Birds of Humboldt County, Part 2

Truly, we live with mysteries too marvelous
to be understood.
How grass can be nourishing in the
mouths of the lambs.
How rivers and stones are forever
in allegiance with gravity
while we ourselves dream of rising.
How two hands touch and the bonds will
never be broken.
How people come, from delight or the
scars of damage,
to the comfort of a poem.

Let me keep my distance, always, from those
who think they have the answers.

Let me keep company always with those who say
“Look!” and laugh in astonishment,
and bow their heads.

by Mary Oliver

I now have a vast and growing collection of bird photographs from my five months here in Arcata. We’ve truly landed in birding heaven.

Fortunately, what draws me most is not adding new species to a list on eBird, but the sheer surprise and beauty of birds—of nature, of life itself. I see many of the same species again and again, yet never in quite the same way. Each encounter reveals something new: a shift in behavior, an unexpected posture, a different quality of light, a fresh setting.

Every walk along bay trails or through pastureland brings moments of quiet astonishment—fleeting combinations of light, movement, and aliveness that can’t be predicted or planned.

My current storehouse of images could easily fill “Birds of Humboldt County: Parts 3, 4, 5, and beyond”. But rather than overwhelm you, I’m offering just a small selection here—sixteen glimpses into the everyday magic of birds living their wild lives.

Please leave a comment so I know you were here.

To purchase photo prints, go to carlaphotos.com.

(The photograph above is a flock of Marbled Godwits.)

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