BIRDIES

After having visited South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana, I came back thinking there is no place on earth like those countries. The stars that put on their display from horizon to horizon. What I mean is, from all directions they seem to touch the ground as well as light up the heavens.

But I was almost equally impressed by their birds. Huge, beautiful birds and brightly colored birds of all sizes. Their coloring was just different even from the ones you see in stateside zoos.

But during our round of golf last week at McCormick Ranch, we must have spotted 75 herons. There are a few trees they choose to nest in on the Pine Course. We've counted as many as 10 white herons guarding their little bird families there before. From the penthouse tip top to lower branches. Hierarchy in the aerie kingdom.

But the number was bigger than ever. Maybe not in the heron trees, but around the lakes and ponds. On the 16th hole which runs alongside the lake, they were lined up, filed up as if waiting for a water parade. Two ducks fighting over which was the real preference of a lady duck was the only activity. But there they stood as guarding the waterways from invasion.

Blue herons equaled if not surpassed their white brethren. Not only in number but in shapes and sizes.

What's more, not a one seemed impressed by the birdie putt I rolled in--my first of 2011.