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Welcome to Riverswind notes

I hope you will join in my adventures here in Humboldt County and elsewhere as I explore nature & people.



I welcome your comments.



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Saturday, July 14, 2007

Sights and sounds by the river

This evening while sitting on our bench above the river I enjoy watching Cedar Waxwings as they fly out from their Alder perches to catch insects on the wing. I marvel at their striking yellow tail tips and glossy "wax-like" brilliant red tips on their flight feathers. They remind me of flycatcher's in a hurry and their descent as graceful as a butterfly. The river has voices like a crowd of people in the distance softened by smooth extemporaneous jazz. This moment interrupted by the distant sound of a loud motorcycle on the road above. I feel fortunate to have the ability to see and hear the marvelous wonders of nature and would have great difficulty if I had to chose between losing one or the other. Hegman wrote: "Sound always ends in silence, but silence never ends". It would be a grim life without the sound of birds singing, water rushing over rocks, smooth jazz or my wife's sweet voice saying "I love you". On the other hand without vision I would have never experienced the sight of her beautiful face, the sun going down on the Colorado river, the amazing heart-shaped face of the Barn owl or the smile on a childs face. My thoughts are interrupted by a Great blue heron flying low above the waters surface as the sun slowly disappears below the horizon leaving behind a golden glow on the river rocks. The rattling sound of a Kingfisher and the mellow coo of a Mourning dove reminds me that I am privileged to have both sight and hearing and would rather give up a limb or two instead. Now as I prepare to walk my path to the house a coolness fills the air and the Canary reed grass glowing in the sunset dances to the tune of the river's wind.

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Summer fishing on the East Fork

Well this is my first attempt at this so don't expect a book. I live on one of the last remainig wild rivers in the state of Washington. However, this time of the year the river is extremely low and temperatures are high. I don't fish on our property this time of the year although there are a few Summer Steelhead in the deeper pools. Today I chose to carve a fish out of Sugar Pine and stay cool in the shelter of my cave like shop. It will be a nice 15 inch Rainbow Trout when finished that will be donated most likely to the Columbia Land Trust for their annual auction.
They do great work buying land along the Columbia river and it's tributaries. The land is important natural riparian habitat which is saved from development. www.columbialandtrust.org Outside my shop I hear the adult Robins keeping track of their newly fledged young and Swainson's Thrushes whistling at each other. It's great to be alive!