Framed!

   Early this morning, Mark and I headed to the pier.  He wanted to see if the tide was high enough to get the small skiff out for a bit of fishing.  I have had a hankering for a nice redfish for a few weeks now and was in hopes he would be able to ease out into the Bay to catch a few.  Alas, that did not happen and does not look as if it is to happen for the next few days.  The range between high tides and low tides is practically nil for the next few days.  Then, stormy weather is to set in again.  Fishing from the pier may have to suffice.

  What turned out to be a low point for us worked out well for the pelicans.  Several brown pelicans were resting on the (still) unfinished pier.  (The recent storms have made completing the repairs caused by Hurricane Zeta nigh on impossible.)  The pelicans were happy campers with the lower tides as they were able to corral plenty of mullet.  Their bellies were full! 

  While most of the birds flew when we approached, one fine fellow stayed put and I was able to perfectly "frame" him with the odd structure of the remaining pier boards.  "Old Gus" was very polite when it came to posing for the camera.  (Either that or he was just too full to budge!)  The brown pelicans are year-round residents here and are always a source of great entertainment.  They have some of the quirkiest personalities of any birds.  You never really know just how they will react to your presence.  

  After a good ten minutes or so of photographing the bird, we decided to head back up the hill.  It was high time for me to crank that lawnmower.  Goodbye, Gus!  See you in the morning!  I've got work to do!