That's a Big One!

   Yesterday morning, Mark was on the pier catching mullet in the net.  It was amazing the number of fish he was catching in the short time he had been there.  Then...he spied the huge critter!  After giving me a call, he started taking photographs of one of the largest alligators in the area.  That thing was HUGE!  Just by estimating (next to pier posts), the gator easily seemed to be 11 or 12 feet in length! 

  Normally, the alligators keep their distance with only a couple of times finding one venturing close to the pier while we were there.  This big, ole gator just kept coming!  Soon it was right where Mark had been throwing the net!  (As you can see in one of the photographs, it was literally right against the pier!)  Wisely, Mark stopped throwing the net and kept HIS distance from the critter.  It was not long before our "friendly" critter had enough of this closeness and started moving on its way to the mouth of the Bayou.  It was then that Mark could breathe a bit easier and continue with his mulleting.

  It is not often that we get the chance to observe the gators of this size.  Most that visit are under 8 feet and...most have the good sense to stay a wee bit further away from the pier.  After talking it over, we decided that either the gator is the one messing with the crab pots or the constant splashing of the net got the best of its curiosity.  Whichever, the best move was just let the massive critter go on its happy way.  Just like with snakebites, more people get injured (or killed) by messing with the gators than if they are allowed to move along on their own.  If you are going to live on a Bayou or near any body of water, you have to respect the critters that are there.  It is their territory.  We are the intruders.  Mark's decision to not harass the alligator was the right way of dealing with it.  (Only twice has this huge gator been seen near our pier.  It usually stays far from here and only visits rarely.  Quite exciting to see it, however!)

Swamp Friends

   For years now, I have said that I have more critter friends than human friends.   People, in general, bother me.  No matter how much you do for them, how nice you try to be or how you try to avoid conflict, invariably, people bring it to you.  I am over it.  I am tired, folks.  I am just pure tired.  That said, I seek out the solace that only the swamps can bring.  There, I find peace as not many dare to traverse the marshes.  There, I am people-free.

  That said, I was pleased to find that an old friend came to visit.  The large, mama gator gently slid into the waters of the Bayou.  She floated just yards away as the darkness of the early morn almost shrouded her from view.  I was not frightened but rather strengthened by her presence.  I poured out my troubles to this unlikely listener.  Her unwavering attention gave me comfort.  While most would have been a mite uneasy with the huge alligator so near, I felt at peace.  My attitude was much better after our one-sided conversation as the visit made me able to face the world outside of the swamp. Sometimes confiding in someone...anyone...really helps.  I will go on.

Old Friends, Indeed

   It is always nice when old friends visit the Bayou.  While very few "people" friends drop by, critter friends abound.  This suits me fine as I would much rather be around animals as they do not thrive on drama but rather just try to thrive.  Their goal is survival not upheaval.  If only humans could act accordingly, this old world would be a far better place.

  While on the pier, it was mighty nice to have a visit from the alligator.  At first, I was afraid that my presence on the pier would make the gator shy away but it obviously had no qualms about continuing its slow passage to the depths of the Bayou.  It had come from the west (my cousin's place) and slowly made its way past my brother's place and then on to ours.  The gator was in no hurry to get anywhere so I had a fine opportunity to grab a few photographs.

  It actually made me happy to see our friendly gator.  I had heard tell that some folks had complained about "seeing an alligator" in the area even though there has never been a problem.  With the influx of new residents all wishing for waterfront property, the gators will probably be eliminated far too soon.  This aggravates me as the gators were here first.  We have all resided side by side with nary a problem.  Soon, I fear that they will go the wayside just as the bald eagles have.  Humans...humans are going to ruin the world for everyone simply because of greed and unfounded fears.

