Here They Come!

  The trek to the pier this morning was interesting, to say the least.  A low fog shrouded the the Bay and added a bone-reaching chill to the air.  Mr. PJ and I had no intentions of staying out long in the cold, damp air but he and I both love being on the pier. He has fallen quite well into the role of protective dog and refuses to leave my side.  I appreciate him being there.  He brings great comfort especially when dense fog blocks the view.  

  While waiting for the sun to rise, a low whistling sound could be heard just out of our range of view.  I knew it was the whir of wings but this had to be one large flock of some sort of birds.  The whistling lasted for a good ten minutes!  Also audible was the sound of splashing as the birds were making contact with the water.  Well, that told me one thing...they were a type of waterfowl!  I would just have to wait until the sun burned off a bit of the fog before making an identification.  The sunrise was gorgeous as the big red ball illuminated the gazebo across the Bayou.  I was in the perfect spot to see the sun hit the tip top of the building making it resemble a light house beacon.  I was torn between taking pictures of the sun and the birds that I could now identify as Double-crested Cormorants.  Hundreds of the birds were quickly filling up the Bay.  The flock (or gulp if you are looking for the proper term of a group of cormorants) seemed to be endless!  As far as I could see, there were birds...some swimming...others flying.

  The arrival of the Double-crested Cormorants is a sure sign that our weather is soon to change to the cooler side.  The birds fly in to spend the winter months with us.  They are expert divers and will feed upon the little mullet that also fill the Bay.  I like the cormorants and their funny antics.  There is never a dull moment when they are here!