Stealth Fishing!

   Earlier today, I gathered together a bunch of table scraps to put out for the critters.  With the cold, rainy weather we are having, the critters are extremely appreciative of the easy meal.  I only wish I had enough to set out a buffet for all of them.  While I was scattering the pecan hulls, fruit peels and other goodies, a flash of white caught my eye.  Down by the pier, a gorgeous Great White Egret was working the mudflats.  That bird was smart!  The tide had been pushed far out from the marsh leaving only tiny puddles on the flats.  Thousands of tiny bull minnows had become trapped in the inch deep puddles.   They would have been fine had they not come out to bask in the few moments of sunshine.   Normally, these tiny minnows can hide in the soupy mud and escape the certain death that awaits at the whim of the bird.  That sunshine and its warmth lured the minnows to clear water and that meant their demise. 

  The Great White Egret is a stealth hunter meaning that it can stand motionless until the minnows are within range.  Then with precise aim, the daggerlike beak is plunged down and the bird enjoys a fishy lunch.  This afternoon, the bird could be seen catching minnow after minnow.  Its belly will be full tonight and that will help ward off the cold.  After snapping a few photos, I scurried back to the warmth of the Little Bayou House and left my critter friends to enjoy their meals.  

The Glow

  It is no secret that daybreak is my favorite time to be out and about.  The silence of the world prepares me to face the day.  There is something invigorating yet peaceful about the cool air hitting your face.  This morning was no different.  It was almost cold!   Easing our way to the pier, Mark and I surveyed the Bay and Bayou.  If only both skiffs had not received damage during Hurricane Zeta, it would have been a grand fishing day!  But they did so we were stuck on an unfinished pier.  Repairs are slow when you are practically rebuilding the entire thing.  With a fishing trip out, we wandered the shoreline just talking and enjoying life.  Suddenly, we noticed a beautiful egret standing in the shallows.  It was a breathtaking sight.

 At daybreak, it is always interesting to see how the sunbeams shoot through the pines and illuminate things in the darkness of the marshes.  The bird's feathers were literally glowing!  I am telling you....there is magic in the Bayou!  We watched the egret for a bit before continuing our walk.  The bird had no worries from us and was allowed to hunt in peace.  Mornings on the Bayou are like that...live and let live in peace.  All is good.  

The Elusive Bag Bird!

   It is no lie that as you age, things change.  You are on that downhill slide with health issues and an upswing on attitude adjustments.  As the body starts failing, you just give up fretting on pleasing others and you go about with a new outlook that says "Hey, I am going to enjoy life!"  It has reached that point with me.  Things are different, for sure!  One of the problems that I have encountered is the failing eyesight.  Not that it is too bad, I am still just wearing reading glasses but I find that sometimes the wee bit of a blur in the distance can be a bit disconcerting.  My brain tells me what I see is something far different than what it is!  This can be fun...sometimes.

  I recall several years ago, my aunt told me about a group of birders that would often encounter such problems.  She would go with a group of similarly aged folks (mid-70s) and they would often all agree on the identity of a bird only to find that they were mistaken.  Occasionally, the "bird" was not a bird, at all!  A bent tree limb, a tin can or a piece of paper would throw them for a loop!  The folks in the group were all good natured and would get a good belly laugh out of their mistaken identity.  I giggled when she told me the story.

  Well, I giggled yet again this morning.  It happened.  While on the pier, I turned to see a lovely white bird taking flight from the shoreline.  Swinging the camera into position, I fully expected to get a photograph of our resident egret.  Nope.  That "bird" is still in the same flight position this evening.  What I saw in the predawn light was not a bird at all but rather a plastic bag that had blown in with Hurricane Zeta.  I had not seen the bag before since there was no way to get on the pier.  This morning, I edged my way on the temporary boards that Son is using to make repairs and I saw my prize...the elusive Plastic Bag Bird. The memory of the story from my aunt brought peels of laughter and a good feeling.  I miss her.  She and I got along famously.

