I chose my current apartment because of the view. Its not on the seafront but the powers that be have chosen not to develop over the underground parking lot opposite, for which I am truly grateful. So aside from apartment buildings to the far left and right, I have a relatively unrestricted view across Enfield Bay towards Point King in the far distance. Except today, that is not quite so.
A curious figure catches my eye, perching on one leg on the building opposite, a grey overcoat hunched up over the shoulders. In another situation I imagine a violin case and a thick cigar would not be out of place. We're not talking about gangsters here. It is the resident heron, a frequent visitor to this neighbourhood.
Now I'm confused. The heron's other leg seems to be reaching round to scratch his neck but scientifically that does not seem possible. It doesn't make sense, how could the heron bend it's leg like that ? On closer inspection with binoculars, it's clear that the wind is whipping up the feathers. I have no idea where the other leg is nor do I wish to ask. We now have a very passable imitation of the Penguin character in the Batman movies. Even down to the beak. Very clever indeed. The heron clearly knows that a hoard of apartment dwellers are watching its every move. Now it has contorted itself so that its neck and head look like an umbrella hanging off the side of the now headless overcoat. Pretty darn good, as impressions go. I give that a nine out of ten for artistic merit.
Oh darn, away it flies, off the building, like a prehistoric raptor. But things aren't so bad. Joey the Blue Jay has just arrived on my balcony, quivering with excitement, ready to bury yet another peanut in my plant pot.
