Mar
22
2013
It occurred to me I did not not know the name of the ubiquitous gull that is always on the river. It was common but that did not matter. I am going to try to memorize its distinct marking beyond the color white and identify it in one of my bird books. It is time I learn its particular name.
Apr
21
2012
Every time I pass a stream or a river I gaze downstream (or upstream). To me the body of water represents mystery. If I am on foot I want to see if I spot any fish or other creature in the water. By car, I am on the outlook for any kind of duck or egret or other bird. I am always curious what I will see. There is a marsh nearby and I am always looking for a snowy egret or the much larger great egret there. I could not believe it when I flushed a blue heron who was drinking the water of the small creek less than an hundred yards from my house. I face nature with a sense of wonder. There is always the sense of mystery. I know the Almighty has instilled that in me and every child has it and far too many lose it. To view this universe without a sense of awe is a great loss. With it, you will discover wonders and beauty all around you. All you have to do is open your eyes with a sense of expectation.
Feb
27
2012
The only thing I saw on the River was the ubiquitous gull. I crossed the busy highway to take a closer view of the River but that was all I saw. With a little luck I thought I might spot one of the bald eagles who nest on the opposite mountain. Not this time. I keep looking for them but I never have seen them in the vicinity.
Later on I might occasionally spot a snowy or great egret on the fringes of the nearby islands. It is still too early in the season for that. I just wanted to view the expanse of the River. There were many gulls but that was about it. They could be found here year around.
Later on I will walk around my land and see what plants are starting to come out of the ground. The daffodils, of course, are five or six inches tall. I am wondering whether any of the row of tulips planted last year will come up. There are always surprises. Spring is now three weeks and some days away. We will see what comes up.
Dec
13
2011
I believe it was last Saturday. We were driving down our road and we spotted a hawk perched high on a tree on our left. My wife wanted a second look so we turned around and stopped our car at that spot. The hawk soon after flew away. It could not tolerate our presence. My wife saw the red on its tail as it flew away. It was a red tailed hawk and a juvenile (less than a year old according to my bird book). Then we got on the main high way along the River and my wife saw two bald eagles soaring high in the sky. I was disappointed. I had never seen two at once but only spotted one. It was a fruitful day birdwatching. I like surprises and new bird discoveries.
Dec
8
2011
I was speeding home and glanced at the mountain across the mile wide river. The sun was resting on top of the mountain. I looked again and it was gone. It was a brief look at dusk–one point in time I almost missed. How much of life is that momentary–here today, gone tomorrow? All we can do is keep our eyes open for those special moments. You never know when they come along. This was one such moment.
Sep
13
2011
We flushed a blue heron in an unlikely spot–just down the block at my neighbor’s far corner of his property, where there was a little creek. It must have been drinking its water. It just surprised me. I never would have expected to see one there.
I mentioned it to someone I “bumped” into at the local supermarket and he declared they are everywhere and eat the bass in the river and also trout in other streams. He complained the state will fine you $200 if you kill one. And said they are so numerous they do not need the state’s protection. I just shrugged my shoulder and continued walking down the aisle.
Apr
5
2011
Every time I look up at that mountain facing my town I expect to see a bald eagle. Last summer someone told me that two eagles were nesting there and he had a telescope trained on its nest.
The nameless mountain is across the mile wide River. Every time I look at the sky and wonder whether I will see at least one and best of all two. I know they probably fly up and down the River seeking fish for their prey. I wonder about their young and when they leave the nest.
I keep peering at the sky and wonder how long will it be before I spot one. Before I moved to this state I had never seen a bald eagle. Of course, I did not live near mountains and this magnificent River. I will catch a glimpse of this bird when I least expect it. I continue to look up the sky and mountains and River.
Aug
13
2010
I praised the Lord For the drizzly day. I drove up the River and stopped at several landings. I still remember how uncomfortable the heat waves were. They were not too far from my memory–the ninety degree days and accompanied (???) high humidity.
