365Caws is now in its 14th year of publication, and was originally intended to end after 365 days. It has sometimes been difficult for me to find new material, particularly during the winter months, but now as I enter my own twilight years, I cannot guarantee that I will be able to provide daily posts. It is my hope that along the way I may have inspired someone to a greater curiosity about the natural world. If so, I can rest, content in the knowledge that my work here has been done.
Friday, January 17, 2014
Handsome Heron
Day 107: For the last couple of weeks, I have been wanting to make a trip down to the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, but weather always seemed to present an obstacle. Although the temperature was below freezing this morning, I left home under clear skies, but descended into fog. Knowing that the last 700 feet of the boardwalk would be closed until the end of the month, I almost decided to turn around and put Plan B into action, but a hike in Pack Forest in the fog didn't have much appeal. The fog thinned as I approached the delta, and I was happy to see...to be able to see!...the gazebo at the end of the walkway.
Coming along the trail by the Twin Barns, I spotted Mallards and Buffleheads, a Merganser and a gaggle of Canada Geese, although small birds were not much in evidence. Then my eye was caught by a Peregrine Falcon flying along just above the marsh grass searching for breakfast. I was so intent on the Falcon that I almost walked past the Blue Heron on the opposite side of the path, no more than ten feet from me. When I first noticed the bird, it had its head cocked to the side and one beady eye fixed on something in a clump of grass. My presence on the trail was no deterrent to the Heron's concentration, but I never saw it pick up its prey.
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