Author Archives: beacon2019

Today’s pictures are random. They just illustrate something I learned recently, something I found very interesting. When I first started sharing pictures on social media, I gave explanations of what the images showed. Look at this yellow-rumped warbler, or look at the beautiful markings on that stone figurine above. And some people liked it, butContinue reading “Interesting insight”

Corvids are birds–they have nothing to do with the infamous virus of a similar name–and include crows, ravens, jays, and others. Pictured above is a rook, this one happened to be in France. I love all birds but have a special fondness for corvids, especially ravens. I grew up with crows all around me butContinue reading “Corvids”

I love graffiti, although I admit that it can get out of hand. People living in apartment buildings may not love having someone else’s artistic expression on their front door, and that does happen. But on walls that would otherwise be empty, such as the outside of this factory, graffiti adds value. This image wasContinue reading “Graffiti”

The lotus flower is beautiful, iconic, beloved. I live near several lakes where lotus grows, and seeing the different stages through the year is a privilege and a joy for me. The bud sitting on a tall stalk is a promise of rich colors. Soon the yellow center will present itself. Insects, birds, and otherContinue reading “Lotus”

We are surrounded by beautiful things, but we don’t always see them. Now that most people have to stay within a small radius of their homes, learning to see the beauty around us is more important than ever. It’s no secret that I love birds. They are cute, beautiful, and their chirping cheers me up.Continue reading “Our surroundings”

Covid-19 makes it hard to go places. Either it requires travel of the kind that isn’t advisable right now, or the parks are closed or severely restricted. Therefore it was a great pleasure to realize that there is a park within good driving distance that we had not yet explored. We went there and weren’tContinue reading “A newly-found park”

A young tree in a field. I keep going back to simple things like this. Their beauty isn’t flashy, and yet I find them amazing and wonderful to look at. A young mockingbird sitting in our hibiscus tree. It hasn’t quite learned to sing yet; it’s still in the stage where it cries for foodContinue reading “Simple things”

Roseate spoonbills are so interesting to watch. I love their color and their shapely bill. I never tire of watching them, grateful to have access to such beauty. When they shake themselves they make me think of feather dusters, which is unfair, of course. But watching them bathe and preen their feathers is quite entertaining.Continue reading “So fortunate”

I love flowers. I love their structure, their colors, their variety, their fragrance… how can anyone not love them? Taking closeups of flowers has taught me a lot about their structure and revealed a few things I had not noticed before. Gerber daisies have a purple stripe on the orange petals… who knew? This discoveryContinue reading “Flowers”

As soon as song birds lay eggs, the raptors start getting interested. They swoop down over a nest and help themselves to yummy, fresh food. No matter how much the song birds fight over the best nesting sites, when a common enemy shows up, they band together to try and chase the predator away. Alas,Continue reading “The harsh side of nature”