And still he sat

The day was overcast. I took the dogs and the new camera for a walk along the seawall. As we neared a private wharf, I spotted a heron perched atop one of the posts. The high tide covered the slight berm that leads to the wharf, making it impossible to get very close, but I took a few shots anyway.

The dogs and I continued our journey along the seawall, they sniffing the occasional smell and me snapping the occasional gull.






As we reversed direction and headed back to the wharf, the sun tried to break through the cloud to cast its feeble afternoon rays upon the water.




And on the post, at the end of the wharf, the heron still sat.




The tide had turned during our walk, and the berm could now be walked, and so cautiously I made my way toward the heron, camera clicking away furiously in my hand and dogs by my side.

And still the heron sat.

The wharf is high above the berm, and reached by climbing on craggy rocks. Sadie managed it with ease, while I hoisted myself up without too much difficulty, camera at the ready and one eye on the heron.

And still he sat.



Then Charley missed her footing and tumbled down, front paws on the edge of the sloping wharf, back paws dangling above the rocks and water, toes tapping stone as she scrambled for a foothold. She yelped in dismay.


And still the heron sat.




I clambered down, lifted Charley up and checked she was okay, hoisted myself back up. And heard my camera automatically shut off as it switched to power saver mode.

I restarted the camera, moved cautiously along the wharf, dropped the dogs’ leashes and signaled to them to lie down. Miraculously, they did.

The sun once again broke through the clouds and shone directly on the heron, now just five feet or so away from me, brilliant blues and blacks and whites illuminated by golden rays.

I focused, steadied the camera on the edge of the railing, breathed in deeply and said thanks for this amazing opportunity to photograph this beautiful bird, so close up and in such perfect lighting. I depressed the shutter release, and....

A big red battery-shaped light appeared on the LCD accompanied by the warning:

BATTERY IS EXHAUSTED

And the camera shut down.

And the heron flew away.

The fully charged, eighty-nine dollar battery had taken less than 20 photos that day, albeit most with the zoom. My five dollar AA batteries in my old camera lasted for 150 photos before needing recharging.

That was the last straw. The camera is going back today.