When on our hikes we would come to a boggy area or a pond - of which there were many - the atmosphere would change considerably. Suddenly there would be a hush and a coolness as a respite from the hotter woodsy areas and the sand dunes.
We walked less briskly; more reverently .
Which may have been a good thing, as we came upon some wildlife which did not run away or plop into the water at our approaches. Lucky us!
Painted turtles, which I had never seen before:
And in the muffled marshland we heard the most unearthly sound, like rusty hinges on a loudspeaker. We stood stock still as we waited to see if we could identify it. "It" identified itself! Our reward for being stealthy was to see a pair of Sand Hill Cranes coming to water's edge!
Mr. and Mrs. Crane were prodding their only-child-chick into the pond.
Pat was in a good perspective to get a photo of the chick, but I didn't dare move from where I was.
Was the noise because they were cross with their offspring, or because they were warning something else to keep away?
We were in awe. These birds stood about 5 feet tall, and were pretty huskily-built.
These cranes are on the endangered bird list, so this sighting became a highlight of our trip!
We noted and commented on how other hikers, whenever we would see them, seemed not to be enjoying the details and the experience of being in such wondrous surroundings, but rather were tromping almost disrespectfully through nature as if bent on connecing Point A to Point B.
Our approach gave us the above rewards, and this too, so very close:
Hee, hee. No, not wildlife. But I loved his hairy chinny -chin-chin!
2 comments:
Fabulous crane shots, my dear! See, the Biggie did its thing there. As for other hikers--I think their mindset could be described as hiking THROUGH the woods, not IN the woods like we choose to do. Those are two different activities.
What a treat to vicariously share in your experience. I know I would have stood quietly with you, hoping to catch every moment of the wildlife scene. The cranes are spectacular! Five feet!?! Wow! As you say, your silent tread made it so worth it. I also love the photo of the turtle taken from the water perspective. Beautiful.
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