7:45 a.m. and 20 degrees out, just after the Winter sunrise here in NC, and I was running with Daisy, my 1 year old blonde shepherd/ husky and super-mutt mix along the edge of a huge meadow surrounded by woods.
Daisy stopped and barked into the forest, bristling and at full attention. I was curious because she doesn’t usually bark at deer or squirrels, and then suddenly she plunged headlong into the trees after her quarry, emerging an instant later giving chase to a coyote at full speed across the lower edge of the meadow.
The coyote was about 15-20 yards ahead of her, and increasing the gap. It loped as Daisy churned. The grace and fluidity of a wild thing. As I watched the thrilling chase, out of my periphery emerged a great blue heron, who must have been sleeping at the edge of the meadow. It was unwieldy looking at first, it almost seemed like it was too big to get itself off the ground, but after a few beats of it’s huge wings, it was airborne, and within seconds it was above the tree line, the morning sun splashing on it’s wings and grey-blue body.
This all happened within the span of a few seconds, but it also felt like time stood still as this mini-drama played out. I yelled to Daisy, “not too far Daisy, not too far”, as she was nearing the woods on the far side of the meadow and close to plunging in after the coyote. I didn’t really want her to catch up to it, afriad of what would happen in a confrontation. The coyote seemed to be playing with her more than wanting to fight. Daisy heeded my shout and paused, vibrating with the excitement of the pursuit. She thought about continuing, but after deliberating briefly, she came running back across the 100 yard wide meadow, smiling and happy.
I’ve lived in the woods here in the piedmont region of North Carolina for 7 years and had never laid eyes on a coyote. I’d only heard them in the distance, yipping, howling, and cackling. As for blue herons- they are reclusive, magical, and majestic. It’s a gift to see them. I had never seen one in a meadow, only along the river.
It was a rare and special moment with Daisy. Worth bundling up and getting out at dawn in 20 degrees!