Goodbye Moon, Hello Sun!

@owlwings (43910)
Cambridge, England
January 6, 2018 7:28am CST
I thought this was a rather unique shot. It is of the full moon setting on January 2nd against the rosy clouds of the sunrise. It isn't often that we get to welcome the New Year with a full moon (OK, nearly full on January 1st, but never mind) and, at the same time, see the sun colour the western sky pink! This full moon was called the "Wolf Moon" by some North American peoples, presumably because wolves could be heard baying 'at the moon' more often at this season. Wolves (and dogs) don't actually bay at the moon, I believe, though the moonlight may inspire them to want to hunt (or to mate) more. I don't really know about wolves - I've never danced with them! The dog I know uses baying as the closest sound he has to human speech, so I usually understand him to be saying something like "Where's my foo?" or "Come on! Play!" or "Are we going for a walk, then?" (or other things like "Don't shout at me or I'll shout at you!").
20 people like this
18 responses
@LadyDuck (471599)
• Switzerland
6 Jan 18
You are so right, wolves are nocturnal, they howl more during the night, no matter if there is a full moon or a new moon.
3 people like this
@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
6 Jan 18
The last wild wolf in Britain was killed in Wales (according to the local Welsh legend, anyway) in the mid 18thCentury.
3 people like this
@LadyDuck (471599)
• Switzerland
6 Jan 18
@owlwings We have wolves here, their number is increasing.
2 people like this
@Shiva49 (26701)
• Singapore
7 Jan 18
@owlwings As a young boy I recall reading with fascination "The Hound of the Baskervilles" - siva
2 people like this
@allknowing (136778)
• India
6 Jan 18
Never a moon with such a colourful background. Goes to show the sun is lurking around somewhere
2 people like this
@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
7 Jan 18
Since it's a full moon, the sun must obviously be directly behind me and lighting up the clouds around the moon with the rosy dawn colours.
2 people like this
@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
7 Jan 18
@allknowing I thought that it was pretty special, too!
1 person likes this
@allknowing (136778)
• India
7 Jan 18
@owlwings This is a rare image where the sun decides to give a colourful background to the moon.
1 person likes this
@yugocean (9963)
• India
6 Jan 18
You can study Dogs and JJ can study cats, so it is always raining cats and dogs instead of wolves.
1 person likes this
@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
6 Jan 18
I like to study cats as well ... and especially the way they interact with dogs.
1 person likes this
@yugocean (9963)
• India
6 Jan 18
@owlwings I read about their behavior, but not actually have had any cat.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (89990)
• Arvada, Colorado
29 Dec 20
Did you take this lovely shot Owl? The moon was glorious here last night. Oh to have a decent camera.
1 person likes this
@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
29 Dec 20
Yes, I took this shot. I forget now which camera I used but it was nothing remarkable or expensive! It was at the limit of its zoom and I think that I trimmed the photo further. I like that you can see the crow's nest in the fork of one of the trees.
1 person likes this
• Arvada, Colorado
29 Dec 20
@owlwings You made good use of the camera this is gorgeous
1 person likes this
@pgntwo (22408)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
21 Jan 18
Ah, the old "Where's my foo?" question. D and T, in my mouth, usually. L, well, if I were a dog, at the other end of my leash, I guess. K? Only up in Yorkshire... Great pic, couldn't see the moon here when it was at its best or fullest.
1 person likes this
@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
21 Jan 18
I can't remember whether 'foo' was a typo or intentional now. Cats aren't very good at dental plosives (voiced or nunvoiced)
1 person likes this
@pgntwo (22408)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
21 Jan 18
@just4him (317090)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
28 Feb 18
Beautiful picture. I hadn't heard that about the 'Wolf's Moon'. I love talking to dogs and them talking back. I did that a lot with one of my dogs.
1 person likes this
@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
28 Feb 18
@just4him I talk to my grand daughter's dog and he talks to me. He has no idea what I'm saying, I'm convinced, whether I talk English or dog and I have no idea what he's saying (though sometimes I guess right when he tries to pronounce the word 'foood', which is difficult for a dog because they can't do an 'f' and nor can they do a 'd'. They're very good at making the 'ooo' bit sound very plaintive and hungry, though.
1 person likes this
@just4him (317090)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
28 Feb 18
@owlwings I've heard of some dogs who can 'talk' and find it interesting. I would have wonderful 'talk' sessions with one of my dogs. He loved those times.
1 person likes this
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
6 Jan 18
It's a lovely photo. It makes me sad I didn't see that moon. My nephew had just arrived in the afternoon, and I didn't go outside that night. Of course, it may not have looked the same here as there.
1 person likes this
• Preston, England
5 Feb 18
dancing with wolves is usually followed by being ripped to bits by wolves - great photo
1 person likes this
• Philippines
3 Feb 18
As I walked back home I saw the sun shining while the moon slowly disappears.
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
20 Jan 18
It is a great photo of the sky and moon, no matter if the wolves and dogs notice it or not.
1 person likes this
@marlina (154131)
• Canada
1 Feb 18
Love, love that shot.
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (26701)
• Singapore
7 Jan 18
The sun and the moon have coexisted for billions of years without one rubbing the other the wrong way; a lesson to ponder as we welcome another new year with hope and trepidation - siva
1 person likes this
• Trinidad And Tobago
30 Jan 18
A full moon is always spectacular her and it's quite common to see it against a rising sun. By the way your pic looks beautiful. Around this time we also see it in the sky for most of the day. Watching a full moon the feelings is indescribable ...and apart from wolves and dogs, I too feel like howling. Must be some primitive instinct!
1 person likes this
@porwest (91409)
• United States
19 May 18
Great shot, and interesting little tidbit to boot.
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (47406)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
6 Jan 18
Lovely shot.
1 person likes this
@Teep11 (7673)
• United States
6 Jan 18
The moon certainly generates the light which so many need. There seems to be a lot of persons so in tuned with the dark areas instead of focusing on what light can contribute.
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
6 Jan 18
Don't forget there will be another New Moon on the 16th and a Full Moon on the 31st of this month too @owlwings .
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
6 Jan 18
The colorings are unusual.
1 person likes this