Dot!

   For the past few weeks, crows have been visiting the yard quite often.  They come with their usual ruckus and nosiness.  Even a single crow can throw the whole place upside-down because of the incessant cawing.  All of the songbirds go into a frenzy.  The Critter Neighborhood Watch Group get themselves all tied up in a tizzy trying to scare the crow away or, at least, let everyone else know that a "wicked" bird is in the area. (like the other birds could not hear it on their own).  

  While I like crows, I do not like some of their actions.  There is only one reason for the crows to be lingering about the place.  Nope, they are not wreaking havoc on my cornfield because I do not have one.  These birds are here to raid the songbirds' nests.  They will steal the eggs and even the baby birds.  The same goes for squirrels' nests.  Baby squirrels are not overlooked by the marauding crows.  This saddens me but I understand that it is all a natural occurrence so I try to not interfere...too much.

  The single crow visiting today was high in the top of a dead oak tree.  With the branches being leafless, the crow could see the entire yard.  It had that "bird's eye view" of any nearby nests.  When I heard the bird cawing, I set out to shoo it away from the wrens' nest.  Perhaps, I could save her little ones.  The crow only stayed a few moments before flying across the Bayou but not before I got a few photographs.  

  Once viewing the pictures, I realized that I had a name for this particular crow.  This was Dot...male or female.  Dot was named because the bird had a single white dot on its face.  Whether this was a marking on the feathers or simply something stuck there, I will never know.  It is most likely a tick that has attached itself to a "safe haven" on the bird's face as it is a difficult spot for any bird to preen.  Thankfully for the crow, if it is indeed a tick, there will be no long term ill effects.  The tick will eat and when full will eventually drop from the bird.  Even predators have predators, I guess.

Friendship With Moe

   Due to more house renovations, I have not been to the pier in a few days.  It is up at 3am to start daily chores before starting the construction job.  I am the official "gofer", painter and otherwise helper.  I do what is needed to keep things going smoothly as Son does the heavy work.  Between this and the garden, time for relaxation was nil so lounging on the pier did not happen.

  This morning, however, I was bound and determined to watch the sunrise.  It was gorgeous but my attention was held by a visitor.  As soon as I neared the end of the pier, I heard the soft flapping of wings.  My heron friend had returned!  A beautiful heron came to visit.  The bird perched on one of the pier posts as I made my way down.  Once there, I welcomed the bird, picked up the cast net and told it that I sure would try to catch its breakfast.  The heron and I have this odd relationship...I catch its food and it grants me so photographs.  Works for me!

 Years ago, I had named this bird "Moe".  It was a juvenile then (2018) and has grown into a handsome adult now.  Today, Moe flew in to visit, posed beautifully, ate breakfast (a ladyfish and a mullet) and then stayed even though I had to head back to the Little Bayou House.  Our visit was short but filled my heart with joy.  Some folks find it strange that I find happiness with my critter friends.  I find it strange that folks think their opinions matter to me.  

Delightful Visitor To The Pier

   Early this morning, Mark and I thought we might catch a redfish from the piece of the pier that is still intact.  We did not.  Nary a fish wanted to come that close to shore being as it was low tide.  Regardless, we enjoyed our time on the pier and the sunrise did not disappoint.  We sat in awe of the beauty laid out before us.  While we were watching the sun peep over the pines on the far side of the Bayou, a whirring of wings told us that a flock of blackbirds had settled into the marsh just beyond us.  I love the Red-winged Blackbirds as much as any other bird and was excited that they had come to visit.  What I did not know was that the local birds had brought a special guest.

  A lone bird flew to the tallest post on my brother's pier.  Thinking this was "just another blackbird", I actually hesitated before deciding to photograph our visitor.  Once I did, the bird's beauty struck me.  Wow!  That was no ordinary Bayou Blackbird!  I tried to photograph the bird but the dimness of the morn and the distance between the piers did not allow for clear shots.  I needed at least one picture to be clear enough for me to identify the bird.  Please let one turn out ok!  I thought I knew the bird but had doubts.

  Don't ask me how I knew that the bird was a Yellow-headed Blackbird but I did.  This bird is far east of its natural range.  It is unusual to see one past the Texas/Louisiana border and even more so to find one here on the Mississippi Coast. When I saw the bird, knew it was not supposed to be here but knew exactly what it was. I have never seen one before but the name seemed to fit.  It was easy to see that it was a type of blackbird simply by one particular action.  The bird "stood" like a blackbird.  Every blackbird that I have ever seen stand the same!  It is like the "Universal Blackbird Standing Position"!  When I finally was able to view my pictures, most were a disappointment but a few were clear enough to identify the bird and I was correct!  Oh, sweet bird!  You are more than welcome to call the Bayou home.  We welcome you!

