I love the colour of late afternoon sun at this time of year; it's golden and rich and adds depth to the view.
We live in prime agricultural land. This tends to be in direct opposition to birds, butterflies and wildlife.
About 20 years ago a group of people got together and decided to fight for the return of marshland and the birds that had been disappearing from the area. Our town's water treatment plant was decommissioning some of its cells and the group acquired permission and funding to create a wetlands area. There are now three good sized ponds of varying depths surrounded with trees and bushes to attract birds. The water levels are monitored and adjusted depending on rainfall or the migration patterns of the birds: shore birds, for example, need mud flats instead of the deeper water of the great blue heron's preference. Our wetlands now account for 50% of our county's marshland.
We are a hot spot on the birders' route. This is migration time and a visit to the ponds last week revealed lots of really big scopes and cameras and a man doing a happy dance over a sora rail. He was thrilled to share the sighting with everyone in his group and did a happy dance for each one who saw the shy little bird.
When I stand on the edge of the easternmost pond I can see the 150 year old red maple trees of my house. If I were a crow I could fly straight here in less than two minutes, but must instead skirt the 100 acres of crops in between us and take four to make it to the parking lot.
It's a happy place.