Gators, Otters and Blue Crabs

   About midafternoon, my brother yelled across the yard "The gator is at your pier.  You were just asking about it and now it has come to see you."  That was my cue to head to the pier!  For some odd reason, the alligators still thrill me just as they did when I was a kid.  The photo ops with the alligator did not go as expected as the critter stayed just far enough away from me to make clear shots a no-go.  After a few weeks, it will, once again, become accustomed to my presence and will not be quite so wary.  Plus, a neighbor decided that it was an opportune time to run his big boat around the Bay which left the gator even more uneasy.

  The odd thing about the pier visit was that, along with the gator, there were two otters nearby.  Either the otters were unaware of the nine foot long  alligator's presence or they just did not care.  The pair were busy raiding my brother's crab traps!  Once they each had their meal, the duo swam toward the pier.  They did not even notice me until they were within ten feet.  Then, one looked straight at me with crab in mouth!  Crazy otters!  After checking me, they both opted to hide in the marsh to crunch their prizes.

  All in all, the time was enjoyable even if the pictures taken were not the best.  It is nice to see old friends after the winter has passed.

Ms. Gator Comes To Visit

   At daybreak, we were on the pier trying to catch some little mullet to use as bait.  The Bay has been full of redfish so we have been trying to catch as many as we can each day.  These are cleaned and bagged to give to our elderly friends and fill our freezers.  This morning was perfect.  There was a slight north wind and only a few low clouds making the sun broadcast a reddish-gold glow to the Bayou.  You could hear the redfish as they popped little mullet out of the water up on the shoreline.  It looked to be a good fishing morning.

  Mark cast the net for mullet and I baited the hooks and tossed the lines near the shore.  To catch the reds, we fish right against the marsh grass.  The redfish usually chase the tiny mullet along the marsh and easily come across our hooked bait.  Suddenly, Mark said "Uh oh, your buddy is here."  Turning, I saw the female gator swimming across in front of the pier.  I grabbed the camera, leaned against one of the posts and started taking photos.  I was surprised when she turned toward me.  We made eye contact and she stopped about twenty feet from the pier.  There she stayed for the longest time.  I heard my line whistling out and knew my gator visit had come to an end.  Yep!  A red!  I battled the fish and won.  The prize was mine!  Supper!  Meanwhile, the activity piqued the interest of the gator and she eased even closer, looked at us longingly and then turned toward shore.  She wanted that fish!  

  Ms. Gator did not have to wait long before she, herself, had a nice red.  It took about a full five minutes before she was able to gulp down the large fish.  Then, she settled in along the marsh.  Well, that ended the fishing on shore for a while!  No reds were going anywhere near those large jaws.  Mark caught a nice one out from the pier but our "good" day of fishing was limited to the two fish.  Ms. Gator stayed long after sunrise and then swam off into the depths of the Bayou. Hopefully, tomorrow morning, Ms. Gator will stay away and we can catch a few more.  

Alligator Friend

   Mark and I headed to the pier just about daybreak to see if we could catch another mess of fish for supper.  We had no such luck as the only thing biting was catfish.  We caught more than our share of those rascals but I refuse to even think about eating one.  Still, the time was well spent as I got to visit with an old friend and take a lot of photos of the gorgeous sunrise. 

 

   Just before we got chased off the pier by a surprise rain shower, a huge alligator came near the pier.  This gator has been coming around for years and is considered to be a friend.  Not once has it shown any aggression to any of us or the pets.  The gator sticks to its own territory and leaves us to ours.  In fact, this particular alligator has a wide range and makes its rounds to visit "friends".  This is not one of our resident gators.

  

  This gator was quite large.  In fact, I estimated it to be nigh on nine to ten feet in length in comparison to surrounding objects.  This was definitely not our usual little six footer nor one of the "babies" of around three feet.  This is the large bull gator (that big snout identifies it) paying a visit to our local female.  She usually nests in the back of the Bayou and surprises us with little ones now and again.  A few years back, there were several little tots wandering about the hillside!   

  The gators are just as welcome as any of the other wild critters that roam the Bayou and woods.  This was their place long before anyone every stepped foot here and, as far as I am concerned, it is still their place.  People who cannot deal with that are less welcome than the critters.  It was good to see my friend.