  Even with the body aging and things starting to get a bit rickety, I am bound and determine to carry on living with as much gusto as possible.  Now that the kids are all grown, it is my time to kick back and do things my way.  It matters not if I see plastic bag birds or stumble upon some migratory rarity, I figure to be out there living.  Make the time for yourself, folks.  Life is far too short to always fret over what others may think.  Have a bit of fun doing whatever floats your boat!  Oh, eventually, the egret did make an appearance so I figured my outing was all worth while.

  

The Osprey Lands

   It is no secret that I watch the critters of the Bayou.  Their daily antics intrigue me.  Let any critter be in sight and I can sit for hours watching its every move.  I have often said that I like critters better than I do most people.  They avoid drama as much as I do and, to be totally honest, critters are a whole lot smarter than people.  They know how to survive and how to adjust their lives if the need arises.  People, on the other hand, whine.  So, I avoid people and mingle with the critters.

 

  Late this evening, I was trying to photograph an egret that was on my brother's pier.  The bird was preening with its wing outstretched in the most graceful manner.  Birds have to take extremely good care of their plumage as misplaced or damaged feathers can cause considerable trouble for the bird.  These feathers can disrupt the airflow when the bird is in flight or even cause heat loss during the colder months.  This evening, the egret was doing its best to keep its plumage in tiptop shape.  In the far distance an osprey was doing the same.  Behind the egret but on the far shore, an osprey landed in the top of a pine.  There it, too, preened.   

  As I watched these birds, another Osprey was coming in for a landing.  This was an aircraft that is sort of a weird mix of a helicopter and airplane.  At first, I had no idea what I was watching.  It was not until I saw it tilt up its blades before I realized what it was.  Then, when the Osprey got over the airstrip at the air base, it landed...straight down!  I was impressed by this aircraft!  It is pretty amazing and fully reminded me of the "transformer" toys that my boys used to play with back when they were kids.  Oh, the things I see while critter watching.  The Osprey has landed.

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.

One Legged Birds?

  If you ever wander about a bayou like I often do, you start to ponder the whys and wherefores of a lot of things.  Just this morning, a questioned rambled about in the brain for a while even though I knew the "scientific" answer.  The mind-boggling part had nothing to do with the question of why shorebirds will stand on one leg but had everything to do with if they actually like standing on one leg.  It is a well-known fact that the herons, egrets and cranes around here stand on one leg to keep the other one snug up in their feathers.  Their long, spindly legs lose a lot of heat on these cold nights and mornings so standing on one while the other leg is tucked up under the feathers conserves a lot of heat...but do they like it?  Are they comfortable standing there for hours?  How do they not fall over?  (Think about it...would you be able to stand like that for hours?  I would not!)

  This morning, there were two birds on the end of the pier.  One was a tri-colored heron and the other a snowy egret.  Both were standing in their "unipedal" position, both were staring straight toward my brother's pier and both were oblivious to my presence.   There was just enough breeze to make the birds wobble a bit, now and again.  This is when the all-important question of whether they were happy started squirming its way into my mind.  Oh, how delightful it would be to converse with my fine feathered friends.  But, alas, that is not possible so the answer will never be known.

  I sat on the pier watching the birds for a good while.  Only once did they change positions and swap legs.  In fact, they did this in sync!  It was almost as if a timer was set and it was beeping a loud alarm saying "Time to swap legs!"  Watching them, I had to think how nice and warm their feather must feel to that cold leg! Speaking of warmth, it was time to head back inside.  It was, indeed, a bit chilly out and I do not plan on standing on one leg while tucking the other up in my jacket!

Clean Bird Stirring Up a Bit of Mud!