This One Is Getting Brave!

  Normally, the Eastern Towhees are shy birds that would rather stay in the underbrush unseen than be sociable.  You may hear them  as they scavenge in the leaves for food but seeing them is a different story.  When scratching, they sound like a herd of elephants rummaging around in a haystack.  They really do not care who hears them.  You may also see the male calling high up in a tree top but that is usually when his ladylove is on the nest.  He keeps a careful watch for predators as she is nesting on the ground where critters roam.  Other than that,  their whole lives are spent in the thick underbrush.   If the hillside is unusually quiet and the other birds have left the feeders, the towhees will occasionally sneak out to pick up a few discarded seeds.  More oft than not, the male will be seen first.  After it appears that no one is going to bother him, the female will venture out of the brush and join him for a few seeds.  

  This morning, I headed out to see how many boards were ripped from the pier during the storms overnight.  The errant boards were retrieved and placed within easy reach, then I headed back up the hillside.  A slight movement caught my eye and was enough to make me pause for a few moments.  Yep, the little towhee was busying himself near the house!  I watched for a bit then continued back to the doorway.  To my surprise, the towhee did not take flight.  He stayed near the jasmine fence even though that was in my direct path.  

  After my encounter with the male towhee, I started pondering if the female was nesting nearby.  Since I leave the landscape a bit "wild and woolly". anything is possible.  For the past few years, she has nested in the palmetto clumps near the pier but a rather large snake has been hanging around there.  The Black Racer would make short work of the eggs, chicks or even the mom.  Hopefully, she has found a safer place...maybe the jasmine fence row?  How neat would that be??  That would explain why the male is so near to the house and gardens.  They would be welcome to stay!

This One Tolerates Me...

  Yesterday, I made mention of my preference of critter friends over people friends, as I have so many times in the past.  It is just a "me" thing as I prefer peace and I often find that in the animals of the Bayou.  They are merely trying to survive and have no time for frivolous drama and pettiness.  I, also, stated that there are some critters here that plain do not wish to be buddy-buddy with me and I fully respect that.  

  One of those "not so close" critters is the osprey.  Ospreys have their standards of who is to be trusted and I am obviously not one on their list.  In fact, their list is rather short.  I am not sure they even like other ospreys.  That said, there are a couple around who do not mind my presence purely because they have grown accustomed to my daily hikes about the hillside.  I still consider them as my friends but I have not gained the honor of being "their" friend.  That is ok.  I can still watch and admire them from a distance.

  Early this afternoon, a beautiful osprey sat on the pier post as I was meandering down the board path.  I could hear its screams as soon as I opened the front door so it was only natural that I venture down that way.  The osprey was resting from a day of hunting.  Earlier, it flew over the house with a rather large fish but was back within a few moments.  I assume that either it "presented" its catch to its potential mate or lost the fish to an eagle.  (Eagles are notorious thieves!  They will wait until an osprey catches a fish, then steal it rather than work to catch their own!)  The ospreys do not nest until early April so I am hesitant to say the fish fed little ones but with the warm weather, anything is possible...not plausible nor probable but surely possible.

  This afternoon, the osprey stayed put until I was well on halfway down the pier.  The bird eyed me constantly as if in hopes that I would retreat back up the hillside.  Once it took flight, it made a huge loop and came back to the same post.   I stood watching then turned to let it rest in peace.  There was no need in disturbing this majestic bird.  I was happy just to catch a couple of photos from the distance.

Morbid Curiosity?

  Early today, Son and I went out to cut more firewood.  This cool front has pulled the cast iron woodstoves into work mode.  To keep warm, the stoves need to be constantly stoked causing me to use a good bit of firewood.  Today's chore completed two tasks at the same time.  A good many trees in the yard needed trimming and we needed to find wood to cut.  Trimming the limbs gave us a good bit of firewood!  Two for one!   He would cut the limbs and I would drag them near the house to be cut into the right size.  We have found this to be easier than hauling the already cut firewood.  We were about finished for the day when I noticed something strange on the ground under a tall oak tree.  The "item" looked like feathers but not as those from a live bird.  I poked at it then discovered a beak.  Oops...that WAS a bird...at one time.  Now it was a pile of icky feathers, a few bones and the beak.  Well, now.  This discovery led to a lengthy discussion about what this was and how it got here.

