Green Cinnamon

Down to the river this morning, half unwilling or unmotivated; but knowing that whenever I go, it is good.
Stepping out of the car in the dawn coolness there is a fresh scent of cinnamon-like, greenness. The roadside flora is Johnson grass, poison ivy, cottonwoods and summer asters, Helianthus and Coreopsis. The smell of the morning carries these fresh plant odors. Already a surprise and an invitation, more to experience. Walking down the sand and clay jeep road towards the river, I am struck by how little rain there has been. Yesterday afternoon NE Norman had a strong thunderstorm and nearly an inch of rain. Here near the river there was less than 0.05 inch.
At the junction with the west trail a cottontail rabbit sat quiet and alert facing me, unmoving.  Its brown blurred into the surrounding soil, but stood out as too homogeneous a patch of color. With glasses I watched the face and tall ears and sang a hello, good morning. It rotated its right ear towards me but did not otherwise move. I admired it and then left it in peace.
I walked east toward the sun. It was obscured by morning clouds. Down the sandy levee to the first view of the river. A lone cattle egret with jaunty, white mohawk and plumage, black legs and bright yellow feet. The bird looked at me but did not move from its hunting post and pose. I watch for a moment longer and it started stepping fairly quickly towards the sand bar and then began stabbing or scooping at the river. Likely a school of minnows and the egret was busy fishing. The charm of wild free creatures, in the environment, whether that be a preserve or a river by medium sized city. They come and go, do as they please and survive or vanish by their nature.
On the other bank of the river a pair of kingfishers flew up into the bare branches of a standing snag. A great blue heron took off from its perch in the same tree, complaining with its loud squawk. Why do they squawk as they fly? Can't think of a reason.
  The Oenothera evening primrose were in full light yellow bloom in large patches all along. A few Chamaecrista partridge pea with richer yellow were also blooming. Willows and all the young green cottonwoods or older Cornus drummondii, rough-leaved dogwoods were abundant with white berries forming on the dogwoods.
Interesting fresh poop (raccoon? opossum? ) along the jeep road and tracks in the moist sand made me wonder about who (all) had been walking there hours earlier in the night and gone to shelter and sleep before dawn.
  I returned to the gate and headed back for breakfast, knowing again why walks in nature are good.