White heron: Kaizo-ji

In the tranquil garden behind the modest Buddha hall, I saw a silvery-white heron standing still on a rock and gazing fixedly at the quiet surface of the pond to hunt its prey. 

The illusion about the flow of time had disappeared completely and, through the piercing eyes of the heron, I eternally stared into the water surface sparkling calmly in the lucid autumnal sunlight. 

White heron: Yuigahama-beach

A white heron is gazing fixedly at the rippling water surface of a river which is reflecting the soft silver sunlight from the slanting sun.

Soon night will fall fast and this silvery heron will fly away to her nest to retire for her chilly quiet night.

White heron: Tsurugaoka-hachimangu

The fallen petals of cherry blossoms are afloat quietly on the faintly rippled surface of the pond.

A snowy heron is perching still on the wooden post, gazing at the water surface to hunt her prey.

A white heron in Tsurugaoka-hachimangu

A lone white heron was sitting calmly on the bare branch hanging over the pond in the cold air of midwinter.

I had a strange feeling that I found the avatar of a winter spirit in this snowy heron.