  Just before sunrise the other morning, Mark and I headed to the pier.  We wanted to catch a few fish for our lunch but had a busy day ahead of us so our fishing had to be done early.  Just as we stepped on the pier, Mark called my attention to a lovely Snowy Egret working the mudflats.  The bird was slowly stirring up the mud in the shallows.  This one-footed technique usually can flush out even the stealthiest minnows.  The bird would softly place one of its bright yellow feet in the water then start to "stir" with a circular motion.  The muddy water would cause minnows that were in hiding to seek cleaner water.  It is hard to "breathe" when the mud is thick.  The egret would then snatch of its breakfast with ease.  It was interesting to watch the bird in action.

 I knew about the bird's fishing technique because watching them is a favorite pastime.  What still confuses me is just how spotlessly clean the birds stay regardless of the fact that they are playing in some pretty nasty mud.  No amount of detergent nor bleach can get this mud from our clothes but the bird can stay immaculate while wading in the mud.  I am not sure how they do this but it would be awfully nice if they shared their secret!  

Are We Forgetting??

  Two of my favorite shorebirds made a visit to the pier this morning.  Not that either of these are rare nor that their appearance is something special to other folks, it is just that I like them.  Both are members of the heron family. Both are egrets.  Both are white.  They are not the same type bird.  One is a Snowy Egret while the other is a Great Egret.  The one in the foreground of the photograph is the Snowy Egret.  It is smaller, has bright yellow feet and a black bill (with just a touch of yellow).  The one in the background is the Great Egret.  It has black legs, a bright yellow bill and is much larger.

  
  Both birds, however, have something else in common other than being egrets.  Back during the nineteenth century, egrets were nearly annihilated.  To adorn ladies' hats, the birds were hunted nearly to extinction.  The large, white plumes brought such an exorbitant price that the birds were killed in great masses.  This brought about the demand that laws be passed to protect birds and the National Audubon Society worked tirelessly to help the all birds.  They chose the egret as their symbol. In the twentieth century while being protected, the bird recovered rapidly.  The Migratory bird Protection Treaty gave the birds a chance.  Now, however, that protection has changed.  "Accidental" or "Incidental" deaths will be swept through a loophole and not be punishable.  This is saddening.  While this may not seem like a great deal, knowing how things get pushed and shoved around to benefit big business, the birds are the ones that will suffer and that, in itself, will hurt us all.

   As I sat watching the egrets on the pier, I thought of how it would break my heart if my grandlittles were deprived of the chance to view these beautiful birds and any others.  Yep, regulations are there for a reason.......too bad they can be bent, twisted and otherwise distorted to benefit big business.  Things happen when folks turn a blind eye toward those in power.

Look at me! I am a FLAMINGO!

  While the weather here would be deemed nigh on perfect for many (me, included), we are experiencing our first real "cool spell" of the season.  The temperatures are to dip down as low as 42 this week!  This makes me happy and also gives me hope that we will actually have a winter this year.   We need one.  The persimmon seeds have predicted one.  I am anxiously awaiting one.   The critters on the other hand, may not be on pin and needles with excitement of such weather.  While most do have fur or feathers, that cold air can make life a bit miserable for the critters of the Bayou.  It is a tad hard to get warm when you live in the marsh.  

  This afternoon while out taking the dog for a hike, three birds rested on the pier.  One was a Great Egret while the other two appeared to be Cattle Egrets.  It was hard to tell at the distance from where I stood.  I eased nearer trying to get a positive identification but with the first step on the pier, Mr. PJ, the dog, got excited.  He trotted down the pier as per our usual custom.  The first thought was to call him back but, hey, they were only birds and he was fully enjoying himself.  

  What I did notice about the birds was that they were all doing the one legged stance.  Most large wading birds like the herons and egrets do this while resting.  No, contrary to what Darling Daughter told me one time....the birds are not pretending to be flamingos!  The idea behind it is that the birds are conserving body heat.  With their long, thin legs, a lot of body warmth will be lost if both legs are exposed.  If one is kept tucked up in the feathers, the bird stays warmer.  Periodically, the bird will switch legs.  

  The north wind today was already chilly enough to cause the birds a bit of discomfort.  Their uni-pedal stance was serving them well but, if Old Man Winter does throw us a nice bit of frigid weather this year, the birds better think of finding a place with a bit more shelter than what the pier offers!  That north wind barrels down the pier something fierce!

