Wednesday, July 19, 2006

the bird photo you won't see here

This morning I had just turned onto the blacktop road on my way to work. About a quarter mile down the road, my attention was caught by a curious upright shape on the left side of the road. As I got closer, it suddenly clicked in my mind; this was a bittern in the "freezing" position, bill pointed straight up in the air. I slammed on the brakes and ended up ten feet away from the bird. It did not move. Automatically I reached into my backpack for my camera, found it after a little shuffling, got it out of the case, turned on, and was just about to open my window to take the picture when...

...it flew away. Of course, the tease. But it was an amazing sight. Next time I'll have my camera out of the case and sitting on the seat next to me for easier access. After all, I've had several missed opportunities at pictures of sandhill cranes lately; they are standing out in the incredibly dry hayfields, eating who knows what.

4 comments:

H. Stallard said...

There's a certain hound dog who sleeps in an old tire that has been converted to a flower bed that I've been trying to photograph for some time now. When I catch him in the tire I don't have my camera and when I have my camera he's not in the tire.

Jim said...

Bummer!

I would like to have seen that picture.

I suppose you read at EHG where I carried my camera on our last bike ride around the lake, but, when I stopped to get some great shot, got the 'no memory card message'.

Peggy got a kick out of that one because before we laft she asked me if I had the card.

"Of course I've got the card", I said.

;~\

LauraHinNJ said...

Isn't that always the way?

This morning on the way in to work I spotted a red-tail perched on a large branch that had fallen in last night's thunderstorms. I had the camera, but not the time to turn around and stop to take his pic - I'm sure I would have spooked him anyway.

I pass about a dozen horse farms on my way to work, young colts have been out frollicking in the mornings when I have no time. On my way home, the horses are all in for the night.

Some *views* must be gifted special to the person who spots them and not meant for photos - at least I tell myself that. They are our prize for being there to look.

Anonymous said...

The one that go away! I could tell you some stories (though none of them would be true).