  After a good bit of poking the goop, we have come to the conclusion that this is an owl pellet.  Owls gulp down small prey without ripping it apart.  Their bodies cannot digest feathers, some bones and, of course, the beak of a bird.  The enzymes in an owl's digestive track are not strong enough to break down these items so they are stored in the bird's gizzard until it is full.  Then, the bird will regurgitate the parts in a semi-solid form.  The "pellets" are usually around 2 to 3 inches long (sometimes larger) but, of course, this depends on the type and size of the owl, itself.  The one today seemed much larger but, then, I have been hearing so really large owls, as of late.

  I was now curious as to what type bird was eaten.  With the shape of the beak, the bird can at least be narrowed a bit and with the feathers being quite unidentifiable, the beak is about all I have to use.  The size of the bird would be rather small, the beak is "dagger-like" and the feather colors seem to be beige and (?)white.  This eliminated a good many birds of this area and this is assuming that the bird was not a migratory bird.  After doing a bit of research, I would offhandedly say this may be one of the sandpipers that have a tendency to roost on the pier at night.  It makes sense that they would be an easy target for a hungry owl.  Keep in mind that this is amateur sleuth work and by no means a sure thing.  If anyone can help me out here, please chime in and give your two cents' worth!  It would be greatly appreciated!  Call it morbid curiosity or whatever you wish but I really like to make new discoveries like this.  It helps me to learn more about my critter friends...all of them...the predators and the prey. 

Just Another Day

  I awoke to the sound of a storm pounding the Little Bayou House.  This was the first of a day long siege that the Bayou would see.  It was not too bad and, personally, I usually like a good storm.  Today, however, I wanted to be outside!  I did not want to be pent up like a chicken in a coop!  I wanted to be like the free birds that flit around in the treetops and take flight at whim.  Well, there was nothing to do about it other than don a jacket and escape the confines of the house.  I did.

  Once outside, the drizzly rain ran down my face and soaked me to the bone!  After just a half hour hike, I was shaking like a leaf in a windstorm so it was back to the house for me.  First, however, I needed to make one last run to the pier to check the small skiff.  It was on that path that I found the perfect description of the day.  A solitary bird sat fluffed against the rain and wind.  The bird had sought a meal from the seeds of the popcorn tree (Chinese Tallow Tree).  The few dead leaves, fat seed pods and sweet bird were set against the dreary, grey sky making it the perfect photo of the day.  Both the little bird and I needed to seek shelter so I bid it goodbye and hoped it found a safe place to spend the night.  I told it that there was plenty of room in the greenhouse if it wished to dry out and sleep safely.  How lucky I am to have the Little Bayou House to protect me even though there are times that I wish to escape.  Tonight, the storms are still raging. I am sitting snug thinking of my little bird friend. Hopefully, it found the greenhouse's protection and is warm and cozy.  Life is good.

Dreams of Birds and Tranquility

  It is sort of ironic that a Great Egret was circling the pier early this afternoon.  The bird flew in three large circles around the entire Bayou (and pier) before coming to land in the midst of the marsh.  It is not uncommon to see the egrets but having one circle around me after having a dream about one last night was a bit...well...soul-stirring.  In my dream, a Great Egret flew in to greet me on the pier as they often do but this one came to my side and gently laid its head on my hand.  Its wings were wide-spread and its beautiful white feathers gleamed so brightly that I could hardly look at it.  Then, the bird flew straight up and out of sight.  When I awoke, my heart was racing and I felt as if something was on the verge of happening.  In view of my love for the critters of the Bayou, perhaps the dream of an egret befriending me was enough to move me but seeing the bird today has caused a good bit of pondering. Was there some deeper meaning to the dream?  Was the bird trying to tell me something?  If one is to go around looking for images and signs, they are sure to be there, yet, I was not looking.

  It has often been said that there are deep meanings to our dreams.  An appearance of a Great Egret has been associated with a new beginning.  That an preceding task set before you has been completed and that a new prosperous, peaceful life is ready to be attained.   In other words, it is time to stop living in the past and get on with the future.  The battle before has been won the hard way and now a life of peace is at the threshold.  While a lot of folks do not put much trust in dreams, one can only hope that something like this one holds true.

