The Road Less Traveled

Nearly 20 years ago I visited Shetland and Orkney for the first time.  And fell in love with the landscape.  The windy cliffs, where you can stand and experience four seasons in an hour.  The standing stones and stone age villages, full of questions and a tangible link to people from so long ago.  It really is a magical place – one I was especially excited to revisit with my camera.

And so it was that my two good friends and I braved the threat of volcanic ash in search of birds, cliffs, and stone.  We were not disappointed.

For this post, I’ve gathered some of my favorite bird shots, to share.  Look for more photos in future posts.

Cliff Birds of Scotland

One of the amazing things about visiting the cliffs of Scotland (and Ireland, and probably many places) is how close you can get to nesting birds without disturbing them.  You get the advantage of height, a rarity in bird watching, from which to look down.

Fulmars are amazing to watch as they ride the wind currents blowing up the cliff faces.  You can watch how the shifting of their feet, the waggle of a tail helps them stay stationary relative to us landlubbers.   They’ll take a pass to look you in the eye, or hover with their butt towards you as they watch the spectacle below.

A fulmar flyby

Bird love

More birds, after the jump…

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So it’s been a few months since I went to visit some friends up in Vancouver BC, but let me just say – WOW.  Olympics or not, what a wonderful place to vacation.   I’d been to Vancouver a few times in the past, but it must have been overcast, because I certainly don’t remember it being as amazingly beautiful as it was this time.   The views from town down practically every street corridor look out over water and mountains.   But it was getting out of town where I took some of my favorite shots.

One of my friends and I took a trip up the Sea to Sky highway as far as Squamish, a small town half way to the ski fields of Whistler.  They have clearly been investing in this highway, as it was spiffy new with great rest stops and photo ops all along the way in both directions.

First we followed the signs to their local skatepark.  While not a skater myself, I’m quite involved in Portland’s growing skatepark system at my day job for Portland Parks & Recreation.   So, I have gotten into the habit of going to see skateparks when I tour around places.

The little town of Squamish has a skatepark tucked away in the back of beyond (which from a siting perspective, is not a great idea for many reasons, but that’s a topic for another time on a different blog).  But the location is stunning.  Not many skateparks can boast such beautiful surrounds as this one.

Who wouldn't be inspired by this backdrop?

Squamish as a town simply sits in one of the most beautiful locations imaginable.  After some wonderful homemade coffee cake at one of the groovy coffee shops, I wandered across the railroad tracks to check out the evening light reflecting off the granite mountains that loom over town.

You get a feel for the industrial flavor of this rugged town from this riverfront view.

This was a town that invites one to stop and linger.   Who needs to get to Whistler anyhow.  Just wander down one of the side streets, or stop and enjoy a cuppa with a fresh pastry.  The slopes will be there when you’re done.

Cannon Beach, for those who have not visited, is a lovely little town, full of galleries, restaurants, and amazing scenery in nearly every direction.  For photographers, it’s a veritable playground just asking you to get busy.    As I was in town for a few days, staying with friends, I did just that.  Here are a few of my snaps…

Likely the most photographed landscape in Cannon Beach - the iconic Haystack Rock.

Sacajawea statue facing the setting sun

This little sculpture commemorating Sacajawea was in a turn around at the center of what I assume are a bunch of vacation homes.  Each block was posted with No Parking signs – very unwelcoming, I thought.  Anyhow, I walked up here from my friends’ house (a lovely 3 bedroom home that they are trying to sell, by the way,  if you know anyone interested).   The sunsets were pretty amazing the few nights I was there.  Check them out – after the break… (more…)