought us an earthquake and hurricane. Here's hoping that September is more peaceful.

zahdah!

OK HW

Image for 3/12/11 - Goodnight Starling

Out hiking today (seven miles, thank you very much) and came across this beautiful European Starling carcass along Shore Drive. Click the image to enlarge  and better appreciate the iridescent feathers which, according to my bird book, are only seen in the spring. A dead spring bird; the edge between winter and spring; death and rebirth.

Weirdly enough, I saw a second bird cadaver half a block from this one, but it was in the shadow of a telephone pole; badly lit for a photo.

OK HW

Dead bird

It's been a long time since I've posted a "Dead-Bird-on-the-Beach" photo, so here you go (though he's on the grass, dead grass, not the beach, but it works for me). I've passed this bird carcass several times on my longer hikes down Shore Dr. and finally had the camera along and the light was good.

There is an old Samurai say, "Every morning make up your mind how to die. Every evening freshen your mind in the thought of death." This bird reminded me of that saying. The idea that we don't last forever. That thought urges me on to do more, see more, pursue life and not surrender. 

OK HW

While waiting for the Ocracoke ferry...

...we found this confirmed ex-bird on the beach. It's been awhile since I've found anything dead on a beach and had a camera with me. I love the way the feathers fan out, sticking up in the air and the stark white of the bones and skull bleached by the sun.

OK HW

Before you know it...

It's been too long since the last post. I'll spare you the usual groveling. There has been plenty to write about, lots to catch up on.

Found this poor fellow (Pelicans always look like males to me) on the beach last week while I was hiking one particularly blustery day. I love the sad, curving shape of this bird; like a ballet move frozen in time. I didn't have the camera with me when I found him and had to backtrack to the house to get it. Looking at this image again makes me glad that I made the effort.

I upped my hiking goal this year by 50 miles to 650. So far, I'm running a few miles behind, but I'm on track this month to catch up. Fall is my favorite time of year to hike. The weather is cooling down and the beach clears out. The first splash of orange blaze starts to show in the trees and Sunday's are football days again (Go Packers!).

A reminder...

... seize the day 'cause you never know when it's  time to go. Been a good long while since I've seen a dead thing on the beach and even longer since I happen to be carrying a camera to capture the moment. When I see a dead bird like this (and I have no idea what kind of bird it is) I always wonder why it is dead. Old age? Dog attack? (there are lots of dogs on the beach) What else? Ate something bad? I find a sad beauty in these frozen forms and enjoy studying the tender details of beak and feather and twisted form.

OK HW

Look what I found...

That's right, it's return of "Dead Thing on the Beach". Check it out:



Does anyone know what kind of fish this is? I think he has a cool profile:



He/she was around one foot long. Oddly, the seagulls stayed away from it.

OK HW

PS-- Hello Lucy!

April Hiking Report

Found this fish last week on the beach and had to make a photo of it because it looked so much like a cartoon to me at the time. I see lots of dead things on the beach throughout the year, lately more birds then fish. This fish was picked clean by the seagulls and crabs. The eyes always go first.

April was a decent month for hiking. First time this year that I managed to hit my monthly quota of 50 miles to bring my YTD up to 166, still 34 miles shy of where I should be. High point of the hiking month was getting some time with my old hiking buddy Dave C. on the shady trails of First Landing (or as we locals refer to it as "Sea Shore") State Park. Dave lives in N.C. now, so our out tings are much less frequent then in the "old days' when we were neighbors. He's a good man to have on the trail as he usually packs lots of snacks.

I did most of my miles in April on the beach by the house here along the Chesapeake Bay and I've noticed lately that balconies of the million dollar water front homes are generally empty. Many of these places are second or third "homes", so are probably unoccupied 99% of the time, but a lot of them are year round homes. Does TV and the Net win that competition for attention? Do these people have to work hours so long that they never get to appreciate their cool house with the marvelous view? Summer is nearly on us and those balconies will be used for a couple of months, but come September, the deck chairs will be stacked again and the sliding glass door locked until next season.

OK HW

Wrestling the slug also known as the March Hiking Report

Alas poor Urick. Yes, we found a large, dead bird on the beach. At first we thought it was an Osprey, since there is a population of them nearby in First Landing State Park, but checking the bird book revealed that it is indeed a Marsh Hawk. Or so I think, my wife believes it's a Red Tailed Hawk. Either way, it was a sad and fascinating find. Also strange in that there was no obvious evidence of foul play. Looks like the old boy (or girl) just cacked in mid-flight.

So, what does all that have to do with slugs or the Hiking Report? Nothing or then he was found on a beach hike. The numbers stack up like this 37/116. I hiked 37 miles in March, which means I have a grand total for the year of 116 miles, so I am now 34 miles behind the average. I got some work to do. That's where the wrestling the slug part comes in. See, I haven't felt much like hiking lately. Been more prone to sit on my ever expanding ass and catch up on Battlestar Galactica (the geek confession). The further in the hole I get, the harder it is to think I'll be able to dig out. But it is far too early to throw in the towel. And April is the perfect month to do some catching up before the brutal heat and humidity of summer. Next month, big numbers! No really, I promise.

OK HW