Not always graceful!

   The young Great Blue Heron that has taken over "Moe's" spot (Moe being the resident heron for many years) has not learned to be graceful at all times.  He still has a lot of the awkwardness of a young teenager.  This clumsiness comes in view when the bird is making a mad dash for mullet or menhaden from my net.  (I spend more time feeding the birds than fishing!)  If this new heron (Alfalfa) is standing on one of the pier posts, he is gorgeous...all full of poise and elegance but, once food appears, he is just a silly, young bird.

  All I caught today was a prickly pinfish but Alfalfa was ready for breakfast and had no qualms about tackling the pointy fins.  As soon as the fish was tossed his way, the bird raced down the pier to grab his prize.  With neck outstretched and wings held back, he stabbed at the poor fish.  In one gulp the five inch long fish was down the gullet!  There was no pomp and circumstance in his method...just grab and go!

  While I am happy to catch breakfast for this bird, I sure miss my Moe.  He had become quite tame and would carefully take fish from my hand making sure to not grab a finger by mistake.  Moe was a friend.  Hopefully, Alfalfa will follow suit. 

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.  

Could It Be Moe?

   A few years back, I had the honor of befriending a Great Blue Heron.  This started when the bird as a youngster not yet adept at catching fish ventured onto the pier.  I offered it a few little mullet which it greatly appreciated...so much so that the bird returned every day for a handout.  After the first few days, I decided to name the bird "Moe".  He continued to come even after becoming an adult bird.  He and I got to be such good friends that he would actually take fish from my hands without ever pecking at me.  Oh, yeah.  I was warned.  "That bird will peck your eyes out if you get too close!"  It is silliness like this that bewilders me.  Moe never tried to "peck my eyes out" nor harm me in any way.  None of the critters of the Bayou do.  None.  For a couple of years, I had to limit my pier time due to health issues.  It broke my heart to know my friends (such as Moe) would not understand why I abandoned them but I followed doctor's orders and stayed a bit closer to the Little Bayou House. 

  Early this morning as I sat and watched the sunrise, I noticed a heron on my brother's pier.  The bird brought back memories of Moe and the good times I had with the bird.  I watched as the heron scooped up mullet after mullet from the water.  It brought me joy just knowing I was back in my "element"...back in my happy place.  

  As I sat there watching that bird, he kept a watchful eye on me, too. After a good half hour, the heron left my brother's pier and flew directly over where I was sitting.  It surprised me to see the bird actually do a "wing tilt" much as pilots do planes when they acknowledge or notice someone.  Do birds do that, too?  Was this Moe and did he recognize me?  Probably not.  Most likely the wobble was due to air currents or just the heron changing course.  Still, it brought a smile and in my mind, Moe gave me a quick "hello" before flying to the back of the Bayou. It was a good morning.

The Happy Couple

   For several years now, a Great Blue Heron has been coming to the pier for handouts.  The bird was a juvenile when it first appeared and I felt sorry for it.  It was skinny and was not the best at catching its own meals.  After naming him "Moe", I fed him almost every day.  The bird would actually wait for me on the end of the pier, take mullet from my hand and then follow me after the feeding.  Moe was a welcome diversion to many troubles at the time.  

  Feeding him did the trick!  Moe grew into a handsome adult who claimed his territory and could fish with the best of them.  He obviously needed a gentle nudge in the right direction and once that help was given, he flourished.  Last year, however, Moe disappeared.  I feared that he had met his end by the jaws of the alligator that lurks around the pier.  Well, critters come and critters go so life went on with me turning my attention elsewhere.  This spring, lo and behold, Moe returned!  It was as if time had never lapsed and we were back just as before.  It was good to see my old friend.

  Yesterday, Moe came to visit but brought a friend.  This was a young female who was dubbed "Mellie".  Ms. Mellie is a beauty!  I had the distinct feeling that Moe had brought Mellie by as an introduction.  Here she could get a free meal if needed and not have to worry about being harmed.  Our visit was brief.  Moe flew into the back of the Bayou with Mellie following close behind.  Hopefully, this is a sign that the two will be nesting nearby and will bring a few young'uns around soon.  We shall wait and see!

