It is more than halfway through my 30 day challenge. I’m not entirely pleased with the quality of my writing, and will be rather relieved not to have to do this everyday. Yet, I feel like the obligation is useful since practicing a skill means improving that skill – usually.

So, it turns out that what I enjoy most about this challenge is being able to take note of both the variability and consistency in the backyard menagerie. While the animals are not kept captive – which apparently the word means – still they do seem to be reliably at home. I have a sense of pride in their continued presence. The creation of this backyard had nothing to do with me, but I feel excited about protecting it so we don’t encroach on their territory. It is luxurious, getting to see these animals so regularly.

At the same time, I truly enjoy the luxury of documenting the comings and goings with photographs. I like photography but doubt I should enjoy it this much if I were taking images of objects. I like the land, the water and the animals. They are each so dynamic.

Yesterday, Blue reported that a heron poked its long neck above the patio steps and simply looked around investigatively. Today, the local muscovy family cosied up to that same patio. They turned their backs to the house and unconcernedly watched the flock of ibises eat-nod their way across the lawn. I’m pleased to know the male muscovy cruises in for an extended landing just at dawn in the mornings, and then delight in seeing his family, once again, join him later in the day to paddle up the waterway. The mallard duck pair have also now become regulars. I like to feel like I’m becoming a magnet for the wild life!

Imagine my delight when I discovered that dark bird was not a tricolored heron with its neck drawn in, but the green heron. The three occassions that I have seen the bird, its been hiding in the darkest shrub at the other side of the water’s edge. It is so dark, I thought it was a black bird – except that they do not tend to fly so close to the water. I accidentally captured it on video twice. After I realized that the black crowned night heron was a short-necked crouching bird, I went back to look up this one, and it was a real pleasure to meet yet another species.

I like observing the habits of the ibises as they fly down from their perches across the way to chomp on whatever it is they eat from the lawn. Three great white herons shared the lawn with them today. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen as many together. They tend to be more wary of visitors, but they are outstanding next to the much smaller and shorter ibises, with which flock they hang around. So I often see one or two with their long necks unfurled from its usual ‘S’ shape keeping an eye on the landscape.

Nearly everyday now I see the little brown birds with yellow breasts and the architectural back feathers – the Eastern phoebe, I believe. They seem quite industrious, always busy, and though my camera is often frustrated, I like noticing how very closely they blend into the surrounding foliage.

I delight in the belted kingfisher. They seem always at play. And two or three times now I’ve see that impressively swift dive to the water. They move so fast its hard to think they can actually be seeing or catching anything, but I’m assured that they do. I see pairs of them, sometimes, and they chase each other across the water and back. Their chirp also sounds like an alarm, which I like.

So, finally here’s my regular…a snakebird. I’ll at least keep writing for the 30 days, and posting at least one photo, because this document, however much editing might be in its future, still represents my growing wonder and enjoyment of the world outside my backyard.

• Aperture: ƒ/8
• Camera: Canon PowerShot SX510 HS
• Taken: 19 January, 2016
• Focal length: 129mm
• ISO: 200
• Shutter speed: 1/30s