Basking in the Sun

   After another cold night, more firewood was needed.  The old wood-burning stoves can put out lots of heat but only if you constantly feed them their favorite food...wood.  I was happy that what I had hauled in last night did carry me through the cold morning.  While our "cold" may not seem like much to others, it does seem bitterly cold to us down here in the Deep South.  We are so accustomed to winter being more like a late fall than anything else that when the temperature does drop into the 20s, we are COLD!  Like I said, though, I had enough wood to see me through until almost 9am.  Then, it was out to cut more wood.  This is all working out well since it cleans the yard.  After the last few tropical systems blew through, there are enough stacks of logs needing cut to see us through the entire winter.  So...out to the stacks, I went.

  At one point, I stopped to stare at the Bay.  The sun was out beaming with brilliance making me want to be on the pier instead of cutting firewood.  Pier??  What is that on the pier??  Down toward the outer end of the pier was a dark blob.  From the distance, I could not make out any distinguishing marks to tell if this was a bird, an otter or just some debris that blew onto the planks.  There was only one thing to do.  Time to take a break, grab the camera and stroll down the hill.

  With the first step on the pier, my mystery blob came to life!  A long neck stretched up and wings flared out.  Ahh, Gus, the brown pelican was basking in the warm sunshine!  He had his head tucked beneath his wing when I first noticed him so there was no way of telling just who was there!  Ole Gus was probably just like me.  We want to be warm!  At least, I have the Little Bayou House and the cast iron stoves to keep me warm at night.  Gus sits on the pier with the north wind making things miserable.  Thinking of this, I eased back off the pier and let Ole Gus bask in the sunshine undisturbed.

Gus Needs An Umbrella!

   Son and I were making light of all the fog that has shrouded the Bayou since around the start of December.  He made the comment that while others wish for a white Christmas, we are pretty much guaranteed one...only not snow...fog.  White out fog is the winter rule around here.  Trees stay drippy,  floors stay sticky and my hair seems to always be limp and lifeless.  While the views of my hikes are blurry, I, at least, have the ability to "walk softly" on the molding leaves.  Critters cannot hear me or either they are so fed up with the weather that they just do not care if something else is on the prowl.  We are one...the bayou critters and I.

  Early morning was a bust on the pier as the planks were iced over making it a mite treacherous to make an attempt at getting to the end.  I had to be satisfied with staying on the shore end for fear of slipping into the icy mud where I would become mired for sure.  It was not until the frost melted that the pier was walkable.  Along about 8am, I ventured out once again.  It was then that I found Old Gus, the brown pelican.  Poor old fellow was trying to dry out his wings.  It was a pointless task with the heavy fog drenching his feathers as fast as any drip drying could be taking place.  It was not hard to imagine just how cold the pelican must have been with wet feathers and spread wide wings.  Critters have it rough.  I could always make a dash back to the Little Bayou House.  Which is exactly what I did and, along the way, I grabbed another armload of firewood to stoke the old wood-burning stove.  

Framed!

   Early this morning, Mark and I headed to the pier.  He wanted to see if the tide was high enough to get the small skiff out for a bit of fishing.  I have had a hankering for a nice redfish for a few weeks now and was in hopes he would be able to ease out into the Bay to catch a few.  Alas, that did not happen and does not look as if it is to happen for the next few days.  The range between high tides and low tides is practically nil for the next few days.  Then, stormy weather is to set in again.  Fishing from the pier may have to suffice.

  What turned out to be a low point for us worked out well for the pelicans.  Several brown pelicans were resting on the (still) unfinished pier.  (The recent storms have made completing the repairs caused by Hurricane Zeta nigh on impossible.)  The pelicans were happy campers with the lower tides as they were able to corral plenty of mullet.  Their bellies were full! 

  While most of the birds flew when we approached, one fine fellow stayed put and I was able to perfectly "frame" him with the odd structure of the remaining pier boards.  "Old Gus" was very polite when it came to posing for the camera.  (Either that or he was just too full to budge!)  The brown pelicans are year-round residents here and are always a source of great entertainment.  They have some of the quirkiest personalities of any birds.  You never really know just how they will react to your presence.  

