Better Hone Those Hiding Skills, Squirrel!

  Sometimes the critters of the Bayou tickle me.  Of course, I am easily amused (so says Son) but animals can do some of the cutest things.   The adorable antics are expected from our pets but when wild animals start putting on shows for you, there is an element of surprise.

  Both Mr. PJ and Ms. Nycto have the inability to "hide".  They have not mastered the art of playing hide and seek.  Mr. PJ has long played the game with me but still has not fined tuned his hiding skills.  The dog will hide his face behind a tree and expect me not to find him.  Well...he is a large dog.  Hiding the face does not hide the body.  The cat is the same way.  Yesterday, she hid her face behind a chair but her entire, fluffy body sat in the open.  Silly, Nycto!  I could NEVER find you like that!  Right...right.

  Then, there are the squirrels that do the exact same thing.  Several of the gray squirrels in the yard have no clue of stealth.  Their hiding abilities rate right along with the dog's and cat's.  It is amazing that they are still alive with the hawks that would love to dine on squirrel.  Just yesterday as I was cutting back some more of the roses, a young squirrel sat just above me on a branch in the old black gum tree.  It obviously had the idea that I could not see it since a tiny twig blocked its vision of me.  Goofy squirrel!  I could probably reach up and knock you off the branch if I so desired!  You are within arm's reach and that twig is not obscuring my vision...only yours!  The young squirrels should learn a few life lessons before the hawks become active in feeding their young.   It could be a matter of life or death.

Doggy Playtime

  It is a rare day when the old dog, Mr. PJ, feels like strolling much less playing.  His old body is tired and exerting unneeded energy is a thing of the past.  We go out to do his daily business but the walks are slow and short.  He pants heavily making it back up the hillside from his self-chosen "latrine" area.  Once inside, he retires to his bed and naps for a good solid hour.  Poor old fellow.

  This afternoon, however, he seemed to be a bit perkier than he has in a long while.  Since the weather was relatively nice, we took a leisurely stroll about the yard.  At one point, he actually wanted to play "our" game.  From the time that he came to live at the Bayou a couple of years back, he developed his idea of "Hide and Seek".   I would hide from him and he would sniff my trail until he found me.  Then he would hide.  Or, at least, he would try to hide.  The old dog had no idea that most of the time, I could still see him.  He would hide his face behind a tree, in a bush or even under his paws but the rest of his body was highly visible.  Still, as I would with a two year old child, I had to make the obligatory "hunting gestures".  "Where did Mr. PJ go this time?"  "Where are you, Mr. PJ?"  "Are you over here?"  Yep.  I did all of those.  Then, he would "surprise" me by bouncing out of his hiding place.  He was elated with the game.  So, we played it often.  Today, he hid.

  It was good to see the old dog actually enjoying himself.  We did not play long but his one hiding spot was enough to make him feel like a pup again and that was all that mattered.  When he settled back on his bed this evening, he seemed at ease.  Several times, his tail thumped the floor while he was sleeping.  Yep.  It seems like he was happy.  Amazing what a little playtime can accomplish.

If Critters Had Cameras

  The hidden critter game that I recently created for my grandkids has proven to be more difficult for me than for them.  Finding and photographing critters blending in with their surroundings is not as easy as getting a clear picture.  My photographic skills have taken a turn for the worse, it seems.  The kids can spot critters a mile away and I cannot seem to get one to hide from the camera.  They all WANT to have their picture taken.  Perhaps this generation of "selfie" photos has gone too far.  If critters had cameras, I can only imagine what would happen.

  This afternoon, I hiked back down to the creek just for the purpose of finding another camouflaged creature.  While there were critters galore, none wanted to play "Hide and Seek".  It was rather like "Hi there!  I am a warbler!  Take my picture."  This was the thought as they nearly flew in to sit on the camera lens.  Then, I spied a red-bellied woodpecker.  Aha! The laddering colors on its back should help it to blend in with the tree bark!  It did......but that bright red head was a dead giveaway.  There was no way that the kiddos would miss that!

  After an hour of tromping in knee deep ferns, arrowhead plants and spider lilies, I aborted the mission and headed back to the house. Tomorrow is another day, I told myself.  Tomorrow, I will find the coyote crouching beneath the magnolia limbs or the fox hiding behind the palmetto fronds. Tomorrow, I will stumble across the alligator sunning next to a rotted log or a bobcat dozing between the gnarled, old oak roots.  Yep, tomorrow is another day.

Dinosaurs and Sly Birds

I am back to the old dinosaur of a laptop while my new one is out for repairs. I had forgotten just how heavy this thing was! I has taken a while to get used to using this again just like it took me a while to get accustomed to using the new one. I guess I should just be thankful that I have a son that can keep these things up and running! The new one will be back in action as soon as the new power cord is delivered. Ahh, these modern conveniences!

Down in the marsh of the Bayou, there are the remnants of an old pier that has gone the wayside. This dilapidated pile of old posts and boards is the roosting place for many birds that live in the area. This Egret is one of those birds. I sat and watched this bird for the better part of an hour (most of it in a drizzling rain) wondering just what the dickens it was doing. At first, it was doing normal bird things..it stood and stared over the Bay..it stretched its legs and wings..it preened its feathers. All of the things that you expect an Egret to do. Then it moved to a different spot and plopped down on its belly. I had never seen an Egret do this and wondered "Is it sick?". I ambled a bit closer to get a better view. It was definitely as far down on its belly as it could get. It appeared to hang its head over the side of the old board. It reminded me of someone hanging his head over the side of a boat when he was seasick. But this was a sea bird! How could it be seasick? Then I realized that this bird was not ill..it was merely watching the minnows swim around in the shallows under it. This bird was watching its supper gather around for easy pickings. Or it was just being lazy!

This Great Blue Heron had flown into the old pine tree above me. What a perfect opportunity to photograph it! I took my first shot and realized that the branches of an oak tree between us was blocking the shot. This is such a majestic bird! Standing a good four feet tall or better, it makes quite an impression! I carefully crept a bit to the side hoping for a better shot. It did not fly away, but rather just intently eyed me. Each time I tried to get a clear shot, this wise, old bird would duck its head behind the tree trunk. The bird was obviously camera shy! We had a wonderful game of "Hide and Seek"! It truly seemed to enjoy frustrating me with its actions! I never got a single clear shot! Foiled again! These birds are far too smart!