scapes: sky

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By JL Solar Eclipse August 21, 2017
 
I started out with a short lens and caught the moon about 4/5 the way across the sun.
 
 
 
Realized I needed a longer lens, changed to my 400mm and got almost as much of the 93% eclipse as was possible for our area.
 
 
Then I got the moon as it was exiting the solar disk area.
 
 
My crabby left arm jerked, I lost some of my rigging to protect the camera lens and got this very interesting shot.
 
I hope that each of you in some way or another got to interact with this wonderful spectacle.
 
 

By Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge trip 8 photos 7-27-2017
A trip to Lake Mattamuskeet needs to be on everybody’s  list.
 
It was at Lake Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge that the Bald Eagle was re-introduced to NC.
 
The Bald Eagles then made their way inland to Jordan Lake.
 
Try your hardest to get there at sunrise – they are almost always spectacular from the causeway!
 
Adult bald eagle way across the front impoundment at Mattamuskeet.  
This time of the year the eagles can be hard to find at Mattamuskeet.
 
The lake and its surrounding area has beautiful cypress trees.
 
 
The still waters of the lake and the impoundments often give reflections that are wonderfully detailed.
Great Blue Heron fishing.
 
 
The insect life at Mattamuskeet is very diverse – with many different dragonflies.
Did you see the dragonfly shadow?
 
 
The white-tailed deer really enjoy the browsing at the lake.  
 
 
The yellow-billed cuckoo is also found at Jordan Lake.
 I hear rather than see them most of the time.
 
 
The zebra swallowtail butterfly is the only swallowtail in our region with white stripes.
 

By doc ellen’s 4th of July thoughts…
I made this photograph.
Without any concerns that my action was wrong and I could be jailed.
Without any fears that this statement would be seen as subversive.
Without having to apologize because I love Old Glory and the reasons for its existence.
 
Some in this beloved country of mine have yet to be able to fully exercise this way of living.
May the coming year bring peace, stability, loving kindness and an awareness: 
democracy is not simply a word to be bantered about
but is the living Truth of the United States of America.
All of us have the Right and Responsibility to practice the Gift of Democracy.
My prayer this Independence Day: 
may I share this democratic gift without any hesitations in my giving.
peace and grace, doc ellen