Encounters on a chilly morning in the wetlands . . .

The other morning was the chilliest so far this fall, and completely overcast, with occasional drizzle, so I wasn’t sure I’d see much on my walk.  But I was delighted to encounter several of my favorite bird friends!  The Wood Stork featured above was foraging among the marsh grasses, when he suddenly leapt up and made a […]

What’s in a name? ~ Part 2

Humans have a curious need to classify the elements of the natural world around us, and to assign names to these wonders.  I wrote last week about my experiences with learning to identify birds, and how important this also seems to be to passersby who often ask, “Excuse me, but do you know which bird […]

Walk in the wetlands before Shabbat . . . .

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 […]

Unanticipated connections….

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 […]