Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Autumn Riverbed Skies


Todd's Fork of Little Miami River

I pass Todd’s Fork every day—a small stream feeding the Little Miami River. Their junction, the little river town where I work in the public library.

At times of high water, the narrow road lining it is closed. And, days later, the trees standing beside it wear remnants of debris—the high water mark well outside its banks.




But in times of drought, the streambed widens, the chunks of river rock thrown haphazardly from one edge to the other. Collecting the fallen leaves of a stand of Sycamores aptly placed.





Today wearing black--
of the Turkey Vultures roosting in their bare branches.
While close to fifty circle above, soaring atop a column of air.
Warmth from an autumn afternoon.

Turkey Vultures, Cathartes aura


See more Skywatch here.

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44 comments:

Beth said...

Beautiful as always, Nina. I love rocky stream beds they are my favorite spot to sit and ponder.

Anonymous said...

So beautiful. I love the picture of the birds in the treetops.

cestoady said...

Riverbeds, as your beautiful photo illustrates so well, have so much character -- dignified and placid on a warm autumn day --roaring and angry when the rains come.

Oh to be a bird soaring above such a stream !

Anonymous said...

It's so much fun to watch life from one spot (in photos). You've captured a great variety of Todd's Fork. Great series!

Juliana RW said...

love ur blue sky

Mine SWF post in HERE. Hope you have time to visit. Thanks.

bobbie said...

Turkey vultures are ugly birds up close, but they can be beautiful as they soar through the sky.

Texas Travelers said...

Great post. You always take such interesting and varied photos. I always like them a lot and spend some peaceful time studying them.

thanks for sharing.

Nice "Sky Watch" today.
Come visit our Sky Watch over, Cooks Inlet, Alaska.
Troy and Martha
.

Roses and Lilacs said...

Those are very nice photos. I love the reflection in the stony river.
Marnie

Kyle said...

Great pics as always, Nina! I love the first one, with the sky peeking out between the rocks in the stream. And I'm always captured by a roosting tree like that. I can't tell you how many times I've been told, "It's just a bunch of buzzards in a tree," when I stop to take in the sight.

Happy SkyWatch!

~Kyle

Photo Cache said...

Wow, what a beautiful post. I enjoyed these shots very much.

Anonymous said...

You know, Nina, you say some lovely things. Todd's Fork - who were the Todds? You walk by each day and I guess there are samenesses but also each day is slightly, even amazingley different. You capture a stream or even a bloated rush of water and you still see the tiny changes, the leaves, the stones . . .

I love your posts, keep them up.

Ray

Sandra said...

Very beautiful pictures indeed!

Arija said...

Beautifully documented river that you obviously know well and love.
I love the shot of the river gurgling between the exposed stones, the vultures and all the others as well as your commentary.

imac said...

Beautiful photos, love the 1st, the pebbles are so dramatic.

Michele said...

Pretty pictures... I cannot believe how many vultures are sitting in that tree!
We don't get those birds here in the mountains...
~Michele~
Mountain Retreat- Canada

Rose said...

I love the one of the stream and the one of the trees...and don't you wonder what the vultures think of us when we are taking their photo.

Unknown said...

Very nice pictures

vincibene said...

Beautiful pictures! I like the tree with the turkeys!

vincibene said...

Beautiful pictures! I like the tree with the turkeys!

Jane Hards Photography said...

Always beautiful especially the fresh water stream

Kathie Brown said...

Nina, vultures for the Skywatch before Halloween are just right! Lovely photos and narrative. Thanks for this.

Lisa at Greenbow said...

Most of the turkey vultures have departed our fair city. We have had lots of beautiful blue skies though.

A Colorful World said...

A beautiful Skywatch, Nina. Loved the way you gave the sky and tree and vultures their place by the stream for us, so we could "see" the whole place. You always have such a wonderful way with words and photos together. I love it.

Lynne at Hasty Brook said...

I loves me some Turkey Vultures!

Wendy said...

Love the turkey vultures flying high in the sky. We don't have any here. Rocky streambed looked calm and peaceful.
Thanks for sharing.

Anonymous said...

hi nina! I love these shots, every one. This is a place I'd love to walk around in...

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Nina: A stunning series of neat sky shots, well done.

JeanMac said...

Great picture of the leaves among the rocks.
Pardon my ignorance, but do turkey vultures prey on live birds, etc.?

Unknown said...

I like this post from so many levels: as a hydrologist (the river), as a Floridian (Little Miami River), its discussion of exposed river bottom from low "fall" water levels, but mostly the sheer poetry of the words and photos. The ending is sublime.

Anonymous said...

The nice thing about blogging is that you get to meet and talk to other people who like vultures.

The rocks are nice, too, :)

airplane5312 said...

That's a lovely shot of drying up creek. This time of year they're down to trickles up here in Minnesota.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for your visit and comment. I think I was here at your blog once before, several SWFs back, but how I didn't manage to bookmark it and come back...well, anyway that oversight has been corrected! You have a wonderful blog.

Larry D said...

Wonderful series! Happy SWF!

Quiet Paths said...

Wonderful photos here. The stream bed suggests an almost Thoreau-type environment.

Mary said...

Wonderful river views and description. Looks like the perfect place for a photorapher to ramble along :-)

Anonymous said...

What a lovely shots of the birds.

AphotoAday said...

Definitely looks like a place I'd enjoy myself...

TR Ryan said...

I love the sycamore leaves tangled in the bare rock. Ode to a dry spell. And the buzzards are perfect for Halloween. I am so looking forward to meeting you in West Virginia.

Brenda Pruitt said...

Love your images today. Just right for this Friday.
Brenda

Marvin said...

Thanks for the interesting tour of Todd’s Fork.

Corky said...

Great photos , the one of the Turkey Vultures is grea. You don't get them over here in the UK!!!!

Thanks :-)

Tash said...

The pictures tell a whole story in beautiful images. So well done!

Gretchen said...

Great photos! It's hard to get the birds in flight.

Hope everyone is having a very Happy Halloween and a Blessed Samhain!

Louise said...

TERRIFIC skies! Beautiful captures.