I haven’t had the time to take a walk for quite a few days, so I started feeling the deficit today. You know, like an itch in the soul and tingling in the toes. I knew that a long walk on the beach and in the nature reserve would provide a complete cure. So that’s what I did.
Arriving in the nature reserve, I discovered that the Gallinule kids had grown up in the last one month, transformed from fluffy black fur balls to beautiful teenagers.
The three chicks didn’t want to pose for a portrait together (what’s new?), but here’s how they all look today. They are about two-thirds of the size of mom now, And they don’t want to be seen with her. They are full of energy and busy exploring the world on their own. Luckily I didn’t see them thumbing on smart phones 🙂
Walking a bit further, I found a young roseate spoonbill. She was sleeping in the shadow of a tree and woke up when I approached her “bed”. She gave me the look. You’re waking me up and it’s not yet even noon.
Then to my total surprise, the young osprey came to say hello. She’s been hanging around on the bay-side (across the street from the park) after she left the nest about three weeks ago. Thanks to excellent binoculars I’ve seen her fishing on the bay and then eating the fish on her favorite lamp-post at the sailing club. Now she flew right over her birth home, fairly high up, and looked down on me. Sorry for the bad quality of the pictures, but she didn’t send me a text that she was coming 🙂 It was great to see her again “in person”, even if very briefly!
There were so many gen Zs in the reserve today, they far outnumbered all the other generations. Next, I saw the resident great blue heron patrolling the marsh. He’s a mature adult, a boomer like me. I bet he’s the Mayor of the marsh. Always there, always in control.
There were several other herons present in his municipality. I saw the green heron again. He was taxing out on the sand dune and then took off.
Before I left the reserve, I spotted a tri-colored heron. She’s such a beautiful and gracious bird. And a great fisher too.
I’m quite sure the night heron was there too. He’s always hiding in the bushes around the marsh and very difficult to spot.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the walk, whether gen x, y, z or an older version like me. Have a great week.
TINY LESSONS BLOG 
Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
GENERATIONS AND GENERATIONS OF WILD BIRDS—HAVE HELPED US SEE PEACE AND HOPE.
GOOD WALK! THANKS FOR INVITING US!!!
So happy you came along, Jonathan!!
Heard any seals on your walks, expressing blog approval? ORT-ORT-ORT-ORT!!!!!! 🙂
No seals here, but dolphins have approved 🙂
CLAP-CLAP-CLAP!!!! 🙂
Wonderful pictures my friend. So nice the young Osprey visited too! 🙂
Thanks Jackie! I’ve been hoping she would do just what she did today, but she still took me by surprise 🙂 I’ve now understood from other “osprey people” here that she might hang around her birth place here for quite some time. We’ll see.
Oh that would be fun! You could literally watch her grow up and have a family?
I could, at least in theory, but as long as her parents live, they are likely to come back to this nest …so when she’s ready to start a family (in her third year) she needs to find another suitable place nearby…maybe I could suggest one 🙂
Lovely to enjoy this walk with you. The young ones are growing up so beautifully, especially the osprey. How wonderful that she came to check on you. Thinking about Christine’s funeral today. She would have loved your walk.
I know. Actually I was thinking of her when I was on my walk and took these pictures. I miss her.
Yes 😦
When we lived in Florida, I could never get enough of the spoonbills…great photos.
Thanks Laurie! This one was too funny when I interrupted her sleep, but she didn’t move so I’m sure she continued her nap later.
I’ll bet that walk left you energized and stress-free (or stress-less, anyway). Amazing what a little time in nature can do for our souls.
It did! Now I have developed a need for this type of exercise. I start by walking on soft sand (hard!), then often go to more firmer sand at the waters edge, then to one of the trails in the park and finally to the salt marsh where I can walk around the waters, spot birds, take pics, sit in the shadow and just enjoy the nature before I return…it’s a good exercise of 1.5-2.5 hours…when it’s 90+F. Luckily we often have a good sea breeze.
Walking in soft sand is a killer. Walking in general is simply wonderful for everyone, all the time. I wish more people would walk more often. Keep moving, Tiny! xoxo
What a lovely wander you had. I particularly like that Roseate Spoonbill – she’s absolutely BEAUTIFUL. And what a bonus seeing your young Osprey! 🙂
I’m very lucky to live next to the nature reserve where the beach, the salt marsh and the park provide a protected sanctuary for all these birds. Seeing anyone from the osprey family is always a bonus!
I’m dripping green with envy but in a nice way, lol – indeed you are lucky! 🙂