See this pair of fine-looking feathered friends that are posing so nicely for me?
Mere moments before I snapped this photo, these two were hugging the seawall while intently studying the water for fish. You see Coan Lake may be manmade, disgustingly algae-laden at times, but fishing at this venue is a popular pastime.
But here’s the catch, if you’ll please pardon the pun – every angler must toss each fish they hook back into the water.
Well, that’s a bummer since Heritage Park stocks Coan Lake with lots of fish and who doesn’t like a fish fry, the perfect taste of Summer, although Michigan anglers fish year-around.
However, not everyone has to abide by the rules about fresh fish – yes, there is some wiggle room because the waterfowl and seabirds that lurk about this three-acre pond routinely partake in the all-you-can-eat fish buffet.
The backstory ‘bout these birds.
On July 4th, under a searing sun, I returned to Heritage Park. You may recall I was hopeful for updated shots of MY ducklings and I was curious if there were any Barn Swallow babies in the rafters of the covered bridge. It was high noon and the walk had become more of a trudge since it was the second stop of the day. The resident Double-crested Cormorant and resident Great Blue Heron caught my eye as both were poised at the shoreline, eyes respectively trained on the water.
I sensed a catch was imminent. I knew they weren’t really fishing buddies and probably would NOT share whatever fish was caught.
So, there I stood, camera in hand, trigger finger, er … index finger at the ready to capture a shot of which bird would prevail and enjoy a fish lunch.
Do you remember a while back when I missed a shot of a Cedar Waxwing because two photographers kept pointing and telling me “there it is, right in that snag!” Getting that coveted shot was complicated because the word “snag” was not in Linda’s lexicon. Afterward I mused that perhaps I should have an ongoing feature called “The One That Got Away” – I certainly don’t mind poking fun at myself.
The one that got away!
Back to the Cormorant and Heron … as WE all waited expectantly for the catch of the day, the joke would not only be on me for missing the shot, but on my fine-feathered friends as well because suddenly, a Ring-billed Seagull, no stranger to the swoop-and-grab technique, skimmed the water, poked its bill down and came up with a fish, most likely THEIR fish. This escapade happened just a few feet from all of us and so quickly that I missed the shot of that Seagull’s fishing prowess, so for me, the hapless photographer, it was indeed the one that got away.
But for the Heron and Cormorant, it was to be their lunch.
In a heartbeat, the pair whirled around and faced me as if to say “what just happened here Linda? Our fishing skills were usurped by a lesser bird, a Seagull that swiped our lunch!” (Their indignation at the Seagull is the photo you see in the featured image.)
“I get it” I told them – “I mean … I missed the shot!”
This encounter was reminiscent of the many times my Park squirrels were left dumbfounded after a brazen Blue Jay swooped down to swipe a peanut right in front of them. Yes, déjà vu indeed! The squirrels would look at me, as if I, a mere mortal, controlled that bully bird’s behavior. And yes, of course, I doled out more peanuts or sunflower seeds to make them feel better.
Regrets … well, yes there were a few.
So, back to that bully Seagull. If a thought bubble floated over each of our heads, it might read “how did I not see this coming?” Or perhaps “if only I had been a wee bit quicker!” As for me, I chocked up that missed shot to the heat – my wagon was draggin’ by then.
Yes we collectively bemoaned the one that got away!
Moments later my feathered friends both departed in a huff, miffed that their lack of fish-nabbing skills had clearly been on display.
The Cormorant did a quick flyover, then plopped into Coan Lake – maybe it could nab a fish underwater?
I saw it pop up on the other side of the pond where it flew over to the grassy shoreline, distancing itself from both of us, but eventually it went back near the covered bridge – evidently the fishin’ is good there and I was able to get these shots of the still-pouting Cormorant with those mesmerizing turquoise eyes. It looks like its foot, as well as its pride, was injured.
As for the Heron, it stood there gobsmacked for a few seconds …
… then flew off in a huff, squawking as Herons are wont to do.
It likewise traversed Coan Lake, then landed across from the Water Wheelhouse …
… where it might have considered jumping into a fountain to cool off, but did not do so.
Taking very long strides, it returned to exactly where it was before, still fairly close to me, but not near the Cormorant. I was able to get some shots of its stealthy moves as it began its laborious fishing routine anew. I did not stick around to see if it was successful this time.
And that my friends is OUR tale of the one that got away!
I’m joining Terri’s Challenge this week: “A Taste of Summer”.
Linda Schaub
WALKIN', WRITIN', WIT & WHIMSY 
You made a good story out of this.
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Thank you Anne! I’m glad you enjoyed it. It was fun to watch the two of them and their reactions.