  Then, there was the actual bird flying in circles around me and my home.  The large, white egret flying around and around the Bayou with me as the centerpoint was purely fascinating.  I like to choose that the bird in the dream was foretelling of peace and prosperity and the bird doing the flying was letting me know that this tranquility was to be found where I live.  The Bayou has always been my little piece of paradise so this comes as no surprise. Then again, the bird may have been just trying to decide where would be the best place to catch supper.  Who knows?  It is something to ponder, however.

A Cardinal Came To Visit

  Early this morning, I took the old dog out for his morning exercise.  He was moving slowly....even more slowly than usual.  His energy seemed sorely lacking and his movements appeared to ail him.  The cool front that dropped our temperatures some 20 degrees during the night may be the culprit.  He has arthritis pretty heavily which makes walking rather painful at times.  Since our hike was progressing at a snail's pace (if even that), I had plenty of time to check around for anything worth photographing.  About half way down the hill, our hike came to an abrupt halt.  Mr. PJ had enough of the walking and sat down to rest his weary bones.  He did not want to move no matter how hard I tried to cajole him.  We could go no further.  We could not go back.  He sat.  Well, it was best to let him sit so I meandered a bit always staying with in his line of vision.

  Alongside of the path, there is a couple of dead trees.  It was on one of these dead limbs that a cardinal suddenly popped in to visit.  The bird seemingly was trying to get my attention.  It flitted about the tree just a few feet from me then came to rest in full view. The bird started making a light chipping sound all the while keeping a steady gaze at me.  I talked with the bird as if it could fully understand what I was saying.  By the head tilts and intermittent silences, maybe it did.  After about ten minutes of our visit, the bird broke out into full song.  Wow!  I felt honored.

  It is often said that when a cardinal appears to be trying to garner your attention, it has a message from beyond.  It seems that the name "cardinal" comes from the Latin word "cardo" which translates to hinge.  If you use your imagination here, you can see where this all got started.  A door has hinges so the bird is passing through the door between Heaven and Earth as it carries messages.  Sometimes, we need that assurance that our loved ones are still there...still watching over us.  The myths and legends about the cardinal all deal with good health, happy relationships, renewal of spirit and protection.  Since the bird is hard to miss with its bright color and happy song, it is easy to see why folks want it to be associated with someone they have loved...and still love.  I wonder who came to visit me today???  There are so many that I would love to visit again. 

Strike A Pose!

  The wildlife around the Bayou is a constant source of amusement.  Let it be the baby fox that tumble around at the mouth of their den or the frogs that puff themselves up during courtship.  If you really take the time to watch the critters, you will come to realize that their show is far better than any on TV.  In fact, I have done away with our TV simply because I found nothing worth watching.  It was all pretty much brain rot and I sure do not need that!

  While on the pier, I noticed a lovely Great Egret sitting on the next pier over.  The bird had just flown to the top of a pier post and had started preening itself.  Well, I am never without the camera so the bird became the "subject of the day".  After about the third photo, it seemed as if the egret knew I was taking pictures and was determined that I get its best pose.  It kept preening its feathers but offered some beautiful wing shots! I am always impressed by the whiteness of the birds.  This one had just come from the marsh, yet was pristine!  Nary a dot of mud sullied its gleaming plumage!  Strike a pose, my fine feathered friend!  You have every right to strut your stuff!

Silly Bird!

  Along about daybreak, I take the old dog down the hill to do his business.  The short hike is about all he can manage so there are not a lot of photo opportunities for me along the way.  However!  It seems that one critter is going out of its way to provide me with a little bit of entertainment.  A young osprey waits for us to pass under the tall pine alongside of the path.  Once the old dog and I are within range, the osprey lets out a few screeches then starts some of the funniest poses.  Granted, it is hard to get good shots in the dark, up in a top of the pine and with the bird constantly moving but I try.  I try simply because the osprey is so accommodating.

  This morning, the bird not only did its morning stretches, it decided to give me the once over by nearly standing on its head to peer under the branch where it was perched.  I thought sure the bird was going to tumble down into the Bayou!  The osprey did this four times before the mother osprey called to it.  Then, the youngster spread its wings and took off after dear, old mom.  Mr. PJ and I headed back up to the Little Bayou House so he could climb back in his bed and rest.

Flying High!!

