Wednesday Vignette
On Monday, I went for my first hike this year, taking a friend to hike Hamilton Mountain on the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge. It's a good thing I did, otherwise I would have had trouble finding something to share this week for Wednesday Vignette, hosted by Anna of Flutter & Hum. I'd tried several times on Sunday to go out and take pictures of the garden, but every time I did, it would start raining, and then hailing. But Hamilton Mountain provided a wealth of beauty from which to select a vignette. There were many to choose from, but there was something about this shot that really struck me. The wood, rock, water, and moss just look so beautiful. This was taken on the bridge below the Pool of Winds, a waterfall in a round chamber with only a narrow slot to let the water escape. I'll share a picture of that later.
Truth be told, I was really trying to get a photo of the dipper flitting up and down the waterfall, with only half a mind towards composing a nice picture. Below is a cropped version of the photo above. See the grey, bird-shaped blur near the center of the picture? Just at the right edge of the waterfall? It's almost the same color as the rocks. These fascinating birds flit and run about the rocks, catching insects. They also dive into the water, half flying and half running along the stream bed underwater. They're name comes from this underwater hunting, as well as their habit to bob up and down when standing.
I may not have managed a clean shot of the bird (I really needed a telephoto lense) but I do love the original shot above for all the other elements in it. The bird is almost a hidden bonus, a feathered Where's Waldo.
very nice photo...very interesting, isn't it, how beautifully he fits into the scene? I love this quality of birds, bright one day, dull the next according to light and weather.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Christine! These birds are never very bright, except in their lively behavior.
DeleteI had lots of fun scrolling up and down to try and locate the bird in the first picture after finding it in the second one. Thanks, it doesn't take a lot to amuse a simple mind like mine.
ReplyDeleteIt's so tiny in the first picture. Glad to provide some entertainment!
DeleteYour WV is gorgeous, but did give me a bit of a shudder. I come from jigsaw puzzle people. I do not share the joy but seem to always be guilted into participating. This kind of photo made into a puzzle would send them gleefully to the table where hours and hours of pointless work would commence.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Loree. Sorry to stir up some troubling associations. It does look like the kind of scene that could be turned into a puzzle, though.
DeleteYou can't go wrong with a hike in the Gorge - there is always something beautiful to see! I have never hiked the Hamilton Mountain - it looks like a spectacular adventure... Your photos remind me that it has been way too long since I went for a hike. Really need to make some time to go out there...
ReplyDeleteYou can if you don't check the trail status beforehand. My friend and I were going to go up Beacon Rock before tackling the mountain, just across the highway, but Beacon Rock is still closed from a nasty tree fall in November that took out part of the metal walkway. Good thing it wasn't the main event for the day. If you ever need a hiking buddy, let me know!
DeleteThis whets my appetite for another gorge hike. You picked a shot that has it all!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ricki! I'm already eager for the next one, myself.
DeleteGreat shot! I did find the wee bird. I never heard of them before, I bet it was fun watching him flit around.
ReplyDeleteThanks ,Alison! They're rather drab in appearance, unless you like charcoal grey, but they are endlessly entertaining to watch.
DeleteI don't think I would have found the bird without your written guidance (and increasing the size of the photo) but I was delighted when I did. Great catch!
ReplyDelete