Magnificent Afternoon
Sometimes when we're exploring we run across some very unexpected things. Today was one of those days. I was walking down a beach picking up seashells. I was finding mostly multicolored red Clam shells but also a few unique shells I hadn't seen before. I was enjoying the sound of the waves coming ashore on my feet, and being cooled by a good steady wind. A perfect afternoon. As I paused from shells for a moment I looked up to see two giant birds hovering overhead.
They were quite large, about like Brown Pelicans. But their wing shape was very different. They had a rather curious upward curve close to their body.
I realized they were Magnificent Frigatebirds. They live mostly at sea and usually not seen over land. Such a rare sight. And those wings are so unique and beautiful. Designed to soar.
As I watched I noticed they were soaring on the wind without flapping. They were simply feathering their wings just right to use the wind for lift and motion, like the Pelicans do. Then I noticed that they weren't moving at all. They were staying in exactly the same place. It looked like a still photograph. They weren't flapping, and not moving at all. They weren't being pushed about from side to side by the wind like most birds do. They were completely motionless hovering in one spot, simply soaring on the wind.
I looked in amazement and just sat down where I was on the beach to watch them. They stayed motionless like that for at least ten minutes. I couldn't even see their wings turn or tip. They were just floating in place. And I, likewise, was frozen in awe of them. Both of them and me perfectly still in the moment, frozen in time.
After awhile I came back from by trance and wished I had photo of them. So I got up to go down the beach for my camera. I turned and said to them "Don't move, I'll be right back." which was a little absurd. It was at least a half mile or more down the beach. A long journey of at least twenty minutes to half an hours walk. I was thinking maybe they'll still be in the area when I get back. I could hope. I finally reached the ramp over the dunes to the parking lot and to the truck. I got my camera and turned to head back. As I walked the long way back up the beach I was thinking of them and how trance like they were. How could they just hover in one place like that? A seemingly impossible feat. Simply mesmerizing .
When I got back up the beach I unexpectedly found they were still there. They waited the whole time. A Miracle! They had moved a little more over the water and were flying a little bit around each other. Like twiddling their thumbs waiting, except birds don't have thumbs. Perhaps fiddling their toes. But they hadn't left. They stayed and waited. I sat down and started taking photo's. They came closer and soared right over me slowly. They only let me have a few photo's as if to say that's good, we'll be on our way now. Then they turned and flew off over the island and towards the setting sun.
They were two of the most amazing birds I had ever seen. What a Beautiful and truly Magnificent Creation to behold. Magnificent Frigatebirds. Such a Blessed day.
. . .
Many months later I found a few more over a far south Texas Island. Again they were soaring with very little flapping. They were equally as magnificent to behold. My book says they average a seven and a half foot wingspan. For comparison Pelicans are listed as a little larger at 9 feet. Both the Pelicans and Frigatebirds are amazing to watch. Keep an eye wayyyyy up high for these amazing birds.