  After a good ten minutes or so of photographing the bird, we decided to head back up the hill.  It was high time for me to crank that lawnmower.  Goodbye, Gus!  See you in the morning!  I've got work to do!

Hangin' With Old Gus

   One of my favorite things about living on the Bayou is the abundance of wildlife.  Here lately, that abundance is becoming even more abundant.  Yet another wooded area is being clear-cut which drives out the critters.  It hurts me to think of how many little ones are being killed as the crews drive their machines over the dens.  Just recently, my aunt and uncle's old place was clear-cut and it was heartbreaking to hear the tiny animals' screams.  Those that were large enough to flee were separated from their parents and, at night, the cries were almost too difficult to bear.  I could only imagine the agony.  People don't care, though.  It is all about the money.  

  This afternoon, the skies were gray and a sort of drippy fog shrouded the Bay.  I slipped down to the pier to see if the moccasin was in its usual spot but could not find it.  Perhaps it was too dreary even for the snake.  A lone brown pelican was roosting on one of the pier posts so it became my target! Old Gus (all brown pelicans are named Gus, for some odd reason.) looked mighty fine as he rested a bit from fishing.  About thirty photographs later, the bird and I said our goodbyes and we each went our separate ways.  It is nice to spend time with old friends.  Even better to spend time with the critter sort of friends.

The Bird Watchers?

  Early this morning, a lone Brown Pelican was diving around the pier.  It almost seemed to be "too" quiet. Yesterday, a school of shrimp passed through which had the usual following of seagulls, terns and pelicans.  The Bay was "hopping" with activity.   The screeching of the gulls seemed to let every other bird know that the "feed" was on!  Then, overnight, the school of shrimp moved elsewhere and drew most of the predatory birds with them.  The pelican that stayed behind was not in need, however, as massive schools of menhaden and mullet filled the waters.  The bird was fat and happy! It was smart to lag behind and not get caught up in the frenetic doings of the masses. The pelican could lounge about the calm waters and scoop up menhaden and mullet.

  By watching the waterfowl, it is not hard to tell just what is passing below the surface of the water.  With shrimp, the birds are in a feeding frenzy.  Hundreds will dive until their bellies are stuffed.  When the schools are of menhaden, the birds take their dear, sweet time to catch their meal.  The mullet are a different story as the birds have to work harder.  Mullet are fast and travel in much smaller schools.  Local fishermen can all read these signs and know which fish will be biting simply by how the birds are acting.  It is an art! Or maybe a science!  Whatever!  Watch the birds and they will tell you where to fish and what bait to use.

Left Behind...

  It is not unusual to see pelicans around the Bayou.  In fact, it is an unusual day when you cannot spot a dozen or more Brown Pelicans diving for fish or perched atop the pier posts soaking up the sunshine.  They are some of the "local folks" around here and we all take their presence in stride.  They beg for handouts and, then in return, mess up the pier with their poop.  There is not much you can do about it other than letting the rain do its job.  (Thankfully, we have been having lots of rain!)  These pelicans usually go by the name of "Gus" for just about everyone around here.  The Brown Pelicans are all named Gus....except one and that one is Cinderella (name courtesy of my granddaughter.)  The pelicans are so familiar with the people around here that they have lost all fear and just go about doing their every day things as we do ours.  Pelicans belong in the Bayou.

  This afternoon, I was watching a Brown Pelican dive in the shallows in the back of the Bayou when another fine, feathered friend caught my eye.  Paddling along with the Browns was a White Pelican!  This bird seemed to be out of place since there were no other White Pelicans anywhere to be seen.  Just a few weeks ago, dozens of the Whites were congregating but they seem to have already flown from the area.  I think they forgot something, however,  as they left this one.  

  While I love the Whites as much as the Browns, I am a bit curious why this one is lagging behind the group.  Hopefully, it is not hurt and will soon make its way back to its squadron.  Until then, it is welcome here.  There are plenty of little mullet for it to eat and there is safety from predators on the pier with the Browns.  

