Walking in nature has been shown to have positive effects on both physical and mental health. Studies have shown that even taking a leisurely walk in a natural environment can reduce stress and anxiety, as well as improve mood and overall wellbeing. Just a few minutes of walking in nature can help to clear the mind and provide a sense of calm.
It can also provide you with a front row seat to all sorts of interesting happenings. Today was one of those days when a few interesting happenings occurred. The Lab and I were walking in a normally marshy area near the north end of the valley. The recent cold weather has rendered a fairly vast area – typically off limits to easy walking – entirely accessible.
As we started our walk, a Prairie Falcon came in about 20 meters up and flapping hard. As he passed, he dropped to less than 3 meters above the cattails in a complete tuck (a maneuver called a stoop) and then dropped like a bolt out of the blue below my line of sight near a patch of open water.
The Lab and I kept moving in that direction, but more cautiously as I did not want to startle the bird off its meal. We never saw the Falcon again, nor did a scan of the area using binoculars turn up any birds smaller than three Trumpeter Swans. Prairie Falcons are my favorite raptor- and today I was able to see either one individual twice about three miles apart, or two individuals.
The day also provided many Rough-legged Hawks, a Merlin, and a Northern Shrike. The Shrike was being harassed rather unmercifully by a couple of Magpies. The Lab and I followed the Shrike and Magpies for about 20 minutes of walking-time. I am not certain what the change in attitude was a result of, but once the Shrike settled into a Cottonwood, the Magpies relented and flew off. Perhaps they saw a more worthy mark in the distance.
The Merlin must have landed as I was watching a small flock of 15-18 waxwings eating some dried berries. One moment, I could see all the waxwings, and an instant later the waxwings disappeared.
Between the companionship of the Lab, the walks in nature, and the opportunity to observe the natural world simply getting on with the business of the day, I had a very nice day.
Nature, every day. 
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