  Yesterday, Mark and I watched as a large bird flew overhead.  This bird was huge!  Ok, so as you probably already guessed, the camera was ever ready.  Our bird made a huge circle and then swooped low, low above us.  The only thought going through my head was the sheer magnificence of the sight before me.  Wow!  What beauty!

  The bird was a Red-tailed Hawk and was one of a pair that was circling overhead and then moved to over the Bayou.  This pair was on the hunt.  Watching them, started me thinking about hawks and other raptors.  Red-tailed Hawks have exceptional eyesight and can spy a tiny, field mouse from about 100 feet above ground.  They can swoop down, catch the mouse and be out of there in the blink of an eye.  Like all other raptors, even though they have excellent vision, they cannot move their eyes.  Raptors have to move their heads from side to side if they wish to see something other than what is in their immediate line of vision.  This is most obvious in owls who can turn their heads a full 270 degrees.  It makes me ponder if turning the head actually helps to focus???

  The Red-tailed hawk pair circled the Bayou and hillside for most of the afternoon. They were riding on the stiff south winds while hunting for their supper.  Hopefully, this pair will nest on the property and help with thinning the massive Grey Squirrel population that has been dumped in our laps by the clearing of nearby property.  

A Near Drowning

  Late this afternoon, Mark suggested we meander about the hillside.  It was the perfect afternoon for that leisurely stroll since the temperature was not too high and there was a lovely southwest wind making it even more comfortable.  We started, of course, at the pier.  There, I spied what first appeared to be a duck in distress.  Then...maybe it was a cormorant.  Or...perhaps a large gull??  This was bewildering, to say the least.  Since the bird was off in the distance a bit and it kept going under water, I was just not sure what it was but I could tell it was not doing well.  With the small skiff on shore, there was not much we could do to help.  We watched and after a few moments, the bird managed to take flight...almost.  It fell back into the water but immediately tried to fly again.  This time, it used all its strength and made it to my brother's pier and landed on a post.  The bird was not any of the aforementioned fowl but rather an osprey.  This confused me as the ospreys are usually expert fliers.

  After a moment, the bird took off to the back of the Bayou where there is a dead pine tree that is a favorite roosting spot of the ospreys.  I told Mark we had to go check on our friend.  Once we neared the pine, I could see the bird trying to preen its feathers.  It was soaked!!  Poor bird!   I eased nearer and nearer fully expecting the bird to show some distaste for my presence.  It did not.  So, I sat on the old oyster bench and started taking photos.  I was only a mere twenty feet from the old dead pine and not much further from the osprey.  The treetop had long fallen leaving a short stob of only about twenty feet so my view of the bird was quite good.  It was at this time I realized that this was a juvenile osprey perhaps of the most recent nesting.  Obviously, its flying skills are not perfected and a simple dive nearly killed it.  The bird had nearly drowned.

  It did not take long for the bird to relax enough to carry on with its task of getting the feathers in order.  The osprey shook, flexed and stretched.  With each gust of wind, it spread its wings wide and let the air fluff the feathers.  Using its long, curved beak, it laid feathers back in place.  It almost seemed after a while that the bird was literally putting on a show for me!  After about a half hour and a hundred or so photos, I decided to leave the bird in peace and escape the mosquitoes that were gnawing on my arms and face.  Hopefully, the osprey will be alright after its terrifying experience of near drowning.  Take care, Little Osprey.  I am rooting for you!  You will get better with this flying and diving.  See you around!

Thursday is Bird Day

  As soon as I awoke this morning, I knew it was going to be a special day.  I had no idea what was to be different but something was, for sure!  At 5am while I was sipping that first mug of coffee, I heard a strange sound.  Hmm?  Wonder what that was?  Since I was the only one awake in the Little Bayou House, the noise sounded loud...really loud.  It was sort of a "sandy, fluttering sound".  Maybe gritty was a better word but still fluttery with a slight grinding.  I eased my way to the dining room and waited.  Yep, the noise came from there and I knew exactly what was causing it.  The sound came from near the fireplace.  It came as no surprise that I found a small, black bird clinging to the old stove.  "Well, now!  What have we here?  Are you lost?"  The little bird allowed me to lift if from its perch.  I gently held my little ward and unscrewed the cover to the fireplace.  "Ok, little one.  Off you go!  Head on back up that chimney!"  As soon as I lifted my hand inside the fireplace, the tiny bird fluttered up the chimney to be greeted by its family.  It was free and so happy to be reunited!

