Seagull Ballet

  It has been my thought for some time now that photography can often help us view things that we overlook with our eyes.  When viewing something, we become obsessed with the "point of view" and can neglect the overall picture.   Whatever catches our eye manages to demand our attention while the whole scene becomes a blur.  For the past twenty years or so, I have been trying to record the astounding variety of flora and fauna that can be found around the Bayou.  My attempts are probably not near professional but at least the grandlittles will be able to see why I love the place.  Since they are never here to just roam the place and explore like I had once hoped, perhaps this is the next best thing.  Then again, maybe not....

  This morning was a perfect day to be on the pier.  The sun refused to get out of bed and stayed snuggled under the blanket of clouds.  This left a lovely grey mood that lingered long into the afternoon when a severe storm broke loose.  Wind, rain, lightning ruled the afternoon but it was that greyness that intrigued me.  As Mark and I fished the morning away, a few seagulls came to dine upon our discarded baits.  The birds would dive after the floating menhaden and it did not matter if the fish were just a few feet from the pier.  This gave me an excellent opportunity to use the camera.

  Between the stillness of the water and the greyness of the skies, each photograph had a bit of a surreal atmosphere.  In some of the photos, the birds almost appear suspended in time and it is difficult to tell if they are high in the clouds or a few feet above the water's surface.  It is times like this that the camera continually clicks.  I became so engrossed in the birds that my fishing reels were forgotten.  Needless to say, the baitless, idle poles caught no fish...but the camera did catch wonderful photographs of the Seagull Ballet!

What?

  Every now and again something happens that just makes you scratch your head and say "What?"  Today, I was doing a lot of pondering and scratching that head.  Things were just not quite the way they should be.  Not that anything impossible happened.  More like things were just improbable.  

  Early this afternoon after the chores were finished, I headed to the pier.  The day was hot, the sun was bright and I needed a bit of cooler air.  With a slight breeze wafting across the Bay, the pier was the most likely spot to be.  On the way down the board path to the pier, I could hear the raucous calling of the seagulls and crows coming from the pier.  Seagulls?  Yeah, but crows?  What were crows doing on the pier?  It was best to investigate.

  Sure enough, two fine, black crows were occupying two of the pier posts right in the midst of a dozen or so seagulls.  Now that was different!  Not once have I seen crows visit the pier and mingle with the gulls!  The crows usually hang around closer to the woods or clearings but never out on the pier.  As I eased my way down the pier, all of the birds seemed oblivious of my presence until I was only about thirty feet from them.  Then, every bird down there started squawking!  What a din they were making!  Suddenly, the entire lot of them took flight, flew a few circles above my head and headed northward.  I suppose I will never know the actual reason the birds were together and will just chalk it up to another motley crew that ganged together in the search for food.

Nature mimicking people? Not a good thing.

  One has to ponder how things are in the world today.  With all of the stupidity ruling, where has commonsense gone?  There is nothing but a bunch of whiny folks complaining about anything and everything.  People think they deserve more than they have, find fault with everyone else and are so easily offended by the most unoffensive things has created a pitiful state of being.  Basically, in my humble opinion it all boils down to one thing....greed.  Just about 90% of the people nowadays think they should be handed everything on a gold platter.  (Yeah, I know that the saying is a silver platter but, here lately, if you stuck a million bucks on a silver platter and handed it to someone, they would be offended that the million dollars was not on a gold platter.  Sad state of affairs this mess is.)  

  I was thinking about all the greed that seems to have taken hold of the greater part of the population nowadays as I sat on the pier this morning.  The pier is where I do my greatest thinking.  I ponder things and, then as my Uncle Alfred used to say, put things back to suit myself.  Yep...I wish I could.  A lot of folks would receive a good whupping and then be sent back home.  Just as I was about to head back to the sanity of the Little Bayou House, I heard a lot of racket out over the Bay.  The cormorants had flown back into the area by the hundreds but, while they were peacefully diving for minnows, they were being attacked by seagulls.  Yep, about thirty seagulls were literally dive bombing the cormorants.  Greed had taken over the gulls.  In their eyes, the cormorants had no business being in the Bay eating "their" minnows.  Even though there was more than enough for every bird in the county to get breakfast, the gulls wanted everything for themselves.  There was no "share and share alike" with the greedy gulls.  I watched as the gulls would actually steal fish from the cormorants and other birds after it was caught.  The pelicans, ducks, mergansers and grebes were happily swimming right along with the cormorants but not the seagulls.  They squawked and attacked like a bunch of rioters who did not get their way on something.  Whiny, raucous, hateful and lazy...all over a tiny minnow that could have easily been earned the good old fashioned way.

