15 January 2013 Reflections

      I was up before dawn in my “Monday-Saturday” routine (retirees get six Saturdays and a Sunday you know).  My editor in chief wanted a story on tides. In these latitudes we have a diurnal cycle like most of the eastern seaboard. Two highs and lows occur each day. I peered outside in the predawn light. It was past low tide and trickles of water from an incoming flow were just beginning to fill the paths and finger-ways meandering thru the marsh. Old Man River was feeding in the thin muddy stream in front of my dock. He was an early riser and not wanting to disturb him, I headed for the coffee pot instead. Took care of my editor in chief and got her off to work then headed for the dock. I gave thanks for the day and began to carefully observe the incoming tide.
     The rolling cirrus overhead looked like the sand waves on a beach. The tide began to cover the muddy flats and small streams began to broaden out, filling the marsh with its influx of life.  A school of minnows could be seen from their ripples as they swam into a small tributary seeking shelter among the grasses. As the water levels slowly began to rise, so came the larger fish. Soon tell tale swirls of their fins appeared. Circles of life reflected on the surface in peaceful waves. It looks serene on the surface but we know beneath these small waves life really happens. It is eat or be eaten for many each day (kind of like work huh? But I’m retired now :) ). I began to focus and listen for the little things. The chit of a myrtle warbler behind me in the tree caught my ear. The morning song of the red-winged blackbird filled the air as he auditioned while perched on top of a bald cypress tree that we had planted. A wood stork was on the crumbling pier where Old Man River often stands. It was soon joined by a small snowy egret. Both gleamed white in the morning sun. It looked like an angel gliding by as a great egret joined them and landed by the little snowy. It put its wings out as if to whisper something to his little friend. Soon the morning doves began to marshal in the tree tops. I call then the innocents. In the far trees a large dark shape also appeared and a crow began to caw. Although I couldn’t identify the bird, it remained in the trees, watching. Two pied-billed grebes landed at the head of the tributary and slowly swam towards me as they began their morning feed. These birds dive and swim for tens of feet submerged often stirring up fish that the egrets and herons then pounce on. Where you see a grebe, the others will soon follow.
     Life is like the tides sometimes. We wake up in a muddy bog and wander about to begin the day. Soon the light begins to shine. We stir. The incoming tide brings its living water and nourishment for the day and we go about our business. In nature, as in life, there are always things lurking behind somewhere. But it does not stop the innocent from doing the things we do. Each day our needs come in with the tide. The ebb tide then cleanses and washes away those things we don’t really need or left behind. The southerly breeze began to lift the blind and I knew it was a sign to go. Be blessed today. Harry

Cirrus clouds like sand ripples in the sky,a school of fish with the incoming tide.

Circles of life reflect on the surface

A red-winged blackbird auditions a tune

Angel fly by, a Great Egret

Pssst...watch that guy over there...

The innocents.

Pied-billed Grebe gives me a glance.

14 January 2013 Reflections

     The North Jax Monthly interview went well I think. I should hear back this week sometime. Also I should get a replacement lens by the end of week hopefully. In the meantime I have a little story to tell. After Friday’s drama I thought we would lighten things up a bit today. This happened last spring but its lesson is still very relevant today. The Broward River flows into the Saint Johns River and on into the sea about 20 miles upstream from here. Along the northern bank near the mouth of the river is Huguenot Park, a state run beach area where you can drive onto the beach, camp out, and enjoy the river on one side and the ocean on the other. It is also a major breeding ground for the Royal Terns, Laughing Gulls and other birds. I bought my first camera a year ago and took my second photography workshop last spring here and was able to capture a moment in the human-like interaction between a couple of Royal Terns.  Getting a few photographers together to "capture through the lens"  bird nature like this is the kind of activity local photographers can do for fun. I enjoy making little humorous slide shows of the interactions and sharing them with friends. I call this one Royal Tern Rejection, a Story of Ralph and Rhonda.

            My instructor for the workshop was Mr. Maxis (Max) Gamez. He is a self-taught, well known, and published bird photographer for publications such as National Geographic.  Max taught us what to watch for in the interactions we observed. Mature mating Royal Terns have a jet black plume of feathers on their crown. Immature Royal Terns have speckled crowns on their head that make them look almost like they are graying. This speckled look apparently does nothing for a female Royal Tern looking for a mate. In this brief encounter of courtship, a speckle headed male flies off and drops in on a prospective female. The female was not impressed with this young show off and let him know it in no uncertain “terns”.  She nearly pecked his eyes out when he landed.  He is soundly rejected and very upset about it as you can see in his actions. Yes, birds have feelings too!

            Sometime, somewhere in life we have all been rejected. We ask “Lord why did you let this happen?”  One answer can be found in a popular country song by Garth Brooks called “Unanswered Prayers”. When I go back this spring I hope to see Ralph with a mature plumage of black. Maybe Miss Rhonda will be there too. Hope springs eternal. Be blessed. Harry

Hey Ralph, where ya going? To woo Miss Rhonda?

Ralph flew low.

Ralph flew high and spotted the bird of his dreams, Miss Rhonda, below.

Hey Miss Rhonda, wanna fly away with me?

