Welcoming the sun

by CALLY
On a drive through familiar farming and forest vegetation I stopped when I noticed a heron standing at this dam. A little bit farther away than I would have liked. But I positioned myself at the fence, having had to step across some dry, crunchy leaf litter and twigs which of course alerted the bird. I expected it to take off but it didn't. What it did do was stare across at me for ages. I was determined to hold my ground, but did scan the ground around my feet for brown or black snakes -which are always a possibility (venomous, I add, for the information of overseas blippers) - and also for big ants as their bite can come as a painful intrusion when you are so focused on the birds... The heron finally did come down to the water & begin searching for frogs, snails, yabbies & the like. Well, I didn't actually blip this first bird after all. Another one flew in closer. Again a long wait as it sized me up, I was partially obscured by trees. I must have been there near half an hour by now.Then it too carried on with its business. After a bit of a preen it suddenly opened its wings up fully and stood in splendour. I was SO chuffed. Worth the wait & the stiff back and limbs. Happy Day..!