Monthly Archives: April 2010

Too Much of a Good Thing

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A close-up view of a savannah sparrow early one spring morning at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge

When I came across this little sparrow singing next to the auto tour on a foggy spring morning, I knew I had a good chance at close-ups. I attached the tele-converter to the big lens to get as much magnification as I could, set the beanbag on the window, and brought the camera to my eye. All I saw was a big blurry blob in the viewfinder.

Too close!

I was within the minimum focusing distance of the camera, so I quickly added an extension tube and my beautiful little friend came into sharp focus. Fortunately it was comfortable with my presence so despite my early mistakes I got the pictures I was looking for. The first batch of photos were taken with fog in the background so I let the background go white, later the fog cleared a bit and I had some soft blue skies as a backdrop.

In the first picture, the sparrow’s bulked up look comes from it fluffing out its feathers. In the others it is in various stages of the classical head-thrown-back pose that comes with the song.

A close-up view of a savannah sparrow singing early one spring morning at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge

A close-up view of a savannah sparrow singing early one spring morning at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge

My Little Joy

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A savannah sparrow sings early one spring morning at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge

I almost didn’t go.

I was tired after a long week. The gates of the refuge wouldn’t open until well after sunrise, the best light long gone. It was going to be sunny, which brings out the crowds on the weekends. But I got up anyway.

As I crossed the bridge the Columbia was hidden in fog and I hoped its embrace carried north. Driving onto the auto tour, I soon heard what I longed to hear, an old friend saying hello, a yellow-headed blackbird calling from deep in the marsh. But it stayed there unseen, the redwings distant too. I was going to sit and wait but my favorite spot was occupied. I continued round.

A snipe called out from the edge of the marsh. A car was there too. I continued round, past the observation blind, and stopped. Another song, another old friend, a little savannah sparrow far off on an upstart blackberry vine. I took some environmental portraits until it continued on its rounds and I on mine.

The morning was quiet and the animals distant. As I rounded the last meadow, a little brown bird sat atop a refuge sign. A lovely little savannah. We reunited on my next trip around the loop. Suddenly it all came together, the sun was breaking through, perfectly placed behind me, it’s light softened by the fleeing fog. Blue skies before me. And my little joy began to sing.

When my time comes and I can no longer be found, look for me in the quiet places where the savannahs sing. I’ll be there, listening.

Post-op

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Our dog Ellie recuperating from her ligament surgery

I’m happy to report that Ellie’s ligament surgery yesterday was successful and she was able to come home today. It takes a couple of months for the bones to fully heal so she has a long recuperation ahead, and it’s going to be hard keeping her on bed rest that long, but we’re looking forward to her being whole again.

She gets medication for a few days to manage the intense pain of the early recovery period, as well as some other meds, and cold compresses to minimize swelling. She really doesn’t like the cold on her bare skin so I cradled her in my arms while my wife held the compress. I had to smile when eventually we heard the sounds of snoring.

Good to have you home, Ellie. Good to have you home.