I flushed one blue heron at one landing and a bat darted out above me into the road, which was kind of unusual since it was nine thirty in the morning and bats are nocturnal.
Anyway, I am going to to enjoy the rain and lower temperatures today. I know the heat and humidity will come back. Summer was not over yet.
Apr
14
2010
I was thrilled when one of my neighbors said two bald eagles have a nest only three miles away on the mountain across the River. He said that a man with a telescope keeps an eye on them and also sometimes they can be seen soaring over the valley. Now I am going to see if I can spot them with my binoculars. I can’t wait to see if I have any luck. I have only seen bald eagles a few times in this area. Now I will have my eyes open viewing the sky every time I go in that area.
Apr
9
2010
I made a few discoveries today. When I drove to the post office and passed the meadow nearby I spotted two male red winged blackbirds dive bombing each other. I am not sure what they were doing except they may have been fighting for their own territory.
To see two at one time was a real treat and so close to home. Then when I was driving to Newport along the Juniata River I saw what appeared to be a blue heron perched on a branch on this side of the river.
Later in the distance at the mouth of a tributary a great egret was wading in the water. I also used to see a blue heron always in the same pond, same spot.
I realized last winter something was wrong when it was still in the same spot after the pond froze over. To my chagrin I was looking at a statue of one all along.
Those were a few of my bird discoveries today. A turkey vulture reluctantly left the road and his prey when I came across it. I watched it fly away slowly. I never know what bird I will see and always have my eyes open for the next discovery.
Apr
2
2010
I resisted the temptation to bolt. It was seventy-seven degrees outside–a touch of summer. I thought I’d go out and drive to the River. I then decided rather to walk around my property to see what I could observe.
The little creek in the back was almost dry. I really do not know where our toads that appear at our front door come from. Where do the polliwogs swim?
I noticed a patch of yellow and white daffodils in the middle of the woods. The white ones were a larger variety. Whatever possessed someone to plant them there.
I turned over an ten by six inch long moss covered log hoping to spot a salamander but no luck. Twice over the years we discovered four inch long orange colored salamanders in the yard. I know so little about them.
I noted two white hyacinths were blooming and I dropped to the ground to smell them. I had always loved their fragrance.
The raspberry and blackberry bushes were just starting to sprout. It will still be awhile until the white flowers come. And even longer before I pick the berries.
Then Lynelle will bake scrumptious berry pies that simply got gobbled up almost as fast as they are baked.
I wondered whether the Black eyed Susans which my wife planted along our hundred foot long picket fence will come up. I thought they would look neat there. It remain to be seen.
Every thing in its own time. I returned to our house. I will go out again but will not travel by car anywhere and see again what I could observe in my own backyard.
Mar
19
2010
Every time I pass a river or creek I want to look upstream or downstream. I don’t know always know why. On certain bridges, I hope to spot a great egret or a snowy egret, a considerably smaller bird, although both are completely white.
It always has something to do with the unknown. I never know exactly what to expect. Even when the river is parallel to the road I still try to peer between the rapidly passing trees to see what I could see.
Every body of water fascinates me from no matter from what vantage point I view it–car, train, whatever. I have been this way as long as I remember.
I keep my eyes peeled for any ducks or other kind of birds that I pass always wanting to identify them. I was amazed that one of two visiting friends (from NYC) could not identify a bird as common as a male cardinal. I guess you do not see many birds in the middle of the city.
I have always made it my business to name the birds I see. And if I see one I don’t recognize, I try to remember some distinct feature of it so I can consult my bird book and properly identify it.
I always pay attention to the birds around me. I grew up in the city but my Mom had a garden with all kinds of things in it including tomatoes and all kind of flowers, an apricot tree and even a fig tree. And that is, of course, an incomplete list.
On weekends my Dad often took us to the mountains and seashore and lakes. I owe both of my parents a great debt for introducing me to nature. I grew to love birds and took care studying them and loved to identify them–even from a speeding car. I learned to respect nature and the wild.
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