Missed opportunity

I couldn’t believe my luck this morning when I not only saw my favourite bird up close, but I also had my phone on me to take a photo of it.

I pulled up on the motorbike to my usual parking spot and disturbed the Blue Heron as I drove past the drain he was feeding in. Rather than fly away, he settled on a post of a little bridge that goes across the stream to the public toilets, only a few metres from me and at shoulder height – the perfect photo.

Behind me, a couple were making their way to the beach for their walk, dog in tow. I was a bit scared the dog would scare the bird but not so. They continued to walk towards the bird. I quickly pulled my phone out of my pocket to take the shot, when the man decided to cross the bridge. I couldn’t believe it, surely, he could see what I was doing. I should have politely asked him to wait, but I assumed he would anyway, aware that I was going to take a photo.

The bird stayed put, but as the man got within half a metre of it, it flew away. I was so disappointed. I said to the woman. “I was going to photograph that bird.’’

“Yes, wasn’t it lovely,’’ she replied, quite unaware that her and her husband’s actions had spoilt the moment for me. She did have an English accent so I am giving her the benefit of the doubt, that she was unaware of the specialness of having one of these majestic birds so close.

I don’t take my phone to the beach very often and I must admit I do miss a lot of photo opportunities because of this, but this morning, I did have it. The bird was totally unafraid and actually very brave. I often come across them feeding at the shore line, but one can never get close, as they move further ahead all the time.

This whole episode this morning reminded me of a time when I had just moved to the city after having spent years on the farm. I accompanied a school group on a nature outing. I couldn’t believe how this lot of city children were so totally untuned to their environment, making lots of noise and generally not having a clue about how to interact with nature. It was a far cry from the school I had just come from. I got so mad with one kid, that I actually swore. I was mortified afterwards that I had used that f word amongst these children and I was lucky not to have been banned from attending school groups in the future, but at the time I had been so flabbergasted at the behaviour, that I couldn’t help myself.

Knowing how to behave amongst nature, I thought was something that everyone possessed. That was my first lesson in the difference between country and city kids.

These two this morning were similar in that respect. Let’s just charge ahead with our dog. Never mind spending a bit of time being in awe of this wonderful bird and respecting him, by at least taking the dog a different way to the beach.

So, my photo this morning is nothing special, just a tree on the road frontage. How I wish it was of the Blue Heron.