Who Remembers Who?

   The last time that the Grand Princess, Mary Ruth, visited the Bayou, she named two of the pelicans, "Gus and Cinderella".  The names stuck and the two have always been called by those names.  Since her current visit began, Mary Ruth has been asking to see her pelican friends but the rains prevented long visits to the pier.  Finally, as if on cue, a lone pelican flew to the pier and paddled around in the water.  It came close to where Mary Ruth was standing and put on quite the show before taking flight to the other side of the Bayou.  Now I am not saying that this was definitely one of the pair but it sure seems mighty odd that the pelican seemed intent on getting the little girl's attention.  Perhaps it is actually one of "her" birds and it recalls the handouts she so generously gave.  Perhaps not.  Still, it seems like a happy thought and it tickled the little tot to no end.

  It is funny how we do not give critters credit for having feelings.  After spending a good deal of time merely watching the critters of the Bayou, it seems to me that they have the ability to feel and care.  There have been too many instances to prove the fact that they do recall certain faces.  The pelican may (or may not) have remembered the sweet, little girl but the happy squeal that resulted from the bird's visit is evidence that Mary Ruth remembered and has fond memories of the bird and Bayou.

Another Injury

  It saddens me to find so many critters hurt around the Bayou and, more oft than not, this pain is caused by humans.  It seems as if people have no respect for wild animals.  I admit that most of the time, the injuries are not intentional but are due to gross neglect of the environment.  Critters have every right to live a peaceful life free from our garbage cluttering up their world.  It is not uncommon for people to "clean" their houses but then throw everything in the dump...or in this case, in the water.  Critters have no idea what can cause harm to them and will regularly visit areas where people toss things...yes, even the dump.  They ingest, become ensnared or simply get too close to things that have been discarded.  People! Use commonsense.  Stop tossing your junk in the critters' living spaces!

  This morning as I was out walking the old dog, I noticed a friend in need.  A pelican was resting on the pier.  The bird did not look well.  Something seemed off by just the way the bird was sitting.  Knowing that I could not venture down on the pier with the old dog in tow, I sadly turned away and headed back up the hillside.  Mr. PJ came first.  The bird would have to wait.

  Later, Mark and I eased our way down the pier to where the pelican was still sitting.  About thirty feet from the bird, Mark stopped and let me try to slip up to the bird.  We figured the pelican would be more at ease with just one human approaching.  I was able to get within about five feet from the bird before it became jittery.  There was definitely something lodged in its throat and from the appearance of it, I would venture a guess that it was fishing gear of some sort.  There was definitely a fishing line dangling from the bird's bill.  Poor baby!  I needed to get to him so I could help!

  Even though I spent a good bit of time talking with the bird and letting it get used to my presence, I could not get near enough to help.  The bird did seem to be almost asking for help as it looked at me with the saddest eyes.  Tomorrow, I will try again.  Perhaps if I can coax it near to me, I can dislodge whatever the poor bird has caught in its throat.  Otherwise, it will surely die a slow and painful death.  I did contact my cousin who has an amazing knack for taming wild animals.  She said that in the morning, she will walk the marsh hunting for our friend.  Hopefully between the two of us, we can save this majestic creature.  Now, if I could only knock some sense into ignorant people who do not properly dispose of their junk!!!

Hoping All Is Well

  About mid afternoon, I finally had a chance to head to the pier to check on one of my buddies.  A brown pelican had been sitting on the end platform all day.  The bird had not moved, as far as I had seen, so I was a bit concerned about its well being.  It is not like the pelicans to sit idle for too long.  They have voracious appetites and do their dive-bomb fishing throughout the day and even on moonlit nights.  Seeing one resting for hours nagged at me enough to pay the bird a visit.

