His Majesty's Morning Catch

 

His Majesty of the Swamp—the same Great Blue Heron I meet every time I visit Pelican Beach—was a little closer to the shore this morning, busy fishing. 

The fish he managed to catch was quite large, and I watched with curiosity, wondering if he would actually be able to swallow it.  Young, inexperienced herons are often overly cautious with large catches, sometimes leaving them completely untouched. But His Majesty was an expert. 

He carried the fish to a safer spot—unfortunately a bit too far from the shore for a perfect view—and swallowed it with absolute ease. 

Watching him catch his breakfast was a wonderful way to start my morning.

Summer Stories - I

The shore stretches for miles along the lake. Whenever I get the chance, I head down to wander the sand. 

But there’s a limit to my walk: the moment the sand gets soggy and starts swallowing my hiking shoes, I make my way up the hill to the bike path, where, for some reason, I only ever run into joggers.

Yet, the shore is far from empty. An elderly fisherman has settled comfortably into a folding chair in the shade under a large tree, with two fishing rods in the water waiting for а catch.

A little further off, a group of teenage girls is getting ready to sail on unusual kayaks. I am seeing kayaks like these for the first time. They strike me as flimsy, yet at the same time, their shape is captivating.

The Morning Briefing

 

American White Pelicans in Huntsville.

Other Reality. Monochrome Mirages