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What a fun post, Linda, the big one that got away! Wow, a seagull swooper. Had the heron and cormorant scratching their feathered heads. I always appreciate your storytelling, and how you can connect your photo shoots to my themes! Hope you get some cooler temps soon.
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Thank you Terri! I’m glad you liked this post. It was fun to watch the two of them studying the water so intently, only to have that seagull swoop down and get a fish! The cormorant and heron looked miffed, that’s for sure! Years ago we had a seagull at Bishop Park that used to swipe hot dogs and wieners off the grills. I guess it never got burned by the hot food. The park had grills all over and it is located right by the Detroit River. The write-up in the newspaper at the time was to “watch your food as a seagull will swipe your lunch!” I knew it would be fun to use fish for a summertime food experience for the Challenge – sometimes you can’t see the Detroit River when the Walleye or Silver Bass are running – you could step from boat to boat!
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I always appreciate your storytelling, and your photography. Beautiful Frist one pic.
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Thank you Raj – I am glad you enjoyed the story and the photos.
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Most welcome Linda 😊
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I don’t know if I feel more sorry for you or the birds that didn’t get their fish!
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Thank you on behalf of all of us Kate! I was bummed because it would have made a fun picture, but I looked away for a split second and there it was swooping down. I usually am handier with my digital compact camera as I can take a photo on the fly, but not this time. The Cormorant and Heron were mad! I was happy for the shot of the two of them though.
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Always watch for the bandit!
As one who never developed a taste for seafood, I was kind of rooting for the fish! 🙂
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Yes, WE could not believe that feathered bandit swiped the fish! I follow a wildlife photographer who shoots a lot of Osprey and they eat fish, sometimes big fish. The bird dives under the water and grabs these huge fish with its talons. The fish is bleeding and thrashing about for its life, so then I feel for the fish then too. JP, speaking of “rooting”, there is a new flavor of canned root bear by A&W called “Ice Cream Sundae”. Meijer promotes its new items and this is a new item. The treat without a lot of fuss and it got great review!
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they need access to a phone so they can order a filet-o fish burger!
Much taster too!
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Yes, it would be like instant gratification for them to order a filet-o-fish! I follow a Facebook site where amateur photographers for the 13 Metroparks post photos. At one of the larger parks, they have an Osprey platform and they have offspring. Dad goes out fishing and comes back with goldfish all the time. One of the photographers has taken multiple photos of the Osprey with a goldfish in its talons and getting ready to drop it into the nest. Some homeowner nearby wonders where their Koi goldfish are ending up.
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Koi are easy prey for Osprey as they always hang out right on surface! Almost taunting Osprey to try and get them!
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The Koi might “play” chicken with the Osprey once too many times and be sorry they did that. 🙂
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Koi have grown up with zero predators around them, so they have an unrealistic view of the world around them. Making them easy pickings.
They are not aware of the Osprey or playing chicken with it.
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They bob up and down at the pond at Emily Frank Gardens, probably because they think we humans all come bearing fish flakes. 🙂 They are true trusting unfortunately. Duck and hide is not how they operate.
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Oh, those sneaky seagulls! 😲 Love the story and the photos, Linda. Those poor birds have to work so hard for their lunch! Your closeups show the Heron’s beady little eyes so well. He definitely looked pissed off. 😆
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Thank you Debbie! I’m glad you liked the story and the photos. It was fun watching this interaction and yes, by the look on their face, they were not happy. 🙂 I was at the right place and right time to get the shots I did, but I was mad I missed the “swoop and steal” part. Those seagulls are pretty wily. Many years ago we had a seagull that used to swoop and steal people’s food off the grill at a riverside park. The park had charcoal grills all around and so it was a popular place to grill and the gull helped itself even if someone was “standing guard” with their food. 🙂
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I wonder who usually wins between the two of them when there’s not interference from an outside force.
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I often wonder that too because you see them fishing side-by-side all the time in the marshes. Do they just move on? I imagine there are enough fish they don’t go hungry, but still. Do you ever see the Metroparks photographer that captures the Osprey bringing back goldfish to the platform nest for its offspring at Kensington? It makes me wonder whether people are dumping their Koi fish at Kensington or the Osprey is raiding a nearby homeowner’s pond. No one comments on the source of the goldfish. A couple of fellow bloggers had their ponds raided routinely by Herons grabbing frogs and Koi fish.
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I HAVE seen those photos and never thought about it. The pond across the street from me is full of goldfish, so it seems normal to me to see an Osprey with a goldfish.
