Sunshine Returns (SWF)

Blue Jay Barrens has just come through four cool, cloudy, gray, drizzly days. I was really hoping to get some rain during the period, but the precipitation was never more than a heavy mist and our total accumulation over four days was just at 0.2 inches. On the evening of the fourth day open sky could be seen to the west between the horizon and the clouds. I headed up the hill to enjoy the few minutes of sunshine.

To the east, the setting sun showed that we were getting some color in the tree canopy. Of course, part of that color is the reflection from the clouds. Even the green leaves showed a touch of orange. The rapidly advancing shadows restricted the length of this show to about one minute.

The top of The Hill affords the best sky views and I often enjoy the show from up here. I enjoyed the view in the absence of any distractions. The wind stilled and for five minutes there was silence from all directions.

The large, double-trunked Tuliptree is like a kid begging to have the camera turned in his direction. The tree has already lost half of its leaves. This bareness makes the upper branches merge with the electric pink sky.

The clouds take on a menacing visage as the setting sun casts fire across the sky. These clouds represent the outer most band swirling around a low pressure system somewhere along the east coast. It’s unusual to have clouds moving out of the north and makes the whole scene even stranger.

As the light fades, I take one last shot and then head back down the hill. As I turn, I hear a Henslow’s Sparrow calling from the field. I’ve been futilely looking for Henslow’s all summer. Why do I finally hear one in October?

Check out Skywatch Friday for some magnificent sky images.