Fox Sparrow (Red) – my favorite sparrow
Wood Duck
Hermit Thrush
Eastern Painted Turtles taking the sun at Black Marsh.
All posts in category nature
friday birds (with bonus turtles)
Posted by sean on March 12, 2016
https://sd-stewart.com/2016/03/12/friday-birds-with-bonus-turtles/
the one and the other discuss regret
Hello, one.
Hello, other.
One, I’d like to tell you a story.
O joy! I love stories.
You might not love this one.
Hmm. Okay. Well, tell away, other.
A few days ago I was out driving…
Wait! cried the one. You don’t know how to drive, other.
That’s not important.
The one looked doubtful.
Look, I’m telling this story, one. And in the story I was driving. See?
O. Yes, I see, other.
So I was out driving. There I am in this big hunk of metal moving at 70 miles per hour. It was absurd.
O! We like the absurd, other!
Usually, yes…yes, we do, one. But this was not funny absurd. It was scary absurd. I mean, at any moment another hunk of metal could have veered into my hunk of metal and then I might have died.
O, yes, you are right, other, that is scary absurd. I would not have liked for you to die.
And the signs, the electronic signs kept shrieking at me.
What were they saying, other?
Always the same phrase, one: Nothing Super About Jail Drive Sober.
O. That is strange, other.
Anyway, after the signs stopped shrieking at me the sun began bleeding orange and yellow streaks all across the sky amid big puffs of blue and grey. It was so beautiful, one. It almost made me forget I was inside a big hunk of metal. And then, and then I saw something even more wondrous.
What was it! cried the one.
It was an enormous flock of geese, one. Hundreds, maybe even thousands, off to the side of the road in a big field. Some were the all white ones–
O! You mean Snow Geese, other!
Yes, and some were the other kind. The brown and black dingy looking ones that are everywhere now.
Canada Geese! sang the one.
Yes, yes! cried the other, excited now. And they were all swirling around, making their calls. And some were on the ground, poking around in the fields. It was quite a spectacle, one.
I bet it was, other, I bet it was.
Except now I am sad.
O no! Why are you sad, other?
Well, I didn’t stop my hunk of metal to take in the whole scene. I could have turned around and pulled over and gazed upon this sight for the precise number of minutes necessary to fully absorb a wonder of nature such as this, one. Also there may have been some unusual or rare geese in the flock, but I didn’t take the time to look for them.
O. Hmm. Yes, I can see how that might make you feel sad, other.
It’s a strange sort of sadness, one. Do you know it?
Yes, I do, other. I believe they call this special type of sadness regret.
I do not like this regret feeling, one. How do I stop it? Can I maybe stuff something down inside me? Chocolate perhaps?
I’m not sure, other, the one said gravely. I think you have to wait and hope for it to fade away. Chocolate never hurts, of course, but I’m not sure it’s strong enough to fix this.
Well, how can I avoid it in the future then? I do not want this regret feeling ever again, one, never ever.
I’m not sure you can totally avoid it, other! But you can try to take every opportunity that comes to you, and that way at least you have tried.
O, will I then not feel sad? Even if I try to take the opportunity but don’t make it? Even if I…fail?
I can’t promise you won’t feel sad, other. But your sadness will likely feel different than regret. It will be mixed in with the satisfaction of knowing you tried. So that might make it feel not so bad.
O, thank you, one! I think this was very helpful. You are so wise!
I’m glad, other! I am always happy to help.
Goodbye, one!
Goodbye, other! Until next time.
______________________________
For more discussions between the one and the other, click here.