  All day, I felt good about helping my little friend.  The screecher (as my niece, Kammie, has labeled the bird.) was none other than a chimney swift.  Each year, dozens of the birds nest in the old brick chimney.  They do well but, every now and again, one youngster cannot hold its place and it tumbles to the bottom of the fireplace.  Once there, it worms its way through the old wood stove and into the house.  No problem.  I just pick them up and, depending on the size of the bird, either open the fireplace and replace the bird or take it outside where it can take flight.  It happens a couple of times every year.

  This evening, I was still feeling pretty good about the incident when Son came to tell me that there was a bird in the house.  He and I headed back to the dining room where, once again, a chimney swift was clinging to the wood stove.  Son started unscrewing the cover while I picked up the bird.  These are such gentle birds.  They do not struggle to get away nor do they fight.  The birds sit calmly in my hand until it is time to leave.  This one did not want to leave.  I held my hand up in the fireplace but the bird clung to my fingers.  "Nope, it is dark in there.  I want to stay with you." I tried to ease it onto the side wall where it could cling to the bricks.  "Nope. I like your hand."  So, the next step was to take the bird outside where it could fly free. "I really like you!  I want to be your friend!"  Oh, come on, little one!  FLY!  It took a good five minutes before the bird even thought about leaving my hand once we were outside.  It just sat in my palm like a happy camper. 

  I have a feeling our escapade with Thursday being Bird Day is going to extend over into the weekend.  We will have to be extra vigilant while Ms. Nycto, the Bayou Princess Cat, is in the house, however!  And that made me smile...I keep hearing how wildlife rescue groups admonish folks for letting their cats outside but, obviously, those well-meaning folks never have wild birds as visitors INSIDE their houses.  I do!

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.  

Moe Is Hungry!

  Late this afternoon, Mark and I slipped out the door to get a bit of fresh air.   It had been drizzling rain most of the day so this was our chance to escape the confines of the Little Bayou House.  Our hike started back by the canebrake and took us the long way around the marsh to the pier.  Ahh...my favorite place to be!  As we walked down the length of the pier, a friend happily awaited our arrival.  Moe, the Great Blue Heron, patiently sat atop one of the pier posts.  As we neared. the bird never moved.  I was within an arm's reach, all the while snapping photos, and he just sat posing for me.  After our photo shoot, I asked Mark to fetch the net so we could reward our sweet friend.

  Mark caught six or eight small mullet and Mr. Moe happily gulped them down.  Then on the last throw, Mark caught several small mullet and one that was rather large.  Well, Moe scooped up one tiny fish then made a leap to grab the big one.  Oh, was he happy!  His belly would be full tonight!

  Mr. Moe struggled to hold onto the large mullet as he flew to the marsh.  He knew better than to try to eat the big fish on the pier.  There was a chance that the fish would flip out of his mouth and back into the water.  In the marsh, there are huge mats of dead reeds that have been tumbled by the tide.  These mats make for a fine place for the birds to dine.  If they drop a fish, it merely falls on the mat and they can readily grab it again.  Moe is smart.  Too smart.  He has figured out that we will feed him and also that the marsh mats make an ideal dining table.  I wonder what he will learn next!  I love this bird.

Keep Singing, Mr. Cardinal!

  It often makes me ponder when I observe things on my hikes about the hillside.  It matters not if I see something beautiful, unusual or even mundane.  I still ponder the being of things.  This morning, a bright red cardinal sat in the gum tree just above my head.  The bird was singing such a lovely tune that I had to stop and listen for a good ten minutes.  Below him in the underbrush, his ladylove was busy scratching the ground.  From his perch, the male cardinal kept a close watch on her, on me and any predators that may be nearby.  His song, while sweet, seemed to me to be a distraction.  It was called for my ears to keep me from venturing too close to his wife.  Had I proceeded on my hike and neared the female, his song would have changed to a call of urgency.  She would have been warned of the nearing danger.  That did not happen, however, since I was content to watch him.

  The  thoughts that crossed my mind while observing the cardinal ranged from everything of how he protected her to how folks are more familiar with the male cardinal than most other birds. However, other than recognizing the bird, folks rarely know anything about the cardinals.  Because of his brilliant red feathers, this bird is a favorite subject for Christmas cards, figurines and paintings. Some folks, however, have no idea what the female looks like.  Her colors pale in comparison to his but it is for good reason. She cannot be easily spotted while nesting with her muted colors. Also, not many know that the cardinals are monogamous...at least for the season.  While the male is very attentive of his ladylove during the mating season and will often stay with her through the winter, he may choose a new mate during the next spring depending on her ability to raise a successful brood.  Another little known fact is that both the male and female sing.  While his song is more of a territorial thing, hers is usually a "bring me food because I am hungry" notice...and he, more oft than not, complies.  