Mysterious Bayou

     Just after what would have been daybreak, Mark and I headed to the pier on our usual hike about the place.  There was no sunrise as it was foggy.  In fact, it was so foggy that our jackets soon became coated with a fine layer of water.  Our footsteps were muffled by the wet mulch as we padded lightly down the hillside.  Then, we had to be careful not to slip and slide on the new pier boards.  One misstep and we would have been down in the mucky marsh.  This is to my liking, however, as it seems our sounds are not easily picked up on by the critters.  They, too, are out and about taking full advantage of the silencing of the fog.

  Moe, the Great Blue Heron, was using the fog to help him catch his breakfast.  He was able to stand motionless in the shallows without casting a shadow.  Minnows and baby mullet were not able to see him!  I watched as the bird snagged several nice fish in just a few moments.  

  The fog works both for and against critters.  The fog heightens critters' ability to catch a scent of another animal but the muffling effect can make detecting the whereabouts of that critter difficult.  Being as most hunt by catching a glimpse of motion, if a predator or prospective prey sits motionless, it is almost impossible to be seen. I have had animals literally walk right up to me before actually realizing I was there.  They knew I was in the area but finding me was a different story.  It all adds to the mystery of the Bayou!

  This morning's fog soon turned to a heavy rain which lasted the entire day.   More rain is to come and then a cold spell for a few days.  I am in hopes that the "wintry mix" will stay north of the Bayou as it could wreak havoc on the gardens.  This, however, is typical February weather here so the critters and I have both learned to live with our ups and downs.  Fog, rain, cold...repeat.

Catch Your Own Meal!

  Several years ago, a young Great Blue Heron sort of adopted us.  The bird, who we named "Moe", would come to the pier to beg for handouts.  Menhaden and small mullet were his favorites but he was not adverse to gobbling up any fish that happened to be caught in the net.  Several times, I actually fretted over the fact that Moe stole a catfish.  He swallowed the fish whole...sharp spines and all!  We actually got to know Moe really well and was able to handfeed the bird.  Then, Moe went missing.  I worried that perhaps one of the alligators had caught him or perhaps the fox that is on constant patrol of the marshes.  For months, I did not see my friend which made me sorrowful.  I missed the interaction with the bird.

  After almost a year, I began to notice a large male heron around the area.  I knew that youngster Moe had been battling for territory and figured that the older, larger male had won rights to the Bayou.  Moe must have moved on the other areas in search of a mate and suitable nesting sites.  Then...Moe!  The large male was Moe!  How do I know?  There is no mistaking the friendship.  The large male has no fear of me and will often look as if he is begging me to throw the net for menhaden.  Sorry, Moe!!  I truly wish I could but until the pier is fully repaired, I dare not venture to the end.  You will have to fend for yourself!  

  

Replacing Moe

     Last year, a Great Blue Heron came to the pier every time I was there.  The bird wanted handouts of fish so I obliged.  We watched as Moe grew from a juvenile into a gorgeous adult.  He and I became fast friends and he trusted me enough to gently take minnows from my hands.  He stayed for about a year before leaving for parts unknown.  I miss Moe.

  Now, a new bird has decided to come to the pier.  Lately, a Great Egret flies in to visit each time I am there.  I have not named this bird, yet, but I am quite sure if the visits continue a name shall be forthcoming.  The egret is still a bit skittish but is gradually making progress.  It knows that if I pick up the net, minnows shall be shared with it.  This morning, the bird insisted on staying even though Son was adding more nails to the pier planks in preparation for yet another storm.  You would think the banging would have frightened the bird but it seemed not to mind.  I find it a bit strange that the birds become so accustomed to us that they lose all fear.  I am sure they know that we mean them no harm but to literally become friends is remarkable.  

  While I would gladly welcome a visit from Moe, it only seems fitting that another bird has taken his place on the pier.  Every pier needs a resident bird!  Hopefully, this fine friend will weather the storm in good health and will continue to visit.  Life is good.

It Only Takes A Moment

  My realm is still limited to the small gardens but, hopefully, that will soon change.  My strength is returning by leaps and bounds which means that my limitations will be exiting by leaps and bounds soon.  I have had enough!  It is time to roam the Bayou again and find my critter friends.  I am sure they have pondered my absence and may have missed me just a wee bit.  I know I have missed them enormously!  

  This morning, one of my favorite bayou friends sat patiently on a pier post.  It was quite clear that he wanted breakfast.  Moe, the heron, has been coming for almost two years to eat small mullet and menhaden that I catch in the net.  The bird has become tame enough to take fish from my hand.  That bond means the world to me and not being able to share time with the bird weighs heavy.  I NEED to be back on that pier!  Moe, I promise it won't be long!  For now, however, I have to be happy with a long-distance photograph!  