  Mr. PJ, the old dog, and I headed down to check our friend.  Most of the other pelicans had chosen their usual roosting spots atop the pier posts but this one was almost prone on the planks.  I had actually never seen one lie so low.  As PJ and I eased our way down the pier, all of the other pelicans took flight.  Not our squatty one, however.  It just sat.  The dog and I slipped closer.  Mr. PJ was curious but not overly eager to come in contact with the large bird so he stayed a few steps behind me.  Just as we were a few feet from the bird, it stood up, flapped its wings and glided out over the water.  

  Obviously, the bird was fine and was just resting.  Perhaps, as I was doing yard work, the bird had made a few fishing trips without my noticing.  I am glad.  I hate for any of my Bayou Friends to be ill.  To celebrate the good news about our friend, the dog and I decided to sit for a spell.  We watched the birds until a slight drizzling rain sent us scurrying back up the hillside.

We Have a Plan!

  Lately, it has been foggy as pea soup here on the Bayou.  Each morning, Mr. PJ and I are met with drippy, misty, almost rain type weather.  This is fine by me but the old dog prefers drier weather.  He is not overly happy to have cold, wet fur and I am not happy about having that "wet-dog" smell wafting about the living room when we return from our hikes.  Still, he has to go out to do his morning business but then hustles back indoors to snuggle in his warm bed.  Our old dog, Ms. Ez, being a Lab, did not mind the wet.  She reveled in being out on hikes where the sounds, sights and smells were different than on drier days.  She was my constant companion until her death but Mr. PJ has other ideas and that is fine by me.  I fully understand his desire to be warm and dry!

  The hike this morning led Mark and me to the pier as usual.  Instead of fog, however, we were greeted by a fine, misty rain that obscured the shorelines. A lone pelican braved the weather in search of his breakfast while the cormorants sat dismally on the pier posts with soggy wings. This drizzle later developed into a regular rain which is heralding in what could become snow.  Yep, snow on the Bayou is being predicted.  Rather unusual but not unheard of this far south.  

  This day found me gathering firewood to add to my stockpile.  The Little Bayou House gets its heat from two wood-burning stoves that need constant stoking.  Once the fires fill the fireboxes with hot coals, I can damper down on them and let them do a slow burn.  Like that, I save on wood all the while keeping the place rather warm.  I figured it was better to get out in this drizzly rain to gather the wood than to wait until there is slippery ice on the hillside.  

  If, indeed, we do get the forecasted weather, my days will be much simpler.  Along with the wood stoves chugging out their heat, the kitchen oven will be going full blast.  Snowy or icy days are great baking times.  Christmas goodies will soon fill the trays and platters.  While we may not have all the fun entertainment that other places will, we shall have lots of tasty treats to fill our tummies.   Mr. Pelican will dive by himself, Mr. PJ can snuggle in his warm bed,  Ms, Nycto, the Bayou Princess Cat, can lounge on the sofa and I shall bake.  Sounds like the perfect plan to me!

DON'T HURT MY CRITTERS!

  Once again. a friend needed a bit of "Bayou Therapy" and, once again, we wound up on the pier fishing.  Sitting and fishing is about as good as therapy as one can get.  It gives you a chance to ponder situations that otherwise cause nothing but turmoil.  While fishing, anxiety is the furthest thing from the mind.  Peace and calmness envelope the body and soul.  This is what usually happens.  Not during this day of fishing.  It was just the opposite.  The stress level was out the window.

  All was going well even though we were only catching catfish.  It did not matter as it was more the fellowship that was needed.  We would cast the lines, hook a catfish then toss it back into the water.  All of them were heavy with eggs and I just do not have the heart to harm a pregnant mom....even a fish mom.  I hate harming any critter needlessly.  Then the unthinkable occurred.  Darlene was talking and not paying a whole lot of attention to what she was doing.  Just above her head, one of my pelican friends was circling in hopes that I would toss it a meal.  At the same instant that Darlene's line was cast, the pelican flew past.  Sure enough, her line flipped over the poor bird and caught its wing.  The bird, not knowing it was lassoed, kept flying to the west.  Darlene, not knowing she had roped a bird, was wondering where her bait landed.  Then, she screamed.  "I have hooked the bird!"  Sure enough, the poor pelican had landed in the water on the opposite side of my brother's pier and was flopping around trying to untangle itself.  I raced up the two hundred feet of our pier, over a good five hundred feet to his pier and down another hundred to where the confused bird frantically splashed in the water.  Just as I bent down to grab the bird, it broke loose and Darlene's line when whizzing over my head.  The shocked pelican flew to the nearest post to compose itself.  

