MUNDANE

(April 9, 2010) Some mornings as I start my walk on the Riverwalk, I think that this will be the day that everything is mundane and there will be nothing new to see.

There have been days when I felt that I had just stepped into Bill Murray's role in the movie "Groundhog Day." As Sadie and I walk along, we see the same to Canada geese who start honking as we approach and waddle their way to the river and, if they seem threatened, will fly into the river. There are the same squirrels that seem to be feasting on goodies left over the day before in a trash can. The same cardinal is in the tree, the two mallards are near the rest room, where they stay during this part of the year, and the same cars are parked in the parking lot in the same spots as the day before.

And then, something happens - something ALWAYS happens - that makes this day and this walk special. It may be the sight of an osprey or hawk or bald eagle; it might be the multiple bluebirds as they make the dark woods more colorful; it might be a couple of mourning doves on a power line, cooing and looking so "dove like" in love.

Or it might be like today.

What did we see today that was not mundane?

The first thing that comes to mind is a fallen bird house. It either snapped during the storm last night or was vandalized, but was lying flat on the ground with a male bluebird flying around, examining the damage. The weather is a more logical explanation since there are few signs of vandalism on the Riverwalk except for graffiti on occasion.

As we walked over a wooden bridge, I heard a fluttering sound coming from the creek under the bridge. When I looked to my right, I saw a great blue heron lifting itself out of the creek and start flying in a direction away from me and away from the river. I knew that the great bird would be making a circle to the river, so I waited and saw it as it flew against the light blue sky and watched as it flew out of side down river. It was a marvelous sight.

The fishermen were out this morning at the dam at Dan Daniel Park. Some had their children with them (Easter vacation, but none seemed to be catching much - just enjoying the cool morning air. There were two fishermen in a boat near the dam. The water was high from the heavy rains last night, but the boat seemed secured near the dam.

And, finally, a few squirrels in Dan Daniel Park caught Sadie's attention. One squirrel was enjoying a morning snack on a picnic table and didn't pay any attention to us until we got within 10 feet of it, and then it scampered up a tree, and Sadie stood under the tree with a dejected look on her face.

We walked back to the car. It was not a mundane day at the Riverwalk; it was another good day at the Riverwalk.

HOUSE HUNTING

My mama used to call it "settin' up housekeeping" or "keepin' house." All creatures seem to want to make a home and enjoy the comfort of familiarity.

Three ladies on the Riverwalk this morning told me that they had seen a beaver swimming in the river with sticks in its mouth, heading to its underwater home to add the sticks, making its home more comfortable.

A week or so earlier, I had posted some pictures here called "NESTING," pictures of some geese nesting on the logs and other debris washed down as the result of winter flooding. During the last few days, one of the white geese seems to be missing and its nest abandoned.

For me the early sign of spring is when I see the bluebirds and swallows selecting the birdhouses that have been placed for that purpose on the Riverwalk. The population of both types of birds has increased over the years because of these houses that only the bluebirds and swallows can fit in.

Last night I was talking with a colleague who had just come to Danville. She said that she had been house hunting for months and just couldn't find the right house for her. She said it was a tough job.

Perhaps I am anthropomorphizing the situation of the birds when seeing their challenge in a human way, but I assume it is just as difficult for birds as it is for humans. However, for the birds, selecting the right house or place to nest, may be the difference between extinction and survival.

IT WAS ANOTHER GREAT MORNING ON THE RIVERWALK!

MISSED PHOTOS

What pictures did I miss this morning as the result of not being quick enough to point and shoot or because I had a dog on the leash who wanted to go in a different direction right at the moment I was focusing in on a bird or plant? Here is today's list:

1. Flock of Canada geese: The city worker was mowing the large field where the Canada geese hang out and caused them to fly right at me - wonderful photo op. However, I missed the shot because I was standing there holding a bag while Sadie was depositing that which was to be placed in the bag.