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Well, likely easy pickin’s for the Osprey! I had never heard of people dumping their Koi into bodies of water until recently. Most people use a bubbler to keep their pond from freezing over and the fish live there all Winter. But at Council Point Park I used to chat with a young fisherman. He’s around 40 years old and has fished there all year around for years, all catch and release. He pointed out some Koi in the Creek to me one day – two of them and they were huge. He said people were dumping their pond fish and they were gobbling up the smaller shad (feeder fish) and that’s how they got so huge. He took photos of the Koi and sent them to the DNR. The DNR was concerned about them, looking at them as possibly invasive. The DNR intended to “electrify the water” to stun the fish, collect them and study them, then return them to the water again. I had never heard of that and found that idea fascinating.
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Cute story to go with the theme challenge, Linda! I like your photos of the heron even without a taste of a fish.
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Thank you TD! I’m glad you liked the story. It was fun to watch this unfold, but I wish I had been quick enough to get a photo of the swooping seagull, but I think the shocked look on the two of their faces in the featured image was a lucky shot that tells it all. 🙂 I must have taken 10 pictures of the heron fishing, studying the water and bending closer and closer … I had a prime spot to watch him/her, plus I took photos of it watching the fountain that I used for Wordless Wednesday, but it was so stinking hot that day and I’d already been to Emily Frank Gardens, I had to get out of the sun.
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You did a great job of telling the story. I can imagine the expressions of the heron and cormorant. Score one for the gull! LOL! I love the photo of the two together.
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Thank you Ruth! I enjoyed watching this interaction play out. I wish I’d gotten the swooping seagull’s photo, but like you, I liked and was happy with the top photo of the two together after the seagull flew away with their fish. Priceless facial expression – it was honestly like they wanted my opinion on that gull!
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What wonderful pictures you took Linda! I have never seen a Double-crested Cormorant in person, heck the only black birds we see is the Blackbird and the Starlings.
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Thank you Diane! It was a fun encounter that day and all this happened so quickly. When the Cormorant and Heron whirled around to face me, I was glad I got that shot because they really looked at me like “did you see what happened here?” That’s the closest shot of a Double-crested Cormorant I’ve ever gotten. He/she was not far from me at all. Perhaps because it had something wrong with its foot, it just stayed there for a while, so I could get photos. I see a lot of Blackbirds and Starlings too. At the marshy venues, it is nothing but Red-winged Blackbirds. Today, another non-walking day as our area was the worst for wildfire smoke in the WORLD … I was going through some of my pictures from earlier this year and also last year (believe it or not) that I’ve not used yet and it seems the Red-winged Blackbirds are present on every trip to Lake Erie Metropark.
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The red winged black birds and starlings never left since arriving! They have devoured the bird food so bad that Terry will leave the feeder empty for 2 days before refilling it. They disappear for a few days and then come back. I saw that about the smoke there. I told Terry Linda won’t be walking today. They said on the news there was 700 fires. 😳
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I don’t blame Terry because the red-winged blackbirds hog the feeder and are as big of bullies as the blue jays sometimes. When I would be laying down peanuts for the squirrels and birds (along with sunflower seeds), it was the red-winged blackbirds who often swooped down for peanuts … they never took the sunflower seeds. I got into the habit of leaving a little pile of peanuts near the marshy area where they had their nests, so they would interfere with the squirrels, jays, cardinals and woodpeckers. I hope the woodpeckers are still there when I return there. I heard that 700 figure too and today they said it might be 744 now as a few more fires had erupted and spread. I planned to walk today as the air quality was better and wanted to take the car out, but no … all the weather folks, on multiple stations, predicted rain and storms late morning on, so I didn’t go … it was a beautiful day, sunny and blue skies for a change, so I was mad. Now it is going to be very hot again for the next 10 to 14 days unfortunately – sigh.
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Well, gulls are not known for their manners, that’s for sure. Great photos, story, and response to Terri’s prompt, Linda.
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No they are not Janis. Years ago we used to have this one particular seagull that raided all the grills at one of the riverside parks. That gull would swoop down and grab a hot dog right off the grill, regardless of whether someone was standing there cooking it. There were often write-ups about that gull and to beware of it. Thank you – I’m glad you liked this post. It was fun to put together.
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What an engaging “fish story” Linda! Or maybe it’s a bird story.😉
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Thank you Eilene! It was a fun encounter and I was glad I was there at the right place and time to tell the tale. 🙂 Yes, there’s the old expression about “the fish between two cats” where here the equation was one fish and three hungry birds!
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My sympathies to you, the cormorant, and the heron. You were all skunked!
Actually, you got some great shots of the cormorant and the heron, especially the one of both of them in the same frame. I don’t think I have seen them hanging out together very often.
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Yes, we can blame that on the heat and our collective slow response! Thank you Laurie! I’ve never seen a cormorant and heron hanging out together either, so I was happy about that shot of the two of them indignant at the seagull that swiped that fish! 🙂
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You got some great close ups, especially of the cormorant. I hardly ever see them that close.
