Skywatch Friday: Meet the Welcoming Committee

Host unlimited photos at slide.com for FREE!

I arose early each day when we were in Virginia a few weeks ago so that I could go for a morning walk. Every day the birds awoke me before the clock went off. What a gentle way to return to the world after a night's sleep! Out and about while the others slept, I came across these lovelies in a cherry tree.

The sky seems always to be a mere back drop to the beauty right before me.

You must dare to disassociate yourself from those who would delay your journey... Leave, depart, if not physically, then mentally. Go your own way, quietly, undramatically, and venture toward trueness at last.
(Vernon Howard)


More Skywatch Friday at Wigger's World

Post a Comment

91 Comments

  1. Anonymous3:25 PM

    Those are such beautiful birds and ones I have never seen here where I live in Ohio. Your photo is a perfect one for Skywatch.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous3:51 PM

    This is a perfect moment of quietness, tranquility ... and beauty!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Absolutely gorgeous photo!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sandy

    You always presents a beautiful picture and a delicate text.

    I love much of your blog.

    Kisses
    Marcos

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous3:54 PM

    Oh what a fabulous photo of these birds you got Sandy! Exceptional against the blue sky...

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sandy
    Nature is perfect and you have been chosen by it, a perfect sky

    Kisses,
    Denise BC

    ReplyDelete
  7. What better committee could one want?

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love this picture. And I too love waking to the birds.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Stunning Sandy, really-- wonderful capture of Waxwings against the brilliant blue. They must be feeding. I've read they feed in flocks but roost in singles but I'm not sure about the roosting part. We get these each winter.

    ReplyDelete
  10. This is so beautiful..i have some birds ...and beetles in yestardays posting...besides sky watching ..if you have time have a look...some wonderful color done by the best paintor ...Mother Nature...Have a nice weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Welcome committee eh, great post and photo ideal for skywatch.


    Please come visit mine.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Beautiful catch, beautiful colors.

    ReplyDelete
  13. beauitful birds ~ thanks for sharing

    ReplyDelete
  14. WOW! Love this photo!
    This shot take the first place this week:)

    ReplyDelete
  15. WOW! That is a wonderful photo! I love it o much! Perfect SWF-shot! Well done:)

    Have a lovely weekend:)

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous4:52 PM

    Great Commitee.
    Very nice.

    ReplyDelete
  17. very beautiful that your picture with all these birds

    ReplyDelete
  18. I have always wanted to see these guys, maybe someday I will. But I'll enjoy your view til then. :)

    ReplyDelete
  19. What a lovely uplifting picture! I just love these birds.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Something I miss is bird song. My development is so new, we only have little baby trees, and you really need old growth to please the birds, so they don't live here yet.

    Tink *~*~*
    My Mobile Adventures *~*~*

    ReplyDelete
  21. Oh wow... that is an amazing photo! Beautiful!!! Stunning.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Perfect shot!!! :)))
    GREAT!

    Ida

    ReplyDelete
  23. Beautiful birds against the clear blue sky. Great sky watch.

    Nice weekend to you :)

    ReplyDelete
  24. Sandy: Those are super bird shots.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Such beautiful birds. I was told that they eat fruit and berries. I photographed some of these here in Wyoming last January. it was WELL below freezing so they must like frozen russian olives as well..
    Great photo and great skywatch friday post.
    You asked where I found such a cooperative owl.. He was a rehab bird that I was getting ready to release back into the wild..
    thanks for sharing

    ReplyDelete
  26. Anonymous6:31 PM

    Absolutely one of the best SWF photos of this week! Congratulations for having captured and shared with us this beauty!

    On the other hand, I'd like to add that your quote of the day is very meaningful to me! Thanx!

    ReplyDelete
  27. I wish I had taken this photo--I would be so proud of it. It is really a great capture.

    ReplyDelete
  28. I d'ont know what is better:
    The sky or the birds!!

    I think, both are beautiful!!

    Santilli

    ReplyDelete
  29. Those are beautiful birds !!! And such a great sky!!!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Anonymous8:31 PM

    Sandy,
    your birds in your picture are Cedar waxwings (Bombycillia cedrorum)found only in North America.
    Their breeding range extends throughout the southern half of Canada and the northern half of the United States.
    The winter range includes the United States, Mexico and Central America as far south as Panama.
    Preferred habitats include open woodlands, orchards, and residential areas.
    They frequently inhabit riparian areas, which provide nesting shrubs and trees,
    fruits and emerging aquatic insects, but also use farms, orchards, conifer plantations, and suburban gardens.
    Wonderful picture,
    cheers Gisela

    ReplyDelete
  31. Oh, how lovely---and so close!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Anonymous9:37 PM

    Sandy, that's an amazing capture with so many early morning visitors :)

    ReplyDelete
  33. That's an incredible shot, Sandy. What a beautiful way to wake up!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Anonymous11:17 PM

    This photo made me smile. Very pretty. :)

    ReplyDelete
  35. Wonderful shot of these birds! Mme. la Vache, who likes birds, liked it too! Good subject for Sky Watch Friday!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Cedar waxwings! One of my favorite birds, they would invade our holly tree and devour the berries in a matter of hours. We were on their migritory path. Every year for 10 years they came. I moved and I like to think they still come to eat the berries.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Great photo.
    Great sky.
    Nice welcome committee.

    Troy

    ReplyDelete
  38. haha, so cute! a perfect photo indeed!

    ReplyDelete
  39. Sandy, these are gorgeous

    ReplyDelete
  40. Beautiful golden birds! We don't have those ones in Australia...

    ReplyDelete
  41. That is just absolutely beautiful! Being woken by birdsong is a lovely way to wake up isn't it.I love hearing the birds in our garden when I wake up.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Anonymous3:08 AM

    I would enjoy that welcoming committee, although our swans suit me just as well!