Not There Yet

  Mr. PJ has been around the Bayou on visits over the past decade or so.  My son and daughter-in-law brought him along on their visits so he is pretty much used to the place...as far as the layout, rules and attention.  He is not used to being a photographer's (and I use that term loosely) dog.  While I may not be the best with the camera, I do enjoy photographing the wildlife here.  The Bayou, woods and hillside offer so many opportunities.   For years now, I have had the camera handy at all times.  When Ms. Ez, the old Bayou Dog, (rest her soul) used to take hikes with me, she knew the routine.  No matter where we were, what she was doing or when it was, she knew if the camera was turned on, she was to freeze in step.  As soon as she heard the button activate, she was as good as a statue.  Many a time, she was in mid-step but would never even put her paw to the ground.  Ms. Ez was a wildlife photographer's dream dog.  Never once was an animal frightened.  Never once did she give chase.  Never once were critters hiding before I even saw them.  She was good.

  While Mr. PJ is well-behaved, he still has not mastered the "statue".  He just keep lumbering along at his same pace.  Earlier this week, a gorgeous egret stood on the mudflats.  I eased my way to the edge of the marsh, turned on the camera and prepared to photograph the bird.  Mr. PJ had not learned the routine so he did what we always do.  He headed down the pier.  While that was not wrong and I could not scold him, it did put a kink in the picture-taking.  The egret saw that big dog and took flight before his second step on the pier!.  I am not even sure PJ saw the bird.  He just kept walking like a dog on a mission.  Granted, I had not asked him to "wait" nor given him the command "stay".  I was so accustomed to Old Ms. Ez automatically knowing that it never occurred to me that I needed to do such.  PJ and I have a lot to learn.

  The next day, a lone pelican sat on a pier post.  As many photographs as I have of pelicans, they are still some of my favorite subjects.  Again, I turned on the camera, pointed it and got a sort of sad picture of the bird in flight.  Mr. PJ just kept lumbering down the pier.  I HAVE to learn to tell him to wait!  My pelican will be back so PJ and I need to practice!.

  This morning, the same thing happened.  I forgot, PJ did not know and another missed photograph.  A small rail was chattering in the marsh.  I got a bit excited as I recognized that call!  This was a mother rail and she had her little ones somewhere nearby.  In my rush to get a good spot to get pictures, I once again omitted to inform Mr. PJ to stay.  I settled in on the old skiff to wait for the family of rails to make an appearance.  PJ, on the other hand, had spotted the otter pups and excitedly made a beeline for his usual otter-watching perch on the pier.  I caught the tailend of the mama rail. 

  Both PJ and I need to get better at this deal.  Teaching an old dog some new tricks is not easy.  Soon, though, I will learn!  I will remember to give the command!  He will soon start to associate my command with the tinkling sound of the camera and will automatically become a statue.  He is just not there yet. I am just not there yet. I was spoiled by Ms. Ez's ability to learn these things on her own without any coaching from me.  Still, even with all of the missed shots, I adore this old dog.  It is great having a hiking buddy again.

The Window of Opportunity

  The window of opportunity is fleeting at best.  Whether we be hunting for a job promotion, a true love or merely the perfect lighting for photography.  That "window" closes fast and things can be lost forever if one does not act immediately.  My windows deal more with photography and the lighting can be tricky at times.  As of late, pop-up thunderstorms can change the sunlight needed when hiking about the Bayou.  When photographing wildlife, it is often best not to use a flash as it frightens the poor critter.  

  Yesterday afternoon, we had another torrential rainstorm complete with high winds and lots of lightning.  Afterward, however, there was that window of opportunity when the sun was setting behind the pines that left the Bayou bathed in a wonderful glow.  But, that glow was fading fast and a lone egret that was standing in the shallows would soon be shrouded in darkness.  My vantage point was pathetic as I was halfway up the hillside when I saw the bird.  There was no getting closer as the nearer the marsh I got, the lower I went until the brush and marsh grass obscured my view.  I had no choice but to photograph the bird from the hilltop.

