Nature Sightings--No Binoculars Needed

Seeing wildlife can change your perspective--connect you to the universe, remind you of its grace and beauty. We co-exist with some pretty amazing beings. My most memorable wildlife sightings:

1. The big bear that stood next to my friend Moey when we were about to head home after a weekend Girl Scout camping trip. We all pulled chores, and Moey's was to dispose of the garbage before we left the campsite. We were in about fifth grade. It was a large bear, standing tall on two feet. I watched from the comfort of the bus. The memory always makes me--and Moey--laugh.

2. The pretty orange foxes on Cape Cod--the spry, proud-looking one that came out at sunset every night for a week by the bridge at Coast Guard Beach, and the other that we saw on a hill at the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary.

3. The sly coyote we saw sauntering by the house our friends rented on the Cape last summer. Just walking by in the evening, minding his own business--or so it seemed.

4. The baby bird that my Dad tried to save for me. When our tree in the front yard was cut down, he found a nest in the branches. It was a Saturday and I was going somewhere for the day. He fed it with my dolly's bottle and also gave it worms, but still, it didn't make it. I got the bad news when I returned. I love my Dad's love of animals...even still, at almost age 87.

5. The beached seal H., Fig and I saw years ago at Great Island in Wellfleet. It was no longer living, but Figgy was really fascinated by it, studying it closely.

6. The mysterious white animal that crossed in front of our bikes one summer night about 10 years ago on the Cape Cod Rail Trail [bike path]. Fig was three or four, and was riding on the back of H.'s bike. Darkness had fallen, and this creature, low to the ground, crossed our path. We saw it in the beams of passing car lights. It was scary. I do not exaggerate when I tell you that Figgy asked us at least 20 times what kind of animal that could have been. She asked us that night, all week, and on the ride home to New Jersey. Skunk? Mole? Our best guess was ferret.

7. The giant owl that lived in our tall tree out front one season. Its silhouette was so dramatic in the moonlight--until I foolishly made the mistake of "whooing" at it one night. They say you shouldn't do that; it makes the owl think another owl or bird is hanging around. It flew away for good. And dramatically so--its wingspan was huge in the moon glow.

8. The chipmunks that scamper around outside. H. has a saying: "When you see a chipmunk, you know it's going to be a good day." Now I go with that too.

9. The deer that were in Anderson Park for several days last year--right in the middle, acting completely nonchalant as bikers pedaled, dogs walked and kids scootered around them. True grace and beauty.

10. The robin redbreast I saw yesterday, alighting on a shrub by the creek when I took Sug for a nice long walk.