I love your description of these little dippers! Whilst reading, I thought about waiters darting this way and that on New Year's eve, disappearing with orders but always coming back.....eventually. Your love and respect for nature is so refreshing to read about.
Thank you, David. Your words brought back a memory. Years ago, while living in Washington, DC, I used to watch a pair of sparrows that lived in an eave visible from a busy corporate dining area. Given how focused they were on nest maintenance and food acquisition, I think they were as oblivious of us as we were to them. But it was a relief to watch them in their world from where I sat in mine.
I love this. I’m reminded of that first time finding myself on the river’s edge and catching movement in the corner of my eye. Dippers! I was fascinated! Dipping into the water world they own...inhabit with those others...your words delight me the way they do.
Delightful! Field guides should be written like this: "They dress elegantly in velvet frock coats, always buttoned, which appear black from a distance but which reveal rich nut-browns and understated iridescence when you approach to talk with them. Their shirt-fronts are uncompromisingly white. Never soiled. The kingfishers think them terribly dull. The dippers in flight are a blur of functionality, direct from point to point. Commuters’ flightpaths, maybe an occasional pull-up turn to reverse direction, modest landings. The Grey Wagtails, with their watercolour aerobatics in pursuit of summer stoneflies, think the dippers are awful clodhoppers." You are gifted in both words and perspective.
What a joy to read. Thank you! I see I am not alone in being delighted by your writing :)
I’m always delighted also, by species who appear in both my ancestral home of the isles where you live, and my home by birth of the Pacific Northwest. Dippers live here too! A different species/subspecies no doubt, but equally mysterious and wonderful to encounter. You celebrate them beautifully.
Thank you, Annie. Isn't it lovely that we have those species which wrap themselves all the way around the north of the globe, shading gradually from one sub-species to the next until they eventually meet themselves again.
The Rocky Mountain tribe of dippers are puritans in dress, having left their British cousins over some sartorial dispute. But they favor the same dance-steps, and songs.
You perfectly capture the charm of dippers. We have recently had one coming to the stretch of burn that runs through our garden. I hope that it has or will find a mate, and will stay where I can continue to chat to it.
Ha! We too have one of that brand of cat. The cat formerly known as the Kitten of the Apocalypse. Thanks for the encouragement and fingers crossed for your dippers.
Thank you. I was smiling while I read. I have considered the mysteries of these unusual little birds. And I'm so grateful that someone who shares their language has shared their stories with me. I wanted to know. Please keep writing
I love your description of these little dippers! Whilst reading, I thought about waiters darting this way and that on New Year's eve, disappearing with orders but always coming back.....eventually. Your love and respect for nature is so refreshing to read about.
Utter delight to read, reminding me that those described are my kin, my family. Thank you!
Absolutely brilliant, David.
Thank you, David. Your words brought back a memory. Years ago, while living in Washington, DC, I used to watch a pair of sparrows that lived in an eave visible from a busy corporate dining area. Given how focused they were on nest maintenance and food acquisition, I think they were as oblivious of us as we were to them. But it was a relief to watch them in their world from where I sat in mine.
I love this!!
Thanks, Rowan, that’s very kind of you.
As one who has come to the natural world late in life I am thrilled by your words and magical viewpoint. Please continue sharing.
Thanks for your kindness and encouragement. I'll be doing my best!
I love this. I’m reminded of that first time finding myself on the river’s edge and catching movement in the corner of my eye. Dippers! I was fascinated! Dipping into the water world they own...inhabit with those others...your words delight me the way they do.
Thanks, Lynne, for the encouragement and kindness. I'll pass the thought on to the dippers tomorrow.
Delightful! Field guides should be written like this: "They dress elegantly in velvet frock coats, always buttoned, which appear black from a distance but which reveal rich nut-browns and understated iridescence when you approach to talk with them. Their shirt-fronts are uncompromisingly white. Never soiled. The kingfishers think them terribly dull. The dippers in flight are a blur of functionality, direct from point to point. Commuters’ flightpaths, maybe an occasional pull-up turn to reverse direction, modest landings. The Grey Wagtails, with their watercolour aerobatics in pursuit of summer stoneflies, think the dippers are awful clodhoppers." You are gifted in both words and perspective.
That's very kind of you and a big encouragement as I start out. I'll keep trying my best!
What a joy to read. Thank you! I see I am not alone in being delighted by your writing :)
I’m always delighted also, by species who appear in both my ancestral home of the isles where you live, and my home by birth of the Pacific Northwest. Dippers live here too! A different species/subspecies no doubt, but equally mysterious and wonderful to encounter. You celebrate them beautifully.
Thank you, Annie. Isn't it lovely that we have those species which wrap themselves all the way around the north of the globe, shading gradually from one sub-species to the next until they eventually meet themselves again.
Magical little birds - the first bird I ever noticed (aged 8 or 9) as an individual and not just “a bird”.
Thanks for reading my first shot on Substack, Richard. Aren't they just a delight. They were up and back along the river all day today.
I envy you ... "my" Dipper was in Somerset on the edge of Exmoor. They are still on that river but it's 3000 miles from where I live now.
https://1001species.substack.com/p/follow-the-kids-on-a-nature-walk
The Rocky Mountain tribe of dippers are puritans in dress, having left their British cousins over some sartorial dispute. But they favor the same dance-steps, and songs.
Ah, there's always fencing. Got some boggy ground here that just gobbles up posts. My lot say your lot need to get their shirts laundered.
You perfectly capture the charm of dippers. We have recently had one coming to the stretch of burn that runs through our garden. I hope that it has or will find a mate, and will stay where I can continue to chat to it.
Ha! We too have one of that brand of cat. The cat formerly known as the Kitten of the Apocalypse. Thanks for the encouragement and fingers crossed for your dippers.
Thank you, thank you for helping to pierce that veil.
Hi David. Thanks for the welcome and the encouragement. 'I'll go on looking' - and doing my best ;-)
Thank you. I was smiling while I read. I have considered the mysteries of these unusual little birds. And I'm so grateful that someone who shares their language has shared their stories with me. I wanted to know. Please keep writing