Sunday 3 May 2020

Feeling Blessed Continues

Friday 1 May

Good morniing!

Our beautiful autumn weather continues. The sun rises around 6am. The temperature at that time has been around 23C, until this morning's windy 13C. There is no humidity. The sky is crisp and the glorious birdsong tells me that the birds are also filled with the joy of the dawn.

This post records the beauty of the dawns I have witnessed on my daily, local walk [8km] and on my group zoom walks [10 - 15km locally]

Sunrise 1 - I am so very fortunate to have this view from my back garden.











Sunrise 2 - Over the Logan River.
















Sunrise 3 - walking through a local park, to the Logan River.












Sunrise 4 - Across the Albert River, at the Rivermount footbridge.




Sunrise 5 - in the same area.






Sunrise 6 - On most daily walks, I drive 4 km to join my friend Mary, to socially distance walk our 8km circuit. On this morning I was 20 mins late as, I had just had to pull over and capture the changing scenes of the sky.

When I pulled over here, the sky was layers of deepest blue. As I took this 1st image, a hint of pink was brushing them.


A kilometre later, I stopped again as the pink intensified.


Half a kilometre later, I was at traffic lights to make a left turn away from this magnifcent colour. I quickly pulled into the shopping centre carpark and rushed across the road, to avoid poles being in my photo. A bonus of corona, there was no traffic to delay me. Addeding to my joy of the moment, photos flashed across the phone's screen of my gorgeous Grandchildren. Knowing their parents were available, I facetimed to share the wonder of this glorious sunrise.

West






North




East


I finally tore myself away and joined Mary, as these wonderful rainbows filled the sky. We were soon surprised by rain falling gently. After 500m we turned back to get rain jackets. Of course, by the time we again set off the sky was clear.


Sunrise 7 


Sunrise 8


The Albert River, Eagleby.


This walk took us to the Eagleby Wetlands. In the distance I could just see many little birds flitting amongst the bushes. I zoomed my point and shoot lens out to its full 30 X zoom and clicked, hoping I might just catch a few of their images.

I was delighted with the result. I've counted 10.


Magpie Geese readying themselves for their flight north.












As we were retracing our footsteps home, I spied thes Galahs sharpening their beaks on a beautiful gum tree.







Sunrise 9




The sunsets have also brought joy.




Butterflies rarely sit still long enough for me to photograph them.

This one hitched a ride in my car and it was quite a delicate operation to release him.





This visitor to our table, has the most melodious song that he shares with us regularly. We do not feed the birds, but they enjoy the nectar and insects in our garden.


Thankfully Corona confinement hasn't left me looking like this. I sincerely hope, you too have not been left feeling overwrought.

I saw this image below, on Facebook's 'Who Got the Rain' page. Life goes on and normality will return. Let's hope it is sooner rather than later. 

Here in Queensland, on most days there are no new cases. As of today, 2nd May, restrictions have relaxed. Some National Parks will be open. We can travel up to 50 km to visit family, picnic with family and excercise. Boating and motor bike rides permitted and some non essential shops will open. Social distancing whilst doing these activities, is still the norm. It is our Labour Day holiday weekend. I just hope people will excercise restraint and not abuse these new freedoms.

Take care where ever you are and may your loved ones be healthy and safe.

I would love to read your comment.

21 comments:

  1. Gorgeous photos! Glad your country is turning the corner.

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  2. Our smaller, more widespread population has helped, but our opposition and sitting parliamentarians, have made a joint Council to work together, to prevent the spread nationally. The majority of cases spread from travellers returning from cruises. Once these numbers had been isolated, our numbers began to drop.

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  3. Wonderful, wonderful skies, clouds, birds, butterflies...
    Nature makes us feel blessed.
    Oh, and the red structure of those bridges looks lovely as well. :)
    Stay safe! xx

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    1. Yes Sara, the Red Bridge looks quite stunning thanks to a 6 month makeover. It was built in 1931 and closed to traffic in 1986. Several years later it was painted red and opened for pedestrians and cyclists.

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  4. Not like here where hundreds of people are dying daily and some of these fools want to open up restaurants and barber shops. Oh-- don't get me started. I love the red on the bridge, and I love the various parrot type birds... And that big fellow looks like a cross between a vulture and a goose! Love your posts.

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    1. I fully understand your angst Bill. I'm glad my posts lift your spirits, if but for only a short while.

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  5. What spectacular sunrises you've captured, especially the one that you shared with your family. I enjoy seeing your bird photos - they are so different from the ones where I live. I'm glad you are doing well and fingers crossed this darn virus will go away soon.

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    1. The sunrise shared with the family was truly sensational. Tonight, as I watered the garden, we had a sunset which was its sequel.

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  6. Oh my! Isn't amazing how nature can lift your spirits, just when you need it! Thanks for sharing the beautiful sunrises. I also loved the morning light streaming across the field in Sunrise 4. I'm always amazed at the colorful birds you capture around you. I'd have to go to a zoo to see birds like that. I've taken a few photos of some faint rainbows here lately. One of my friends got a spectacular photo, but I didn't see the same scene. It's always a treat to capture a rainbow, even if it usually doesn't translate on "film." Take care and stay well, Helen! And may the days continue to provide beauty in the midst of the global storm.

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    1. Kim, I agree re photographing rainbows, that it is difficult to capture their true beauty. This one arched magnificently across the sky, but the photo doesn't begin to show that.

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  7. Helen, You've witnessed such beautiful dawns and sunsets! I love seeing all the birds, especially that little hidden owl. Was that a giant web in the tree or an art installation? Hugs to you. Keep your distance and stay well.

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    1. Barb, it was a giant spider's web, covered in dewdrops. There were numerous ones catching the sun's rays.

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  8. Sensational sunrise and sunset photos there, especially the one with rainbow where it seems to be containing the light. Waiting to hear what's the next steps here in the UK regarding our lockdown

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    1. Thanks Andy. I do hope things improve more quickly than they have been in the UK.

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  9. I love your sunrises ... I time of day I never see. I laughed at your final shot, clearly I am pretty anti-social.

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    1. Both last shots make me laugh. I have them sitting at the base of my laptop.

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  10. Incredible collection of sky shots. I was going to try to pick a favorite, but impossible. Too man great ones! LOL at the last photo and comment. Kind of nice if your life continues on without too much disruption!

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  11. Thank you. I've had a brief view of your blog and marvelled at the beauty that you get to explore.

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  12. Technology is amazing isn't it? You may not be able to visit your family in person, but you can see them in real time and that is a good substitute. That option is relatively new too. I know one fellow who Facetimes his parents, who are both in their eighties and have health issues of one kind or another, and he finds great value in being able to judge how they are by actually seeing them. Like most parents they claim to be fine if he asks them on the phone.

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