67 Comments
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Pamela Scott's avatar

I fear you will think what a pandering fool because of my constant awe of your ability to stand or sit or kneel with the creatures and their acceptance of you into their space. I know you are careful and respectful. Still I find it a great tribute to your inner soul, that they respect you too.

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David E. Perry's avatar

Dear Pamela, it would never occur to me to think of you as a pandering fool. It seems to me that here, you offer me something very much akin to what I attempt to offer them. Make sense?

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Lor's avatar

This evening, I realized I never told you how magnificent your Heron photograph is . I keep going back to stare at her , or I should say, stare into her. I feel the same way about your photograph of the

Greater Yellowlegs.

Sometimes, even a single bird can be captured in a photograph in such a way as to expose their beautiful spirit, and in return, it fills my heart with joy. Thank you for that, David.

( I’m sure you have already thought of this, but if you ever decide to do greeting cards , I will be the first in line).

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Robert Lazu Kmita's avatar

All these photos are truly amazing!

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David E. Perry's avatar

🙏 Thank you, Robert.

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Holly Starley's avatar

These photos! be still my heart. And I love, love the audio.

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David E. Perry's avatar

You make me grateful, Holly.

Thank you.

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Holly Starley's avatar

Ditto

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Teresa Patcheson's avatar

Marian quotes Dylan Thomas. I have watched the blue heron fishing, its stately walk reminding me of a senior cleric slowly traversing the cloister’s halls, hands clasped behind his back.

Herons have the wisdom of patience, imparting the lesson of choosing the right moment to act decisively.

Thank you, David, for your beautiful and thoughtful prose.

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David E. Perry's avatar

Ohhhh, Teresa. Wow! Yes!

" its stately walk reminding me of a senior cleric slowly traversing the cloister’s halls, hands clasped behind his back."

This!!! Why, this is perfection. Word alchemy! Observational magic.

Thank you.

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Hannah Harder, Eco-advocacy's avatar

A gorgeous reflection and communing with one of my favorite birds. ❤️

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David E. Perry's avatar

thank you, Hannah.

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Bryan Pfeiffer's avatar

My kind of visit with a heron. You yourself ever get jealous or envious of either the spot they’ve staked out in a river or their innate fishing acumen?

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David E. Perry's avatar

And now I'm chuckling, trying to imagine a time when I could ever have moved far enough past awe to court feelings of fishing envy with a heron. Some part of me was cheering with each successful stab, though I doubt the sticklebacks would have appreciated my take on the contest...

BTW, this was the one day in more than a week that the weather forecast promised freedom from deluge and wind, so I played hooky from a Zoom call with friends and went in search of mermaids and shamans...;-)

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Allison in Oregon's avatar

Oh my goodness, the pictures! They are impeccable! The detail is beyond anything I’d imagined is possible to capture. Thank you for your devotion to Nature - and passing it along to us.

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David E. Perry's avatar

🙏 Thank you for seeing the deliberacy that goes into one of these, Allison, the care. I'm honored by your generous note.

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Danyce Mills's avatar

Some days you step out, your arms open to magic. Some days you step out, your arms open wide. The heron and the wren were delightful finds😃

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David E. Perry's avatar

🙏 Thank you my friend. Indeed, some days your arms open to magic.

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Susie Mawhinney's avatar

So masterfully you tell and illustrate your story dear David, my swoon was so complete I had forgotten entirely by the end your reason for being there... perhaps, despite ten thousand needles or maybe because of, I hope, you did too.

It seems there is much wisdom to be found at sea level - patently my geographical positioning is all askew!

May your day be blessed with sagacious encounters dear friend.

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David E. Perry's avatar

Dear, dear Susie,

It was just an hour ago that I was tagging along with you and your son, hopping over hedges, traversing muddy fields and crossing raging rivers upon rickety bridges. And now, while some part of my brain is still peering in dirty windows and left open doors in that abandoned village, I find that you've been here visiting me in the tidelands, as well. This technology stuff, while not without its blasphemous flaws can be pretty nifty, some days.

How grateful I am for the glimpses it affords me, for the friendships that would not exist without it. How very grateful I am for you, for the humility and humanity you bring this way by way of your stories, your kind notes.

PS. You wrote: "patently my geographical positioning is all askew!" Girl, ain't nuthin' wrong with yo geographical position'n. My point was that wisdom is wherever you are, wherever you atune your ear, quiet your mind, wherever you say yes and invite it in. No need to always be lookin' off somewhere else, think'n the wisdom you seek is out there. You don't have to seek some wise sage atop some faraway, snowy mountain. But then, you already knew that. Maybe even better than I. I figure you might'a just bin mess'n with me.

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Logan Darrow's avatar

Beautiful

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David E. Perry's avatar

❤️🙏

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Teyani Whitman's avatar

The last photograph held my gaze for so very long.

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David E. Perry's avatar

I'm pleased...

And to think, by the beginnings of nightfall just a few hours later, all that land was well under water.

Thank you, Tey.

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Teyani Whitman's avatar

You create lovely stories in the mind of all who read and see your work.

Everything is transient. And brings to mind a poem that’s often comforted the ragged edges of my soul.

Let nothing disturb thee,

Nothing affright thee

All things are passing;

God never changeth;

Patient endurance

Attaineth to all things;

Who God possesseth

In nothing is wanting;

God alone sufficeth.

~ St Theresa of Avila (1518-1582)

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Laurie Christomos's avatar

The beauty of the pause - to watch, to listen, to absorb. Thank you for taking us along, for your prose in words and photos. I imagined & felt myself right there with you - mesmerized and bowing deeply.💙

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David E. Perry's avatar

"I imagined & felt myself right there with you - mesmerized and bowing deeply.💙"

I imagine the satisfaction a toolmaker might feel, seeing someone pick up one of his/her creations and immediately intuit how to hold it and how to make it work. That's how a note like yours feels. You found a way to come along, to honor the sage along with me.

Gratitude. Respect

Thank you, Laurie.

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Emily Charlotte Powell's avatar

Such a wonderful contrast between the stately silence of your wonderful sage and that ever-so-chatty little wren. What a gorgeous combination. I could almost feel the stab of those pins and needles, I am in awe that you were able to stand and bow without disturbing her, I would surely have fallen face first into the mud in the most ungainly bellyflop 💛✨

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David E. Perry's avatar

Thank you for noticing, Emily.

"Such a wonderful contrast between the stately silence of your wonderful sage and that ever-so-chatty little wren. "

The contrast was rather profound, indeed, and I was loving every surreal bit of it.

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Mare's avatar

When I cannot walk out in nature, I find solace here. Thank you.

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David E. Perry's avatar

I'm touched by your kindness, Mare, and ever so grateful for your note. Thank you.

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Terry Moisan's avatar

I woke with my hip aching, only to forget about it for the few minutes I spent with you and the blue heron in the marsh. Gratitude replacing pain.

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David E. Perry's avatar

Well if this isn't a form of currency, I don't know what is,Terry. I can't imagine a kinder sort of thank you. I'm most grateful.

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