If you can't find me, that's where I'll likely be this time of year. Enjoying the song, trying to get a brief glimpse of the singer. It's addictive.
Saturday morning it was a brown thrasher. Although I never got a glimpse of the bird, I heard its repetitive, mocking call and decided it definitely was not a catbird. Brown thrashers are better imitators, although they could not hold a candle to a mockingbird. But since mockingbirds are rare in these parts, I'll take a brown thrasher.
Today I went on my usual noontime walk at work. I walk across the river and around one of our fish rearing ponds, a distance probably a little over a mile. It's a good way to get some fresh air and recharge my senses for the afternoon. As I was walking between the pond and the river today, I heard a familiar call. Robin like phrasing, but more shrill and rough, like the robin had a sore throat. Something in me remembered: scarlet tanager. Why did I decide I did not need binoculars or camera for this walk? I looked and listened, trying to hone in on the location of the singer. I finally caught a glimpse of him, a breathtaking vision of scarlet illuminated by sunlight. I was able to watch him for a couple minutes, the sunlight accenting the scarlet of his feathers. All I could say was "Thank you". I was entirely grateful for that moment.
This was my first scarlet tanager in a long time!
5 comments:
Sweet! What a lucky sighting. I've only ever seen one once and it was one of those visions that made my mouth gape.
Sometimes, it's moments just like that that really make you realize how wonderful life is!
Joyful! Joyful! Isn't that a glorious bird?
No kidding? You've got fish raising ponds? Cool.
Wise use of lunch time.
Lynne- I'm sure I must have looked strange out there, my mouth half open, watching that pretty bird.
momadness- Exactly. I felt so much richer for having seen that bird.
Cathy- Glorious bird indeed.
I work for the state Fisheries department, and we use those ponds to raise muskellunge to stock in lakes. I'm not exactly a muskie fan, I mean, no one eats them, but it does make a nice place for a walk.
FC- I seem to recall a recent post in which you recounted a wise use of lunch time. Mine is probably more flexible than your usual teacher's lumch!
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