Something Old, Something New

A few years ago when our family lived in East Vancouver, we often drove by a wide, open field that was home to (or at least a playground for) a number of herons. We'd pass the tall grasses and crane our necks to quickly count the bobbing heads, chanting a little homespun ditty as we sped by:

We're goin' on a heron hunt,
How many will we see?
We're goin' on a heron hunt,
One, two, three!

It seems like we often counted seven or eight, which we thought rather impressive. In other locations we were lucky to see one or two.

Such has been the case in our new wetland habitat. I've only seen one heron at our pond, a Great Blue. (I'm assuming it's the same heron returning again and again, but I could be wrong.)

Little Sister and I circled the pond this afternoon under a warm October sun. Coats were left at home once again. We usually approach the pond quietly, just in case our heron friend is lurking about, and we were rewarded for our efforts today.

He was closer to the edge than usual, which allowed us to watch and whisper and take a picture or two. His sharp beak darted swiftly into the water from time to time, and his eyes were piercing, alert.

The nearby geese were cautious, but not as likely to bolt. We giggled as they dove, their white feathers exposed, their feet dangling awkwardly.

Yesterday I also noticed the briefest soar and dive of a kingfisher, the first I've seen at our pond.

I'll now be on the lookout for both of these unique, blue-tinted, solitary pond divers. I bet the frogs will be, too.