There's one assuming tree...
That rises right out of a muddy little pond near the beach in Costa Rica. It has a weathered trunk and a number of sturdy and bushy branches poking up from the shallow water. But every time I drive past it, I smile. Because this tree is basically the VIP lounge for birds in Costa Rica. No matter the season, it’s always hosting someone special.
In the dry season, it becomes a favorite perch for kingfishers, egrets and blackbirds scanning the shallows for fish. When the rains arrive, the branches fill with colorful kiskadees, black birds, ibis, cattle egrets and even the occasional green heron stopping by for a quick rest or a noisy chat. All together, in that tree. The birds come and go with the seasons, but the tree stays steady, offering a front row seat to the wild’s ever changing show.
What I love most is how reliable it is. You don’t have to chase far and wide. Sometimes you just return to the same spot with open eyes and an open heart... and the wild shows up for you.
It’s become one of my favorite weekly rituals. Stopping by the muck pond tree, camera always in hand and gratitude in my chest. It’s taught me patience, presence and the joy of watching the same place reveal new stories season after season.
