I had been to Sepulveda River Basin once before and saw a Green Heron in the distance, but couldn't get a picture. She was just too difficult to find in the lens. From far away the Heron's color palette of green, chestnut and dark gray blend all too well with the thick flora of a marsh or riverbed. A Green Heron is an amazing bird. She's beautiful, but not in a traditional way.
Yesterday, when I arrived at the Basin, I thought, "I really would love to see that Green Heron today." I walked for nearly two hours. I saw Black Phoebes and Common Yellowthroats and Western Bluebirds and a ridiculous number of ducks (video on that later), but no Green Heron. I had been walking and photographing for nearly two hours and three miles. Note: Spent waaaayyyy to long trying to get a decent picture of a bushtit (more on that later too).
Anyway, I
had to be some place at 11am which meant I had about 15 minutes to get
back to my car and on the road. I was a wee bit disappointed that I
hadn't seen the little guy/gal. I headed back to the car through the
meadow version of the walk and thought, "Nah... what ya doin' Thome,
give it one more try. Walk along the water." I came round the first
bend and I'll be damned, there she was. And we hung out together for a
good five minutes before some loud Russian women carrying purses and
wearing short heels and dress slacks (so random in a park-like setting)
scared them off.
But it was satisfying. So satisfying. Made for a nice start to Father's Day when one no longer has a living father.
But it was satisfying. So satisfying. Made for a nice start to Father's Day when one no longer has a living father.