  It is funny how we take things for granted when times are good.  A simple walk, going fishing, even viewing the sunrise seem commonplace things that we are assured to always have.  Sometimes, life has other plans and things go awry.  Folks, be happy in what you have.  Be appreciative of every step you take, every sight you see, every sound you hear.  Things can change in an instance and then you long for your "humdrum", everyday life.  Just be thankful. 

Marsh Mats and Critters!

  When the southeast wind blows hard, it cleans the marshy areas quite nicely on the Bay side.  The shore side, however, usually receives all the trash that was hidden in the grass.  I try to scoop up most of the trash that is within reach but I am sure not going to traipse about the mud to get stuff.   There are too many hidden dangers that lurk beneath the tall, waving reeds.  In the past few weeks alone, I have found two cottonmouths sunning themselves so there is no telling how many others go unseen.  The same tides and wind that clean the trash from the marsh also rolls dead reeds into huge marsh mats.  These mats house many critters.  They provide shelter for the snakes.  They make perfect thatched roofs for the otter and nutria dens.  They give escape routes for the rabbits and rice rats.  They, also, provide a nice "table" for other critters.

  A few weeks ago, Moe the heron took a large mullet to the marsh mats.  Here, the bird was assured that the fish would not "get away" if he dropped it.  Moe finished off the mullet with no eventful struggles.  These same mats now serve as a dining spot for the small otter pups.  For the past few nights, the otters have been feasting on the mussels that anchor themselves in the marsh roots along the shoreline.  The otters rip the mussels free and carry them to a mat.  The mussels are opened and the pups feast on the soft meats.  It is obvious by the number of shells left behind that the otters find the mussels rather tasty!

  While I find the marsh mats interesting and they do serve a lot of different purposes for the critter life of the Bayou, I can only imagine the mess if we get a hurricane.  All of this will wind up in the yard.  The marsh mats and the critters within will become one huge mess in the yard.  Hopefully, that will not happen and the mats will have time to rot before coming shore bound.

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.

Friends Make Every Day Better

  I will say one thing about the winters in the Deep South.  There are none.  Sure, we get an occasional freeze but mostly we have rain and fog and heat.  The temperatures for the past few weeks feel more like June than February.  The days fluctuate between rain and fog....most of the time...both at the same time.  This makes for a sticky mess when it comes to wading through the ankle deep leaves that you wish you had raked back in November.  I literally have to de-leaf the old dog after his potty stroll and use a brush to rake the leaves matted in Ms. Nycto's fur.  Word of warning....never let a long haired cat out in this type weather unless you want her coming back inside with about a bushel of leaves stuck to her.

  This lack of winter and the pea-soup thick fog has one good thing about it.  The critters are out and about making for some interesting sights.  When I do manage to take a break from caring for the old dog, it does not take long to find some critter friends.  The fog muffles the footsteps so "sneaking" up on these friends is quite easy.  But, then again, they can probably sneak up on me just as quickly.  

  This afternoon, I ventured to the pier to find my good friend, Moe, the heron.  This great blue heron has been coming regularly since he was a youngster and always wants a handout. Today, however, I had to tell him some sad news. "Sorry, Moe.  I have no net handy to catch your supper.  You will have to fend for yourself!"  In the photo, you can see just how foggy it was.  When I took the photo, I was a mere six feet from the bird but fog still blurred the vision.   Although Moe was not pleased with me being empty-handed, he lingered on the pier making my short outing a pleasure.   Sometimes seeing an old familiar face can make things seem so much better.  Thanks, Moe.  It was good seeing you!

Oh, the humidity!

  I have found it chilly for the past few days.  The temperatures  are not bad but the humidity is definitely trying to make us feel winter here.  We have had a good solid rain for two days now our next step of winter, fog, has arrived.  In the mornings, I cannot see the pier from the front steps.  It is almost as if the world ends about seventy-five feet in front of me.  A solid white wall blocks out anything beyond that point.  It is that fog that chills me to the bone.  At night, it creeps into the Little Bayou House like some thief ready to rob us blind but instead of taking anything, it leaves a certain stickiness on everything.  There is not much we can do about it other than deal with it.  Dehumidifiers cringe, shake and cower when meeting our type humidity.

