A young Black Skimmer plays at the beach.

Time seems to stop when I walk down the beach. Lucky Me. I just want to keep going. But I aways come to some sort of end. Today its a small river at the point where the river joins the ocean. There at the end magic happened setting on the sand was two young Black Skimmers enjoying another day. It took me a while to remember what they were. It was 30 years ago the last time I had seen their kind. I took a few photos and I used up my Chip. Usually I have a spare or two. Not today! Now the fun started a couple of small kids began to chase the skimmers. They wanted to stay where they were. So the games began. Chasing and flying, turning and twisting in that small point of sand. The sun, the water, the waves, the clouds, the sound, the action all for my eyes only.

copyright Tom Stanley Janca .20 per sq.in.

A Great Blue Heron finishes swallowing a fish.

Many times I have seen a Great Blue heron swallow a big fish that seemed to big to swallow. I was wrong down it went and you can see the big lump move down the neck. Then sometimes they will do a little dance and shake out their feathers. The feather that normally stay hidden. Then suddenly you seem to be looking at a different bird. Shape shifters that's what they are, many different stances. Tall, Short, vertical, horizontal, all with a different feather arrangement.

The Great Blue heron are very wide spread through

North America. Some people like them and some people do not. I met a few people that removed their fish pond because a Heron found and emptied the gold fish and the koi . Surly there must be some kind of compromise in this eat and be eaten world.

copyright Tom Stanley Janca .20 per sq.in.

Young Western Gulls Landing Practice

It's always fun to watch sea gulls. They fly so easy and so well just throw a peace of bread their way. They won't miss the catch. (However now days it is frond upon the feed the birds!) So don't you try it.

In just a couple of years these young gull will be bright white and dark blue grey.

Just say the word Sea Gull and I am reminded of a sea gull in Oregon that seemed hurt and I set out to rescue him. I scoop him up in my arms and he looked at me and I looked at him and I thought what a hero I was. I look at him again and he looked at me and quickly grabbed my nose and lip with his beak. I had to drop him and pry his beak open and off. He quickly flew off in a very healthy manner. What would happen to that sea gull was no longer on my mind.

copyright Tom Stanley Janca .20 per sq. in.

The Brown Pelicans Comming Home.

I see something wonderful in pelicans.

Here they come from a day of fishing.

I hope their belly's are full. I can relate to them in that I go and work all day at an art show and I love to tell my stories of my pictures and talk to everyone and the day is over to quickly and then I head home like the pelicans.

Pelicans fly together, fish together, nap together, sleep together, swim together, like to be together. That's my theme friends and family together pelican and people very nice picture.

copyright Tom Stanley Janca .20 per sq. in.

The Black Crowned Night Heron

Quite a handsome bird, The Black Crowned Night Heron. See its red eye. Its two white head feathers. I can not believe that for over 60 years with all the exploring I have done I finally met one at the Gilbert Riparian Park. I said what is that??

Well with a little research I found out a lot about this Arizona Bird. I learned that it feed mostly at night and hides during the day. That's enough to explain why I never had seen one. Although maybe I saw them but was looking for Jojoba beans instead of birds. For thirty eight years I found a lot of jojoba beans.

copyright Tom Stanley Janca .20 per Sq.In.

A young Black Skimmer practices his tecniques.

There is a lesson here for new photographers always have extra chips and battery's. If you think you can get the good shots after you hike back down the beach for a mile I think not. Even the same place the next day It's unlikely to have the subjects, the light, the timing. Really when a trip to the beach may be another 20 years away BE PREPARED like the boy scouts say. The best shots were with my eyes I wish I could down load my brain photos.

"Walk Like This" Charley Brown Pelican said.

Some time ago I visited another pelican. After watching many of them fish near the pier. Some came to rest on the pier. I was awed by their skill to catch small fish tossed to them by some fishermen there on their way home. They never missed a fish even when they were tricked. A few years later I wrote a poem about my visit.

... da daah...

THE FISHER . by Tom Stanley Janca

One day when I was at the sea, this old pelican said to me.

I love to fish. I love to fly. I love to take a dip.

I love to catch those little fish and swallow them with a flip.

I love to turn around and turn around and shake my tail and flutter.

Now it's time to go and fly and fish and dive into the water.

I love to fish. I love to fly. I love to take a dip.

I love to catch those little fish and have them for my supper.

I love to turn around and turn around and shake my tail and flutter.

It's time to go, a kick, a step, I'm in the air, its time to leave the water.

Into the air into the sea a thousand times or more.

Now you know why? I sit on this rock it is to rest upon the shore.

© Tom Stanley Janca.