Hello, Gator!

  Early this morning brought a pleasant surprise.  With all of the mess of algae bloom, polluted waters from the spillway openings and runoff from northern farms, the Gulf, bays and bayous have had a hard time.  The first part of the summer saw us in a tizzy over the tainted seafood that is so important to our area.  Also to suffer, were the critters of that live here.  During the early part of the summer there was a great lack of waterfowl, fish, aquatic mammals, reptiles and crustaceans.  Things were not the same without my friends.

  The hike to the pier proved to be a happy time since an old friend paid a visit.  For the first time this summer, a lone alligator lingered just outside of the pier.  That was good news.  If the gators are back, that means the food supply is back.  Sure enough, schools of mullet and menhaden were breaking the surface of the water and a lone redfish was stalking the bull minnows in the cut.  Moe, the heron, was hanging out on the next pier over and a pair of pelicans was diving for breakfast.  Life was getting back to normal.  A slight bit of blue/green algae still floated near the marsh but not enough to cause problems, it seems.  Now, barring any other incidents, the bayou could start being its old self again.  Happy times!

Of Gators and Ospreys

  This morning, like every other morning, Mark and I headed to the pier at daybreak.  We were in hopes of catching a few fish for our lunch or, at least, find a few soft-shell crabs in the boxes.  We did neither.  The morning was not a bust, however, as a few old friends visited us while we were there.  

  First, just out from the pier, I noticed the alligator gliding across the smooth surface of the water.  The gator had obviously been out on a hunt all night and was heading to the back of the Bayou to get a little rest and relaxation.  She swam silently across in front of the pier.  Not once did she veer off course even though Mark was throwing the net for minnows and I was checking the crab pots.  This gator has been around here for years now.  She has not made any effort to harass or harm us in any way so we return the kindness.  We consider her just another of our critter friends and always hope her nest of eggs produces a few little ones.  That our Bayou is her safe-haven makes us happy.

  After watching the gator until she vanished behind the marsh, we were treated to another visit from a friend.  This time, it was a pair of friends.  The pair of ospreys flew overhead in a aerial dance.  The female landed in a nearby pine while her hubby went on a fish hunt.  He was trying to find breakfast for his ladylove.  The female set to calling to him as if she was hurrying him along.  It is always pleasant to see our resident ospreys.  This pair nests in the tall trees behind the house near the creek.  They, like the gator, seek the solitude that the Bayou offers.  Smart birds...I do the same.

  So, all in all, our fishing trip was a success even though nary a fish landed on our dinner table.  Perhaps tomorrow will find us hauling in the big ones!

This is why.....

  First, just a bit of explanation about this blog since it has been a while since I started...well, since my oldest son started it.  He was about to be shipped overseas again and knew that our communication would be scarce if at all.  Also, at this time, Darling Daughter was away from home.  The blog was created as a means to keep them informed of the happenings of the Bayou.  Their childhood home had memories galore and those memories needed to be shared between them.  Then along came a few folks who obviously enjoyed a sort of weird take on my daily doings and readership went beyond the kiddos.  (A few years back, Blogger did something strange and I lost all of my "followers" but, along the way, readership gained.  I do not get paid for the blog which is why it is ad free.  I prefer it that way.  There is no reason to shove ads down the throat of anyone stopping in for a visit.  I would not do that if you were sitting in the rocker, looking out over the Bayou while enjoying a glass of sweet tea so why should I expect you to love ads while reading of the place.

  The Bayou is a unique sort of place to live.  The life here is not for everyone.  Sometimes it is hard but mostly it is paradise.  The hardest part is the occasional hurricane that will roll in to mess up the place a bit but storms are dealt with and all is good.  It is the same with the moccasins, alligators and myriad of biting bugs that I encounter on a daily basis. These are just everyday things and usually do not require a second thought except when they are up close and personal!  Speaking of which, the huge gator came to visit this morning.  Just about daybreak, the old dog and I made our way to the pier.  He followed the strict command to "stay" at the shore end while I ventured a wee bit further.  Once there, I spied the monster gator lurking just east of the pier.  The critter was making his way further up into the Bayou presumably after a night out stalking some prey.  My surveillance of the gator was short lived as the old dog was getting restless.  

