Island Light: Morning Song
Osprey keeps watch from its nest atop the pole at Jetty Beach.
Osprey keeps watch from its nest atop the pole at Jetty Beach.
Migratory greater yellowlegs returns home to the shore of Sengekontacket.
Migratory greater yellowlegs returns home to the shore of Sengekontacket.
Tall ship Alabama points into the wind in Vineyard Haven harbor.
Tall ship Alabama points into the wind in Vineyard Haven harbor.
Ferry Island Home pulls into Vineyard waters with her eager passengers.
Ferry Island Home pulls into Vineyard waters with her eager passengers.
Still water and calm days at Black Point Beach.
Still water and calm days at Black Point Beach.
Signs of spring are blooming everywhere along Island roads.
Signs of spring are blooming everywhere along Island roads.
Moorings populate the East Chop Yacht Club grounds waiting for warmer days.
Moorings populate the East Chop Yacht Club grounds waiting for warmer days.
Formerly a sail loft, a whale oil factory, an old grain store, and a boat builder's shed; now the Old Sculpin Gallery.
Formerly a sail loft, a whale oil factory, an old grain store, and a boat builder's shed; now the Old Sculpin Gallery.
Caribbean-colored waters under Big Bridge in Oak Bluffs.
Caribbean-colored waters under Big Bridge in Oak Bluffs.
Full moon rises between masts in Vineyard Haven.
Full moon rises between masts in Vineyard Haven.
West Tisbury cows have their eyes on you.
West Tisbury cows have their eyes on you.
Scott McDowell of Copperworks in Menemsha works on his craft.
Scott McDowell of Copperworks in Menemsha works on his craft.
Tour buses are filling up with people as warmer days are here.
Tour buses are filling up with people as warmer days are here.
Happy times at the Owen Park dock.
Happy times at the Owen Park dock.
Snow fence protects fragile beach at West Chop.
Snow fence protects fragile beach at West Chop.
Alison Shaw takes advantage of West Chop view and sunset for photo shoot.
Alison Shaw takes advantage of West Chop view and sunset for photo shoot.
Mid-April and there's plenty of light for even the dim-eyed to navigate before six o'clock these mornings. Flowers are in bloom with daffodils flamboyantly leading the way, the grass is greening up nicely, and the air is warmer. It's morning, and everything is new.
There are mourning doves and mockingbirds outside our window, and cardinals and blue jays and starlings and more kinds of sparrows than one devoted to moderation can count. There are chickadees, of course, and crows ponderously descend from time to time. Catbirds are a favorite, including one that comes back year after year to a tangle in our privet.
The sight of them all is a great satisfaction, but waking to their song is better still. It's the way mornings should be, and they're getting better.