  I stayed to see the outcome of the ruckus.  Would the greedy gulls win? Would the cormorants cede to the wishes of the rioters?  Would evil top peaceful?  Not in this case.  The cormorants, ducks, pelicans, mergansers and grebes kept feeding regardless of the ugliness of the gulls.  Yes, the cormorants did eventually leave the area but only after they finished feeding.  This was not by the intimidation of the gulls, however, as it is a daily thing.  By evening, the cormorants would fly back in to get supper. The riotous gulls would start their stupidity, once again, thinking they had succeeded in doing great things.  Delusional little rascals, aren't they?  The other birds were happy campers with full bellies while the gulls did nothing more than cause themselves a bit of grief.  Sounds familiar doesn't it?

A Near Hit!

  Mark and I were out on the pier before dawn again this morning.  After an incredible fishing day yesterday, we were hoping for a repeat performance.  Mark caught the most beautiful bait, we cast our lines and waited.  I caught two hardhead catfish and one garfftopsail but nothing else.  Ugh, our fishing plans seemed to have been thwarted!  So, instead of fishing, I started photographing the birds.  Gulls, terns and pelicans filled the Bay and Bayou.  They had come in for the relative safety that the area offered from the recent hurricane.  Since the Bay also offered a sanctuary for fish from the thrashing surf, the seabirds decided to stick around a bit to catch their fill.  The only problem was that our baits also seemed to be fair game for the birds.  (We actually hooked a gull and a pelican and had to gently work the hooks out of their bills.  Not fun for neither the birds nor us.)

  At one point, their were so many birds around the pier, I nigh on got smacked!  The gulls and terns became so engrossed in attacking our baits as we cast our lines that they ventured right above our heads.  The birds were swooping down grabbing our hooked baits then taking off in a mad flight.  As soon as one had a minnow, all of the other birds gave chase all the while squawking their fool heads off!  The pelicans had to leave the school of mullet they were chasing just to get in on the act.  Soon, these large birds were flying within a few feet of our heads then splash landing in the water after our minnows. 

  The swooping and swerving was not enough, though.  The pelicans thought that they could take a rest on the pier posts!  Not a bad idea except I was leaning against one post as I photographed the feeding frenzy!  I looked up just in time to see two large webbed feet, two huge wings and a gigantic bill coming right toward me!  I snapped a photograph and ducked!  The pelican landed on the post, pivoted and took off again.  I think the close call was unnerving to him, too!

  This feeding frenzy was exacerbated by Mark pouring our excess bait back into the water.  The birds thought that he was feeding them and it seemed as if every bird in the county found our pier!  Great for photographs but dangerous for my head!  There were several more near hits!

The Silver Lining...Maybe?

  Early this morning, Mark and I headed to the pier to do a bit of fishing. He was actually going to use the small skiff but I was staying behind on the pier.  I want to be able to head to the house if the fish are not biting. There is just far too much to do in the garden to sit lollygagging about if I am not catching lunch.  All was well with the morn.  It was a beautiful day opening and I was enjoying the slight northeast breeze...until...Mark opened the live-well of the boat and found that he had inadvertently left a few menhaden there overnight.  Not good...in fact, bad or even terrible!  The things had died and had become quite rank in the humid air.  Ugh!  It was bad enough that the boat smelled like a garbage heap but, then, he scooped said little dead fishies and tossed them into the water.  UGH to a greater extent!  Now the whole place smelled like a city dump!  STOP!  I called to him.  Move on away from the pier before you toss any more dead things!  He did and I thought all would return to normal.  It did not.  The minnows were quite swollen and they bobbed along the ripples like little buoys.  Each bounce released another malodorous spew of stench into the air. Double ugh!

  At the time I thought that I could not stand the reeking dead fish bobbers any more, a seagull came to my rescue.  Down swooped one bird and it scooped up a mushy, stinking-to-high-heaven minnow.  The bird was the envy of all gulls and terns that eat dead things floating on the surf.  Several squeals later, another gull dove to fetch its own putrid fish.  Well, at least they were cleaning the water (and the air).  One after another, the birds dove after the minnows giving me the perfect opportunity to snap a few closeup photographs.  