  Obviously, the pelican knew I was trying to help as it made no move to escape when I examined it for injury.  I am happy to say, other than being a bit upset, the bird was not harmed.  I was so thankful to find that the hook was not embedded in the bird and that the line had not damaged the wings. I apologized profusely to my critter friend, took a picture as the bird posed and, then went back to our pier to chastise Darlene.  "DO NOT HARM MY CRITTER FRIENDS!" I admonished.  

  I think Darlene has learned a lesson about fishing on the Bayou.  I keep telling folks to be aware of their surroundings but sometimes it takes an accident before it actually sinks into the brain.  It is just sad that the critters are usually the ones that pay the price for folks being inattentive.  This time, other than being a bit sore, the bird will be fine....thank goodness!

Mary Ruth and Old Gus

  Most of today was spent on the pier.  While adults fished, the grandlittles and I more or less played.  Mary Ruth and her daddy fed the seagulls a bunch of old bread and my sweet daughter-in-law caught a nice sized flounder.  After a bit, Old Gus came to visit.  The pelican was begging for a handout and he knew right where to come.  With a bucket full of little mullet and menhaden sitting on the pier and two sweet children waiting to share their catch, Old Gus had come to the right place.  He would eat good this evening.

  It all started with Mary Ruth tossing a menhaden at the bird.  Old Gus scooped up the minnow and swam in a circle.  This tickled the little girl causing her to beg for another minnow to feed Gus.  I fished a second minnow out of the bait bucket and handed it to her.  This time, I told her to wait before throwing the bait in the water.  "Call Gus.  He will come to you."  She started calling "Old Gus! Come here!"  Sure enough, the bird swam right up to the pier and opened his mouth.  He wanted the sweet little girl to feed him.  The minnow was thrown, he scooped and the little girl squealed with delight.  Instead of flying away, Old Gus made a tight circle and returned to beg for more.  Not to be outdone by his big sister, Mark Charles tossed several minnows to the bird. Old Gus was getting his belly filled tonight! After about a dozen menhaden, our stash was depleted but neither the little girl nor the pelican was finished with this game!  We started on the little mullet.  Six of those were soon in the gullet of the bird.  Mary Ruth squealed and giggled with delight over her newfound friend and the bird got his fill of minnows.  He has never had it so good!

  This pelican is one that hangs around the pier and has lost all fear of me.  I feed him an occasional minnow but never to the extent of today. What fun...one pelican, a bucket of bait and two tiny tots make for a perfect way to spend the afternoon.

The New "Karate Kid"??

  Anyone who has ever had to sit through the old movie "Karate Kid" as many times as I have (thanks to sons), should remember the infamous scene involving the "Crane Kick".  In the movie, the "Kid" practices an unusual stance of standing on one leg with his arms flailed out like some wimpy wings.  I never could understand why this was such a fantastic thing but, during the course of the movie, that kick was the spotlight of the whole fight.  Arms up and droopy, stand on one leg and kick your opponents head.  Yep, it was a tad ridiculous, if you ask me but, then again, I am an old lady and not too overly excited about these types of movies.  Still, that pose....that weird pose has come back to haunt me....almost, anyway.

   While on the pier this morning, I had flashbacks of that crazy old film.  It seemed as if every pelican was trying to do a "crane kick".  I realize that the birds were just trying to take flight after a dive but the position of their wings resembled that floppy arm pose from the movie.  I first noticed it on a pelican that was close to the pier and, later, found that every pelican was doing the same thing.  They were all "Karate Kids" doing their best to emulate the character, Daniel.  Most of the birds, however, could never get that leg up stance to work!  They have the wing...errr...arm thing down pat but the rest was a flop.  Perhaps this is all because the pose was merely the idea of a film director and not some true pose.  The birds keep trying, though, and yeah, I do have a vivid imagination!

