Summer Daze
Summer is here, with cloud mountains bringing rain showers, and the orange-red crowns of Royal Poinciana tree blossoms hanging low.
After a long bike ride through the neighborhood, I went for a skinny dip off the dock, as I love to do when no one is around. Calm, clear green waters were a window into the sea, where I could gaze upon a bed of Turtle Grass waving lightly in the current below. A school of tiny silversides circled around me.
A quick movement caught my eye just as a Little Green Heron flew in with a characteristic single squawk and landed on a Buttonwood branch hanging out over the water a few feet away. I slowly swam to my right a bit, which placed a piling between our line of sight. Surprisingly, a second Little Green Heron was hopping across the rocks at the water’s edge underneath the dock.
At eye level with it, I was delighted to have a clear opportunity to observe this beautiful bird with its maroon feathers, bright orange legs, and distinctive cap.
Entirely focused on the two birds, I didn’t notice the small boat putt-putting its way up the channel toward me. The voices were what caught my attention, and turning, I realized in a flash that I had to make a quick choice. Hang there naked in the water as the boat passed closely by, or give them a glimpse of my nudeness from a distance as I scampered up the ladder and off the dock.
I went for it.
On the path, I startled a Land crab caught off guard outside its burrow.
It took one look at me and skittered sideways under the palms.
I had to laugh, amused as we were both caught off-guard so suddenly, then found ourselves scurrying off in different directions.
