This morning, Olive & I went out to Harrington Way Access alongside the American River. I used to bike along this stretch of the parkway a few times a week during peak lockdown. During those rides I would stop at the rest areas along the way but only for a few minutes before hopping back on the bike & pedaling on. I always knew there was a ton of the local riparian habitat to explore but never quite made time to solely do so. For some reason, this particular area was in my head throughout the week so I decided to act on it.
The recent storms had caused the water to significantly rise; as a result, some rapids were formed & some areas were submerged. We spotted a river otter (first time for me) taking a morning swim & tons of different birds (Black Phoebes, Wood Ducks, Great Egrets, etc.) perched up in trees, shrubs & some sitting in the water. In addition to the increased liveliness of the area, the run-off had also helped formed small lagoon-like areas that were bordered by trees & elevated pathways. Although the sunrise paired with the clear blue skies was a very harsh light to photograph in, it was still a very beautiful morning to be out.
Unfortunately, the cold weather was causing my camera battery to act up (I also didn’t check to see my battery level beforehand) so it died after about 40 minutes of walking. I took that as a sign to make more mental notes & to enjoy the surroundings without a camera or phone in my hand every few minutes or so.
I plan to return to this area when the light is more diffused whether that be during the evening time or when the clouds roll in again..
Fun fact: this area was utilized for some gold & gravel mining in the past.. Kinda cool!
I think the harsh light worked really well for you actually! Excited to see and hear more about this area as you discover it! It's definitely got my attention, especially that little snippet of history your threw in there 🙂
I think the harsh light worked really well for you actually! Excited to see and hear more about this area as you discover it! It's definitely got my attention, especially that little snippet of history your threw in there 🙂
Beautiful shots <3