  Of the several photos that I took of the egret, two pleased me.  The first has the bird framed by foliage of the yaupon trees and is washed in golden hues.  The other is after my window of opportunity passed and darkness started falling on the Bayou.  While most of the surroundings are darkened, the bird gleams in the last rays of sunshine.  

  While I may not be considered to be a professional photographer with great skills, it does not matter to me.  I am recording the Bayou as I see it.  Later on, my grandkids may wish to learn how their grandma spent her time in such a rustic place. There is so much I wish I could show them but their time spent on the Bayou is minimal. Hopefully, some of the photographs will explain a bit of why I love this place so much.

Tell Us Your Secret!

  I am bewildered.  How in the world do egrets stay so spotlessly clean? Their brilliant white plumage never shows a speck of mud even though they slosh around in some of the ickiest sludge known to man.  Bayou mud sticks to everything and is nigh on impossible to remove.  If there is one thing that I have learned living this close to marsh, mudflats and brackish water, it is to always wear your oldest clothes if you are out hiking.  A pair of jeans, an old shirt and either hiking boots or leather moccasins are my choice.  Just never....ever...wear white!  If you do, you are just asking for trouble.  This mud won't even bleach out of clothing. But those birds...those gleaming white birds never seem to get muddy.  I love to watch the Snowy Egrets as they stalk their prey in the shallows of the Bayou.  They are gorgeous birds. 

  The other day, Mark pointed to a feather in the marsh.  Obviously, it came from an egret as it is molting time for them.  They are getting their breeding plumage now so a feather can be found in the marsh or on the shoreline occasionally.  This feather was found near the mudflats so was covered with the dark crud.  Idea!  I would fish out the feather and see just how easily it cleans!  Why?  Curiosity.  

  The feather was washed, soaped, scrubbed and finally bleached.  It was still stained and nasty.  With all of my work, I still had no idea how the birds stay so immaculately clean.  What a breakthrough in the laundry world it would be if we could only figure out their secret!  Oh, and take a hint from me....do NOT wear white on the Bayou! 

Elusive Egrets

  So often, you will hear the term "elusive" applied to the description of some bird.  More oft than not, this tag belongs on some critter such as the Ivory-billed Woodpecker and is for good reason.  Not only were  the birds listed as extinct, they had only inhabited the deep pine forests.  Recently, the birds have been spotted so they are now on the "extremely endangered" list. They are rarely seen so the term is quite applicable.  The term is also slapped on some other birds merely because they are shy or (like the before mentioned woodpecker) inhabit out of the way places.  Even the Goldfinch has been labeled as elusive at some point.  

  I prefer to use the term on those birds that seem to not want to be photographed.  Recently, I encountered the Elusive Egret!  While some Egrets here on the Bayou have no qualms about posing for a picture as long as I give them a bite to eat in exchange, there are a couple who refuse to give me a chance to record their beauty.  The Elusive Egret is no different than the others that live around here, it just does not seem to like the camera.  

  Sometimes when I look at my photos, I am astounded at a the pitiful shots I have taken.  I have to really search the photograph to even find the focus of my attention.  While holding that camera, I find it difficult to creep up on the birds.  My attempts at photographing the birds at a distance can be rated from bad to worse with a lucky shot in there occasionally.  The Egret in question hangs around the marsh on the east side of the house. Sometimes, it will venture onto the pier giving me hope of capturing their beauty.  Then, it seems as if there is always something interfering with the view or the bird flies into the distance with first sight of me.  

  The "Elusive Egret" puts up a grand challenge but I will eventually get my photograph!  Then I can add it to my stash of "clear shots". In the meantime, I will keep trying.  That bird cannot outwit me!  Or....maybe it already has!