Posted by sean on February 8, 2016
https://sd-stewart.com/2016/02/08/the-one-and-the-other-discuss-regret/
last season’s nest
Posted by sean on December 31, 2015
https://sd-stewart.com/2015/12/31/last-seasons-nest/
texas
American White Pelican at White Rock Lake, Dallas, TX
Trio of American White Pelicans at White Rock Lake, Dallas, TX
Yellow-rumped Warbler, Dallas, TX
Great Blue Heron at Rogers Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, Hutchins, TX
Great Blue Heron at Rogers Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, Hutchins, TX
An Indian Peacock dozes in the sun at Rogers Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, Hutchins, TX
American White Pelican at Rogers Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, Hutchins, TX
Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia) at Cedar Ridge Preserve, Dallas, TX
Along the Bluebonnet Trail at Cedar Ridge Preserve, Dallas, TX
White-winged Dove, Dallas, TX
Posted by sean on December 30, 2015
https://sd-stewart.com/2015/12/30/texas/
field report: woodpecker redux
Recent intelligence gathering indicated the presence of a group of likely overwintering red-headed woodpeckers, including two adults, at another park in the area so I went to investigate. Again I found them immediately, as they were actively foraging and calling frequently. Their ‘rattle’ call is quite distinctive and often precedes a visual ID. Lighting was more favorable today, so here are a few photos accompanying a report on my findings.
Adult Red-headed Woodpecker strikes the classic woodpecker pose at Black Marsh, North Point State Park.
Adult Red-headed Woodpecker at Black Marsh, North Point State Park.
Adult Red-headed Woodpecker at Black Marsh, North Point State Park.
An immature Red-headed Woodpecker glares at the photographer, North Point State Park.
After spending way too much time attempting to photograph the woodpeckers I continued on from the Black Marsh Wildlands into the rest of the park. First I took the Powerhouse Trail.
Powerhouse Trail at North Point State Park.
Rising up out of the woods before me came the trail’s namesake…
Powerhouse at North Point State Park.
Powerhouse at North Point State Park.
The property that is now North Point State Park was formerly a local attraction known as the Bay Shore Amusement Park during the first half of the 20th Century, and there was streetcar service extending to the park from the city (extremely hard to imagine today in this rabidly car-centric region). This concrete monolith provided power to the streetcars. Now it serves as an informal art gallery for graffiti artists:
Inside the powerhouse at North Point State Park: ‘Find the roots of everything.’
After leaving the powerhouse I took a spur trail to gaze upon the Chesapeake Bay.
Chesapeake Bay from overlook at North Point State Park.
Friendly people had left sand art on the beach.
Friendly people were here…
After scanning the Bay for waterfowl and only finding a few bufflehead and a single double-crested cormorant, I left the park and drove farther down the peninsula to where it dead ends at Fort Howard, the former coastal artillery headquarters for Baltimore. Fort Howard has a rich military history, which I will not go into here but you can certainly read about it to your heart’s content elsewhere on the internet. The park is rather bedraggled and largely unused, likely due to its remote location. But there are some nice spots. Of course I only photographed the horrible ones because that’s just how I am.
The Brandon Shores Generating Station, viewed from Fort Howard. A 2011 NRDC report based on EPA data described it as releasing the second highest amount of toxic air pollutants annually in the U.S.
Despite the glaring lack of visitors, there are more picnic tables and trash cans at Fort Howard than I’ve seen at any other park. I was curious about the trailer in the photo below but simultaneously afraid so I chose not to get any closer. I thought if I called the number someone might be willing to divulge the contents but then this person would have my phone number. So I didn’t call. I find that life is an ongoing process of weighing the pros and cons of situations like this.
Scenic picnic area where I chose not to consume my lunch. (Note: if you call the number please leave a comment below.)
After passing the scenic picnic area I came upon this:
Menacing…
Again, I wasn’t sure what to do here. Were they keeping women locked inside or barring them from entry. I couldn’t tell, but I didn’t hear any cries for help and without bolt cutters there was not much I could have done. So I left. No doubt this decision will haunt me for quite some time…
Posted by sean on December 5, 2015
https://sd-stewart.com/2015/12/05/field-report-woodpecker-redux/
ravine trail
The new trail opens up the wildest area in this urban forest oasis. Clusters of mushroom sprout from the center of the path. Few have walked here yet. It is high summer and the wood thrush yet sings. Cicadas offer up a constant backing drone. Point of fact: dogs don’t process the switchback concept. It conflicts with their innate knowledge of the shortest distance rule. As the trail climbs from the deepest shaded low point, the morning heat barges uninvited into the cool air space. Sounds of the nearby freeway intrude. As I struggle to adapt, a certain chorus tears through my head in response. This walk is soon over.
