Serenity at its best

   My favorite time on the pier is just before daybreak.  Then, the air is still cool and crisp.  The night sounds are settling and the day is bursting forth with new music.   This is my time, my space and my peace.  The morning starts with a hot mug of black coffee, a regimen of stretching exercises and a bit of meditation.  After that, I am rearing to go meet the day.

  This morning, I was a bit surprised to see several large flocks of cormorants coming in to the Bay.  The birds are early this year as normally, they come in October or even November.  Perhaps this is the sign of an early fall and winter for us.  That sure would be nice!  Very few of the cormorants stopped near the pier.  Most hesitated in flight but then went further west.  Most flocks had nigh on fifty birds which is not nearly what will be here by late November.

  With one straggling group of only about ten birds, I was confused to see a single bird drop from the group and alight in the water near the Bayou.  As soon as it changed course, I realized that this was no cormorant causing even more confusion.  Why was a duck traveling with the migrating cormorants?  The little duck has been around the pier for most of the day now and seems to be in no hurry to rejoin its odd flock.  As I was watching the lone duck, a golden glow from the sunrise softly settled about the creature.  I wonder if it was how the Bayou was welcoming its new friend.  The whole scene made me feel a bit warm and fuzzy!