This is a weekly photo challenge I couldn’t resist! Sunrise is the time I feel nature comes to life in most vibrant colors. Unfortunately I’m a night owl, so it’s not very often I can catch the early bird. But lately, just for pure fascination with the early light, I’ve gotten up in time to peek into nature when it’s waking up.
“The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun”. -Christopher McCandless
So here are a few images from this morning and a some (not earlier published) from the last couple of weeks. I hope you enjoy. Have a wonderful week.
This week’s photo challenge: Early Bird
TINY LESSONS BLOG 
Worth getting up early. Beautiful.
Yes it is! Thanks Bruce.
Beautiful bird captures, as always! The sunrising scene is stunning, Tiny!
Thanks Amy! This morning was beautiful, now cloudy and we’ll get storms later this afternoon…much needed rain!
Wonderful pictures especially the sunrise.
Thanks Susan. The sunrise was quite spectacular this morning. Right now rain clouds are gathering…thunderstorms awaited this afternoon.
Great captures as usual for you Tiny!
Thank you Hien. I have finally concluded I’ve missed a lot by not getting up early every now and then 🙂
Great captures Tiny! I wish I was there those moments! 🙂
Thanks H.J.! You guys are welcome here any time 🙂
Beautiful 🙂 Are those Osprey?
Thanks Morgan. Yes, that’s the Osprey family that lives here in the salt marsh close to my home. They have 3 little ones 🙂
1st and 6th images are spot on. I love intensity of the colours in the first; stunning, whilst the osprey capture is so crystal clear. Thanks for sharing them 🙂
Happy you liked a couple of them, Uncle Spike 🙂
If I could awaken to a beautiful sunrise over the water like that I would get up early too. 😉 Unfortunately mine is just over the coolies here. Plus, I hate to get up that early anymore. Old age sucks. 😉
Every now and then I tell myself I’m not old 😉 and get up early just to see these colors. And then feel young the whole day 🙂 Hugs!
Yeah, sometimes I tell myself I’m not old either. 😉 hugs!
Tell it again, my friend 😀
What wonderful captures – Miss Roseate Spoonbill is looking gorgeous as always – don’t tell the others but she REALLY is my favourite! 😉
Thanks Joanne…I won’t tell, but how she always poses for the camera might indicate she knows 😉
Like you, I’m a night owl and find getting up to see the sunrise a tad challenging, though when I do it’s always breath taking and well worth it! I see that you shared a photo of mottled ducks – I see what you mean for the similarities to the photos I posted of the Mallard cross pair.
It’s so worth it, but ah so difficult 🙂 We have these Mottled Ducks and “hybrid” Mallard/Mottled ones. Today I saw a male with partly green head…one of the “hybrids”. Interesting stuff in the duck world 🙂
If you happen to see a Mottled/Mallard cross would you mind posting the photo, Tiny? I’m curious! Thanks!
I didn’t get a good picture today, but will try again when I see him.
Thanks so much, Tiny!
Looks like a very good morning, great images.
Thanks much Maverick. I was a great morning, then clouds came in with winds and much needed rain.
I am a night owl, too, but I would rise early to see these sights. Beautiful.
Thank you kindly. I’ve found myself able to rise early more often now that I have something to check on…like the breakfast feeding for the osprey chicks 🙂
Wow, sweet Tiny what wonderful pictures. I didn’t know spoonbills were such a pretty color. Thank you so much for sharing these beautiful birds in pictures. Hugs
Happy you enjoyed the birds! This roseate spoonbill has its hottest pink color now as it is nesting season, little more pale pink other times of the year. I wish you a good week, Maggie. Hugs
Thank you for the good week wish…so far it is going well. Hugs back to you!
This really made my day. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Happy to hear that, Takami. Have a wonderful day!
I’m both, early morning and late night! But pre-dawn is my favourite time of day, just as the sun rises. Lovely photo! Baz
Mine too…but then the moon is also great 🙂 Thanks Baz!
Great shots!
Thanks a lot!
birdyparadise, you put the beauty in beautiful!
The beauty in nature is quite contagious…I hope I’ll catch some of it 🙂 Have a nice evening Sirpa.
🙂
I enjoyed sunrise on the beach a few weeks back. I’m a night owl too, so sunrise is a rare treat.
Enjoyed your sunrise shots.
I’ve kind of “discovered” sunrise more lately…it was all about sunset on the beach previously 🙂 Have a beautiful day, Nancy.
Love the roseate spoonbill’s pose! I’ve never seen one before – would love to see one on a morning walk some day…
I hope you do! They are very beautiful birds, and well behaved 🙂
That sunrise is fabulous! You caught it perfectly!
Since I work the school year, I have to get up early but I am getting ready for work so don’t really get to enjoy the sunrises and those golden moments. I always tell myself that once school is out for the summer, I will continue to get up early and enjoy it, but then I find I enjoy sleeping in too much! 🙂 If I had such beauty to greet me each morning, perhaps I would find it easier to rise with the sun.
Happy you liked my “rare” sunrise pictures. I had to get up at or before sunrise for years but I never had time to enjoy them…now that I’m my own boss I try my best not to schedule meetings or teleconferences before 9 or 10 am….so my early mornings are mostly free…to sleep in. I’m such a night owl …and totally understand that you’d want to sleep in when you’re off in the summer 🙂
I love the picture of that sunrise. 🙂
Happy you enjoyed it Celestine. Have a great day 🙂
Such a rich morning you had! Thanks so much for sharing these delightful photos. I found Miss Roseate especially dapper. 😀
Thanks! She is quite photogenic, isn’t she.
Tiny ~ Thought you would enjoy this article about a Black Flamingo spotted in Cyprus:
https://www.audubon.org/news/a-black-flamingo-stands-cyprus?utm_source=engagement&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2015-04-24_email_wingspan
Wow! Fantastic! Thanks for sharing Nancy! I shared also on my Twitter 🙂
As soon as I saw his inky feathers, I knew I had to share with you.
😀
Those are some nice birds, and goos photographs! Must be nice to have these exotic birds around 🙂
And the sunset, you’re right, it’s gorgeous!
Have a great weekend ahead!
Kind regards,
Tieme
Thanks Tieme! Have a wonderful weekend, you too!
Thank you 🙂
Love the shots. What camera and lens did you use for most of them?
I know the bird shots were taken with my “jogging camera” because that’s the only one I carry when out jogging here in my neighborhood. It’s a lightweight bridge camera with a superzoom 24-1200, Canon XS50HS.
I am impressed. 1200 zoom, OMG. I’ve just started using a 5D Mark III with a Tamron lens (multi-function). Still learning.
That’s a great camera! Congratulations 🙂
The Grackle and the Spoonbill…very nice, my fans!
Thank you!