It has been almost a month that my left knee has been bound in a brace. This was to help heal the tear in my meniscus. That brace came off last week and slowly I flexed my left knee to see if the pain was gone. It was. But paranoia had crept in. For good reason if I may say so. For a while early in June I thought my knee was ok since I no longer grimace whenever I walk. So I went birding and walked a lot all the while carrying my hefty gear. Which resulted in the said tear in my knee cartilege.
When the brace came off last week I walked as if my knee was still bound by metal rods. One day later, Gathering all my bravado, I tried walking. No pain! Then I tried driving our car. No Pain! A Saturday filled with social appointments and a Sunday devoted to church confirmed that I am now able to walk, albeit slowly, and drive thru the chaos known as Manila traffic.
Monday and my wife knew I have to go birding. We chose a nature park not that far from where we live. It was already late when we got there (we woke up a little bit later than usual) so we were not keeping our hopes that high. At the lake we got lucky as a White-breasted Waterhen showed up briefly. Minutes passed as we stood sweltering in the mid-morning sun. All we were seeing were the ubiquituous Eurasian Tree Sparrows. Then something brownish flew into the reed-like plants across from where we were standing. Yellow Bittern! It is a common bird but difficult to observe because of its skulking habit, as most bitterns are wont to do.
And then it skulked.
By now my shirt has already been drenched by the copious sweat that seemed to flow from every pore of my skin. Cynthia asked if my birding itch had been satisfied. I confirmed that it was. That bittern was just the medicine I needed I told her.
For other (less kneedful?) birding blogs and photos, please visit:
9 comments:
Congratulations sir!
- edu
There's nothing like birding to perk you up when down in the dumps Bob. And i cant think of a better bird than a bittern - any one will do but Yellow certainly would.
Take it easy with that knee! Rest enough so that you can go and find some more great birds like this post!! Nice photos!.
lol, I understand your need to go birding. But.... take it easy for a while. It was a nice bird you captured, one we don´t have.
Great medicine - I'm going to recommend to all my friends. Isn't it great when you can actually photograph a bittern of any sort? I really feel a sense of accomplishment and success.
Yellow Bittern! How cool , love the photos! Glad he stayed out in the open long enough to get his picture taken :) Glad the knee is healing too!
Wow Bob, the Yellow Bittern must be even harder to detect in the reeds than our American Bittern. What a gorgeous bird. Thanks for sharing it and I'm glad to hear your knee is doing well. I know how heavy that equipment is so you better take it slow!
Bitterns are so cool and so hard to see! Congratulations on that one!
I am glad this birding trip perked you up. You certainly got some lovely shots!!
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