 Early this morning, I took the old dog out for his morning stroll.  Since the pace has slowed to that of an elderly snail, I have plenty of time to photograph oddities along the way.  Once we neared the pier, a Great Blue Heron caught my eye.  Moe had come back to the pier expecting breakfast but none was proffered.  Not only did he go hungry, he had to hunker down against the fog. Poor Moe!  He looked downright miserable!

  Winter mornings complete with fog should be a boon to the herons.  The north wind exposes the mudflats and the fog shields the bird from being seen by its prey.  They can catch plenty of little mullet by just waiting.  This same fog does present its share of problems, however.  The drippy mess muffles all footsteps so larger predators can stalk the herons without a problem.  Coyotes and bobcats would love to dine upon a sizable bird like a heron.  

  Moe was either being lazy by staying on the pier or was being wary of his surroundings.  Either way, he was not catching any breakfast by sitting on the pier.  The old dog and I merely passed him by as we were ready to get out of the fog.  No handouts for the herons today.

LONG!

  The other day, Son and I were talking about the herons that visit the Bayou.  He made the statement that their long necks seem to be ineffectual and far out of proportion to the rest of the body.  "It would not take much to snap that neck.  Just like the spindly legs, they are almost a hazard."  I imagine if a predator tried to overpower a heron, the neck and legs would be the first attack and, true enough, it would not take much to break either.  Still, the length of legs and neck do come in handy at times. (This being said by a short person!)  The heron is a wader.  The long legs help to keep the body up out of the water and allows the bird shuffle along the bottom.  That long neck allows the bird to see down into the water and also lets it snatch minnows that would otherwise be just out of reach.  Both of these lanky features do, indeed, help the bird survive.

  When Moe came to visit the other day, I was able to observe first hand the usefulness of these long, birdy features.  At first, Moe was a bit leery of coming too close to the old dog, Mr. PJ.  Knowing the bird was hungry, I tossed a few menhaden up on the pier post so Moe could dine a bit more comfortably.  To my surpirse, the heron flew to the pier although he knew that the minnows were on the post.  Those long legs and that long neck were put to use.  Moe was able to stand on the decking and still snatch a minnow from the 4 ft tall post.  He ate a few minnows in this manner before flying to the top of the post to finish his meal.

  I went back to the Little Bayou House and called to Son. "Check these photographs!"  Once he studied the pictures, he said "I stand corrected.  The legs and neck are useful but still appear to be quite fragile and cumbersome."  I have to agree.  They do but Moe was happy with himself, regardless.


 

Protecting His Territory

  Herons are funny birds.  They have no problem with nesting in huge colonies called heronries where there may be hundreds of mating couples nesting but let it come to food and they are fiercely territorial.  Let a heron find a good feeding spot and no one had better fly in to take advantage of his luck.  A heron is not willing to share his bounty even when his "cup is overflowing".  

  Early this morning, the trip to the pier proved interesting, to say the least.   With Hurricane Michael brewing out in the Gulf, our tide was a lot higher than normal.  With water lapping at the top of the pier boards, it seemed like a good fishing day.  After bait was caught, I had a visitor.  My old friend, Moe, came flying in to beg for breakfast.  This is the heron that I started feeding several months ago.  The youngster would come thrice daily to get his belly full of menhaden, mullet or little croakers.  He came for a few months then disappeared.  This morning, he must have been hungry as he came back to where he always got a sure meal.  I obliged and caught the bird an entire net full of menhaden.  He happily dined on the feast laid out before him.  Once his appetite was sated, he flew to a pier post to preen.  All was well and happy until...the interloper came.

  Another young heron came by to grab a bite of leftovers and that did not set well with Moe.  He was not in the mood to share his leftovers with anyone!   At first, the squabble was nothing more than a few squawks, the puffing up of feathers and the flapping of wings with the birds perched on posts about 20 feet apart. The interloper was insistent on grabbing a bite.  Things quickly turned ugly.  Moe left his perch to fly in behind the other bird.  Pow!  Moe hit the interloper with a mighty whack!  Both birds battled midair until Moe overpowered the smaller bird and sent him reeling into the water.  There the battle continued until the interloper flew to the opposite end of the pier.  The fight did not end there.  Moe followed the bird and hit him again.  Finally, Moe chased the interloper to the other side of the Bayou.  Moe had won...sort of...while  they were fighting, a seagull made quick work of the menhaden!

