This installment of Moments of Magic is brought to you by the Onyar River in Girona, Spain. One of my favorite local trails starts on the other side of the river, so I often cross this bridge and take a moment to see if any interesting birds are out and about. Most days it's just Mallard Ducks and Sea Gulls, but last week I happened to see a lovely Little Egret pair. So I decided to take my camera to the river to find them, and was I ever surprised by the host of feathered friends I found hiding (and not really hiding) in the reeds and rushes.
I almost missed him, but at the last second while crossing the bridge, I saw him hiding on a small bank in the middle of the river preening himself, a Great Blue Heron. Next up, just a few meters down the bridge I saw a showy black feathered Great Cormorant. I know, you may be thinking why is this so magical? But I promise you, seeing these beautiful birds all so close and at one time, has never happened to me before. So for me, it was an afternoon filled with wonder and wishing I had brought a telephoto lens.
The missing piece to my puzzle was that sweet Little Egret pair I had seen the week before. As luck would have it, all I had to do was turn around. One of the pair was sunning itself on a branch on the other side of the river. Some may consider birding a little geeky, but I have found few activities that make me stop and pay attention more than birding. It's a wonderful way to settle in and connect to the smallest and most beautiful details surrounding you. I hope you'll take a moment in the coming weeks to look carefully around you and see what you can find.
~ Jordan
