A Better View of a Gorgeous Bird!

  I will be the first to admit that my eyesight is extremely poor.  While I used to be able to see things far across the Bayou and beyond, that range is sorely declining.  Even with prescription spectacles, things are blurry at best.  So, this afternoon while on the pier, I could not identify a large, black blob that was in the top of a dead black gum tree on the far side of the Bayou.  What in the world was that thing??  It seemed large, was very black (dark) and showed a good bit of movement.  I knew it was a critter of some sort but to be that far up in a tree was something else again.  My first thought was a bird...perhaps the bald eagle.  As far as I could see, there was nothing else to do but make my way along the marsh edge to get a closer view of the mystery critter.

  The old dog and I eased our way along the marsh until we reached the wild persimmon trees on the east side of the property.  Here, I could get a better view if I slipped between the palmetto clumps close to the water's edge.  Sure enough, the critter was much easier to identify from this vantage point.  Instead of an eagle, my friend was an osprey!  The confusion was caused by the bird preening itself which hid the white underparts.  With wings outspread and head tucked, the bird hunched over like some menacing vulture!  Once the bird saw me, it took as much interest in me as I did in it.  The osprey tried to get a better view of who was hiding in the palmettos.  Once it decided that I was not a threat, it perched upright in its majestic position and let out a loud screech!

  Satisfied that I had positively identified my critter, I eased my way back out of the palmettos and up the hillside.  That bad eyesight might not serve too well in spotting a cottonmouth that may be lurking down beneath those brambles!  It was best to get myself out of the midst of things unseen!