Golden Moments

  It may seem to be a strange habit to some folks, but I search for all of the golden moments that I can find.  There are precious times in each day.  It is my goal to find and savor the golden moments that occur. Here lately, it seems that we are all too wound up in our lives to even sit back and reflect on just how good things are.  Not me.  I try to open my day each morning being thankful that I am alive and doing well.  Likewise, the day's end is met appreciating what I was given during the day.  This is a way of understanding that good times/bad times are all fleeting and to find a bit of happiness anywhere is a true blessing.  I find mine here on the Bayou.  Moments that make you appreciate life are what I call the golden moments.  I find a good many of these occurrences at sunrise.  It seems that there is a certain serenity at that time of day.  

  We have had very few days in the past month that I was able to get out to the pier to watch the sun rise above the pines or, for that matter, make an appearance at all.  Rainy days seemed to have been the norm so far for this winter.  Yet, there was one morning that was deemed most perfect.  It was full of those golden moments.  As matter of fact, the entire morning was golden.

  I arose before dawn and headed out to the pier. Without Ms. Ez, the old Bayou Dog, there to guide me, I had to tread carefully.  She would always nudge me away from slippery slopes so I would not fall.  Boy, I miss that dog!  Still, I did make it to the pier in time to watch the sun peep out of a bit of fog.  As it did, the entire Bayou and Bay were filled with a golden wash.  It was gorgeous!

  As I sat there staring out at the different waterfowl as they tried to find breakfast, I thought how that old dog would have loved this.  My golden moment was not just the sunrise and beauty around me but thoughts of my departed friend.  Ms. Ez was a golden moment.  Boy, I miss her.

The Golden Egret

    For all of time, egrets have been white. Their plumage glimmers in the sunlight and moonlight alike.  There is no mistaking the elegant bird for any other. They are a sight to behold. Their feathers have caught the eye of many.  Then, there was a time when the birds' feathers were nigh on the cause of their extinction.  Hunters came in droves to seek out the egret for its lovely plumes.  These were used to adorn hats to be worn by ladies of distinction. Millinery shops paid hefty sums for the finest of plumes.  In the nineteenth century, a perfect plume was quite the emblem of high society.  The poor birds suffered greatly because of vanity of humans.  

  It was outrage caused by the slaughter of so many egrets (and other waders) that actually was basis for the founding of the National Audubon Society.  This group came together to give protection to the birds and form wildlife sanctuaries as places for the birds to be safe. Without the help of this group, the egret was fast nearing extinction due to over-hunting. The egret soon became the "golden" bird for the society and was inducted as the symbol of their works.  It was the society's aim to protect this, and all birds, from needless slaughter.

  I was thinking of how terrible it would be if the trend had continued and all egrets had been killed.  What a waste!  How sad it would be if my grandchildren would never be able to view the beauty of this elegant bird!  It made me thankful for the handful of ladies that started the National Audubon Society and insisted that laws be passed to protect the birds.  Life would definitely be different here on the Bayou had Harriet Hemenway and Minna Hall not have the foresight to see what was happening.  It was because of these two ladies way back in 1896 that egrets can grace our waterways today.  We all owe a huge thank you to these ladies and to the Society as a whole.

Contrast

  It is funny how here on the Bayou, a few of the trees have decided that it is now fall.  Our weather is not like December weather in the rest of the country.  Here it is the very last of November and it is hot!  The tree in question is a Popcorn Tree or Chinese Tallow Tree.  It is one of those non-native, invasive species of trees that pop up everywhere once one is brought into the area. One seed is all it takes to flood the whole community with unwanted trees.  The Bayou is no exception.  If I stand far out on the end of the pier, I am awarded a nice view of the meandering waterway and marshes that make up our small Bayou.  What used to be lined with Black Gum, Tulip Poplar, Cyprus, Sycamore and Pine Trees is now mostly filled with the Tallow Trees.  The hurricanes have taken their toll on our poor woods and left behind mostly undesirable trees.  Still, the Tallow trees do have one nice asset.  The leaves do give us a bit of fall color even if it is well into November and December.