Get lost creep and take that Geeky hairdo with you!

Oh woe is me, I have been rejected you see!

11 January 2013 Reflections

     Yesterday’s fog was gone. It was a clear and sunny morning with few clouds save some high cirrus spread beautifully through the sky. Only a slight wispy layer of mist hung above the marsh. It was a perfect reflection of peace. My friend, the Tricolored Heron, from yesterday’s fog was there to greet me.  Old Man River moved on to his second favorite perch downstream. Focusing on the circles in the water I was seeing, I was hoping to catch a mullet jumping (but that is for another story, another time). The golden hour had arrived when sometimes, for a moment, the morning and evening are bathed in golden light. My camera was then set up to shoot Old Man River in this serene scene. Those golden rays soon faded. A contrail appeared in the sky’s reflection in the water as an airplane intruded into the peaceful image.
            The distinctive call of Spunky the Kingfisher was heard. Peeking out the side through my porthole there she was. From her perch she was intently observing the water below for a morning snack. I wanted to see how this 25-135 mm zoom lens would catch her at a distance.  While focusing the lens, Spunky turned her head to the west. Out of the corner of my eye came a large ominous form with dihedral-shaped wings. Mesmerized by this sight, the wings appear to grow larger and larger as the bird of prey flares to snatch its unsuspecting victim. Coming to my senses, I tried to switch focus on the bird.  It swooped down towards my blind. Praying to catch this moment (my shutter speed had been set again for a stationary shot of Old Man River) I just kept pressing the little doohickey (shutter). Although the photo is a bit out of focus on the edges, you can see this female Red Shouldered Hawk with its prey (a struggling squirrel), caught in the talons of its captor. As the Hawk flew by I saw both Life and Death in its eyes. It swooped over the blind in a flash and landed in a tree out of sight. A commotion could be heard as the other birds scattered.  A Black Crowned Night Heron that had been disturbed, took flight among a flock of Red-Winged Black birds. It was over in a moment. All was silent. Then life went on and birds flew slowly by. Spunky, however, remained alert at her post.
            We never know when life’s fleeting moment is about to be gone. Though I was visibly shaken, soon, as in nature, peace returned to my soul. However, I can still see in my mind those intense eyes of the bird of prey. The thief comes to “ rob, kill, and destroy” just as it is written. But just like I observed in nature, God’s serene peace soon returns. Life goes on.  May that “ peace that passes understanding”  be yours today. Be blessed. Harry

A Wispy mist rises over the marsh while the sky reflects the morning light

The Golden Glow arrives and is reflected on the marsh. Old Man River waits as usual.

A contrail intrudes on a serene sky reflection

An ominous form approaches from the west. Spunky is alerted.

Life and Death are in its eye!

The Hawk and prey swoop quickly by.

10 January 2013 Reflections

     The morning fog was like a thick white blanket today. I could see what was behind me but ahead was shrouded and obscure (kind of like life heh?). As I prepared for today’s adventure I remembered those pesky gnats from yesterday. A friend told me to use fabric softener swipes (like the kind you put in a dryer).  I put one under each sleeve to cover my hands and one under the brim of my Tilly (hat). Not a bite all morning long.

     It was nearly high tide with an incoming flow. Just like yesterday, Old Man River, the Great Blue Heron, slinked off along with the Snowy Egret at my approach. I figured there was no use sneaking so I just sat up my blind. I noticed that one lone bird ( a small Tricolored Heron) didn’t seem to mind my presence and stayed. It was as if to say, "I’m not leaving friend. Not yet today".  I decided as long as it would stay, I would stay. There was not much to see and I kind of liked it that way. So I just sat there and listened to the marsh today. If you sit quiet in the fog you can hear for miles. So I just listened. The fog had dampened the distant road noise. Soon the cry of an eagle was heard somewhere in the distance. The Kak Kak Kak of the Clapper Rails started to echo from all points in the marsh. A flock of Red Winged Black Birds began an aerial ballet as they swooped down from the trees to settle into the grass. Soon their melodious call was filling the air.  From the back of my blind I saw a splash of color.  It was a bright red Cardinal (the state bird of Ohio). He was lamenting the Bengals playoff elimination with a neighboring sparrow. A Little Blue Heron flew in and approached my friend. The bark of a dog spooked him and away he flew. But not my friend in the fog, he stayed. He was true.

            Soon the sun began to melt the white cloud away. My friend was still there. The distant shore soon began to appear in the light. A few trees now reflected from the bank on the Broward. My friend in the fog looked at me and finally sauntered away. "It was time to go" he seemed to say.  As I folded my blind, Old Man River flew by and proclaimed. "Take time to be quiet. Just listen today. Remember your friend in the fog is not far away". Be Blessed. Harry

Red Winged Blackbirds in the white blanket fog.

My Friend in the Fog, a tricolored heron.

My Bengals lost!

Trees begin to appear in the fog.

Old Man River says be quiet !  Just  listen for your friend in the fog

email: selsorhd1@icloud.com

All photographs and materials copyrighted and possession of Harry D Selsor. All rights reserved.

Photos are avail for purchase framed or unframed.