 This is why.  This is why with Mr. PJ being wobbly and weak, I refuse to let him go on the pier.  That gator could have been at the pier in less than a minute.  For the dog's protection, it is best he stay far from the reach of any gators!  Well, this and the fact that if he did fall into the water, I would never get the 70 lb dog back up on the pier and he would have to hobble all the way back to shore through the snake infested marsh.   So, for a while anyway, the dog will stay back on shore if I need to head to the pier for anything.  It is just far safer for him.

  So, if you are visiting the blog, make yourself a glass of sweet tea and sit back and enjoy the ad-free zone!  I am not here to push anything on you, nor trying to criticize anyone.  This is just my way of sharing the Bayou Life with family and friends (and that includes you).  

Just a Short Visit

 There are those friends that stay close even when they are far away.  These are the folks who can visit and pick up right where things left off with the last meeting.  Pretty much, these are the true friends.  They are the ones who fit right in with the moment and with whatever is happening.  There is no stress, no awkward silences, no having to become reacquainted.  They are just friends who are as close as family.

  Sometimes, friends can be of the critter ilk.  I have often said that I have more critter friends than I do human friends and that I fully prefer it that way.  Critter friends cause way less drama.  They come and go without ever changing.  Months can pass without even a glimpse then, suddenly, there they are like things are just the same.  

  This morning, an old friend passed our way and made me smile.  Mark and I spotted the old gator swimming across the Bay toward the Bayou.  The animal has grown to quite the massive size now and seems to be doing well.  Most folks would probably be a bit squeamish about sharing their space with an alligator but it only seems natural.  A bayou needs alligators!  It would not be a proper bayou otherwise.  Mark and I watched as the gator slipped silently through the water until it came to a small clump of marsh.  It then lingered there to watch us as we fished.  I suppose by morning, we will find that our crab traps have been raided but that, too, is only natural.  All in all, it was good to see our old friend.

Welcome Back, Buddy!

  Just this morning, I was bemoaning the fact that I have not seen the alligators yet this spring.  The place seems a mite empty without their presence.  One expects alligators to be in the Bayou!  There is just no two ways about it.  Alligators...Bayou...synonymous.  I missed the critters.  They are like old friends who make themselves at home and are taken for granted but when they are not here, the place seems empty.

  About noon, I headed down to the pier once again to bait the crab traps when I spied something coming down the shoreline.  Sure enough a small gator was swimming in search of food.  This one was about five feet long so it was relatively young as gators go.  It came out from the shore and eased its way toward the pier.  The gator was a bit leery of my presence so did not dare come empty the traps.  Usually, the gators will steal the bait all the while making a big mess of the wire.  Nothing is safe when exposed to their jaws!  Now that I know the gators are back, I will have to keep better watch on the crab traps. Those hungry critters will be lurking nearby just waiting for me to fill the bait boxes!

  I made short work of the chore and then sat to watch the gator for a bit.  Hopefully, this is the first of many sightings this summer.  I love it when old friends return to the Bayou!  

Just Pretending!

  It is easy to be fooled at times.  There is a small length of rope down near the marsh that, even though I know it is there, always makes me do a double take.  Invariably, I think "Snake!".  I get excited, pull up the camera ready to take that incredible photograph before I remember..."Oh, rope".  The "Rope" just does not bring as much enthusiasm as "Snake" does.  The snippet of rope catches me most every time and it is for that very reason that I do not fish it out of the marsh when I do cleanups of the place.  The rope is innocuous and. for the most part, inconspicuous.  It has become sort of a fixture and its absence would seem weird.  

