Bird Voyeur
The sweet little digital camera that the hubby purchased (after I dropped our old one) has encouraged me to do a little more walking.
Last week I took it with me when I walked up the "creek" path, which doubles for joggers and bikers as well. I've seen beavers, mink, deer, birds, birds, birds, and once the tail end of a bear run running away through the brush. Of course, without a camera. Now I carry it often.
This time I was watching the Belted King Fisher performing an acrobatic display and chattering at the ducks and geese in his fishing territory. I was zooming in on him in a tree across the water when I spotted what I thought was a huge wasp or hornet nest very high in the tree. (Thanks to Susan for bringing up bee's today.)
The heavy binoculars were at home, so I continued to try to see it through my camera. Then, a weird movement caught my eye. What I thought was a giant paper wasp nest was really a Great Blue Heron sleeping on one leg with his head beneath his wing.
I sat down on the pavement and watched for 10-15 minutes, while joggers and dog walkers stopped and asked me what was so engaging. No one found it as intriging as I did.
Finally, he woke up and began a preening process and I continued to observe. A bird voyeur I guess.
When he finally descended in a graceful swoop, he stayed close by. He was a super model - and the creek was his catwalk. I think he knew I was his personal audience.
Last week I took it with me when I walked up the "creek" path, which doubles for joggers and bikers as well. I've seen beavers, mink, deer, birds, birds, birds, and once the tail end of a bear run running away through the brush. Of course, without a camera. Now I carry it often.
This time I was watching the Belted King Fisher performing an acrobatic display and chattering at the ducks and geese in his fishing territory. I was zooming in on him in a tree across the water when I spotted what I thought was a huge wasp or hornet nest very high in the tree. (Thanks to Susan for bringing up bee's today.)
The heavy binoculars were at home, so I continued to try to see it through my camera. Then, a weird movement caught my eye. What I thought was a giant paper wasp nest was really a Great Blue Heron sleeping on one leg with his head beneath his wing.
I sat down on the pavement and watched for 10-15 minutes, while joggers and dog walkers stopped and asked me what was so engaging. No one found it as intriging as I did.
Finally, he woke up and began a preening process and I continued to observe. A bird voyeur I guess.
When he finally descended in a graceful swoop, he stayed close by. He was a super model - and the creek was his catwalk. I think he knew I was his personal audience.
Comments
THIS was a gift, don't you think? I can sit captivated at times like that, too. I've camped out at anthills, watched a spider wrap its prey, spied on gators while they awaited a feathery lunch... nature is grand and worthy of voyeurism (much more so than reality TV)!
I drag my camera around everywhere these days. Today I had it with me at the auto mechanics.
Um, no shots there, though;)
Gorgeous pictures! I don't think we have blue heron around here - if we do, I've never seen one. I'm absolutely fascinated with birds, insects, spiders (as long as they're not ON me), so I've really enjoyed your posts this week. If I ever get around to uploading the pics from my camera, I will have a "nature" post sometime this week.
Blue herons are prolific in my neck of the woods, but I never tire of watching them.
And, if it helps, I dropped and broke our digital camera too. Twice actually. The first time it was fixable, but the second time I broke the display. *eek*
The new one is better, though I spend my time taking rather ridiculous pictures as opposed to your glorious nature shots. :)
Thanks!
♥Pam
We get herons at the fairground lake near our house. I'm always surprised at their size, I keep thinking they're smaller than they are!