Heron sighting

I had time to kill after work and before class, so I went for a walk. It was hot down in the Fill, as well as in crossing the vast expanse of asphalt there and back.  I thought to look for frogs, wondering if I'd see another one.  My  footsteps on the gravel startled a bird, it took flight, flying south across the water, looking at me as it did so: a green heron.  Don't think I've seen one in at least a couple of years.  Pretty close up, too.

The lily pads are choking up the water ways, so not much in duck sightings.  Lots of songbirds air borne, singing and chattering and darting across the pathway from one tree to another.  The vegetative growth just exploding, and the water still spilling over onto the roadways and pathways in spite of a lack of measurable rain.

Saturday morning

Decided to walk around the lake this morning.  Half-way around the lake I stop to take pictures of a swallow and while I'm standing there, some crows come over and decide to mess with me.  First they steal a cookie bag, which I get back and dispose of after they dumped the crumbs out, then I move my coffee closer to me and one comes over and pecks at the lid (it's backed away here, but you can see the coffee flying to the right.)

Curiosity, June 21/L Herlevi 2014

Here's the swallow.  Heavily back lit.

Swallow on dock, June 21/L Herlevi 2014

And then there's this cloud.  Not sure what it reminds me of (a flying uterus?)

Cloud, June 21/L Herlevi, 2014

And then, I walk further along the path, and looking down, I see a turtle in the grass next to me, moving quite quickly, away from the lake to the pathway.  I follow it, both to see where it's heading and to keep it from being run over as the paths are busy now.  A small crowd gathers, a couple people stand in its path in an attempt to get it to turn around but that doesn't work.  It's heading toward the highway.  The group consensus is to prevent it from committing suicide in traffic, and to that end, someone picks it up and returns it to the shoreline.  It drops itself back into the water, and satisfied, everyone disperses.

Escape! June 21/L Herlevi 2014

Just another morning of wildlife encounters in the city.

Frog

I am often aware of the presence of frogs, but rarely see them: I hear them croak, make cow-like sounds, see a sudden splash of water...and once, with its eyes held just above the surface of the water, I saw one move quickly toward shore (toward a bird, actually, didn't catch it.)  Anyway, came across this frog today. It just sat there.  Suspect it is a bull frog, and invasive, but pretty.  Also, baby grebes swimming around and a couple of eagles soaring overhead, most of the ducks in hiding.

Frog, June2/L Herlevi 2014

Happy Solstice!

Morning

Each day of the week feels a little different: I like walking the lake on early Sunday mornings best.  The water calm, crowds thin, voices subdued.  Fog rising.  Air still, sweet with balsam.  Flocks of geese flapping their wings, testing flight in droves near the shoreline.  A rag tag urban family of ducks following one another down the path to the water.  The lakeshore lined with fishermen, lines in the water, nothing biting.  Paddle boarders out in the middle; one crew team rowing, the accompanying motor boat send the occasional volley of waves across the water.  Quiet.

A feral duck breaks the silence, a nasal call for her hatchlings to join her.  They do, and the group heads into a overhanging grove of trees.  Above a circling bird, slows and drops down to the water, comes up empty.  Circles and repeats.  Eventually rises with a fish hanging from it's talons, passing three times above me, each time higher, then off to a nest.  An osprey (fish eagle.) 

Lots of baby crows, but no attacks.

The crowds slowly increase, and the morning has passed.  Almost time to get to rehearsal.  Calm now then shattered with the stressful bus ride.  Cherish it where it's found.

Monday walk

Insects and pollen fill the air.  The lake is high, water inundates the access road.
Crow, straw, dunking its head under water.  When it flies off, I go to look to see what it was after, but discover nothing.  Heron.  Redwing.  Swallows fill the sky.
Kinda' in love with being alive.