Taking a good friend to a special birding site
Going to see whatever species present in view
Looking all around carefully as we walk
Catching a glimpse of distant movement.
Being outdoors in nature is a pleasure
Here in the marshlands the sky and horizon
The feeling of moving through immense space
Reflected on the water as we scan the scene.
This is about paying attention to details.
This is about learning to name the differences.
This is about getting outside yourself
Being alive in the midst of life on earth.
We see and hear coots in abundance
Singles and clusters and entire rafts gathered together.
We see great blue herons and little blues
And tricolors and great egrets in the marsh.
Overhead a great kettle of black vultures swirls
And ospreys swoop and hover and dive for fish.
We see a large flock of birds approach like a cloud
Twisting and turning and showing they are glossy ibises.
Out in the marsh a sandhill crane is sitting on a nest.
On our path another dances with wings outspread.
Hiding in the weeds there are blue winged teal
Showing momentarily the white crescent on their cheek.
Ahead of us perched at the top of the tallest reed
A kestrel keeps its separation, moving as we approach.
Alongside us on the bank there are alligators sunning
Not interested and not concerned with our presence.
Boat tailed grackles serenade us with their repertoire.
A huge turtle watches us but stays put in the sun.
We see a pair of limpkins foraging on the bank
One finds a snail and kindly gives it to the other.
My friend sees a wood stork hiding in the tall grass.
It’s good to see what someone else sees
That we would have walked past unawares.
It’s good to get together and share the sights.