  The rope being mistaken as a snake is the same as a log being confused as an alligator.  With my bad eyesight (and failure to wear the spectacles), many of floating logs have been "identified" as the gator.  Imagine my surprise when I find that I have spent twenty minutes getting the perfect shot of the all elusive log!  Well, what happens with you have two "logs" floating out on the Bay?  Surely one is the gator!

  That happened recently.  I spied two items floating out on the water and figured one had to be the gator.  Usually, I can tell by watching and seeing which log is "swimming".  Both were....at least, both were moving and moving in the same direction.  Two gators?  That was just too much to ask!  And it was....not two gators...not two logs.  

  My two floaties were not two of the same even though their directional movement was similar.  One gator and one large board were drifting just a few dozen feet apart.  At least in this situation, I did not feel too embarrassed with my photograph.  The gator is in the forefront of the photograph!  Whew!  Not a mistake this time...sort of....maybe!  So, was the gator pretending to be a log?  Or was the log pretending to be a gator?

The Return of Fluffy

  Last spring, Darling Daughter complained that she never gets to see the alligators that reside in the Bayou.  I informed her that since most alligators are a bit nocturnal, she would either have to get here at dawn or hang around here until just before dark.  Still, we made a trek to the pier and, much to her dismay, no alligators appeared.  That all changed on the way back up to the Little Bayou House, though.  Right where the pier meets the shore, I spied a tiny alligator just waiting to make its debut into the wild world of the Bayou.  The little critter was just a babe making it difficult to see.  Elizabeth and her husband, Robbie, both waltzed right past the little tot.  Had I not called their attention, the alligator would have gone unseen.   Elizabeth was so excited that she played with the little tyke for a few minutes and then named it "Fluffy". Why Fluffy?  I have no clue but that is what the gator became known as and from that day forward, she would ask about its whereabouts.  But as wildlife has a habit of doing, Fluffy made his great escape and hid from us for an entire year.

  Then, while Mark and I were on the pier this evening, Fluffy came calling.  Fluffy has GROWN!  The gator is now a nice four feet in length and is quite sure of himself.  He had outgrown the fear of being a tiny critter in a huge world!  In fact, the little gator was making his way to the pier to raid our crab traps!  

  The return of Fluffy makes me happy.  With all of the dangers of the wild,  tiny Fluffy could have very well become a meal for a larger critter. Even the other larger gators would not have hesitated to munch the poor babe.  While some folks argue my point, I think having alligators around the Bayou actually makes it a bit safer,  The gators are great about eating Cottonmouth Moccasins!  It is far easier for me to see a big, ole gator than a well-camouflaged moccasin.  Gators are good!  Welcome back, Fluffy!  It is a delight to see you again!

Dawn on the Bayou

  It is my habit to make the trek to the pier shortly after that first cup of coffee.  There is just something invigorating about being out and about in the wee hours of the morn.  The fresh, cool air hitting the face, hearing the first twitterings of birds as they awake and watching as the night creatures find a snug place for a nap.  A bit of meditation as I watch the sunrise makes the day start in a perfect mode.  

  As I was sitting on the pier this morning, I pondered just what makes this place special.  Besides the fact that living on the water has to be a bit of paradise, just being a part of local things sets well with me. Looking out over the Bay, there are myriads of things to be seen.  From the pelican slowly flapping its wings in liftoff from a perfect dive to the line of Mark's crab pots with their white corks softly dotting the still waters, there is a certain peace that can only be found here.  Even the old alligator that silently swims to its daytime resting spot seems to be tranquil.  Life is good.

  I am thinking that it is not just the surroundings that makes a place but rather one's attitude.  It all goes back to the thought that one must have harmony within to find harmony with the rest of the world.  It saddens me to think of the turmoil that must be inside of some folks who find fault with the actions of others.  What an unsettling place their minds must be.