  This morning saw hundreds more birds migrating to the Bay.  Several large flocks of ducks landed just far enough away to remain unidentifiable.  We are definitely in the "Winter Mode" here on the Bayou.  Even though we do not have the cold weather like up north, we see winter with our migrating friends.  It is all good regardless of the pelicans thinking they are karate experts or even cranes.

 

 

Oh, What a Sight!! It is a Majestic.....Pelican?

  Yep, I do indeed think that pelicans are almost majestic.  Most folks would fall short of calling the bird beautiful but that is not my thought.  I like the pelicans that hang around the Bayou.  They have a certain flair about them that holds them above some of the other critters that frequent the area.  One birding "expert" did have a fine description of the birds and I can fully agree with him.  The man characterized the Brown Pelicans as "comically elegant".  Seems fitting as they are quite amusing and I do believe that they know this!  At times, a Brown Pelican will cock its head as if trying to understand my every word.  It tickles me to think perhaps I am communicating (in a sense) with a bird or maybe the bird is communicating with me.  Perhaps the legendary Dr. Dolittle was a little more real than we think!

  One Brown Pelican has chosen the pier post as its roost almost nightly. During the day, it will soar just above the water's surface and then plunge dive as it is feeding.  Occasional breaks from this routine brings it back to the post.  If I happen to be on the pier, the bird still uses its roost of choice almost oblivious to my presence.  This one will often have a staring contest with me!

  Yep, I do believe the Brown Pelican is majestic in every sense of the word.  From its gorgeous plumage to its sheer size, it is a dominating bird.  Then add facts such as its plunge feeding technique which would instantly kill most other birds and that it can hold up to three gallons of water (and fish) in its pouch and it is more impressive than ever.  It is also the only bird that can fly in a straight line just inches above the water.  Its powerful wings (with a span of almost seven feet) carry it with little effort.  Impressive...majestic...comically elegant.  Love my pelicans!



 

Just Perfect!

  Most of the time in life, we have to settle for things as they are.  We can try to make things better but sometimes fate just leaves its mark whenever and wherever it wants.  I have come to realize that it is best to accept things and look for the good in them rather than fret over whatever may come.  Worrying never accomplishes anything except using up precious time while making ourselves miserable.  That said, it does not mean that I am willing to forego trying to improve.  We should at least attempt to better ourselves and better our surroundings.

  While photographing wildlife is something I truly enjoy, I must admit that my attempts in capturing the true essence of a critter are feeble. This is one area where I will go to extremes in bettering the skill.  I am a die-hard at sticking with my old camera.  So much so that Mark searches high and low to find replacement parts and even replacement cameras of a type that is no longer on the market.  He did this at Christmas.  A new flash for one old camera and an exact same model camera as an extra!  I was elated....far more than if he had bought me some new-fangled one. But this model camera does have its drawbacks.  It does not to well in rapid progression shooting.  There is a setting for that but the photographs do not have the clarity that I desire.  Then came a bit of ingenuity!  I was willing to try an experiment!

  Pelicans dominate the scene on the Bayou right now.  Their never-ending splashes can be heard even during the night.  This makes them easy targets for my practicing.  I have long wanted to get a picture of, not only the pelican making a dive, but also the impact when it hits the water.  This is hard to do with a slow camera.  So.....a brilliant idea was in the brain!  Take both cameras!  With one dangling around the neck and the other in hand, I waited until the bird was in the downward plunge, snapped a picture, grabbed the other and snapped again!  Quick work, several tries but finally success!  I got my sequence.  One bird, two cameras, two pictures and one good feeling.

