Bullied By A Raven

I was sitting by my pool this morning when this bold raven landed

directly in front of me and gave this look as if to say:

"You're in my way; go inside and do whatever you humans do!"

I started laughing, which seemed to infuriate him!

"Watcha laughin' at?!"

I apologized but he wasn't having any of it.

"Put down that camera and answer me!"

"Are you deaf?!"

"I'm not jokin' around, Lady! Take that camera and GO INSIDE!"

"So you're just determined to interrupt my morning schedule, huh?!"

"Fine...this isn't my favorite resting place, anyway!"

He then turned his head...stuck his nose up...and took to the air.

Next time I'll try to be a better hostess!

Translating Bird Talk

I enjoy catching my subject with their mouth open...

communicating with sounds and pitches rather than words...

so I use my imagination, based upon the circumstance, to decipher their message.

"Mom, Wally is on my side of the nest!!!"

(Juvenile Great Egrets)


"Okay, you guys, who ate all the bread?!"

(Red-winged black bird)

"Uh oh; I'm so full I don't think I can fly!"

(Osprey)

"Just look at all this muck on my beach! It's disgusting!"

(Ruddy Turnstone)

"Whoa! This water is COLD!"

(Juvenile Great Blue Heron)

"Quit your whinin'! I'd take cold water over hot rocks ANY day!"

(Oyster Catcher)

"Everybody strike your best pose...the photographer is coming!"

(Anhinga)

"Hey, does anyone wanna go for a swim?"

(Seagull)

"Wow! Look at how high up I am."

(Great Blue Heron)

"You better get outta the water! Mom said we can't go in without her!!!"
(Seagulls)

"I LOVE playing hide-n-seek!"

(Juvenile Great Blue Heron)

"Hey, Rhonda, long time no see!"

"Boy, is that sun bright this mornin'."

"Wow...I can see all the way to downtown Dallas!"

(Red-shouldered hawk)

"Aren't my wings fabulous?!"

(Juvenile Great Egret)

"Do you mind?! We'd like a little privacy here."

(Juvenile Yellow-Crowned Night Heron)

"Give it your best shot, Mr. Wind! Blow as hard as you can...I ain't movin'!"

(Dickcessel)

"Geez!  Go do something productive, already! This show is OVER!"

(Adult Yellow-Crowned Night Heron)

Disturbing the Peace

This beautiful red-shouldered hawk was enjoying a peaceful morning to himself

when over his shoulder he heard squawking....getting louder and growing closer.

Hoping he was wrong about his morning meditation time coming to an end

he glanced up just as a mockingbird bravely landed.

The hawk did his best to ignore the uninvited visitor...

even when the noisy intruder exhibited bullying behavior.

With unusual patience...the hawk stood his ground.

When the mockingbird flew right in front of the hawk...seeming to taunt him...

I wondered if he was crazy because hawks eat smaller birds! 

Or perhaps he had witnessed the hawk enjoying breakfast so he felt safe

and couldn't pass up an opportunity for the hunted to harrass the hunter?!

After a few minutes, however, the hawk had had enough.

He let out a high-pitched cry and...lickety-split...the pest took off!

"Ah...tranquility has returned."

"Oh no!  Not again?!"

He cautiously eyed a scissor-tail as she gently landed on a nearby branch,

quickly realizing that, unlike the previous noisy intruder,

she had simply chosen the same location

 

for a quick - and QUIET - rest stop

before continuing on her journey.

Once again...he returned to enjoying his solitude and peacefulness.

I didn't stay around to see how long it lasted this time, though!

New Girl on the Block

Coming home from my yearly nuclear stress-test we decided to drive by Sunset Bay
at White Rock Lake to check on the usual residents.

I saw a Red-Bellied Woodpecker hanging out...

a very curious and friendly squirrel...

a Red-Winged Blackbird...

and a Greater White-Fronted goose leisurely strolling down the dock.

I decided to follow her as she headed towards her friends...

seeming to stop and pose periodically...making sure I got her "good side!"

I tried to be as quiet as possible since a lot of the ducks and geese were resting,

but there's always one Nervous Nelly in the group!

 All eyes opened

as some "How dare you!" stares met me straight on...

or from the side, as this Brown & White Chinese Goose stood at attention,

and this White Chinese Goose cautiously raised her head.

It was then I noticed the new girl on the block...

a beautiful female mute Swan!

I had never seen a swan here (and neither have any of my photo buddies.)

She wasn't shy at all...allowing me to photograph her

preening...

discarding unwanted feathers...

scratching...

grooming feet...

searching for nourishment...

and finding it!

After a while, she stopped preening and eating and looked me straight in the eyes.

She then slowly headed towards the water...

looking back at me as if inviting me to follow...so I did.

She gracefully slid into the lake

and began cooling herself

while making sure I was still observing.

She kept swimming over to the dock where I was

and when it was time to leave I glanced back...

sad at the sight of her looking helpless and alone;

wondering what she was thinking...

where she came from...

and how long she will stay.