 

Happy Appearance

  In spite of all of the negative things happening in the Coastal waters, it seems that critters are pretty resilient.  Oil spills, flesh-eating bacteria (which may or may not be directly related to the spills), sewage spills and runoff of lawn chemicals all create dire problems for the waters. The most evident effect of any of these is the oil-laden birds that make the news.  Media is all about stirring up things when it can boost ratings.  Granted the water fowl coated in globs of oil tug at the heartstrings but how about those unseen problems that seem to stay just under the media's fine radar?  Without startling photos, a story just does not create mass hysteria so why bother?  

  The Bayou, alone, has seen its share of problems as of late.  With houses being built right on the water's edge, runoff is one of the biggest things to overcome.  Everyone wants their green lawns even at the cost of pure water.  It seems to me that polluting the water is about as stupid as stupid can get.  Eventually, that same water will be what quenches our thirst but, in the meantime, it is of the utmost importance to the health of many critters.  

  In the past few years, the duck population here has diminished greatly. Whereas just a few years ago, the Mottled Duck was reproducing quite nicely and we were seeing rather large families, now, there are just a handful.  This makes me sad.  The ducks nest in the Bayou and if the marshes and waters are not clean, the little ones cannot survive.  The same with many other critters.  Fiddler Crabs are not as abundant this year.  Their numbers have decreased steadily as well. Although I must admit that it is still a bit early for them to be scurrying about in great numbers, it does seem that they are not as thick as of late.

  On a happier note, the baby alligator so comically dubbed as "Fluffy" (Darling Daughter's doing...or undoing) is still hanging around the pier. I was worried about the health of the tiny gator since it had not been seen for several weeks but then yesterday, I found tracks.  These led me to think the critter is fine and just being a bit elusive. Elusive it the perfect word for something that blends so well with the marsh and mud. It is sort of like a game of "Hide and Seek" with this tiny critter!  I am not sure just how I will feel about this critter calling the pier home if it grows to be some twelve footer but, for now, it is welcome to stay. Perhaps since the critter was born during a time when the waters were a bit tainted, it has built up a resistance to whatever is there.  Stay safe, Fluffy!  Stay safe.

Early morning visitors

  Early this morning, Mark and I braved yet another rainy day to head to the pier.  We always go down and check the crab traps even though the water in the Bayou and Bay is not salty enough for many crabs to be active.  All of the rain has flooded creeks and rivers which in turn have poured in to the bayous and Bay.  Our fishing and crabbing have come to a halt.....too bad the rain hasn't.  Still, we check the traps in hopes that a few crabs might have wandered in for a bite.  None have...none will at least for a while.  

  Our hike was not in vain, though, as we did have a couple of visitors. Mark was the first to spot a small gator near the marsh.  At first, we questioned whether we were "seeing things" or if it really was an alligator.  The "bump" was so very still that we were not sure. I decided to photograph the unknown object just to identify it.  As soon as I did, I knew we were definitely in the presence of a gator...a small one but still a gator.  This is the second alligator of this season which thrills me to no end!  My marsh must be healthy to support this many gators and where there are little ones, there has to be larger ones.  This one was a bit larger than the wee babe that I found a few days ago.  It seemed to be three to four feet in length judging by the size of its head.  

  The second visitor was not as exciting as the gator but, in its own right, a beauty. This was a young cormorant that has not left for parts unknown.  The cormorants come here to while away the cold winter months and then head north to breed.  This was a juvenile and was still in its dusty brown plumage.  We found it a tad strange that the bird seemed to want to visit with us.  Once we neared the end of the pier, the young cormorant came flying in as if to greet us.  It did not dive under like most of the adult birds but rather stayed near the pier and eyed us curiously.  I did my best to warn the bird that the nearby alligator would not be a wise choice as a friend even though I am quite sure that the gator would be more than happy to "invite the bird to dinner".  Fly away, Little Cormorant, fly away quickly!

  Regardless that some folks would see a lot of the wildlife I encounter as nuisance critters, there are very few that I do not find interesting to some point. Each and every one has some purpose.  Sometimes we just have to look beyond the obvious to find the good point.

Fluffy, the Bayou Baby!

