Herring Morning

the water in the cove
looks like it’s boiling
but there is no rain



thousands and thousands
of tiny fish --
a ball of herring
rolls through the cove

seals wait
twin sets of eyes
they circle the school
hind flippers up



a heron stands patiently
on the dock ...
underwater
the cloud shifts
and turns as one

a jab and a catch --
one after the other



a new family of Mergansers
chatters past
looking for other kinds
of food

a Grebe dives
a flash of fish
leap out of the water
the cluster jumps
and shifts --
the ripple moves on

two girls
try to catch
... just one little fish

but look who

went for a swim

with the herring

Rare Sighting on the Fjord!

Heard a loud scree this morning
"What was that????"
Jumped out of bed
and saw
Two Oystercatchers
on the island




Now that's something
you don't see very often
on Indian Arm

Well actually,
I haven't heard of any
Oystercatchers around
these parts
maybe because there
aren't too many oysters?

So it was a great sighting
and not too bad a picture
through the digiscope . . .


Black Oystercatcher Haematopus bachmani
- a jet black shorebird similar in size to a crow
- long orange beak and pink legs
- eats shellfish, limpets, chitons, snails
- pries open shells with its long beak

More pix and info at http://www.racerocks.com/racerock/eco/taxalab/stewartm.htm

Fun on the Fjord . . .