A Tad Creepy?

   I am usually on the pier before dawn.  The early morning darkness gives me an opportunity to view not only the critters that are retiring after a long night but those that are just starting their day.  I get the best of both worlds..the nocturnal and the diurnal.  Sometimes..but not often...things get a bit eerie.  

   Earlier this week, as Ms. Ez and I walked to the pier we were fully enjoying the coolness of the predawn.  Suddenly, somewhere out in the middle of the marsh, an eerie wail arose.  The ears of the old Bayou Dog picked up in interest.  She was alert and tingling with excitement. Ok...that was strange!  Hopefully, the weird sounds came from one of the birds that hunt in the night.   We continued our walk down the pier. About half way down to the end, I saw what made that eerie sounds.  On the tall posts, two night herons sat watching our every move.  Neither bird moved at all as we neared.them.  There they sat glaring at us as if to ask why we were disturbing their rest.  Those two gave me goosebumps!  They looked so much like a couple of vultures!  Maybe Ms. Ez and I should have second thoughts about sitting still too very long!  Neither bird took flight even as the old dog and I plopped ourselves on the bench to watch the sunrise.  They stayed planted right there as if to challenge our existence!  Or, more likely than not, to beg for minnows!  (At least, I hope!)

   The sights and sounds of the Bayou can prove to be a bit unnerving to those who are not familiar with life around the marshes.  Critters can let out a wail that makes them seem much larger than they really are. Others fluff out feathers or fur as to "double" their size.  With an exception of a few, most are relatively friendly.  Nighttime or daytime, these are my friends.  Our lives revolve around the water and all within.  We are kindred spirits of a sort.