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Message: <blockquote data-quote="SueO" data-source="post: 1233473" data-attributes="member: 33442">Sorry John, but I too am going to have to post my delights without focusing on the human element.  Actually, one of the things I love about birding is the lack of the human element...But I'm not grumpy when I run into another birder. The more that care about birds the better. A few birding delights:Breathing in the scent of wild herbaceous plants after the sun has heated them; following a small creek and listening to it flow over and between rocks and roots while the poplars overhead whisper and flicker in the wind and sun.  Seeing the iridescent blue back of a Kingfisher flying down the center of the creek after I have clumsily flushed him instead of noticing him perched, or even better, noticing him before he notices me.  Hearing the whir of wings, then seeing a shadow land in a tree at my elbow and searching with breath held in both anticipation and fear. Anticipation of seeing what will undoubtedly be the rare Purple-throated Toukie-Toukie bird, and fear of spooking it before I get a good look. The peace that comes upon me when I walk in nature; my mind empties of nagging thoughts or worries and takes a rest while my spirit comes alive.  The simple joy of seeing of  a beautiful feathered thing and making eye contact with it; a thing that is able to escape my gaze in a heartbeat by opening it’s wings and flying.</blockquote>