What a day! The Tree Swallows are back for summer breeding season and they’re gracing the skies with their aerobatic flights as they feed. And they’re checking out tree cavities for their nurseries. All is right with the world.
What an amazing day! Thanks to the deciduous trees, it’s easy to spot hawks and other raptors just hanging out in the trees. They are very patient, up to a point. And it’s wonderful to get lucky with some unexpected shots!
My new favorite place! I was only there for a couple of hours. AMAZING abundance of wild things. And beauty. Can’t wait to go back!
So grateful for the snow! And for the critters who show up at the feeders. And for a warm cabin. Life is good.
This young one’s first snow. Wishing them a long and happy life on the mountain.
This sweet little one stopped by after the snow to take shelter in the cedar tree. So wonderful to see!
Snow is always magical. And it’s the first day of vegan chili season for me. Life is good.
They grow up so fast! Seems like only yesterday he was begging for his meals and learning to fly. Soon his eyes will be changing from baby blue to light gold as he transitions into adulthood and finds his place in his colony.
Welcome to your mountain home, young one! May you thrive and find joy here.
In 2018 my mountain community of Idyllwild, California, experienced a devastating wildfire. In the burn zone, nothing remained. But two years later, life is returning. This 2-minute slideshow features some of the wildflowers that were blooming in June, 2020. Some of these beautiful flowers, the fire followers, bloom only for a few short years after wildfires.
In June, 2020, I visited the burn zone on May Valley Road with friends and fellow photographers Jamie Guthrie and Bruce Edward Watts. Jamie and I were fortunate to be in Bruce’s company. He is literally writing the books on mountain butterflies and wildflowers. What a magical day!
The mountain is bursting with new life! Teenage birds have left the safety of their nests and are learning how to fly and feed themselves. Their parents work tirelessly as they prepare their young ones for life on the mountain. Such a magical time of year. So grateful to witness the miracle that is taking place all around me.