Sunday, April 15, 2012

return of the blue...

...the great blue heron, that is

last year - i experienced my very first sighting of this magnificent bird.  what an awesome creature.  i remember saying i didn't recall ever seeing one before - perhaps in a picture or zoo, but not up close and personal... so to be able to capture it with my camera - allowed to get within 20 feet before it decided i was too close for comfort... and it would gracefully take off in glorious flight across the lake... whew, such a rush i'd get!  and always a matter of timing...  never knowing when i'd be graced with seeing it on my ventures out and about.  then once the cold weather arrived, it disappeared - gone for a bit...

well the other day, i practically stumbled on him... not expecting to see it so early in the season - there it was - relaxing by the shoreline... silently waiting - watching for a fish to appear for a snack.  given the opportunity to approach once i realized he was there, i snapped some shots before he took off - then encountered him a few days later...  doing another heron stalk (yes, i attempt to creep about silently thinking nature isn't aware of me... boo!) - i got off a few decent pictures before he looked me in the eye, creating a bond so forceful - so magical -  i won't soon forget it.  one of those moments, i felt as one with nature - one with god who created this exquisite perfection of beauty...  









then he turned his eyes from mine, lifted his great expanse of wings and remarkably silent - flew over the glistening water... into the distant blue sky - leaving me breathless with the wonder of it all...




have you seen such beauty?  experienced the sheer magnitude of creation at your fingertips?  i urge you to take a moment to explore what's around you... it doesn't have to be a great blue heron - it can be a flower, a different bird - robin or crow... a cloud, the sky... whatever triggers you; take a simple moment to enjoy it - be thankful - be grateful, that you can...

happy day.....

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