Welcome to Your New Year /  by Dave Hileman

It may look like last year’s model, it might still have issues left over from the rudely dismissed 2023 and you might even feel just the same or possibly worse depending on how excited you were last night at midnight, however, be assured, your newly arrived 2024 is in pristine condition. All the creaks and sagging bits have been completely repaired. There is a fresh coat of paint over the whole scene and all the troubles have been evaporated in the stunning fireworks displays around the world. Why nary a trace of a difficulty or problem from the beastly 2023 survived the tick of the second hand that touched the magic 12:00.01. So take a deep breath of the pure air and take care of your new opportune moment to achieve bliss.

Good Luck by the way.

First Light over the Atlantic along Chincoteague NWR

Simple /  by Dave Hileman

These three Buffleheads were super skittish and I tried for 15 minutes to get them to cooperate with me. Never really did but it was fun to try. These are cool birds, especially the males when they fully display the bright white cheek all fanned out. You can see a lot of different birds in the CNWR.

I Thought This Week Was BIRDS? /  by Dave Hileman

Ah, it is, please note the hitchhiker on the Chincoteague pony. The ponies are the more famous residents of the island. New fencing keeps them further off the road which is slightly disappointing because occasionally one would stand on or beside the main road and that was a treat. I guess this is better and safer for them and that is important too. This was a herd of 24 and I never saw that many together before so that is nice as well.

Flyby /  by Dave Hileman

Our favorite model of the week is this Great Blue Heron. We saw him yesterday on the dead tree and today as he flew off across the marsh. You see so many of these and they are often still and close enough to get a good photo that you sometimes forget that it is a majestic bird and a wonder that you can actually see and enjoy them. Don’t become blasé over the semi-ordinary the creation offers endless joy.

Royal Perch /  by Dave Hileman

This Great Blue Heron is clearly the king of all he surveys. He is atop a dead tree near Tom’s Cove at the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia. The sun is setting casting a warm glow over the tree.

Christmas Morning: Photo is taken near Boulder Mountain in Utah /  by Dave Hileman

To you who grace these pages with your time, I wish for each of you a Christmas morning blessing from Him to whom all glory and honor and power belong.

Open this link next, turn up the volume and enjoy four blissful minutes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weFJHtcxJt0

While the piece was first written with Easter in mind, it has completely captivated people around the world at Christmas time. I love to play it first thing in the morning, too loud I suspect, and just sit and let the music enrich the morning.

If you wish another piece that is a bit more mellow but no less joyous, try this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cw3C5EhW3Ho

A bit of an abstract view with the tiny evergreen representing hope.

Christmas in a Small Town 5 /  by Dave Hileman

This is one of the boats that sail in the floating parade in Onancock, VA. What a cool tradition. I am sorry I did not see it on the water and fully aglow. You can see the Christmas stockings on the back, it was lined with colorful lollipops and had a santa climbing the mast.

Christmas in a Small Town 4 /  by Dave Hileman

This is a beautiful church building in Onancock, Virginia. The bell tower is of particular interest. It is painted as a homage to the lighthouse that once stood nearby and the proportions are elegant. Plus it has a window in the bottom, most unusual. In the window you can view a Christmas tree decorated with Chrismons, ornaments that are symbols of Christian faith. The church was built in 1896 and has stunning stained glass windows. The 125 year-old church is worth a stop on your way to downtown.

Christmas in a Small Town 2 /  by Dave Hileman

This small structure is on the wharf in the town of Onancock, Virginia. It is associated with the building next door that was a hardware store starting in 1842 and is a restaurant today. The coffee shop bike rental is not open in the winter but even so, a smal festive wreath was added for those who venture to the end of the wharf to enjoy.

Christmas in a Small Town 1 /  by Dave Hileman

This is Jerome and he just finished the decorating of the fire equipment at the Community Volunteer Fire Company in Exmore, VA. Preparing the engines for the annual parade is something he takes pride in and, I think, does well.

Peninsula /  by Dave Hileman

I was tying to find a better place to shoot a small arch in Arches National Park this past April and I went off trail scrambling over rocks. Then I saw this rather flat area and headed for it. This is about a mile or two from the campground. Suddenly I was on a peninsula of rock with about 30 feet on one side and maybe 50 on the other and it was down to about 3 feet wide and just jutting out into space. That was enough for me, I sat down and took a photo and CAREFULLY retraced my steps.

End of the trail

Drop off on right side

Dot & Joe's Backyard /  by Dave Hileman

In the town of Exmore (oops, not Exxon -thanks DM) I spied this neat garage in the back yard of a house on the main street. Fortunately the owner, Dot, was outside and I asked if I could photograph the building. She was enthusiastic with her consent and also shared a lot of the history about the property. The red garage was built c1900 and the grey one 25 years ago to house an MG project car. Joe, her husband, came out later and added a lot of colorful background to the house which they are selling to move to a smaller one.

And on the First Afternoon! /  by Dave Hileman

Hoping to find some fun birds to see and to photograph at the Chincoteague National Wildlife refuge on Virginia’s Eastern Shore is a bit hit or miss. This afternoon about 2 hours after arrival it was a hit. This is a Harrier Hawk, or at least it used to be (Bird names are changing, Story for another time). Anyway I don’t see them often and not sure I ever got a good photo. Almost did not get this one either. Shooting a sitting duck, I know, I know - I had a relatively slow shutter speed, then the hawk appeared some distance away. I just aimed and shot, most were a bit blurry but three or four as the bird hovered a bit were OK. I hope you enjoy the Harrier “Hawking” over the marsh at CNWR.

Leaving for more Birds, maybe... /  by Dave Hileman

At Chincoteague NWR today and tomorrow with two other photographers. We hope for some birds to photograph but you never know this time of year what you might find. So it may be all old buildings and maybe a wild horse or two. We’ll see.

It will not include a oriole like this one eyeing some fruit and some bees.