The Welcome Visitor

  One thing about living on the Bayou, you never know who might drop in for a visit.  Sometimes, I go weeks without seeing a human visitor but I can always depend on my critter friends to pay a call.  I am good with that.  Critter friends leave behind all of the whining and gossiping to just be friends.  There is no drama involved in our conversations and, though their visits are often fleeting, I feel honored that they came at all.  I guess it all goes back to that thing about people who overstay their welcome.  Critters never do.  Their visits are short and to the point and then they take their leave.  No bad at all.

   Down near the east side of the property right on the shore of the Bayou, there sits an old oak tree.  The branches drape down into the water and create a small "room" that is shut off from most of the world. This area is maybe ten feet across and twelve wide.  During high tide, the floor of this "room" is filled with water but as the tide drops, a small puddle remains. In reality, it is a pretty neat little place.  Blocked from view on all sides except an opening here and there, the old oak tree provides shelter to critters that come to dine on minnows and crabs in the pool.  It was here that I was down on my knees trying to film the rivalry of the male fiddler crabs. Hundreds of the little crabs had invaded the area and were frantically waving their large claws as a warning to each other.  Not much actual fighting ensues but it is pretty interesting to watch. You get a couple of hundred crabs together and let them wave their claws and it starts to resemble some weird dance.  

  While I was kneeling just a few feet from the water's edge, I had a perfect view of the inner portion of the "room".  There was not much happening until suddenly, I had a visitor.  A small raccoon was searching for supper and obviously knew right where to come.  The little fellow paid no attention to my presence and started scurrying about trying to catch trapped minnows.  After several photographs, the critter finally noticed me.  He kept feeding but eased closer to the far side of the branches.  From this point, the little raccoon could keep an eye on me all the while catching bull minnows.  

  Neither of us made the effort to vacate the area so our visit lasted a good twenty minutes.  I sure enjoyed his company!  I love my critter friends!