When the temperature hits 90° plus, it’s time to ditch the spray skirt. Head out early, keep to the shadows, and paddle out in the Skokie Lagoons on a hot July day.
Lots of fishermen: a baker’s dozen of blue herons doing their goofy, loping head forward walk in the shallows, a family of mallards, a tern diving for a snack. A pair of belted kingfishers played tag before starting their fishing expedition.
The cormorants perched high in their leafless tree. A flock of Canada geese plumped and preened, the surface of the water covered with floating feathers. One goose stood alone on a log, his head tucked on his back while he slept. He’d probably be comfortable sleeping on an airplane, too.
No turtles were out sunning–perhaps it was too warm for them.
After two hours, I finally turned back, lamenting the fact that I hadn’t seen my favorite night heron this year at all, nor a green heron. Miraculously, at that moment a green heron appeared at the water’s edge, biding his time as dragonflies flitting about his head. It was a wonderful show, the heron walking up and down a log, onto rocks, and finally a quick peck in the water for his breakfast snack.
Skirtless July day: sweet.