When Nature Calls

  There is one fact about wildlife photography that no one ever records.  Or, at least, they never record it intentionally.  Or, at least, I never do intentionally.  Today was different.  I photographed a bird intentionally but caught an action quite unexpected.  While I admit that these are not the nicest photographs, the series does capture just one of the hazards of dealing with nature.  Things happen.  Sometimes not to our liking!

  Mark and I were out on our early morning stroll about the hillside when I noticed an osprey perched almost directly above our heads.  (Boy, am I glad it was not and was just a slight distance away!)  Since I was so close to the bird, I figured it was a good time for a few more osprey photos.  One can never have too many!  So, I snapped picture after picture all the while Mark stood patiently waiting.  He even acted as a makeshift tripod for me when I could not get a good balance in the soft sand.  All was going well with my picture taking until I noticed that the bird was not looking so spiffy.  Perhaps it was just the wind ruffling its feathers but the bird appeared a bit ragged.  I pondered if the bird did not feel too well.  At this, Mark said perhaps it had eaten a bad fish and had a tummy ache.  We let it go at that.

  We wandered past the bird's roosting tree.  Ok...another angle...another series of photographs!  Remember...never too many!  While peering through a camera lens, you do not have the full effect of your surroundings.  In the short instance that it takes for the shutter to snap, things can change dramatically.  They did.  I was unaware and kept snapping pictures.  I did notice that the bird was shifting positions but actually thought it was preparing to take flight. The bird did not take flight.  It decided to defecate and I caught it all on camera.  Ugh! At least it was not literally on my camera...just in the pictures.  Thank goodness for huge favors!  That would have been terrible!  I am also delighted that we had meandered a bit further away from the roosting tree than we had previously been, otherwise, things could have been drastically different! Bird poop on my head would not have been a happy way to start my morning!

  Mark, nor I, have yet to figure out if our friend was feeling poorly or if it was trying to make a point about our presence.  Either way, we are thankful that we were out of line of aim for that bird's projectile poop!