    I love that quote and may have to borrow it from you :)

    ReplyDelete
  43. Anonymous3:31 AM

    excellent and colorful capture!!!

    ReplyDelete
  44. lovely picture

    BTW On mine, when I say I was on the top of the bus I mean the upper deck of a double-decker bus.

    ReplyDelete
  45. it looks more like a painting to me. nice shot sandy. the sky is so blue. beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  46. Anonymous5:42 AM

    Nice birds. :)

    I have my garge in the barn. Not so delicate to dance in grease and oil :p

    ReplyDelete
  47. Such beautiful birds,and a bright blue sky,wonderful:o)

    ReplyDelete
  48. Anonymous6:05 AM

    The birds are really cute and pretty. This is a beautiful and well framed photo.

    Have a fantastic weekend.

    Alexander
    Alex's World! - http://www.kakinan.com/alex

    ReplyDelete
  49. Excellent post, great "Skywatch".
    Thanks for visiting, have a nice weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  50. That is such a wonderful picture! Lucky you to have been there to capture this!

    ReplyDelete
  51. Beautiful bird photos. Love the color on them.

    ReplyDelete
  52. Anonymous7:35 AM

    Wow great picture of a beautiful bird :)

    ReplyDelete
  53. This was just wonderful!!!!
    Cute birds and a beautiful photo:)

    ReplyDelete
  54. They are welcoming the day with a song. Great photo.

    ReplyDelete
  55. The congregation is singing. ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  56. Great capture, Sandy! I love the crisp blue sky.

    my blog

    ReplyDelete
  57. what a great shot indeed.

    i just wanted to let you know that the image of the sake cups from your "acceptance and rejection" post inspired a very brief story i've put up today. thank you so much for sharing that entire post.

    ReplyDelete
  58. Thanks for the comment on my scottish castle piture the other day! :D Your bird pic is great! Have a nice day!!

    ReplyDelete
  59. OMG! Sandy, what a stunning photo! Just gorgeous! What sort of camera do you use? Have a great weekend... Hugs! :)

    ReplyDelete
  60. Anonymous10:26 AM

    Wow! This is a fantastic photo! Absolutely beautiful! Wish I could get a good picture of birds.

    ReplyDelete
  61. I am seeing the most beautiful blue birds, cardinals, and finches now. Sometimes they even sit on the window ledge of my office. A good omen for sure :)

    ReplyDelete
  62. A stunning photo! I do love to wake to birdsong.

    Thank you for commenting on my Sky Watch picture.

    ReplyDelete
  63. Anonymous11:20 AM

    such a great bird formation, why don't they fly....LOL :)

    ReplyDelete
  64. What a lovely picture ! I wished I would have this view early in the morning (here it rains!)

    ReplyDelete
  65. Anonymous12:23 PM

    I live in Virginia and haven't had the pleasure to run into such a gorgeous shot....absolutely beautiful, Sandy,

    Have a wonderful week-end

    ReplyDelete
  66. Not only does it appear that the little birdies posed for your beautiful, cheery photo, but they gently awakened you each morning, imploring you to enter their glorious world. If only every day could be so peacefully energetic for everyone.

    The quote is terrific - I'm going to borrow it, if that's okay with you. Perfect for me today.

    ReplyDelete
  67. Whaasddition to my landscaope thankst type of bird> good

    ReplyDelete
  68. Such a crystal clear photo, the sky's blue is so pure. Love it.

    ReplyDelete
  69. Oh I read the comments they are waxwings now to look them up for colors and then put them in cherry trees

    ReplyDelete
  70. Lovely! with bonus beautiful birds!

    ReplyDelete
  71. Anonymous4:48 PM

    Such pretty birds, I love your quote too. I hope your weekend is great too Sandy.

    ReplyDelete
  72. Hi! I love your picture. Are they waxwings? Very beautiful.
    I didn't realize how much beauty was here in New Jersey until I starting taking pictures, which hasn't been that long.
    Have a good weekend. Lisa

    ReplyDelete
  73. Anonymous8:02 PM

    I love the birds. nice picture

    ReplyDelete
  74. Hi Sandy...
    It's just turned 04.00 of a Saturday morning here and as I write this the Dawn Chorus as started.. I missed your Yesterday... I was awake so I thought I got through the Sky Watch list.

    Over 160 this week... it will need to be changed to Sky Watch Weekend soon..
    ll the best and thank you for all the vists you mde again
    Tom

    ReplyDelete
  75. Super, super, super, capture of The Cedar Waxwings against the sky. I am impressed!

    ReplyDelete
  76. such a peaceful shot.

    ReplyDelete
  77. That's a beautiful picture. Amazing how the weight of the birds doesn't bend the branches at all.

    ReplyDelete
  78. Anonymous6:50 AM

    GREAT SHOT!! and also the birds are really cute. I found a morning touch by your Image. Thanks for sharing with us.

    ReplyDelete
  79. Such beautiful birds! They look so peaceful. This is a really great photo!

    ReplyDelete
  80. Anonymous1:42 PM

    What a wonderful way to start the day ! Lovely pic :)

    ReplyDelete
  81. Thank Sandy for visit my sky!

    Have a happy week!

    Luiz

    ReplyDelete
  82. These birds seem to be making their plains for the spring! Very cute. Great shot!

    ReplyDelete
  83. Anonymous5:41 PM

    wow fantastic catch!

    what a surprise for early birds!

    ReplyDelete
  84. Gorgeous birds posed in front of a beautiful blue sky.

    ReplyDelete
  85. Beautiful birds Sandy. Looks like a nice welcoming committee for you. I think this picture perfectly captures the peace and tranquility of nature.

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for being here.