A Return to the Marsh

September 8, 2011 by flandrumhill

‘We’ve been expecting you,’ the salt marsh sentinel announces from his roost at the top of the spruce. It’s the first time I’ve seen great blue herons perched high on the treetops. Though it all looks like business-as-usual in the marsh, there are always wonders waiting to be discovered. It’s good to be back.

‘We heard you’d been combing the beaches looking for us,’ the sea stars say collectively. ‘We thought if we gathered together in one spot, you’d know how much we missed you and you missed us. Why did it take so long for you to seek us here?’

‘It’s a long story,’ I tell them, ‘one with lots of drama that didn’t involve me but nevertheless took a toll on my days. Children suddenly needed me and caring for them took all of my energy.’

‘Tell me about it,’ another heron adds. ‘We know what it takes to rear the next generation in an environment that seems more and more out of our control.’

‘I knew you’d understand,’ I tell them.

A kingfisher ‘s compact body finds a stable position at the end of a dried twig. I marvel at how expertly birds keep their bodies and lives in balance.

In spring and summer their focus is on ensuring that the young ones survive to maturity. No hardship or sacrifice seems too great as they provide sustenance and safety to the next generation. But then, after giving their all for a season, they quietly revert back to concerns for their own well-being. Could it be because they carry no burdens in their hearts that they are light enough to fly such long distances to warmer climes?

Thank you to all who sent emails or left kind comments asking where I was over the past few months. It is good to be back 🙂

Posted in Birds, The Salt Marsh Trail | Tagged Birds, herons, marsh, nature, Nova Scotia, plovers, salt marsh, sandpipers, sea stars, starfish, wetlands, wildlife | 32 Comments

32 Responses

on September 8, 2011 at 10:11 am | Reply Marilyn Desmond

I’m so glad (and relieved) to have you back. I missed your writing and pictures, and I was afraid we had lost you forever. I hope all goes well with you and yours; you are in my thoughts.

Marilyn D.
- on September 8, 2011 at 10:30 am | Reply flandrumhill
  
  Thanks for returning to check Marilyn. Your thoughts are appreciated 🙂
on September 8, 2011 at 11:11 am | Reply Kathy

Awwww Amy-Lynn, you are the best! Your writing and photographs are so beautiful, along with your quiet positive energy–and the fact that you can actually HEAR what nature is saying to you. There are always wonders waiting to be discovered…every hour, every day. This blog was another of those wonders.
- on September 8, 2011 at 2:28 pm | Reply flandrumhill
  
  Hi Kathy, I know you hear what nature is saying to you too 🙂 Thanks for wondering with me.
on September 8, 2011 at 1:14 pm | Reply 47whitebuffalo

So glad to see you again in blogland. Love your Heron images. Wondefull birds. Your sharings of the beauty of the lives of nature in its own vein provide inspiration for protecting Earth everywhere. Thank you.
- on September 8, 2011 at 2:29 pm | Reply flandrumhill
  
  47whitebuffalo, those herons are indeed amazing birds. Their size always impresses me. It’s nice to see you here again too 🙂
on September 8, 2011 at 1:45 pm | Reply P.j. grath

Welcome back, Amy-Lynn! I’ve missed you so much! Hope the kids are okay. Besides the birds, I love those little starfish. You have cheered my day enormously.
- on September 8, 2011 at 2:35 pm | Reply flandrumhill
  
  Pamela, it’s been such a long time. A whole season has passed!
  
  The little starfish in the water next to the bridge were a marvelous discovery. The variety in their coloring and the sheer number of them in one spot was remarkable. So glad to bring some cheer your way 🙂
  
  (I hope the kids are ok too!)
on September 8, 2011 at 9:54 pm | Reply Sybil

So glad you’re back Blogging Amy-Lynn. The photos are wonderful. Love the starfish. Love the herons. Love the conversation with nature. You rock !
- on September 9, 2011 at 4:20 am | Reply flandrumhill
  
  Me too Sybil. I see your seaweed headdress gravatar is working Not everyone can wear kelp, but you seem to pull it off very well.
on September 8, 2011 at 9:55 pm | Reply Dawn

So wonderful to hear from you again. Welcome back. 🙂
- on September 9, 2011 at 4:21 am | Reply flandrumhill
  
  Thank you Dawn. Nice to see you here again 🙂
on September 9, 2011 at 1:34 am | Reply julianhoffman

Delighted to see that you’re back and well, Amy-Lynn. And to know that the creatures of your area have a voice in their corner again.