  My sweet daughter and son-in-law took me to lunch today at the neatest cafe.  After a delightful, vegan meal we came back to the Little Bayou House.  We wandered about the yard for a bit and then wound up on the pier.  There is just something about that water that draws everyone towards it.  Pop used to always say that we had "salt water in our veins".  I guess he may have been right since that is where I seem to be my happiest.  The Bayou calls and it is hard to resist.  

   As we were heading back up the pier, I called their attention to the newest resident of the Bayou.  Right at the base of the pier was a baby alligator.  This was the cutest thing I could ever imagine!  The little guy was only about 15 inches in length so I am estimating that he was last year's hatchling.  At first, we were not even sure the little fellow was alive.  He sat so very still that I had to look real close to make sure he was even breathing.  The kids (young adults, I should say) were mesmerized by this little alligator.  Elizabeth, especially, was excited. She was so excited that she decided to name our little friend.  "Fluffy!  I shall name him Fluffy!" she proclaimed.  So Fluffy, the alligator, came into existence.  (Unusual?  True, but all is well.)  She, also, wanted to hold the gator but since he was sitting on top of that mushy mudflat, that would have proved to be her undoing.  One step in that mess would have been quite distasteful.  Speaking from experience, you DO NOT walk on the mudflats around here.  You SINK!  The stuff is not unlike quicksand in the fact that it literally sucks you under and does not let go.  

  The little gator on the other hand was quite adept at skittering across the mudflats.  We watched for a while until we had to bright idea to feed the gator some sausages.  Up to the house we trotted and when we returned the little gator had made his escape..almost. He had gotten as far as the little tidepool where he was trying to catch bull minnows for dinner.  The tiny tot was not having much luck, though, and our attempts at feeding him were just as in vain.  He sat and stared at us and did not take one bite!  After a bit, the bull minnows started feasting on the sausage and grew oblivious of the danger that was lurking nearby.  SNATCH!  The gator was using the sausage as bait to draw his natural prey to him.  For being such a tiny tot, this little gator was smart!

  So, meet the newest Bayou Baby, the little alligator named Fluffy! There is never a dull day here on the Bayou.  Something interesting always pops up (or slithers, skitters, flies, scoots, runs or hops in) at the most unexpected times.

Gator Hunting!

  Living on the Bayou, we see alligators of all sizes.  The sightings never cease to be thrill for me since I really like these critters.  There is a certain majestic air about each one from the quite large bull to the itty-bitty baby.  I admit that I do get a tad irked when they decide to crush my crab pots but I figure that they are trying to survive much like I am.  It just so happens that we both have a taste for crabs and fish. But there comes a time when gator hunting becomes a necessity and that time has arrived.

  No, I am not in a rage against my critters.  I really NEED a gator!  This October's clue hunt on the Bayou is in the works and, well, what is a Bayou without a gator?  Mark and I are searching high and low for a life-like alligator to use as a prop but are not having much luck.  There are a ton of vinyl alligators on the market but since our budget is limited, we are having a tough time finding one that is within our range. The price of most of these gators exceeds the limit I put on the overall cost of props!  Plus, I sort of want this critter to at least look a tad real. It is required (by me) NOT to have some silly smirk on its face! Menacing teeth are a must but NO SILLY GRINS!  

  So, the hunt is on and I am bound and determined to bag my gator!  If not, I will have to con my cousin, Michelle, into sweet talking one of these wild gators into cooperating.  It should not be too hard for the local gator whisperer to convince one to pose for me!  Oh, Michelle!  I have a job for you!  One gator....one month...friendly posing!  Come to think of it, this would most likely be easier for her to do than for us to find a vinyl gator that looks remotely real!  (For those who do not know my cousin...she is amazing!  And, yes, she really does swim with, hand feed and has even kissed a gator!  She does have a way with wildlife!)

 
 

See ya later, Alligator!

