Sometimes we are lucky enough to encounter beauty in the world around us when we least expect it. One recent morning, while I was busy looking down instead of up, the Roseate Spoonbill featured above (and below) in this post just appeared out of nowhere! Suddenly someone called out, “Oh, look, a Roseate Spoonbill!”, and I was fortunate […]
This week we chant the second portion (parashah) in the Torah, the well-known story of Noah, the Ark, the Flood, and the Covenant of the Rainbow. According to our story, Noah sent both a Raven and a Dove from the Ark after the flood waters receded, to determine if the waters had subsided sufficiently so […]
“To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under Heaven.” These are familiar words to many of us, and English speakers are likely to have heard the song Turn, Turn, Turn, popularized in the 1960’s, when folk singer Pete Seeger put these very words to a beautiful melody. But did you know […]
There is something very special about taking a mid-afternoon walk on Friday in the wetland preserve, with the sun shining and a lovely breeze blowing. I know that in just a few hours, SHABBAT will begin, a beautiful day of rest and quiet. The ever-present song of Red-Winged Blackbirds flying about in the rushes is […]
This week marks the Days of Joy on the Jewish calendar~! We note this special time period between the Days of Awe, which include Rosh HaShana through Yom Kippur, and the beginning of the week-long holiday of Sukkot, when we commemorate the travels of our ancestors in the wilderness, and the building of the sanctuary, […]
Today is Erev Rosh HaShanah, the eve of the Jewish New Year. We’ve spent the past month turning our attention inward, toward the deepest part of our souls, in preparation for the Days of Awe that begin with Rosh HaShana. This evening begins a season of holidays, remembrances, and reflection for Jewish people all over the world. At […]
It seemed a bit late in the morning to be heading out for my walk the other day . . . nearly 9:30 am already. . . I never go birding that late! By then, the sun is getting hot and high in the sky, and mid-morning is generally past the birds’ most active […]
When I’m out strolling with my camera, people passing by often ask, “Did you see anything interesting today?” I always wonder how anyone could actually be out here in the marshes and wetlands, and ask this question! 😉 There is so much beauty and wonder that I respond every time with a resounding, “YES!” […]
Just as I was finishing my walk this morning, a huge and powerful Great Blue Heron suddenly appeared out of nowhere and glided right by me at eye level! My camera settings weren’t really right for the moment, yet I couldn’t help but snap a photo when I literally felt the whoosh… of his massive wings as […]
The Purple Gallinule is one of my favorite birds – luckily for me, they are very common in our wetlands!! Like other Gallinule babies, they are just little balls of black fluff when they are born. By mid-August, there were still a few groups of chicks toddling after their parents in the reeds and peeking […]
Birder's Journey 