Day Break

Early and late, those are the best times along the river.

Those are the quiet hours when the locals make their way through. You either catch them getting up or going to cover for the night.

Some barely register. A deer rarely makes any sound either vocal or in passing. You often wonder how many pass behind you without your knowing. A goose on the other hand, well……. they rarely go anywhere unheralded. Proud of their station they announce their arrival from a distance.

The most aggressive and, save for the bullfrog, loudest seem to be the red wing black birds. Their raucous song can bring you out of a peaceful meditation in a hurry. They aren’t too keen on having you near their nest either. At least that was my take when one repeatedly strafed me while I walked along the recreational trail shooting train car graffiti.

Red wing black birds can be fun to watch along the rivers edge, though. Flitting from lily pad, to reed and on to a swaying cattail they nervously survey their domain. All the while they are announcing their presence with a loud trill that is unmistakable.

Unfortunately the pinhole esthetic travels at a pace a bit to slow to capture much wildlife. That leaves the images to be viewed as through the eyes of the inhabitants. They are in the picture in spirit if not in fact.