The Year Begins

            I began the New Year with some bird watching, despite the cold rain. I recorded some observations and wrote them up as Haiban, a form in which a Haiku folllows a short prose peice. The 117th Century poet Basho is one of the better known authors of this form.  The first entry is a record of memories of another trip two days prior. More to follow.

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

            The year began with fog and rain. Sunday, two days ago, I stopped at Amnicola Marsh. The Canada Geese and Northern Shovelers were badly backlit, so that I could barely identify the shovelers. With this morning’s dense fog, I fear they will not be visible at all.

           On Sunday, several birds perched on the heron rookery near the entrance to Chattanooga State Technical and Community College. The Great Blue Herons may be inspecting the nests for occupancy, or merely staking their claims, prior to the mating season.

            Six Northern Shovelers swam in the nearby creek. They appeared in two trios, and each group included a female attended by two males. Competition is about to begin. 

            A pair of Wood Ducks swam further down the creek than the shovelers. The male wood duck is said to exhibit all the colors of the rainbow.

Feathers cross water
Garden of flowers swimming
Courtship soon begins

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/wood_duck/id