  While I stood admiring the bit of beauty made available to us by invasive trees, an added bit of interest caught my eye.  An egret had come to rest on the tip of a dead tree.  The white bird was beautiful enough on its own but against the background of reds and oranges, it was purely breathtaking.  The bit of contrast of white on red was gorgeous!  The whole thing was "picture-perfect".  I have a new found respect for the Chinese Tallow Trees merely because of the bit of flair that they added to the view.  

  I am sure that eventually the larger trees will overtake the small Tallow Trees and swamp them out once again.  In the meantime, I pondered the contrast of not only the white bird against a backdrop of red leaves but the contrast of a native Bayou bird against the invasive trees and the dead Tulip Poplar Tree against the healthy Chinese Tallow Trees.  It seems as if life, itself, is contrast...

The Thief!

   I have a soft heart when it comes to our critter friends that live about the Bayou.  If one is hurt, I try to remedy that.  If one looks a tad hungry, I feed it.  It just comes naturally to those of us who adore wildlife and wish to help keep them healthy and happy. For the past few weeks, I have been feeding the injured heron on a regular basis.  It comes flying in whenever it sees me on the pier.  I feel that this bird knows me and does not fear me.  That makes it far easier to care for the bird.  But I do not only feed this bird.  Egrets, herons, gulls, rails, pelicans, ducks, geese..you name it, I have probably at least tried to coax it near enough to be fed.  

  Here lately, a stately egret has been begging for handouts along with the heron.  This bird is not hurt but still thinks it should share in the wealth. This causes me to have to throw the net a few more times to catch enough for two hungry mouths but I do not complain.  I do, however, have a "bone to pick" with a seagull!  That rascal is never happy.  Whenever the other birds are feeding, they usually are good about only snatching the fish that I throw to them.  It is almost like they share.  Not that seagull!  That varmint will swoop down and snatch fish right out of the beaks of the other birds!  

  Seagulls are known to be thieves.  They are brave enough to snatch tidbits not only from human hands but from animals that are known as predators.  A gull is sometimes brazen enough to steal a tidbit from an alligator.  That takes nerves of steel or a great lack of intelligence.  The one gull that comes to badger the poor egret gets its share of the mullet that I toss on the pier.  It swoops in, grabs the piece of fish and hurries off before the egret is even aware of what is happening.  I have to be careful that it is not the only one that dines in the evening.  Share and share alike, Gull!  

Zig-zaggy Tracks!

Some days were just not made for outside work...outside play, now that is a different story! It was another grey, drizzly day here on the Bayou. The sun only made an appearance for about two minutes before it was completely engulfed by the thick cloud cover. In all fairness, I suppose garden work could have been done but it was far more fun to use the rain as an excuse to idle away the day. I piddled around inside just long enough to say "I accomplished something!", then I headed for my walk. Once on the pier, I noticed some odd tracks in the mud. One was a wide, smooth sliding track. I recognized this as the path of an otter as it slid along the soft mud. I suppose it is just a lot easier to slide on one's belly than it would be to walk in that muck! The path followed the usual path that the otters take when heading from the main bayou area to the small tidepools and mudflats. In the tidepools left behind during low tide, hundreds of little mullet and minnows are trapped. The otters will come in and feast on the easy pickings! Sometimes there are just so many little fish in such an little pond, that the otters will over-catch. I have seen times when the extra little fish were laid up on the mudflats but not eaten. Neat little rows of fish were left possibly for a later snack. Inevitably though, the shorebirds snatched them up before the otters return! A feast for all involved!

The other track confused me a bit. It was a long sliding track like the otter slide but was more zig-zaggy. It resembled a zipper track or the tire marks of some strange but tiny vehicle! I pondered the indentations..what could make such an unusual track? Whatever had gone through the area had come down the same cut in the marsh that the otter had and by the looks of it, not long after the otter. The track had me stumped! I started looking around the marsh..perhaps whatever made the track was still nearby!

