The Bayou Serpent!

   There are a lot of weird critters that live in the marsh and waters of the Bayou.  While crabs, shorebirds and fish are all easily recognized, some of the other critters throw me for a loop.  I have several "experts" to turn to in these instances, so all is well.  Still, when I am on the pier at the crack of dawn with no other human in sight and a weird critter pokes its head out of the water to take a look at me, it can get downright creepy!  

  This happened the other morning.  Mr. PJ (the old dog) had opted to stay inside so I went alone.  Without his noise-making, the wild critters continued their hunt for breakfast.  The snapping turtle eyed me cautiously, the otter mom barked furiously at me and the heron came on to breakfast.  It was a good morning for critter-watching!  However...

  As I was preparing to throw the net to catch bait, a dark "head" bobbled from beneath the water.  With the sun not yet bright enough to shed light on my unknown "critter", I thought it best to wait on that net casting.  The critter that was eyeing me with two beady knobs atop its head may not appreciate being caught.  I figured the best thing to do would be wait and watch.  The "critter" submerged again and the surfaced nearer the pier.  Now that the sun was brighter and the unknown thing was closer, I had to giggle.  My critter was not a critter at all!  It was a snail encrusted chunk of a palm tree!  As the waves bobbled the wannabe sea serpent on under the pier, I could make out that it was two knots on the wood that appeared to be eyes peering at me through the darkness!  Goodness!  My imagination does run wild sometimes!

  Oh, the things I find on this Bayou!  While it may have been exciting to find a new critter, I am rather glad that this was not one!  Or, at least, let me find something weird only when someone else is on the pier with me.  No one would ever believe me, otherwise!