For me, the highlight of our late afternoon walks is looking at the sky and seeing the ever-changing cloud formations. We are often first drawn to clouds that are ablaze in vibrant sunset colors. However, the textured clouds in soft pastels and gray tones are also quite beautiful and intriguing.
“God’s cloud-scenes are for everybody everywhere. Some people can never afford to travel … but the sky is always overhead, and everywhere to be seen.” ~Alfred Rowland
I walked down a wooded path to a shady spot along the lake’s edge where I occasionally observe ducks and different species of birds. This time, much to my surprise, a river otter surfaced and I was able to watch for a brief time as it hunted and munched on prey that it pulled from the shallow lakebed.
It seemed to be aware of my presence, pausing several times to glance in my direction before resuming its hunt.
There was something special about this quiet little connection with nature. For me, getting outdoors and spending time with the created and the Creator offers a peaceful escape from the chaos and unpredictability of the world around us.
“When the news of the day upsets me, I pause and worship the eternal God who is never surprised or caught unprepared. This keeps me from fretting and getting discouraged, and it helps to keep life in balance. ~Warren Wiersbe
I was at home, going about my usual routine, when I heard a commotion outside. At first, I tried to ignore it, but the clamor continued. Curious, I looked out the front window and was thrilled to see long strings of Snow geese soaring high in the sky over the fields adjacent to my house. What an amazing sight! Occasionally, we drive for an hour or more just to see these beautiful birds. Apparently, sometimes you go looking for them, and sometimes, they come right to you.
Below is a small segment of the geese that passed overhead.
“Here again, I saw life in all its noisy excitement passing by me.” ~Arthur Golden
A diverse assortment of ducks stole the show on a recent visit to the lake. Their loud quacking resonated from across the lake where they were resting on accessible vegetation, logs and mudflats.
As social creatures, many ducks tend to prefer living in communal groups. They do this mainly for safety and to cultivate their social and foraging skills.
Ducks bob their heads as a form of nonverbal communication. This pair appear to be forming a bond, with the male nodding his head to convey interest and affection, while the female nods hers to show her acceptance. This behavior is a component of a courtship ritual, as ducks typically begin mating in late winter or early spring.
Ducks also move their heads up and down and employ rapid side-to-side head motions as they sift their bills through the lake water searching for aquatic plants and seeds. Additionally, they stir up mud to uncover insects, small fish, and crustaceans.
While feeding, ducks dunk their bills in the water to rinse their food, to facilitate swallowing and digestion, and to maintain the cleanliness of their bills.
What fun to spend a portion of the afternoon watching these beautiful and interesting birds, and how amazing to consider the role that something as simple as “head-bobbing” plays in the life of a duck.
“There is a way that nature speaks … Most of the time we are simply not patient enough, quiet enough, to pay attention to the story.” ~Linda Hogan
walking on a country road 