  Once I settled down enough to observe the pictures that I had taken, I realized that the stench that ruined my fishing trip was not all bad.  The rising sun as a backdrop and birds diving just a few feet from my camera lens provided a perfect setting for some excellent photographs. The morning turned out well,  I got great pictures and the birds feasted on putrid fish.  Sometimes things we deem as bad do have silver linings.  We just have to look for them.

Well, That Was Awkward!

  Mark and I made a late afternoon hike about the hillside.  Of course, we wound up on the pier and, well, decided that work for the rest of the day was out of the question.  Fishing was calling.  He caught a few menhaden for bait and we tossed the lines.  It did not take long before both lines were zinging out from the reels!  It was beginning to look like a great idea to be fishing....until we landed the fish.  Both were huge catfish.  These were of the hardhead type and not worth keeping as food. We tried again....and again...and again.  Each bait brought up another large catfish.  Since we do not keep these fish to eat, they were gently removed from the hook and tossed back into the water.  Most of the time, the used minnow went over with the fish.  This "baiting" of the waters gathered a rather large number of gulls and terns to the area. Each waited for another free meal.

  It did not take long before we were out of bait.  Mark "fished out" the last bait and, once again, hooked a large catfish.  This time, however, the hook had snagged the fish instead of the fish taking the bait.  The poor thing was hooked in the belly!  Well, that was awkward! Mark removed the hook as gently and painlessly as possible and released this fish as well. Catfish are tough fish and this one will heal soon.  The fish will be feeding again by morning and will hopefully have learned its lesson to stay away from hooks. 

  With the last bait used, our attention turned to the gulls and terns.  One last menhaden was floating near the pier and a few birds were circling overhead.  Hoping to catch the "perfect shot", I got into position and held the camera steady.  Ready, Aim, Shoot!  The first dive of a tern went amiss and the bird flew away with no supper.  Then right behind that one, a tern made a quick dive, snagged the minnow and flew away with all of the other gulls and terns chasing behind.  They all wanted that menhaden!  With millions of the little minnows swimming in the water, it tickled us that the one dead fish was so coveted.  Our show was over as the birds flew southward chasing that single tern.

  When I looked at the photographs that I had taken, the one of the diving bird reminded me of how graceful these birds are while hunting.  Since the minnow was picked up mid-flight and next to the pier, the bird had little room for error.  The little tern handled the situation admirably and never missed a beat as it took off with its prize. Well, that was definitely NOT awkward!  I only hope that after that impressive dive, the tern ate its supper in peace without being harassed by the other seabirds.

Birds!

  With the Bay literally full of menhaden, the fishing is good...for everything.  Mark and I have been catching our share of fish for supper and have even been fortunate enough to catch extras to share with our elderly friends.  Most of these folks used to fish in their younger days but just are not steady enough to go now.  It is our habit to give more fish (all cleaned and bagged) than we keep.  We figure that sharing has multiplied our good catches each day.  Share the blessings and they come back ten fold.  

  Not only are we having good catches but the waterfowl are getting nice and fat.  The pelicans, cormorants and gulls have round bellies!  It is those raucous gulls that amuse us at times as they would rather steal a minnow than catch their own.  We really have to be careful when casting our lines or else the minnow will never reach the water.  More than once, a gull has plummeted from the sky just in time to snatch our bait.  Silly birds!  With the millions of menhaden pipping the surface of the water, it looks as if the birds could find their own meals.  Yet...let me toss over one dead bait and every seagull in the entire Bay area seems to come screaming "Its MINE!"  Time after time, they swoop down almost colliding with me, each other and the pier posts, yet, never once do they hit anything.  The screaming and swooping goes on for a good five minutes before one lucky bird actually dares to dive right next to the pier and scoop up the bait.  Then as that bird takes flight with its prize, all of the other birds give chase.  More oft than not, the lucky bird becomes equally unlucky as it will drop the minnow and the ruckus starts all over again.  

