Patience....patience....

  Mark and I headed to the pier this morning a bit later than normal.  Even though it was mid-morning, it was a gloomy, blustery day making thing seem shrouded.  Sitting on the pier was a Tri-colored Heron. He sat facing the wind and had his back to us.  With the roar of the wind, I am not even sure the bird heard us approach until we were about thirty feet from him.  It was obvious that he was not too willing to leave his sturdy roost as he hesitated before flying to one of the posts.  There he sat ignoring the two intruders.

  Try as I might, it was difficult to get a clear photograph of the heron.  Each time I thought I had the bird in focus, a huge gust of wind would nearly knock me off the pier.  I was wobbling all over the place!  The first photo was a great one of the bird's head, the second...a not so great one of his feet.  Several photos were too dark and in one, I missed the bird entirely!  I edged closer to the bird and was soon near enough to brace myself against the wind.  One of the tall pier posts gave me enough support to finally get my pictures!  

  The heron was patient with me and never acted frightened.  He did reluctantly fly to the back of the Bayou after a bit but it was not long before he returned.  Obviously, its roost on the pier in the rough weather felt safer than any other place.