The Return of Winter Friends

  In a matter of a few days, the Bay went from being almost barren of waterfowl to being dotted with hundreds of birds.  While the "locals" are still here, newcomers are flying in quickly.  Our locals being the herons, pelicans, egrets, geese, terns and gulls  are joined by the cormorants, ducks (quite the variety!), loons and mergansers.  I love them all but have to admit being rather partial to the little mergansers...especially the Hooded Mergansers.  These birds are beautiful!  Although, the hoodies are a smallish bird compared to other ducks, they have lots of character!

  This evening, one hoodie stayed close to shore while all of the other birds were far out in the middle of the Bay.  At first, I wondered if the little one was ill or maybe hurt but those fears were soon laid to rest.  My little friend was merely feeding in the shallows.  With the north wind blowing the tide far out from the shoreline, minnows and shrimp that normally stay in the marsh and bayou cuts were an easy target for the hoodie.  He was happily filling his belly!

  Welcome back, my little, winter friends.  You are always welcome here on the Bayou.  I hope your stay is pleasant!