Making jam and jelly took up all of my morning which was not a bad thing since rain poured outside. No hikes were even attempted until close to noon. It was then that Son and I went to check the small skiff moored at the end of the pier. We were about halfway down the pier when I noticed some strange looking clouds with the next approaching storm system. "Son! Check the waterspouts!" In awe, he and I sat staring at the horizon for the next few moments. Well, he stayed for a few moments. My stay was more like a half hour. Seven different times, the clouds showed a "dip" as a funnel cloud tried to form but each time, it was a half-baked attempt. Thankfully, nary a one made it full form.
As I was kneeling on the pier planks, I heard a strange whirring sound and looked to find that a green heron had landed on the post near my elbow. Alrighty, then. Not wanting to scare the bird, I did not even look directly at it for a few minutes. I slowly angled the camera in the direction of the heron and snapped a photo hoping that the bird was somewhat in focus. Then, I went back to photographing the wannabe funnel clouds. The bird sat. It never moved.
After the storm clouds went inland to our east, I slowly stood. The bird looked at me oddly but still did not fly. I took a step back, photographed the bird then slowly turned and walked up the pier. Glancing back, my new-found friend was still there...staring at me. What an encounter!