   For the past few years, our crab traps have been robbed of their bait on almost a nightly basis.  At first, we blamed the otters.  These likable critters have the smarts to unhook most any latch that they encounter. We figured that the otters had taken a liking to our crab bait and found it an easy meal.  Not that I mind sharing a bit of bait with them but without bait, I would catch no crabs.  That made me unhappy indeed!  Then the blame moved on to the snapping turtles that seemed to find the crab traps a delightful perch on which to spend the day.  I admit that I was more prone to blame the snapping turtles since they are not so cute and comical.  They have a tendency to have a foul temper and do have strong jaws that can rip into the traps.  I had noticed that the bait doors were not simply unlatched they were removed!  Turtles...definitely turtles were damaging the traps and stealing the bait!  Then one morning as I sat watching the sunrise, the true culprit ventured under the pier.  An eight foot long alligator decided that the chicken legs that Mark used as bait the previous evening, smelled mighty fine. I watched as the gator slipped under the pier, chomped down on the trap mangling it and then removing the bait.  Chicken parts were floating everywhere making the gator extremely happy and making me extremely unhappy!  I apologized to the otters and turtles and started blaming the gators!  There was not a lot we could do about the gator stealing the bait as it actually would rip the wire.  The traps were more or less rendered unusable.

  This week, I noticed a few crabs crawling about under the pier.  Mark set about devising a new bait door for the traps.  It had to be tough enough for the gator to at least have some trouble breaking it yet simple enough to open so we could stuff the bait in the box without difficulty.  He pondered a bit and then headed off to the building supply place for parts.  This morning, he toted all six traps back to the pier.   He had rigged up a grand door for each trap using a piece of steel sheeting and some rods.  This should work!  Yep, now my traps may be able to capture a few crabs instead of sitting baitless under the pier.  

  We shall raid the freezer tomorrow in search of possible crab bait. Since crabs are not particularly nit-picky about their diet, it should be relatively easy to find enough chicken or fish to bait the traps.  Then we shall sit back and wait.  I will sit observing the gators as they attempt to filch their breakfast.  Hopefully, the steel plates will hold and nary a bait will be lost to the would-be robbers.  Hopefully, I will get enough crabs this summer to replenish the freezer.  See ya later, Alligator!  Go elsewhere for your breakfast!  This cafe is closed!  (I hope!)

Mirror, Mirror!

I have noticed something about the pictures that I take of things on the water.  The reflection sometimes is prettier than the object itself!  Then at other times, the reflection makes for a very strange picture.  Take for instance, the last pictures that I took of the alligator that comes to visit occasionally.  This old Bayou Gator has never caused a problem other than stealing a few baits from my crab pots so I do not mind it hanging around the pier.  Its presence gives me great photographic opportunities which in turn gives my favorite wildlife artist, Natalie Barker, more reference pictures.  She does an extremely good job of capturing the details of the gators.  Just today, I was looking at some of the photos of the gator when I realized that the reflections were exceptional!  The pictures were taken early one morning before the day's winds roughed up the waters.  The photograph could be turned completely upside down without changing much of anything.  Now that was some slick water!

I played with the photographs for a while turning them this way and that.  It struck me as being odd that even though the mirrored image was perfect, the gator looked a bit odd.  Then I turned the picture on its side..what?  The gator now took on the appearance of a really strange looking critter!  The gator's head when turned sideways resembled (in my imagination) a seahorse's head!  Ok, so that was stretching it a bit but like I said, I do have a vivid imagination whirling around in that head of mine!  Still, those pictures with reflections were far more interesting than those without them.

Sometimes a show of reflection or line symmetry can double the beauty in a photograph.  I am no professional photography by far but rather someone who is fascinated by the beauty that surrounds me here on the Bayou.  I will be on the lookout for more calm days just to experiment with reflections on the water.  To bad Ole Gator will be snoozing for the winter soon. (No, they do not actually hibernate.  They lower their metabolism and get lazy..ha!)  Anyway, my alligator photographs will most likely have to wait until next spring but I can experiment on the herons in the meantime!  Those and the loons are always willing participants!