Being Shy

  At the break of dawn, Mark and I headed to the pier.  Before we got there, Mark suddenly whispered for me to get the camera ready as there "was a bird".  He had spied the little rail out on the mudflats and knew that I would want to photograph her.  Try as I might, I could not get a clear shot of her so we ventured on our way.  The bird scooted under the pier to avoid any close contact with us.  I thought this was a bit strange because never before has she been leery of my presence.  Since the pier was quite frosty and slippery, I opted to stay near the mudflats while Mark made the walk to the end of the pier.  As soon as he was out of sight, the sweet rail came back out from her hiding spot.  Ahh, that was more like it!

  This small bird has been a friend since she was a tiny fledgling.  Her mama brought the brood out for a "meet and greet" when they were just chicks.  This one decided that she sort of liked me and hung around even after her siblings left to find their own territories.  We meet daily...she on the mudflats...me on the pier.  I talk with her while she hunts for breakfast.  This morning was much the same.  She was carefully picking up the tiny killifish and baby blue crabs.  I told her how pretty she looked and even apologized for the red Solo cup that washed in on high tide.  

  All was good until the rail heard Mark's footsteps coming back from the end of the pier.  She lifted her head high, listened then darted back into the marsh.  She was having no part of any intruder!  The unusual actions earlier had now been explained.  The little rail was accustomed to my presence but still had a healthy fear of other humans.  Although Mark would never hurt her, she has no idea who he is so she plays it safe by hiding. 

  We left the little one to her breakfast search after I made a promise to rig a longer handle on my net so I could rid her buffet table of the wayward cup.  The sweet bird does not need trash in her dining room!