Egret

This elegant egret spent Saturday afternoon in the mud of the marsh off Winter Harbor.

I caught him contemplating the meaning of life on one of my breaks from playing games with my friend Glenda's girls on the nearby beach.

The weather started off iffy but later was sunny and unseasonably cool considering we're well into the month of June, usually heavy with humidity.

Saturday was spent on this wonderful beach.  Sunday I caught up on chores and ended up watching the USA-Portugal World Cup match.  After however many years of cheering on my daughter in soccer, I still don't know the rules find it hard to go from Wide Open to Zero on the spectator speedometer that summertime brings.

So World Cup has helped fill a void--says the person who hates watching sports on TV, even though she clutches a cowbell on the sidelines in real life.

Anyway, I'm enjoying the World Cup.

Field of Egret

A few weeks ago on an overcast day, I stopped at the intersection of Potato Neck 

and Bethel Beach roads to snap a few pictures of these daffodils.

The cheerful yellow flowers were trying so hard to smile amid the grayness of the gloomy day.

As much as I wanted to focus on the flowers, something pulled me in another direction.

I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but I was drawn to the field just beyond where I was parked.

Something was amiss.

What's that white thing on the left?

A lone egret was wandering rather aimlessly through the vast field.

He was none too pleased that I wanted to take his picture either.

As soon as he saw what I was doing, he high-tailed it in the other direction.

(I tried not to be offended.)

The last I saw, he was headed on foot towards those woods.

I can't say I've ever seen an egret in a field like this before, however it is common to see herons hunting in the ditches along the edges of the road.  Sadly, I recently found a dead heron in the middle of the road where I jog.  At first I thought it was a buzzard, but the long pointed beak gave it away.  On that same jog, which takes me through some very remote areas of the county, I startled a group of seven herons out of the tippy tops of a stand of pine trees.  I can't say that I've ever seen seven herons together before, much less flying.

Flying away from me, to be exact.

I'm starting to get a complex.

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Enjoy the weekend.

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Egret

One day last week, as I was leaving the New Point Light observation deck, I happened to glance off into the marsh and noticed this egret, who was sunning himself.

Or herself.

I'm not an astute enough heron or egret watcher to know whether there are discernible differences in color or other markings.  I can distinguish between a male and female cardinal, no problem.  But egrets? Just not that up to speed.

Anyway, this one was basking in the glow of the sun that particular afternoon, not at all perturbed by my intrusive camera.

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This will be the first full/normal work week I've had since the week of September 23.  The last home meet of Daughter's cross country season is Tuesday evening. District, regional and the state meets happen over the next month, however, so we'll be busy with those.  I must focus on preparing for November's half marathon, which is breathing down my neck like a fiery dragon.  I've not run more than six and a half miles since April, and my knee shin foot back has been threatening to give out on me for about a week now.

Otherwise, things are good here in the Chesapeake Bay Family household.

Hope all is well in your neck of the woods.