The Wannabe Lazy Day

  This was one of those days when I did not feel like doing a thing but did more than what I intended.  I had good intentions of doing nothing but work on gourds but other things kept getting in the way.  The morning drudgery of laundry, cooking and cleaning were what started the whole mess.  If I had only ignored the clutter in the house, things would have been great...maybe not from others' point of view but at least from mine. The chores multiplied to even getting a jump on the holiday cooking. Since I have to make not only the usual dishes but at least a few vegan ones, I figured the best thing to do would be get some of the basics behind me.  The sweet potatoes are ready to go and two cornbreads were thrown in the oven.  These were baked in Mom's castiron skillets so they will be extra tasty.  The cornbread will be used as the main ingredient for the dressing for Thanksgiving dinner.  The sweet potatoes will be mashed and made into pone for the same meal.  We usually do the traditional meal that my folks did each year so most of this comes naturally and no written recipes are needed.  Still, the chores added up until most of the day had passed with nary a gourd being cut.  Not good as I still have ten on order.  

  I did manage to slip away to the pier this afternoon even if it was for only a moment.  A constant splashing made me curious so on one trip to the woodpile to restock the stove, a quick dash down the hill was made. The splashing was caused by a number of Brown Pelicans that were diving for the little mullet that abounded in the relatively calm water.  The White Pelicans have yet to make their appearance in the Bay this year. The Browns stay year round but seem to move in large bunches now. Eleven were to be counted next to the pier but my presence made them a bit edgy and they moved toward the Bayou.  One pair hung around long enough to let me take a couple of photographs before they, too, took flight.  So, it was back to the woodpile to restock the old wood-burning stove.  It was needed to ward off the lingering chilliness. 

 

Rainy Day Blues

  You will not hear me singing the blues about rainy days.  I love the rain.  I love the sound as it pelts the roof of the Little Bayou House.  I love the way it makes things clean and fresh.  I love the smell of a storm coming across the Bay.  I love rain.  While I do, indeed, feel this way, I could have done without rain today...or rather this evening.  I had one last running of the Third Annual Clue Hunt on the Bayou scheduled for this evening. Yep, Halloween Night would have seen a group trotting about the Bayou with lanterns swinging in hand.  It did not happen as we have been "under the gun", so to speak, for the past several hours.  Rain pounded (not pelted) the rooftop.  Winds blew, rain came, floods filled the streets.  I loved it.  I was home in my snug little house and all was right with the world.

  Speaking of rain, some of the critters around here would probably voice a bit different opinion than mine.  I noticed a few of the birds that appeared a bit soggy after a recent rain.  The wrens, mockingbirds and cardinals all deal with rain in their own ways.  Some fluff their feathers and ride it out while others actually seek shelter.  The wrens seem to be the smarter of the group as they huddle inside the greenhouse until the storms pass.  Then there are the pelicans.  One would think that waterfowl would not have problems with a little rainstorm.  They are used to diving in the Bay so a few raindrops should not make a difference.  Sometimes I think the opposite.  The pelicans are just more adept at drying themselves than most birds.  Even if they are totally soaked, their method of wing raising seems to do the trick.  It does not take long before they are ready to take flight once again.  

  It seems to me that people could learn a lot from critters.  Today's lesson from the pelicans?  Hang your soggy clothes out to flap in the breeze!  It won't be long before you are set to face the world.

Such a lovely couple!

  Wintertime brings all sorts of fine feathered friends back to the Bayou. Ducks and Geese fill the Bay and songbirds flit about the yard.  The feeders stay filled to encourage the songbirds to linger but the shore birds have to fend for themselves.  Then there are the old friends that never leave. Brown Pelicans tend to hang around all year and become quite friendly.  According to Mark, the fishing has been poor lately so I worried that the waterfowl would move to other parts.  This afternoon, I noticed a pair of Brown Pelicans near the pier.  I climbed down into the boat to get a better view of the duo.  They seemed to be ok with my presence and kept about their business of paddling about the area. Neither seemed to be underfed.  This is good sign.

