since there has been interest in stills from my goatcams, some of my readers may enjoy exploring livecams available online?
In the early 1990s, I sometimes watched a livecam of Dublin while working (endlessly, it seemed, but happily) on my Master's Thesis. I had not yet been to Ireland for on-the-ground research, and it was a little bit magical to have that realtime connection. Of course, when I actually spent 15 days in Ireland in 1995, I chose to spend about five minutes in Dublin, and nearly every waking moment out in the countryside; afoot or on horseback or in a boat. It was splendid. Extremely low-budget, with a backpack full of a change of clothes and about 40 pounds of camera, film, tripod, and research material. I later estimated that I walked over a hundred miles. As I say...
it was splendid.
And now, gosh, 20(!) years later, I sometimes watch webcams of wildlife and places I would love to visit (afoot or on horseback or in a boat - really, some preferences never change, however unrealistic). Here are a couple of websites you might be interested in visiting. The images below are just screenshots, but the links will take you to the (much better quality) real thing.
I found the Shetland livecams during my first experience (online, that is) of Up Helly Aa, which will be happening - and livestreamed again - in just just a few days, on Tuesday, 27 January! So exciting!
Year-round, the Shetland cams offer several views of Lerwick,
and audio from the local radio station.
My favorite puffincam is sadly not up this year,
but any view of the ocean is very welcome here
at landlocked Cloud Harvest Cashmere.
And speaking of birds...
the Cornell Ornithology Lab has several livecams, in various locations. This linked list conveniently indicates which are live at the moment:
This morning I watched a fantastic new camera in Savannah, Georgia.
(If you left-click on an image, I think it will embiggen. Worth trying!)
When I started watching this Great Horned Owl nest,
it was early morning and soft light...
and as time went on*
the sun began to light the branches, and then the mama owl's face.
*it can be mesmerizing to watch these cameras. Just sayin'...
this is why I almost always have my goatcams open
in one corner of my laptop.
How else would I have discovered that
Azalea is also doing some bird-watching?
Or learned that Acer and Betula have taken on
the responsibility of supervising the snowplow,
on the road far below:
Because after all,
we humans are not the only ones
who like to keep a close eye on things,
from the comfort of our own nests!
~~~
Do you have any favorite livestreaming cameras?
Please share your recommendations
in the comments!
~~~~~
