Hiding Beneath The Oak

  Late this afternoon, thunder rolled in the distance.  Knowing that Mr. PJ does not like the rain, I decided that it might be prudent to get him down the hillside, let him do his business and get him back inside before any rainstorm caught us.  Well, that was the plan, at least.  Once we reached his "preferred spot", I got a bit distracted.  A bird caught my full attention and I promptly forgot the possibility of a storm.  I, also, forgot the dog.  He sat patiently while I tromped through the palmettos to get a clear shot of the bird.

  Back up to the first inkling that something interesting was occurring in the marsh.  A fleeting glimpse of a heron quickly evacuating the spot was my first clue.  The bird squawked as it went westward.  It seemed to be a bit too noisy for just an ordinary flight.  That bird was trying to distract me and lure me from the spot.  That meant one thing...a youngster was hiding in the area.

  Sure enough after just a few moments, I spied the little one.  A young Yellow Crowned Night Heron was hidden beneath the old oak tree.  This tree has several branches that swing low over a small pool of water that lies between the marsh and shoreline.  The pool attracts many tiny crustaceans and minnows which are perfect for a young bird.  These critters are more or less trapped in the pool making it easy for a youngster to practice his fishing skills.  This bird still had his "camouflage-wear" of speckled feathers.  He blended quite well with his surroundings!

  The setting allowed me to get great photos of the young bird without making it feel too ill at ease.  Eventually, I apologized for the intrusion and eased my way back up to where the old dog patiently waited.  He was almost oblivious of my absence and the rains held off so all was well.