All of a sudden…

The elusive Ridgway Rail appeared. Not one, but two or three. The first one was there, standing on the mud bank in low tide, looking lost. Then it saw me or it heard footsteps of the few hikers nearby. It quickly ran into the tall reeds of the marshland. Just like that.

This is the third time I have seen this bird, the shy creature that dwells in the thick grass. Their numbers are down, but they hang on to the remaining habitat around the bay, the little parks set aside for them.

It was like that for the cranes too.

I spent the whole afternoon yesterday watching the light fall on the marshes, watching a Great Blue Heron preening in the afternoon glow and the Snowy Egret catching little tiny fish wriggling in its beak.

Then all of a sudden, the Rail appeared.

It appeared again and again from the thick cover, took a few steps, got a sip of water, and dashed back to the dense grass.

It was like this when I last spent an afternoon in the park watching the cranes. I sat with my legs out, totally relaxed, letting time go by, feeling the warm sun on my back and the grass turn gold. I watched Egrets come home. I saw a hut or two with their kerosene lamps flickering. I smelled the wood smoke and fish sauce burning. I heard music from their radios.

I am there again, all of a sudden.