  My cardinal was doing his best to let his ladylove gather her breakfast without worry.  His song did what he intended for it to do as it distracted my attention from her and brought it to him.  Pretty fellow, you needn't have worried. I would never harm you or you sweet wifey.

Camouflage...It Serves Well

  Some critters depend on camouflage to protect them from the many predators that roam the Bayou.  Sometimes, a critter is too small to put up much of a fight against larger critters.  Sometimes, they lack "weapons" (claws, fangs etc.) to defend themselves.  If that flight mode is not the best move, freeze mode has to kick in.  More oft than not, the predator depends on movement to find its prey and if the freeze mode comes into play, camouflage serves well.  Being well camouflaged and as still as a church mouse, can mean the difference between life and death.

  This afternoon, the "freeze mode" was not necessary as I am not considered to be a predator to any of the critters that see me out and about.  They know that I mean no harm so they go about their business without worry.  A small sparrow busied itself near the palmetto clump while i was just a few feet away.  While the bird made no effort to conceal itself, I had to marvel at how well it blended with the background. Movement would be the only giveaway that the tiny bird was in the area.  For now, the bird could scratch in search of food without a care in the world.  Hopefully, it will always be that way but life is rough and the bird has to be wary.  Good luck. Little Friend, good luck.

  

The Unintentional Helper

  At least the seeds of the popcorn tree (also known as the tallow tree) are good for something other than making a billion new trees.  The invasive tree is notorious for filling up woods with seedlings that sap the nutrients from the soil and soon push out all other trees.  The same thing happens with the tree around the Bayou.  It is one of those plants that does not mind having its feet in the brackish waters so it will grow just about anywhere.  One has sprouted near the pier and has grown to be quite a good size.  I am told that I should pick the billion seeds so the tree does not spread like wildfire but that is literally impossible.  Now, however, a local resident has decided to do the job for me...and without pay!  This resident is happy with just harvesting the seeds.

  Early this morning, I heard the call of a pileated woodpecker echoing through the woods.  I was on the pier and could tell that the bird was coming my way so I sat waiting for it.  Its first stop was a tall pine at the end of the pier but it did not take long before the bird found the tallow tree seeds.  For a good ten minutes, I watched as the bird plucked seed after seed from the branches.  All I could think was, "You go, Bird!!!  Keep eating those seeds!"  Hopefully, the woodpecker will be back tomorrow and bring its entire family!

  Pileated woodpeckers are rather interesting birds.  Even though the bird can cause major damage to a tree, it is usually one that has already been compromised by insects, The woodpecker seeks out the insects by pecking rectangular holes in the tree's bark.  The holes can be so deep that the tree may topple if it was already weakened by the bugs.  When nesting, the bird makes sure to have plenty escape tunnels so predators have a hard time catching the baby birds.   Pileated woodpeckers will go so far as to choose a live tree and peck the bark around the entrance holes so sap will ooze around the opening.  This deters predators especially snakes.  Pileated woodpeckers...not only smart, they are helpful!

 

Periscoping Bird!

  Down on the east side of the hill. a path meanders next to the marsh edge.  This is where the old dog, Mr. PJ, and I hike every morning so he can take care of business and I can observe the shallows of the Bayou.  During the winter months, this part of the Bayou is mostly mudflats with just a small trickle of water  that teems with minnows and small mullet.  Periodically, the tide will come in enough for some larger fish to venture in to dine upon the smaller ones but, most of the time, the minnows only need to watch for attacks from above.

  This morning, I could hear an occasional soft splash as if something was hunting those minnows.  I pondered which of our shorebirds was getting breakfast.  As the old dog wandered close to the marsh, the bird was startled enough to stop hunting and peer over the marsh at the possible predator on shore.  A beautiful great egret kept a close watch on the old dog but Mr. PJ had no interest in the bird.

  It amused me to see the egret stretch high above the marsh tips to see who was trampling around on the path.  Its long neck gave it a clear view above the almost four foot tall grass,  I imagined that it was a lot like using a periscope!  The bird probably sensed that it had no worries because it soon went back to scooping up the minnows.  At the moment, a full belly was more important that dog watching.