We forget that beautiful, magical nature is really a 'gull eat crab world out there'. Nice photos. I'm glad you didn't photograph the feasting. I'm glad the gull got to eat. I'm sad for the crab. I could go on but I won't. I was going to tie this one into a 'Bush/Cheney' thing but I won't. Who would know if they have 'crabs'?
That first photo is just visually very stunning. I love the way the line of the line of the shadow of the hill repeats in the mountains and the play of the lighthouse and shore. I had to print it out and will save as a study for my future paintings - thanks!
RD - Gotta get me one of those cameras of yours. You crab some great shots with it.
I was intrigued by the coyote. I googled info on their taxonomy - to see how they might relate to our dingo - which also sings and howls at the moon. It seems they are both canis lupus sub-species; but that's as far as I got. The research goes on. Interesting to note that the range of the coyote has expanded south and east toward Missouri and even Florida, following the destruction of its natural predator, the grey wolf.
The dingo has been known to maul babies and even 8-9 year olds who have subsequently died. This is especially so if animals in the wild have become accustomed to humans who feed them scraps around camp sites.
Does the coyote have that reputation?
I echo the comments on the lighthouse pictures. It is a beautiful juxtaposition of light and shadow. Enjoyed the gull shots also.
And for tjilpi, the Coyote is a seperate species from C. lupus. It is C. latrans. Thomasburg Walks has an excellent post on them. Check here archives.
Thanks Clare. My mistake. It seems it is only the dingo that is regarded as a sub-species of C. lupus, known as C. lupus dingo, possibly derived from the Indian gey wolf.
The top photo of the lighthouse should be on a calendar! It is gorgeous. The crab saga shown by pictures and text was quite entertaining.
Wow...what fantastic photos. I have to admit that I did not realize a seagull would eat an entire crab quite like that...love coming here and always learning something new.
I have little to add other than my thanks to you for putting up such great photos. Perhaps if everyone had to actually kill the animals they ate there would be more animals in the world as well as more vegetarians. On the other hand, if we could hear the vegetables scream as we cut them up....
Those are some fantastic shots, suitable for framing. The Seagull and the Crab reminds me of the cartoon of the frog strangling the heron that's trying to eat it. Trapped in the eternal battle of life and existence, one will prevail and the other will no. Such is our curse for being mortal beings.
Extraordinary shots, RD. I understand your not wanting to watch the kill; I don't like to watch battles to the death between animals either.
I remember when I took one of my grandsons to see The Lion King. There is a scene in which the animals are paying homage to the king, and I'm thinking, "He would eat any one of you if he had the chance. Why are you so thrilled about him being the king?" Trust me; I did not say that out loud as a spoiler for my boy.
Sweet! The gull has a really sinister look in the last photo. I think you just started to worry that you were next! It has been unusually clear the last few days, but I've been working too much to enjoy it at all. Thursday, I was driving home from Redmond on 520, talking on the phone (hands free) to a client in the midwest.
As I rounded a curve, Mt Rainier sprang into view in stunning clarity, tinged in red from the sunset, and the perspective was such that it just filled the sky. I stopped in mid-sentence and made some loud exclamation. I tried to explain what engendered it to my puzzled client, but only a photograph such as yours would have rescued his opinion of my sanity.
Beautiful photos RD! You are a great photographer. Looks National Geographic's photo.
The first photo is wonderful. It's looks like an Edward Hopper's painting. I love Hopper!
jsk-- I had just been thinking a few days ago how everything that loves to live, loves to eat. Eating requires some things to be food for others. It is definitely a gull eat crab world.
Donna-- Funny about that lighthouse photo. I wasn't going to take it. I thought it wouldn't translate. It is telephoto-ed, so the mountains appear closer than they actually are, but other than that, it's what the beach looked like. Thanks for appeciating it.
Tjilpi-- The camera is pretty amazing. The scenery gives a lot for it to record.
Glad that Clare was able to answer your coyote/dingo questions.
Clare-- Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting. And thank you for answering Tjilpi. The fantastic thing about blogging is that Tjilpi asked that question in Australia, and you answered it from Arctic Bay. Does it get any further away than that?
owl-- Thanks much. I know you know how delightful it is to catch a scene like that at just the right moment. The light on the lighthouse and the dark hills, the Straits of Juan de Fuca and the hills of Whidbey Island, with the Cascades shimmering in the distance. I'm just glad I photographed it.
lizelayne-- Thanks for stopping by and commenting. It was a surprising drama to watch. I didn't think a seagull would grab something that big to eat.
OW-- I became a vegetarian 35 years ago when I considered what animals had to endure to become food for me. I have since added fish and chicken to my diet, but still no red meat. I think we should all be prepared to kill what we intend to eat.
Whisker-- You said it, trapped in the eternal battle. I once rescued a frog from a snake. I was much younger then and just couldn't let the snake eat the frog. Now I would probably take the picture, then look away.
janeboatler-- Glad you liked the photos. I knew you'd understand why I couldn't watch the battle to the death.
Phil-- When we can see the Cascades as clearly as this, it must be spectacular where you are. I haven't seen the sunset reflected on the western slopes yet. I would imagine it has that same stunning, rosy tinge the Olympics get from the sunrise on their eastern side. Do we live in paradise, or what?
Sonia-- Thank you so much. I have become very attached to the camera. It seems like everywhere I look there's something amazing and beautiful to be photographed.
Gulls are very talented when it comes to securing food. Some at a restaurant near my home can snag french-fries tossed in the air with 100% accuracy while flying almost in place (provided said fries are tossed within a couple meters of the gull).
Every time I think you have outdone yourself, you outdo yourself again!
I have to echo what everyone says about the first photo. I also want to point out that the gull's wings in the second photo are like the images of angel wings that you see all over the place heading into Christmas. Make of that what you will!
Well, the lighthouse shot would have been worth the visit, but I really liked the crab and gull battle. You are a softie.
Rest assured that when the gull is finished with this life, the crabs will appreciate the meal.
Take care.
DaveS-- You remind me about the gulls that have learned to live and co-exist with humans so well. I've seen many of them fly for tossed goodies.
CCorax-- Thanks so much. Oh yes, that angel wing shot. Who knew that angels are really all about gulls eating crabs? It's quite a revelation!
FC-- I'm a softie, it's true. But you point out that wonderful cycle. The crabs will get their turn with the seagull's carcass in time. Thanks for the reminder.
I'd just like to state, for the record, that I could have a thousand cameras like yours, and gorgeous scenery to boot, and I'd never come away with the stunning photos that you do, RD. You have the eye of an artist. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Phantom-- Thank you for such kind words. You must have been reading my mind. I spent a good part of the day dismissing my part in these photographs. I chalked up their beauty to chance and a good camera. I take your words to heart. Thank you, my friend.
My soul was just now hurting, so I stopped by to look at your photos, with your permission I hope. And it drew me away from the stupidly of my world for a time.
Peace.
E
Whisker-- Glad you could find some solace in the photos. I often do as well.
love the pix, RD, you've done it again.
Very cool sequence with the gull. Many Thanks for sharing.
No wonder your thoughts are so beautiful. How could they be otherwise living in such a magnificent place. Thank you for sharing it with all of us.
Ces photos sont vraiment merveilleuses !!
L'oiseau , les ailes déployées , est impérial !
Bravo ,bravo ,bravo !!!
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