no hands

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Our heron is grooming again. We had a discussion last night: do they have more bones in the neck than people? And what about giraffes?

Here is a lovely blog post about birds and bones and herons’ necks from 2013: http://rosy-finch.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-unfeathered-bird-review-and.html. Add that book to my wish list, it sounds both gorgeous and fascinating.

 

groom

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Our heron keeps an eye on us, her paparazzi, but begins to groom her feathers in the early morning fun. I am thinking about keeping my balance on the branch, way up in the air, and then I cannot do that with my neck. She is amazing! And so calm and relaxed moving on a high branch in the tree.

For the Daily Prompt: athletic. I wish I were that strong and limber.

flight

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For the Daily Prompt: coincidence. I had my camera ready and caught this. Coincidence or skill? Some of each, and trying to catch birds in flight is very much like trying to catch synchronized swimmers out of the water. I photographed synchro for seven years.

support

Back to San Antonio. I loved the varying bridges over the River Walk. Each has a different design. Some have birds nesting and others are not as preferred. The bridges have multiple designs and supports and the water is always changing. Walking outside renews me because the world changes all the time, changes of fall now at home.

water door

This is for Thursday doors, though today is Friday. I took this from one of the docks down town, looking back. The buildings are from the late 1800s and many have elaborate decoration on the street side and then are brick on the water side. The tide is quite far out in this shot, with the pilings and beach and barnacles exposed. These are old doors for our area.

tree spot 7

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Oh, there! This is a yellow crowned night heron. I also photographed a juvenile along Riverwalk, but this adult was in the busy section at 5 pm. About 30 feet up in a tree, but not otherwise hidden. There are ducks and pigeons and sparrows along Riverwalk, but it seems that the herons are thriving too. Bravo for this strip of nature that runs through the city like an oasis, winding among the streets.