Water Lily

Walking east this morning I ventured to the wetland portion of our bay and I was happy to find
this water lily in full bloom.
Often thought of as an invasive plant in waterways I find them peaceful to look at and a beneficial
part of nature as they provide cover for the small fish hatchlings that need to hide from their larger brethren.
The French artist Claude Monet was particularly fascinated by water lilies and painted them often during his lifetime.
Nature always seems to offer up something to enjoy on my walks.

The Common Tern

Walking early this almost cloudless morning I find myself admiring a group of Common Terns
at the harbour entrance. They are a beautiful bird with long slender wings and a forked tail.
I watch several flying head down and, displaying remarkable eyesight, drop vertically from
about thirty feet into the water to emerge seconds later with a minnow firmly clutched in their
beaks. They then fly close to the water to feed their almost grown young waiting at the breakwater.
After a brief rest they are off again to repeat the process before the minnow school moves on.