Trading One Heron For Another

   Months ago, a young Great Blue Heron was a thrice daily visitor to the pier.  The young bird came to beg for handouts of menhaden or little mullet.  I was happy to oblige simply because these birds fascinate me. Their feeding habits, territorial disputes and nesting sites are all points of interest.  The bird was dubbed as Moe and he soon became a social media favorite as I posted plenty of photos of him.  He became almost too tame and insisted on being my "best friend"...as long as I was plying him with food.  Then Moe became a no-show.  I have no idea whether something dire happened to my friend or whether he just moved on to a new territory.  Either is a possibility.  

  Now, a new bird is in town!  This morning while Mark and I were on the pier, a very young bird flew in to pay us a visit.  This was not a Great Blue but rather a Tri-colored Heron.  I was impressed with the fact that the bird already has most of its adult plumage even though it is still rather tiny (as far as herons go).   This one was not sure about coming to dine but lingered up the pier from us.  I did, however, get rather close to it when I was leaving the pier.  The bird did not want to fly.  It just sort of side-stepped me as I passed it.  

  Hopefully, our new-found friend will come back in the morning to get a handout.  If it does, this bird, too, will receive a name.  I figure that all of our friends should be on a "first name basis" with us so the Tri-colored will soon have his own unique name.  (The only name that gets repeated is Old Gus.  This is the name of almost every Brown Pelican in the Bay!  With the exception of two named by our little granddaughter. They are Gus and Cinderella! Now, if only she was here to pick a name for our new friend but she is far, far away at the moment naming things on a tropical island!)  The Tri-colored Heron will be stuck with an unimaginative name, I suppose.

I Miss Moe!

  For most of spring and the early part of summer, we had a twice (sometimes thrice) daily visitor to the pier.  A young Great Blue Heron came to receive handouts of small mullet, menhaden or whatever fish I could catch in the net.  The bird had gotten quite friendly and seemed to enjoy the company of the old dog, Mr. PJ.  We did well together and he received the name "Moe".

  Here lately, however, Moe has been missing in action.  His presence is greatly missed,  I am not sure if he has taken up residence in a new spot of if something dire befell him.  I would much rather that he has just moved on to a new territory but one never knows.  I miss the bird's quirky way of cocking his head to one side when I talked with him.  I miss his long legs that made him almost clumsy as he ran up the pier to get his handouts.  I just miss Moe.

Still Here!

  For the past several weeks, the Bayou has seen more than its share of rain.  Not that I am complaining as I like rain but it would be nice to occasionally get to the pier or in the garden.  Finally this afternoon, the rains cleared a bit and that long sought after visit to the pier became a reality.  The old dog and I were happy campers!  Mr. PJ immediately plopped down for a nap in the sunshine that has been absent for such a long time.  Me?  I picked up the net and started throwing for menhaden.  Moe, the young Great Blue Heron, came for a meal.

  It was good to see Moe and find out that he still remembered me.  I figured he would have gone his merry way after so many days without me feeding him.  One toss of the net yielded about thirty little fish for his dining pleasure and he started gobbling them as soon as I emptied them on the board.  Afterward, he sat calmly as Mr. PJ napped and I fished.  We make a good trio, Moe, Mr. PJ and I.  

Moe, the Flasher!

  A couple of years ago, I explained a weird habit of some of the larger birds here on the Bayou.  "Flashing" seems to be a favorite pastime of the herons especially.  Our young Great Blue Heron put on quite the show for us this morning as he soaked up some of the sunshine.  Don't get me wrong, Moe was not doing anything vulgar but was doing a natural thing akin to sunbathing.  "Flashing" refers to a practice of larger shorebirds as they hold their wings in a drooping fashion which allows their bellies to be exposed to the sunshine.  Their appearance during this action resembles a guy in a trench coat doing the unspeakable. This not only warms the bird during the winter months but also lets the heat kill any mites that have infested the bird.  

  Moe had come in for breakfast this morning as he usually does.  After we fed him a huge helping of menhaden, he opted to stay on the pier with us as we fished.  At one point, he faced the sun, opened his wings and "flashed".  Moe stayed in this position for nigh on an hour just enjoying the sunrise. This is one of those instinctive actions that birds seem to know how to do.  While humans have gotten to the point that most actions have to be taught, critters depend more on instinct.  Some critters are taught the basics by their parents but others never see their parents so have to learn everything on their own.  Birds are the lucky ones.  At least, the parents take care of baby birds for a few weeks teaching them how to forage.  Others are not so fortunate.  Snakes and turtles, for example, rely totally on instinct.  There are no parents present to help them on their way.