Take care,
Julian
- on September 9, 2011 at 4:23 am | Reply flandrumhill
  
  Thanks Julian, I’m glad to be here to get the word out for them again 🙂
on September 9, 2011 at 8:51 am | Reply Gerry

The second best thing about this morning was seeing a post from you pop up on the feed reader. The first best thing was coming over here and reading it. Lovely to see you again, Amy-Lynn.
- on September 10, 2011 at 5:57 am | Reply flandrumhill
  
  Thank you Gerry, lovely to see you again too 🙂 🙂
on September 10, 2011 at 11:14 am | Reply Reggie

Dearest Amy – welcome back! So nice you are writing again, and telling us about your marshes, and the herons and the kingfishers… We are all very happy to see you again. 😀

Lots of love to you – and to your little ones!
- on September 17, 2011 at 5:59 am | Reply flandrumhill
  
  Thanks Reggie 🙂 xo
on September 10, 2011 at 3:35 pm | Reply lynnekovan

Welcome back Amy-Lynn! What a lovely post. How fantastic to see a kingfisher as well. Wish I had been there with you. Next time perhaps?
- on September 17, 2011 at 6:01 am | Reply flandrumhill
  
  Lynne, I’ve seen and heard a pair of them almost every morning this week in the marsh calling to one another. They can’t wait for you to photograph them for yourself!
on September 12, 2011 at 7:43 am | Reply catharus

‘Very glad to see you’re back, and thank-you for sharing the salt marsh with us! ‘Hope you’re doing well!
- on September 17, 2011 at 6:02 am | Reply flandrumhill
  
  Thank you catharus 🙂 Nice to see you back!
on September 13, 2011 at 9:32 am | Reply Scott Thomas Photography

Nature understands and so do we. Nice to have all those understanding souls around, isn’t it? Welcome back!
- on September 17, 2011 at 6:03 am | Reply flandrumhill
  
  Thank you Scott!
on September 13, 2011 at 4:50 pm | Reply isathreadsoflife

So happy you are back, Amy-Lynn. You have been missed. Here and at the marsh… I love the dialogue between you and the birds, so lovely to walk along with you. Welcome back and all the best.
- on September 17, 2011 at 6:04 am | Reply flandrumhill
  
  Thank you Isabelle 🙂
on September 14, 2011 at 8:51 am | Reply swaps

Nice to see delicate birds enlivening the environs around you, through the recent turbulence and all!
…and we all have gathered again here, not unlike the star fishes.
Good to be here again 🙂
- on September 17, 2011 at 6:04 am | Reply flandrumhill
  
  Good to see you back here again too swaps 🙂
on September 16, 2011 at 12:53 am | Reply Joan

So glad to see you back on here, dear Amy! I’m glad everything seems to have settled down a bit.

The photos are amazing, and I love your conversations with the creatures. I especially love the photo of the star fish!

Hello, too, to all of Amy’s loyal readers with whom I’ve become acquainted over the last couple of years!

I second all of the above comments, though I can’t write as eloquently as they do. Thank you all for expressing my thoughts for me! ;-D
- on September 17, 2011 at 6:05 am | Reply flandrumhill
  
  Joan, glad to see you back here too 🙂
on September 20, 2011 at 9:43 am | Reply Grace

Glad you’re back! Nature is a wonderful listener, isn’t she.
- on September 21, 2011 at 10:13 am | Reply flandrumhill
  
  Grace, yes indeed, the absolute best 🙂