Early Morning Bliss

  This morning's trek to the pier was another that was filled with awe. Yesterday saw me being astounded by the Water Spirits and, today, by the sunrise itself.  The show in the east was one to be admired from the first glimpse.  The colors, the brilliance, the crispness...well, the entirety of the dawn was impressive.  It is not often that the sunrise fails to thrill me but this morning's did far more.  It nearly floored me with its beauty. My goodness, the Master Artist is purely amazing!

  While on the pier, I watched for more Water Spirits but they did not show.  Nary a one could be seen even though there was a slight fog over the marsh.  Obviously, the temperature change was not enough to generate the twirl of the dancing mist beings.  Since the spirits did not make themselves available, I looked for another point of interest.  I found it in the form of a small duck.

  A lone Bufflehead was hanging around the pier.  I watched as he dove beneath the water for his breakfast.  In the early morning light, he appeared to be black and white.  I thought about how misleading this coloration was.  In truth, the head of this duck is almost iridescent. When viewed in the perfect lighting, the duck's head is almost iridescent with purples and greens.  Sunlight causes the glossiness of the feathers to shimmer with color!  The bright white patch that wraps around the back of the head is in sharp contrast to the rest of the head. This is a most beautiful duck!

  The Buffleheads come to visit us each winter and then fly north to nest and spend their summers.  While here they stay close to the Bayou and feed upon whatever shrimp, minnows and tiny crabs they can catch. This is the first of many that will spend the winter on the Bayou. Soon the entire Bay will be filled with Buffleheads, Mergansers and Scaups and I couldn't be happier!