Beside Still Waters

I have been out for a while at a new outpost without much of anything. Most days I see sand, gravel and sky. I did get a chance to go back to the "main FOB" for a few days though. A real shower, porcelain toilets...the little things in life.

I woke up at 0530 because, well, that's when I wake up normally and I'm getting to that stage in life where my body just doesn't get the whole "sleep in" thing. So I got dressed and walked over to the pond to see what I could see. On the way, I was praying, and was tempted to ask God for a lifer, but, slowly learning my lesson over the years, I changed my mind and just asked Him for whatever He had for me this morning.

It was a pleasant, sunny morning. Lately, where I am, the winds have shifted and we have been getting air from off the Persian Gulf--full of humidity. So, reluctantly, I have to admit there is something to this "dry heat" thing. 98 with 12% humidity felt rather nice this morning.


It was a wonderful couple of hours...I ended up with six life birds. I can't remember the last time I had 6 life birds in such a short span of time. God came through (as if that's a surprise.) It had been a tough couple of weeks before I came back so this was some real soul feeding for me.

Here's my list for the morning:

Little Egret

Squacco Heron

Cattle Egret

Little Bittern

Water Rail

Black-winged Stilt

Red-wattled Lapwing

Common Sandpiper

Rock Pigeon

Eurasian Collared-Dove

Pied Kingfisher

Eurasian Hoopoe

Crested Lark

House Martin

White-cheeked Bulbul

Red-backed Shrike

Woodchat Shrike

House Sparrow

There were a couple that got away too...a thrush-like bird I saw on the opposite shore that could have been any of about half a dozen species and then there were several "lbjs" in the reeds along the pond too. (little brown jobs) which, from the 2 glimpses I caught, could have been almost anything....

But, the Water Rail I was able to watch for probably 5 minutes. That just doesn't happen with rails normally, they like to skulk in the reeds, but this one seemed content to feed along the shoreline for a while. Then the Little Bittern that not only was out in the open, but let me get cose enough to take some pictures with my little pocket camera.

I have to admit, by the time I got to this one, and stood their marveling and snapping, I had some tears in my eyes. Truly,
"The LORD is my shepherd,
I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
He leads me beside quiet waters,
He restores my soul."

Not the first time I've quoted that Psalm recently, but the first time for those particular verses. Thanks, God, I needed that.