Posted by sean on July 31, 2015
https://sd-stewart.com/2015/07/31/ravine-trail/
born today
Recognizing two exemplary humans born on this day, May 12…
1895 – J. Krishnamurti – Indian philosopher who renounced his foretold role as guru and head of the Order of the Star in the East.
From his biography on the Krishnamurti Foundation site:
“Krishnamurti belonged to no religious organization, sect or country, nor did he subscribe to any school of political or ideological thought. On the contrary, he maintained that these are the very factors that divide human beings and bring about conflict and war. He reminded his listeners again and again that we are all human beings first and not Hindus, Muslims or Christians, that we are like the rest of humanity and are not different from one another. He asked that we tread lightly on this earth without destroying ourselves or the environment. He communicated to his listeners a deep sense of respect for nature. His teachings transcend man-made belief systems, nationalistic sentiment and sectarianism. At the same time, they give new meaning and direction to mankind’s search for truth. His teaching, besides being relevant to the modern age, is timeless and universal.”
*Krishnamurti is not one to follow, for he spoke against all leaders and authority, but his words are insightful and, in my opinion, worth reading.
_____________________________________________________
1921 – Farley Mowat – Canadian writer and conservationist who just passed away last week on May 7th at the age of 92.
From the tribute Captain Paul Watson of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society wrote for his friend:
“Canada has lost their greatest literary treasure, the world has lost one of our most inspirational conservationists and Sea Shepherd and I have lost a wonderful friend.
Canada will one day name a national park in his honour for he has earned his place as a truly Canadian hero through talent, imagination, vision, courage and passion. Canada has a long history of contempt for people that they later almost canonize as heroes long after they die – people like Grey Owl, Louis Riel, Dr. Norman Bethune, Tommy Douglas, etc.
For despite his unpopularity with the conservative Harper government, Farley has always had the love and the respect of the Canadian people and he will not be forgotten.”
*My dog is named Farley, partly in honor of Farley Mowat, and I can see a spirit in him similar to that of his namesake.
Posted by sean on May 12, 2014
https://sd-stewart.com/2014/05/12/born-today/
mole crickets
mole cricket (mōl) n. Any of various burrowing crickets of the family Gryllotalpidae, having short wings and front legs well adapted for digging and feeding mainly on the roots of plants. (Source: The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 3rd ed.)
External notes: Three species are invasive in the southeastern U.S. where they are noted garden pests. The Northern mole cricket is native to the eastern and central U.S., where it lives in grasslands, meadows, and prairie ecosystems.
Internal notes: After the fact, I heard about a cricket census in my geographic area. Citizens and scientists walked around one evening and noted all the singing crickets and katydids. I wonder if mole crickets sing when they are underground.
Anagrams into: Lick more, etc.
This was another fortuitous dictionary find. The dictionary continues to be a welcome source of solace. I want to crawl inside its pages and stroll around, maybe set up a lean-to near the binding and camp out for a while. There is so much to see! So many interesting little photos of wondrous things of every variety under the sun. So many new words to devour.
Posted by sean on September 17, 2013
https://sd-stewart.com/2013/09/17/mole-crickets/
hangman with cold fire
Posted by sean on December 16, 2012
https://sd-stewart.com/2012/12/16/hangman-with-cold-fire/
what i saw today
Evidence of beavers.
American Sycamore
Posted by sean on November 23, 2012
https://sd-stewart.com/2012/11/23/what-i-saw-today/
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