Yesterday, I was wandering about, with no purposeful intent. Not enough time to go up on the Sandy R. for Steelhead, too early for Silvers, I opted to take a short stroll down a path next to the South Shore Slough (Columbia R. watershed). Camera in hand, I took my time shuffling along looking.

A few rabbits scurried deeper into the brush. Birds chirped away. I was hoping to see a carp in the waters of the slough, but this was late Summer and the water was choked with a mat of weeds and algae save where canoes ply the water.

From this vantage point, and or when walking down to the water’s edge, I can often see carp cruising, holding, sipping. That is early Spring or in the Winter after the cold has done its work on the mat of muck. The East wind will tear through here soon enough and scour out the water’s surface. Visibility will return, and fishing would be possible.

That slightly changed angle of the sun, hints at seasonal change. Something is different. So subtle. The day is warm, but it looks Fallish. I am alone. Not another person through here. Signs of drinking, smoking, camping. All in all, not much garbage. Ducks work the mucky mat on the surface for bugs. I hear cars in the distance, but I feel alone.

Shooting into the late afternoon sun, the reed’s shadows are dark against the silvery mat of algae.

The vegetation is green on various shades of green and brown. Little contrasts with this save a few wildflowers scattered far and wide.

A rare splash of contrast, this wild little Sweet Pea. Grasping for sunlight, a few blooms made their way up and out of a patch of thistles.
I sat near the opening of this large pipe. Little water was flowing through it. The wind was steady and with a gust of wind, the water’s surface would rustle and send a shimmer across the top of the pipe’s ceiling…ever so subtle but I saw it. To sit and wait for the shimmer across the pipe’s ceiling was a good sign that I was in a quiet place and centered.

I walked back toward my rig. My pace was still slow, my awareness fresher and a few shots captured that I was pleased with. I am not fully prepared when out…this was a spontaneous stop, borne out of escaping. So, there is no tripod at hand or any assortment of lens to capture all that was around me. Yet, it was a good time wandering up a trail, near water with no rod in hand. 

Standing on a bridge, I saw this Blue Heron still as could be. I called out with some concocted call thinking maybe the neck and legs would extend. The bird sat motionless, a sentinel or a predator. I predator I think.