The sun is just rising over the lake. It’s quiet. The only sounds I hear are the far away hum of traffic and the sound of cardinals, titmice, and orioles singing.
I drink in the quiet. It’s Monday, July 7th, 2025. The fireworks have finally ended, and, for the first time in a week, I got a full night’s sleep without any explosions. There’s no leftover fireworks smoke hanging in the air. It’s (relatively) cool, and the morning feels so good against my skin.
As I approach my favorite cove, walking through the path the maintenance guys are nice enough to mow through the tall grass, I see something move in the trees nearest to me. A flash of yellow and then the lilting song of the prothonotary warbler.
He is so close I can feel the vibration of his song all through my body. He hops back and forth through the branches, remaining in the shadow. The light may be too low for photos, but I will try anyway because he’s rarely this close to me.
The prothonotary couple must be nesting here. Each morning, I say an extra prayer of gratitude for his continued presence. Oh! He just popped out in the light! Only for a moment, but it’s long enough.
I hear, “Only for a moment, then the moment’s gone. All my dreams pass before my eyes a curiosity.” (“Dust in the Wind” by Kansas) It’s true, it will be just a moment, and the warblers will leave for the winter. But now, right now, in this moment, they are here.
A wren has been singing nearby, his voice filling the cove. It’s astonishing that such a small bird can sing so loudly! He suddenly appears right next to me, in the light between the shadows, and I’m giggling with excitement.
The warbler and the wren go back and forth each day, almost as if answering each other’s call, and yet they are completely absorbed in their search for bugs. I smile and think how utterly remarkable it is that I am here for this moment. Ten-year-old me certainly never imagined this.
More jiggling in the branches, a little higher and more in the light. Three young blue-gray gnatcatchers are scooping up bugs and chasing each other through the willow tree. The bugs must be plentiful in this tree right now because two titmice join the bug-eating party.
I take a few steps around the corner and see a kingfisher sitting in the dead tree. This tree provides so much life, even if it has been sitting in water for forty years. Branches are beginning to fall, and I know it will not be here forever. For now, it is a favorite perch for many birds.
The kingfisher predictably takes off as soon as she sees me. I hear a loud racket and see three red-bellied woodpeckers chasing each other about. One male, one female, and one juvenile. It reminds me of chasing a toddler about the playground as he runs yelling and screaming that he doesn’t want to go home!
The male bluebird appears on the dead tree, where I’ve seen him most days. This time, I see the female come out of a small cavity I hadn’t noticed before. I watch the male go in. They have a nest right here, and though I’ve stood here almost every day, I hadn’t noticed it before!
Behind me, a wood duck flies in with loud cries and lands with a splash. Wood ducks are typically skitish, but perhaps this youngster didn’t notice me standing there with my back to the water.
Two cardinals and an indigo bunting join the song chorus, and then the frogs join in. I hear the cicadas start to sing for the first time this year. The sound of a fully formed choir is rich, and I wonder how much classical music was inspired by the sounds in nature.
As the sun climbs higher, more dragonflies swirl around me. Dragonflies seem to fly in a figure-eight pattern, and I find myself swaying with my hips moving in a similar way.
Just as I’m ready to leave, I look to my right and see a large yellow swallowtail sitting on the bushes with wings fully spread. I smile and say to the universe, “you win - and so I win too!” We play a game, the universe and I, where she tries to delight me, and I pay attention and allow myself to be delighted. On this morning, she has gone above and beyond, certainly a perfect 10…or maybe 100.
I watch the swallowtail flutter off and disappear. I head onto the path to complete my walk before starting the indoor portion of my day. I feel full and satiated, having eaten from the feast that was spread before me. Dust in the wind. The moments may be gone, but they will live forever in my memory - and at least for a while, in my photos.
They’re right here right now.
Squabbling pecker family,
warblers, wrens, moths, more!
What an eye and ear you have! Thank you for the beautiful photos and commentary, as always. And thank you, universe!