2. Mallard Couple: A pastoral photo of a mallard couple was interrupted when Sadie decided to take a step or two towards them. The mallards didn't bolt and fly away; they just walked into the woods.

3. Perfectly Lighted Daffodil: I was focused in on the lovely flower when all of a sudden a dog's paw (I won't mention who the owner of that paw is) landed squarely right on top of the flower turning it into a less than perfect plant.

4. Small Sparrows in a bush: (see #2 above).

Disappointed? Angry? Depressed?

Not at all. There will always be more geese, ducks, flowers and sparrows, but there is only one Sadie. That "once in a lifetime" shot will happen again; the time spent with Sadie on the Riverwalk is priceless.

It was another beautiful morning on the Riverwalk.

FLYING

(April 5, 2010) This morning, though the trees are showing more foliage, there seemed to be more birds about in the lower branches. I saw my first goldfinch this year as two of them played around in the trees, and there were the hyperactive chickadees and bluebirds.

The cormorants gathered in a group of 6 on the log in the middle of the river, and the ducks and geese were carrying out their spring mating rituals, though they seemed less stressed since some were nesting and others were hanging out with their own sex. I got a great shot of a female mallard as she stood cautiously watching Sadie - her usual male counterpart was nowhere to be seen.

I told Elizabeth last week that I had heard, somewhere along the way, that the male birds were more colorful so they could distract a potential predator away from the nest of the female and eggs. I'm not sure if that is true, but as I stood on the hillside near the restroom at the public works department, I saw a pair of cardinals eating something off of the ground. As I approached, the female flew a little distance and the male stayed put. As I got nearer, the male flew toward me and then off in location where he could still be seen. As I walked toward the female, the male made his appearance again in a threatening way (as threatening as a cardinal can be) and stood between the female and Sadie and me. And then he walked off as if to suggest that I follow. We walked around the birds and left them there as we ventured further down the trail.

Each morning I start taking pictures of anything that moves thinking that I might not see anything that is more interesting as I walk the trail. Each day I am wrong; there has yet to be a day where I didn't see something that was more unique or more beautiful than the day before. Today I noticed the birds flying - the Canada geese and the mallards. The pictures of the geese, in their formation against the morning sky, and the picture of the two mallards, in their colorful dress, provided me those moments again.

The pictures not posted here include some very interesting chickadees and goldfinches and, of course, the beautiful female mallard. If I have a morning when I don't see something unusual or beautiful, I'll go back to my files and go right to April 5, 2010 - another beautiful day on the Riverwalk.

MY LITTLE CHICKADEE!

This morning Sadie and I headed toward Angler's Park from Dan Daniel Park. It is about two miles up to Angler's Park with more trees and not as many views of the river. However, this morning I saw a number of butterflies and other insects. Of course, the eagerness to see if the red-winged blackbird was at Angler's Park was in the back of my mind since I had seen the beautiful bird there in the afternoons when I took Sadie for a second walk. I wasn't disappointed. There was a pair with one in the field and another in the tree singing their "twit-twit" and "brinnnnng, brinnnng" calls. There was also a pair of mallards (male/female) near the shore and another pair (both males) in the marsh dunking for vegetation.

I saw a couple of people I hadn't seen in several months. Sadie enjoyed seeing Jodie (a small male dog) again; the first time they met (about a year ago), Jodie licked Sadie in the ear, which I thought was a bit forward for a first date. We also saw Louie, another small white dog, we had met at Angler's Park earlier last week.

A couple of people we passed asked what kind of dog Sadie is; they found her size interesting for a sporting dog (she is rather small - about 45 lbs.). A couple of bikers passed, heading in the same direction we were going; I heard on of the bikers ask the other, "Is that a springer spaniel?" and the other biker said, "No, I think that is either a Brittany or an English setter." There were several people we passed up asked how Sadie was doing, and I don't know who the people are; Sadie seems to have some fans on the Riverwalk.

