As we walked along the trail, talking, a small pond appeared around the curve.
“Look, there’s a heron!” Kurt said to me, pointing across the water. Then he promptly followed up with, “Oh, we spooked it.”
I looked up quickly and saw large grey-blue wings beating low across the water, and immediately fumbled for my camera. I knew there was no way I was going to capture the picture in time, but hoped perhaps the heron would settle further along the shore. I grabbed the case, opened it and got my camera in my hand. Meanwhile, I glanced up… just in time to see those wings gliding away and out of sight. I stopped and watched the last few seconds, marveling at the size and power of the bird and at the beauty of its flight.
Oh, I should just have watched him fly, I thought.
I had been so busy trying to get the camera out, that I had missed it.
I love taking photographs, but lately it’s occurred to me that sometimes I get so caught up in the photo opportunities, that I forget to simply enjoy what’s around me.
Pause, Molly, I reminded myself.
The next morning I wandered down to the river park early to watch the sunrise. I took a few pictures, and after a while headed over to a spot by the railroad tracks. The tracks cross at the base of a river junction here, and you get a lovely vantage of both rivers. I was hoping to listen to the song sparrow again, as he tends to frequent this spot.
This morning as I climbed up, I heard a curious tapping sound. I walked over the tracks and looked down to the water and shore below. There I saw my new friend, the spotted sandpiper, whom I’d first encountered a few days earlier on the dock at the river park. It was bobbing along with its curious walk, pecking along the tidal shore line. I moved a bit closer to see what it was doing and …
Whoa! What’s that!? There, much closer to the tracks and me, was a… beaver? muskrat? I wasn’t sure which it was, but it was thoroughly enjoying a breakfast of greens. Its thick brown fur lay sleek along its sides and water droplets glistened along its back.
I struggled to remember the differences between muskrats and beavers. Obviously the tail is the easiest one, but this wily creature’s tail was hidden beneath the water. I know beavers are much larger, but how do you compare when you only have one species in front of you? It looked big to me, but…? I thought I remembered reading that muskrats weigh only about 4 pounds and this creature appeared to be many times that weight. I also had learned that when they swim, you can see much more of the muskrat’s back/body than the beaver’s. This one wasn’t swimming, but based on its size, I was pretty sure it was a beaver.
Thrilled, I took a few pictures and then suddenly it stopped eating, apparently just noticing me. It looked at me for a long moment, then turned and slipped into the water. Rats! I still couldn’t see its tail and now it was headed off for parts unknown. I walked along the tracks, hoping to see where it went. Trees and bushes interspersed along the edge of the track, hiding part of its progress.
Moving past a clump of trees, I spied it again. Wait! How much of its back is showing? Can I see its tail? There was a swirl of movement in the water. Wait! What? Two heads?? Whoa! There are two of them! They nudged up into each other gently and headed back into shallow water. Based on the size and their bodies in the water, I was now convinced they were beavers. Two beavers! I was so excited!
And that’s when I made my mistake. Frustrated by intruding leaves that interfered with my focus, I tried to get closer. Moving slowly, camera in hand, I crept forward, determined to get a fantastic photo. Instead of simply watching and enjoying the wonder of the moment, this unexpected second encounter, I edged back along the tracks. In an instant, I knew I’d spooked them. They splashed off into the water and veered into two separate directions. There was no coming back this time.
I’m still kicking myself about this. You’d think I’d have learned my lesson from my experience with the heron. But no, clearly, I still have a lot to learn about being in the moment and not always looking to get a tangible “prize” to take away with me. Sigh. Obviously, I’m a work in progress.
I stayed a bit longer and watched a flight of swallows gather in the trees along the river’s banks. The song sparrow added his song to the scene, and a red squirrel and a yellow warbler of some sort stopped by as well. The beavers did not return.
Pause. Look. Listen. Be.
Like I said, a work in progress.
Nix the comfort zone 
I love the pacing of this post and your voice. I struggle with this too- although not with nature! More with my kids- wanting to capture so many moments but not being so tied to my phone that I miss the EXPERIENCE of the moment. Always a work in progress. 🙂
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It’s funny because when my kids were young, I typically didn’t video their special occasions because I didn’t like being removed from the experience. Now I wish I had a few videos from then but was less photo-obsessed now! lol I guess it’s all about finding balance.
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I wonder what moments I am missing when I take photographs for my blog, thinking of my future drafting rather than being in the moment.
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It’s funny that sometimes the act of noticing or being “awake in the world,” can actually pull you out of the experience a bit.
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You caught quite a bit in those moments and I so appreciate your sharing with me.
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Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
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Your writing and your photography are just magnificent! I enjoy your photos immensely but I know if you paused you could have captured some of those missing moments with your words just beautifully. You may view it as a work in progress but I say you’re spot on.
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Aw, thanks, Amy! I so appreciate the kind words. I do worry sometimes that I use pictures when perhaps I should focus on words. Darn this balance thing!
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I’m working with this, too. I think it comes from a renewed interest in photography as an art form. I’m hoping to find a balance, soon.
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It seems to always come down to finding balance, doesn’t it?
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I love your “photo-mentaries.” These pictures are just glorious, reminding me of nature shows on TV. I didn’t know how much nature spoke to me until I started writing consistently – one of the many astounding discoveries it’s revealed to me. I am just absorbing these moments! I can so appreciate the need for “I can make it better/get a better shot” – sometimes it pays off, sometimes it does backfire, alas.
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Spending time outside and writing are both essential components of my life now. I knew I loved to write about nature, but I hadn’t thought about how my timeline of consistent writing and deepening love of and appreciation for nature overlap. Wow! That’s something to think about.
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I really think you should write a field guide/poetry book for your area. So much nature to love and appreciate.
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Well, if I ever do, I know where to find the best mentor text!
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The pictures you DID get are great and I loved following your reflections as you wandered.
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Thanks 🙂 I sometimes think about going out without my camera, so that I’m not distracted by photography, but that feels way too radical! I’m not sure I’m ready for that step. lol
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I agree with your closing sentence. And I too, at times felt like I missed out on something trying to photograph it. I have a little book for ‘Nature’s Moments’…when it’s a special moment I write it in and draw a simple little picture…especially for those that I don’t get to photograph. 🙂
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I really like your idea for sketching a small moment that you didn’t photograph. I’m a bit art-challenged, but I might try this! I actually thought of writing poems about those moments as well–trying to capture with words those missed photos–but I haven’t done it yet. I always have a notebook with me, so I’m going to try your tip to make a “Nature’s Moments” section. Thanks!!
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Sometimes I don’t even sketch it…just write about it. 🙂
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