  Moe's action of flashing is instinct.  His ability to hunt for food was taught.  His practice of coming to the pier and trusting us is purely something he learned on his own.  It is that last one that means the most to me!

Don't Choke!

  Herons are a gluttonous sort.  Although, I have observed them for years now, I never noticed just how much and what they will eat.  Since making friends with Moe, the (as my granddaughter call him) Bayou Ostrich, my opinion of the birds has changed from thinking they were picky eaters to thinking they are hogs at heart (or stomach).  Like any other heron, Moe fishes for himself until he sees me go to the pier.  When the net is picked up, he immediately flies to the pier and follows just a few steps behind me.  He seems grateful for whatever fish are caught and quickly gobbles them.  Mostly, these are the small menhaden but occasionally, a mullet, croaker or goby is tossed his way.

  This afternoon, Moe was waiting for me.  He acted ravenous but nary a fish could be found.  After nigh on twenty throws of the net, two rather large mullet were flopping on the pier.  This always sends Moe into a frenzy of excitement and he will run with wings flapping.  As soon as he stabbed the first mullet, a thought raced through my head.  "What if Moe chokes on that big, old mullet?"  Not being one to want to grab a heron and do the Heimlich Maneuver (I am not even sure if it could be performed on a bird!), I hoped that he would be ok.   My worries were soon calmed.  Moe made short work of the mullet....but THAT was the smaller of the two.   Would he be able to swallow the other fish?  That neck looked awfully skinny compared to the girth of the fish.  Since he had just downed one, where was he going to put this one???  The questions were soon answered as Moe scooped up the mullet, tossed it around a bit until it was head first in his beak and then let it slip down his throat.  Geez!  Moe, you are a gluttonous bird for sure!

  There have been accounts relating how herons have literally "bitten off more than they can chew". (Yes, I know that is not right...biting and chewing are not something herons do.)  Eels, snakes and large fish can get stuck in the throat of the heron.  If the bird is not successful at spitting the prey out, it will die.  Fish are especially hard for a heron to regurgitate,  A heron always swallows fish head first so the fins stay flat against the body but trying to get it back up works just the opposite.  The prongs of the fins stab into the neck and prevent passage back up the throat.  

  Moe had better watch his step and not grab the larger fish that I catch.  Food is needed to sustain life but gluttony may very well end that life.  Be careful there, Moe....be careful.  You need to leave the larger fish for me and stick with the little ones.

Poor Moe!

  Moe, the heron that comes to feed at the pier, was not overly happy with the turn of events of the day.  He usually waits for me to come down to catch minnows for him.  Yes, he has gotten to be quite the lazy bird, here lately, and refuses to work for his breakfast.  He gets to the pier long before I do in the mornings as I need that first cup of coffee before I head outside.  Once the coffee is sipped and Mr. PJ, the old dog is fed, we head outside.  That is the routine of every morning.  Moe on the pier, me sipping coffee, Mr. PJ eating then we all meet together.  This morning that did not happen and Moe was extremely agitated with me.

 That "turn of events" happened to be a nice rain pelting the Bayou.  Since we have not received any rain in several weeks, it was much appreciated and deserve a bit of "rain watching" which I promptly did!  As soon as I made the first mug of coffee, I heard the gentle rain pelting the rooftop.  Ahh, nice!  I headed to the living room, threw open the French doors that overlook the Bay and pulled up a rocking chair.  Those three things got a burr stuck in the craw of Moe.  While I lounged in the rocking chair watching the rain through the screen doors and sipping my morning brew, Moe sat perched on a pier post IN the rain with no breakfast.  All I could think was "Go catch your own breakfast! I am going to sit right here."

  Obviously, Moe did get a bit miffed at me as later when I finally made it to the pier, he refused to come eat.  Mr. Smartypants Moe sat and glared at me from my brother's pier.  He was having no part of my laziness and he was going to let me know that!  Well, so sorry, Moe.  You will have to fetch your own minnows this morning if you are too high and mighty to come eat when I offer.  In the meantime, a second cup of coffee and that rocking chair sounded mighty fine.  Mr. PJ and I headed back to the Little Bayou House and poor Moe went hungry.