There were few birds to be spotted because of the new foliage; however, I did get some shots of some chickadees flittering in the lower trees and some robins. Of course, there were the wonderful red-winged blackbirds at Angler's Park which made the journey worthwhile.

The butterflies and bees are out - I've had to teach Sadie the difference since I didn't want her to sniff a bee and come home with a swollen nose. The park is in its beauty.

It was another wonderful morning on the Riverwalk.

WHAT A GOOD FRIDAY!

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The pictures will speak for themselves. The Riverwalk was wonderful today. The morning is captured in the 16 photographs and in the following haiku:

The Beauty of Spring.
Birds Flying; Flowers Blooming.
What a Good Friday!

It was another great morning on the Riverwalk.

BIRDS ON A WIRE

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(APRIL 1, 2010) Today I thought I'd write about the very unique creatures I saw on the Riverwalk this morning as Sadie, Elizabeth and I ventured forth. After writing about the "very strange" creatures we saw, I would end the piece with APRIL FOOLS. But, I decided not to do that.

I have already been fooled once. While walking past a field where some geese had gathered, Elizabeth pointed to the far end of the field and said, "Look, a large buck." I turned my head, and squinted - I couldn't see a thing but the geese. "APRIL FOOLS," she said.

Some things I was going to write about were the unicorns we saw prancing around in the field and, of course, the hippos wallowing around in the river, along with the alligators. Then, of course, I would have commented on the lions and tigers watching us as we walked by, hungrily licking their chops.

But I knew that the unicorns would have given away the credibility of the story before I even got started ... So, I decided to comment on something that we did see.

As we got out of the car this morning, we noticed a man sitting on a bench near the walk. He looked tired and disheveled and old. He smiled as we walked towards him. Sadie wanted to jump up on him in her usual friendly way, but I kept her close since the man looked a bit frail. I spoke to him as I started to pass by, and he spoke back.

He said, "Hi, excuse me, but isn't that Sadie?"

I said, "Yes, this is Sadie. How did you know?"

He said, "I recognized her from what some others have told me on the trail. She is famous, you know."

I said, in a proud way, "Well, I don't know about that, but we are here everyday."

The old frail man said, "May I ask a favor?"

I thought, "Uh-oh. He's going to ask for money," but I said, "Sure."

He paused a moment and then looked up at me with his sad eyes and said, "I used to have an English setter that looked just like your Sadie. One day, while I was out walking my dog, someone broke into my house and stole all my money and completely wiped me out - I had nothing, but my English setter. I had no insurance to cover my loss, so I had absolutely nothing, and that is why I look as I do, because I lost my job shortly after that. By the way, my dog's name was Sadie, too."

I kind of inched away as he kept talking, thinking, "I really need to get on with my walk," but I stood and listened.

I did hurry him on, since I didn't know how long his story was, and said, "What is the question you want to ask?"

He said, "Well - you see - Sadie, my dog, was all that I had. But shortly after I was robbed, Sadie ran away. I couldn't find her at all. So, the question I wanted to ask you is . . . well . . . uh...."

I said, "What is it you want to ask?"

After another pause he asked his question, "I was wondering if I could have your dog since I have nothing?"

I was shocked. Sadie and I had bonded - I had had her for four years - she was, like, part of the family. My instinctive reaction was, "Heck no, you can't have my dog!"

However, he looked so pitiful there, and I thought about how I have so much and he has so little. He could be someone's father. In fact, as I looked at him, he looked a lot like how my father looked. So, instead of immediately saying, "Heck, no," I asked him a question: "How would you take care of a dog if you had one?"

He said, "I am living with my brother and his wife. They have a large back yard, and my brother makes a good living. Sadie would be well taken care of."

I paused a moment, looked again into the sad eyes of this old man, and handed him the leash of my wonderful dog. APRIL FOOLS.

It was another beautiful day on the Riverwalk.