  As I sat in the boat watching the birds, I noticed that they were not doing too much hunting.  These birds usually do the dive and stun tactic to catch fish.  They will soar above the water, tuck their head to the left, rotate and plummet into a school of fish.  The action of tucking and rotating toward the left protects the bird's trachea and esophagus (which are on the right) from the impact when the bird hits the water. (Its weird but effective.)  Contrary to what most folks believe, the headfirst plunging is not to catch a fish but is a tactic the bird uses to stun fish.  After diving, the fish remain disoriented so the pelican can scoop up its supper.  This pair of pelicans were doing more paddling and resting so I assume they had already dined.  It was easy to recognize that both of these birds were adults.  They had the telltale creamy yellow heads and white necks.  Even though both sexes look alike, females are usually smaller than the males so I am assuming that I was visited by one of each.  They made a handsome couple!

  As I sat in the boat watching the pelicans, I did notice that a good many small mullet were schooling in the deeper water.  This was a good sign as my bird friends would have enough food to keep them happy and in the area.  I love my pelicans!

PSP....Pelican Sleeping Position

  I suppose that I take a tad too much interest in the critters around the Bayou.  It seems that I can never learn enough.  No matter how I try, there is always something new to discover.  Mother Nature sees to supplying a goodly amount of mystery with her surroundings. Take the Brown Pelican for example.  I write a lot about this bird simply because they are always gathering about the pier.  The large, often clumsy-looking birds are one of the most people-friendly critters one can ever hope to meet.  If you are not careful, these guys will steal your fresh caught fish from under your nose!  

  The other day, I was watching the Brown Pelicans as they would dive for mullet.  Pop had once labeled all Brown Pelicans as "Old Gus".  The name has stuck which is sort of comical in itself merely because even if there are dozens of the pelicans around the Bayou, they all have the same name!  Old Gus is a very common name among pelicans obviously.  Anyway, as I sat watching the birds splat in the water, I noticed that one was resting on a pier post.  On closer observation, I realized that the bird was actually sleeping.  Not that there is much unusual about a bird sleeping....all birds do.  Some just sleep in short naps and not the all-nighter that most humans require.  Plus, birds are very light sleepers since they still have to be wary of predators.  Back to our pelican, though.  What caught my interest with this particular bird is the fact that it was not in "pelican sleeping position".  Most often, a pelican will sleep with its large bill tucked up on its back.  (Like the ones getting "tucked in" for their snooze in the picture above.) This guy was sleeping with its head and bill straight out in front.  At first, I thought that perhaps it was just resting a bit but nope, it was sound asleep.  

  After a bit of research, I found that most pelicans do sleep in the position of the tucked bill as do most birds. Contrary to the most popular belief, the birds are not tucking their heads beneath their wing, they are just using their back feathers as sort of an insulation. This is done to rest the neck muscles,  protect the bill, keep the bird warmer. The pouch part of a pelican's bill is actually rather thin and heat loss can be tremendous. The pelican sleeping in this weird position would not have even made me stop to think but since it was rather chilly out that day, it looks like the bird would have definitely used that tuck and snooze method.  It seems to me that it would have been a tad warmer! Silly Old Gus!

Splashing by Moonlight

  The other night, Michael and I had to scurry down to the pier to make sure that Mark's boat was secure.  A bit of north wind was predicted to blow in during the night and we did not want the boat to take leave and head across the Bay.  I guess I am just not one that trusts ropes and poles to stay strong when not in constant check.  Of course, I could not go without the camera just in case some fine specimen of creature made a debut within lens range.  I was not disappointed as the pelicans were out in force even after dark.  As cool as it was, they seemed to quite enjoy the water.  Not me.  I wanted to be warm and dry!

  While Michael double checked the moorings, I photographed the moon.  Seemed reasonable at the time.  Of course, if one of those pelicans just happened to be close enough to the pier, perhaps I could get a picture of it as well.  After several minutes, Michael informed me that all was well with the boat.  I took it that meant it was time to stop taking pictures and head back up the hill.  

  Once I got back inside, I was pleasantly surprised with a couple of the pictures.  One in particular caught my eye as the splash made by a diving pelican seemed to be illuminated by the unusually bright moon. THIS picture was rather unique!  Of course, the pelican could not be seen at all but the overall effect was rather neat.  Enjoy!