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Cocoi heron, dawn, daylight, Egrets, Frigate birds, herons in ecuador, wordpress daily challenge out my backdoor, wordpress writing challenge great expectations
The Daily Post tossed out a challenge with four options this week; I selected this one: “Take a draft post that you didn’t published because it didn’t turn out as you expected. Change the story, revise it, and publish.”
I found two posts in drafts; one recent post from April 3rd stalled because of slow internet and low battery:
“…In today’s WP post, Kristin nudges us to, ‘Look out your back window or door — describe what you see, as if you were trying to convey the scene to someone from another country or planet.’
Most sources say that this song was written for Fogerty’s 3-year old son and was inspired a Dr. Seuss book. I’m quite pleased to introduce you to this cast of characters out my own backdoor!
Reaching back to a post from January 2013, I can finally release these birds from their cyber cages. May they soar from my back door round the world and lighten your day!
Babs (Salmon Fishing Queen) and I lobbed a few thoughts back and forth this morning, and I confessed to sitting in the window seat while working on a post and watching the birds on the river.
The full moon nudged me to the window before dawn, and I watched the moon go to sleep while the birds awakened. Hours later, the birds still claimed my attention.
Here’s a play-by-play report of the awakenings outside the window!
Stage left, a great egret gracefully floated above the water. A long branch in its mouth, it was on its third ferry in the past half hour.
a black and white frigate flew overhead from stage right while a cormorant skidded and belly flopped into the water.
a crimson-headed vulture, unseen by me, took flight from a bamboo pole set in the rocks at the corner of the house. Zoom! A second vulture buzzed past – only a few feet from the window!
Zoom Zoom! The egret paraded back from the far side of the river and vanished into the dense canopy of the mangroves. The egret left with another clump of nesting material.
The great egret returned.
A dust-colored house wren chattered its endless morning greeting from the nearby thatched ramada; the egret left with no material in its beak.
The petite and always-hungry kingfisher rat-tat-tattled with its catch of the hour, then prepared for its next raid!
A black cormorant whooshed past in hurried flight. Perhaps he overslept and was searching for its flock?
A black and white frigate zoomed from background to foreground and over the house as if to check the breakfast menu! It was surely late for a morning appointment with the wind!
two southern rough winged swallows zipped over the surface and took turns watching the river with the kingfisher. At times they peered at me as if to ask, “when will coffee be served?!”
The great egret returned. He/she must be robbing the yellow-crowned night heron’s nest!
With five to seven quick flips of the wing, a lone ibis hurried through the scene and then coasted for several seconds. Sea gulls zipped from cluster to cluster as if they feared they might miss the all-you-can-eat buffet!
A cocoi heron shadowed its neighbors the great egrets wading the shallows. its majestic presence adds a touch of elegance to the view.
Stark-white ibis with downspout beaks shared the shallows with the gulls; properly-attired black and white stilts rubbed elbows with the night herons.
Silently watching, the black-crowned night heron reminds us to be patient! In contrast, the egret leaves, gets half way across the river, circles and returns. it forgot its nesting material! how silly! (it must be in love – or perhaps lust!)
the pelicans are absent this morning – how odd. their section is bare – uninhabited. I make a note – something’s a bit amiss there. (* Heavy rains moved in the next week!)
in the pelicans’ absence, a cluster of cormorants flapped their wings in the water as if they were pelicans!
The morning pageant would not be complete without the elegant snowy egret; quite vain and jittery, it squawks and flies away at the tiniest threat to its fashionable black stockings and yellow slippers!
A croaking ground dove dashed through the scene as if to say, “Don’t forget all of your yardbirds!”
“I’ll wait to showcase the delicate jewels of the yard another day,” I smiled. “For now, I’ll watch the finale over the river.”
As the sun warmed the cool pockets of morning air, faraway frigates hitched a ride along invisible air currents and escorted me into a beautiful day.
Have a great day- weekend, everyone! z
loved your backyard documentary. Only birds that we’ve seen here in N.Ohio are the early birds catching the worms. Robins have been in the yard though, to us, it feels like it might snow at any minute. Thank goodness we’re off to warmer climates tomorrow…aloha 🙂
Man – that is some back door! I’m so glad you shared this – and loved the music…
What an incredible way to begin the day. Loved your narration and photos, Lisa. Ron & I have been back from India for two weeks and have been so sick.Just now beginning to feel human.
Just simply superb birds! Fabulous!
WOW, what a birdfest! The CCR music was a perfect backdrop to listen to while viewing the photos of birds flying freely. I never thought to wonder what inspired the lyrics, but Dr. Seuss makes perfect sense. It always amazes me how gorgeous vultures look while flying, when they are so….unusual close up. The snowy egret is always stunning. Thanks for brightening my day – I need to add that song to my playlist for walking!
Thank you for the mention! I envy you in the fact that you get to watch this display of avian activity right out your window! They are all amazing birds! I would have a hey day with my camera! Hugs to you Z and be well! ^..^ B
Thank you for all of the pictures; they are very good. My wife and I are lovers of birds. They are very special. Robins feed right outside of our back door window. They are a sight for sore eyes. Please keep up the good work.
What a great backyard (river) you have. I laughed at the egret forgetting his nesting material!
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Oh Lisa….I felt like I was sitting right there with you on the deck having my morning coffee…just being quiet (I know that’s hard to imagine!!) .How Beautiful and Fun your posts are….And of course I LOVED the song….I felt like getting up and dancing!! (imagine that) This was a great post to wake up to….I just came in from my patio….”looking out my back door”…..and viewing The Bridge OF Americas with all the cars and wondering where everyone was going in such a hurry on a Sat.morning, then sat down at the computer and read your post…..I feel like this is going to be a great day and I need to update my forgiveness4healing with some beautiful thoughts. Thanks once again for all of your inspirations!! Love ya Lisa!!
Z, thanks. Isn’t it interesting the pretty egret is a common thief. I love your “Birds” story. Hitchcock beware. Have a great weekend. BTG
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Loved that you have the patience to struggle with your slow connection and manage to send us these amazing views of the world from your back door.
I can’t imagine having all that wildlife right outside my door! What an inspiration! So lovely.
Love this post Z, your photographs are an amazing chronical! It’s great to see these beautiful birds open and close each day, like clock work we come to expect them and they never disappoint. Only 15 minutes ago I saw the male and female cardinals that live in our yard perched on one of our chairs – she patiently waiting as he came back to feed her, this went on several times before off they went to explore their day.
I love seeing the unusual birds, like the frigates and the rough-winged swallows. But even more, I enjoy seeing the birds we share – kingfishers, ibis, egrets, and my favorite, the black-crowned night heron. I haven’t heard one yet this year. They like to sit on the lines in the marina, or along the bulkhead. Of course they make that wonderful croaking noise when they’re disturbed.
We’re still a couple of weeks behind where we should be. Once the waters warm a bit and stay warm, the fish will surface and the herons will keep me company through the night again.
What an abundance of bird life you are surrounded by. And of course the CCR song was a perfect background for viewing your beautiful images.
thanks, and i am really enjoying the new camera.. i didn’t realize how tired and visually impaired the old one was!
You look, appreciate and share, regardless of a slow connection, all the wondrous life, ‘Rolling on the River’.
You make it look like paradise but it is you who makes the effort to takes the photos.
Thank you Lisa for sharing your love of nature with your fortunate followers. _/\_
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