Just beyond the edge of the pier, a lone Night Heron stared at me as I stared at him. "Did you make these unusual tracks?" I thought of asking. The bird was standing in about three inches of water so there was not following its tracks!

Just a bit further down the shoreline, another bird! This time, a large Snowy Egret waded in the shallows. "Did you make these unusual tracks?" The thought crossed my mind again. I thought of the two birds that I had just seen. Surely, they do not make tracks like that zig-zaggy thing. Their legs are too long and their toes too pointy!

A bit further down the shore, a pair of Mottled Ducks padded softly on the mud. Ahh..now we were getting somewhere! Their wide, webbed feet do leave large tracks! I, also, noticed that their fat "bottoms" were dragging as their feet sank in the soft mud. "Did you make these unusual tracks?" Hmmmmm??

As I sat pondering the possibility of the Mottled Duck tracks, I heard a slight rustling behind me. I slowly turned to venture a look. "Aha! Perhaps you! Did you make these unusual tracks?" The raccoon just stared at me as if I was a bit daft and carried on with its quest of breakfast!

Out in the marsh, I could see a turtle trying to catch any smidgen of sun that could warm its back. Now I might be onto something! The wide track and splayed out steps could have come from this guy! "Did you make these unusual tracks?" Nary an answer crossed his lips..or none would have if a turtle had lips. He said nothing.

I was perplexed to say the least! I was getting nowhere fast! The mist was getting heavier causing droplets to form on my hair. My light jacket felt damp to the touch and I was starting to be chilled.The tracks would disappear with the rising tide and I still had no answer. Ahh! What an enigma! A conundrum! A riddle! This would have to be solved at another time...but now, I was heading back to the Little Bayou House before I was soaked to the bone!

Illumination!

Sometimes things require a bit of illumination so one can see them as they truly are. Everything appears differently in the moonlight versus the early morning, glittery, sun versus the shadowy, setting sun. Indoor light..well, that is a whole different story. By the light of the moon objects take on an almost ethereal appearance. The mysteriousness of the night takes hold and each object is subjected to secretiveness and obscurity. Things loom much larger than in reality and a simple dead tree limb can quite believably turn into a monster! The late afternoon sun similarly casts long shadows that set fire to that imagination and again lend an eeriness to the forest floor or the Bayou marsh. Once free, that imagination can create all sorts of wild and fun entities that might inhabit such places! But..the rising sun..there things are clearly beautiful. The world is awakening from slumber and all seems to possess a certain beauty. Life is good.

The other morning, I was down under the grape arbor on the east side of the house when I spied such beauty! On this part of the Bayou, there stands an old, abandoned pier. Only a few posts remain and those are rotted and dilapidated. The pier itself is not a thing of beauty but I leave it stand. It is good for only one thing..a perch for herons, egrets and kingfishers. This morning, an egret reigned over the old pier. As I stood watching this fine specimen of a bird, the sun peeked over the horizon and sent rays of golden sunlight beaming through the marsh. The bird was illuminated with with a magnificent brilliance! Oh, my goodness! It was breathtaking! I stood watching this lone, sparkling-white bird for a good while. I was entirely agog at the sheerness of its plumes and the graceful outline of its body. Beauty that could only be seen at the break of dawn. I stood in amazement of a mere bird.

Then to add to this enchantment, one of my orphan mockingbirds, Shelby, flew in and landed on a branch near me. Her feathers immediately lit with the morning sun. She sat preening her feathers as if to make herself even more beautiful..to prepare for the new day. She fluffed out her feathers and stretched this way and that. Sweet Shelby..dear sweet Shelby!

After watching both birds for some time, I was almost disappointed that the sun continued to rise and bring a harshness to the world around me. Gone were the beauty illuminating beams..my birds were now just birds. The egret went on to find its breakfast on the mudflats and Shelby, well..Shelby still brightened my day as she followed close by me as I continued my walk. She definitely brings a smile to my face!