  Today's odd assortment of bird friends, included more migrating cormorants, a few ducks (they stayed far away from the pier), a pair of eagles, one osprey, dozens of pelicans and a mishmash of gulls.  The gulls were the most noticeable since they nearly bombarded me at all times.  Their loud calls, demands for food and constant dive-bombing made fishing a bit uncomfortable.  My time on the pier was cut short due to an infiltration of BIRDS!

 

Oh, Wait! Get my good side!

  Mark and I (along with Ms. Ez, the Bayou Dog) usually take a hike to the pier several times a day with the first being before daylight.  We either watch the sunrise together or he hops in the small skiff and heads fishing leaving me on the pier.  Some times we fish from the pier but other times we just sit and enjoy the view.  While there, we have any number of critter friends that stop in for a visit.  Most are looking for a handout of minnows but others just share a bit of relaxation before they head back out to hunt for food.  Right now, food is plentiful.  The Bay is brimming with menhaden and even some tiny shrimp.  The waterfowl are feasting as are the fish.  All have their bellies full so there is no reason for us to feel sorry for them. We do not have to share our catch with critters.

  A seagull was resting on one of the pier posts recently. Like the myriad of other gulls, it had been busy diving into the schools of menhaden and now needed a bit of rest.  The bird was in no hurry to leave when we approached so I took the opportunity to photograph this lovely specimen.

  

  We giggled about how the gull seemed to be posing for the camera.  It would turn its head from side to side with each photograph.   It was almost as if the bird wanted to make sure I caught its "good side". After a bit, the gull returned to its feeding, Mark headed out fishing and the old dog and I meandered back up the hillside.

Those thieving gulls!

  It has been rainy for the past few days making it difficult to get to the pier.  My time outdoors seems to be quick runs to the woodpile for another armload of fuel for the wood stove.  Even the old Bayou Dog, Ms. Ez, refuses to stay outdoors for any length of time and the Bayou Queen, Ms. Put, has been taking longer and longer catnaps near the heater.  

  To get my pier "fix", I spent some time today reviewing photographs from a few weeks ago.  I had gone down to throw some stale bread to the ducks that had migrated into the area.  I figured that they might like to snack on something after their long flight.  Granted stale bread is a poor offering but until the ducks get used to going westward to my cousin, Michelle's house, it would have to suffice. Once they find her place with its fine buffet for critters, my bread will no longer be tasty. Two coots came forward to take some of the crumbs but they were in for a challenge.  A pair of seagulls found the free food and sent up an all points bulletin.  Seagulls from miles around must have heard because soon I was being bombarded by the rascals.  The coots did not stand a chance against these guys.  I had to throw most of the bread out for the gulls and slip just a bit to the coots.  Hopefully, the coots got enough to fill their bellies since the gulls were greedy and snatched the crumbs as soon as they hit the water.  And what a racket those birds made!  Geez!

 

The Watchers!

I cannot make the claim that my dog, Ezzy, is the best guard dog in the world. She is a wonderful watchdog but as far as protecting me from some imminent danger... ehhh..no. She has never grown up into a true dog.. she is a perpetual puppy. She is a full five years old and still plays like she is a mere pup. If you speak to her, she goes into a complete chaotic frenzy, and immediately starts to hunt for her baseball. Play! Play! Please, play! But as I said, she is a great watchdog. She can sit for hours "watching"! That was quite evident the other day. I came out the front door to see her gazing contentedly at boats on the Bay. She was so attentive to the boats that she was oblivious to her usual bugaboo.. the dreaded squirrel. Squirrels are usually her main focus. She chases them from tree to tree in a never-ending game. But not this time..she was focused on the boats. So focused that she had moved to the garden bench to get a better view. It amused me to see that she perched herself on the bench instead of walking to the pier. Yep..she is a fine watchdog! She can watch something until the cows come home!

Lately, I have become a "watcher" of sorts. It is much easier to catch the shrimp that are in the Bay, when you actually have a big school near the pier. Makes sense..doesn't it! Anyway, we have come to watching the seagulls to let us know when to head to the pier to catch shrimp. As a large school of shrimp makes its way into the Bay, the seagulls will follow. They dive countless times to feast upon this moving buffet..screaming all the while. (Occasionally, even the pelicans get in on the act!) When we hear this, we know shrimp are within range of our nets. Watching the water and its inhabitants can mean the difference of a full catch or an empty bucket! A little savviness can go a long way!