Meet our Morning Walk friends in Tralee, Kerry, Ireland

Heron
Walking along the marina canal is one of the things we like doing early in the morning.   We pass pastures and preserved wetlands and ponds and enjoy the scenery, the animals, and the other walkers.
Heron




Birds are plentiful with hooded crows, white Egrets, Grey-heron, small brown birds like sparrows and lots of different gulls and blackbirds.

Heron in flight




Beef cattle graze in the fields and some come close enough to pose for pictures.

Michael & the cows

Our favorite was the white faced cow that would stop as we passed as stare at us. Unfortunately we haven't seen it for a month or so and fear it may be some ones dinner.


White Cow









And we have two footed friends that we've met along the way as well.  Usually the greeting is "good morning" and their reply is "good morning and a fine day it is"  (no matter what the weather).



John McNally                 Thomas O'Hallan
                                       with Michael








Dot & John
More of our neighbors.
Black goose

otter

The other day we saw three otters (a younger one lagging behind) dash across our path from the canal to the marshy woodland west of the Swan pond.    Of course they were too fast to photo.  The picture of the otter looks like he has a branch in his mouth.  He must be preparing his home for the upcoming winter.

Ducks

Hooded Crow

Swan family


But our favorite is the Mute Swans.  We saw 3 cygnets on their own in the pond close to our flat and then a family with another 3 cygnets that have their home in the larger pond/marsh land.     Now 3 months later we have seen them take off in flight.  It was thrilling to see their magnificant beauty.



The cygnets that Michael is feeding is another 3 in the smaller pond.  We have not seen them fly yet and we've never seen parents with them.  They are a little older than the ones in the family.

One morning I didn't bring my camera because I thought I had captured it all but to my surprise we saw three full grown swans fly across an orange sunrise similar to this but it also had some dark clouds. 

Then the three otters crossed our path.  And finally as the day was rain, then sun, then rain we saw the most vivid rainbow.  But at last it is one of those times that are recorded in my memory forever. 




We are told that there will be a lot more birds coming down in the fall to spend the winter.  They fly in from the Arctic Circle.   On the other side of the canal and road is an even larger pond and wet lands.   We are looking forward to morning walks.   God has created so many beautiful things to add joy to our existence.  We feel blessed to be living in Tralee, Kerry, Ireland at this time and to experience the joy of the Gospel with fellow members and neighbors in Ireland.   Land where Michael's ancestors lived.