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Thank you Sandra! I was pretty close to that cormorant, but the first time ever being that close. Perhaps he/she let its guard down as it had hurt its foot and was holding it up? They have amazing-looking turquoise eyes!
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A great story featuring the interaction of three different kinds of fishing birds. I love the juxtaposition in the picture of the heron across the lake from the water wheelhouse. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a cormorant so close to a great blue heron and was surprised to see the size difference. I hope you get to have more days like this before this hot, hazy summer is gone.
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Wow. That electrifying the water sounds crazy. Here I think it’s just goldfish, they never get very big, but there are a lot of them in there. We have osprey that fish there, and the grey herons fish there. Green herons and kingfishers too.
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The fisherman told me that and I remember writing about it as it sounded harmful to any of the turtles, crayfish, not to mention waterfowl that were in the water at the time. I don’t know if they did electrify the water because a few months later they tore up the Creek to widen it. We never had a big shad kill in the Spring like we usually have had after the brutally cold Winters and the ice melts. Once I went to the Park after a thaw and there were hundreds of dead shad and the ducks were swimming amongst them. It was a strange but amazing sight and I posted about it. Well, those birds are smart to scout out the ponds for meals. I wonder if any birds raid the Emily Frank Gardens pond – it has large Koi in that pond? I’ll have to ask next time I am there.
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Thank you Barbara! This was a fun post to put together. I have never seen more than one heron, nor more than one cormorant at this park, so I’m sure they live there year ’round. I was surprised to see the cormorant and heron fishing so close together. I’ve not seen that before, then when the seagull swiped the fish, they whirled around to look at me as if they were long-last friends. I should have included another photo of the heron looking at the fountain in this post. The waterwheel was a nice backdrop for the heron. We’re about to enter another long hot and humid stretch once again – 90s with a real feel near 100 starting Friday. Michigan is trying to keep up with North Carolina.
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Michigan won’t have to try too hard to keep up with North Carolina now. The weather has changed drastically down here and now August has had the coolest start in 20 years! It’s been cool, damp, dreary and rainy for days now, just incredible. Lots of flash flooding. Well, at least we don’t have to worry about the drought we had last year. It might get up to 80F on Saturday and probably won’t get to the average high temp of 90F until next Thursday. Amazing turn around after that blistering hot July.
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The weather fluctuations are incredible aren’t they? When we had the bout of four days of coolish weather, it was in the 70s – too bad it was all the wildfire smoke though. Today the wildfire smoke is mostly gone and it was 86 today, hot and humid. A trade-off I guess. Well, no drought is good for your state and for your botanical gardens when you get to visit them, hopefully if the rain goes away and it stays cooler.
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Oh Linda, this was such a refreshing post! I enjoyed your humor and the play on the “one that got away” – also, I DO remember the post about “there it is, right in that snag!” – and your photos let us feel like we were there on the walk with ya
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Thank you Yvette! This was a fun post to write and I am always happy if I get a series of pictures that can make a shorter post and give people a smile. I was especially glad that that the heron and cormorant whirled around like that to look at me like I should share their disgust. 🙂 Their displeasure with the seagull was all over their faces! The picture was fun as those two birds don’t hang out with one another. I just finished a longish post for August 17th on Osprey and got some oddball pics of those Osprey glaring at me that will be a funny post too. Keeping the “whimsy” part of blog going.
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Oh you are so organized to have the Aug 17th post scheduled. When my schedule gets a little more busy in the fall I will likely schedule some of my posts – or just take a hiatus – but I hate taking a break for too long – throws off my momentum – so in the meantime, I will enjoy the summer mode!
and yes, need to keep the whimsy part of your blog tapped into!
oh and seeing the word Osprey I always think of the backpacks!
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Yvette, sometimes I think I was more organized when I worked as I used to always have be one post ahead and sometimes, I lined up the Wordless Wednesday posts for weeks ahead. I told Terri when she asked me if I’d like to participate in her Sunday Stills Challenges, (I was still working at that time, two years ago), that I always bulk up my walk photos/stories in good weather so I knew I wouldn’t run out of photos/stories in the lean months as I didn’t get out as much then, mostly to Council Point Park. So, so far, I’ve been able to cherry pick out of my accumulated photos/draft walks to meet the Challenges. I would like to do a week in advance all the time going forward if possible. The visit to the Osprey nest was fun. I had to look up Osprey backpacks … I had not heard of that brand. Is this the brand you use? I remember you did a post about hiking with your husband once and you had an issue with your sandal. I think it was a two-day hike if I’m not mistaken. Last year I bought a backpack, intending to take it with me as I always carry the camera bag with me and pack in a clean garbage bag and poncho in the camera case in case of a sudden downpour, but I’ve not used it as it’s been so hot, the less to carry the better. You said you take a long break and it throws off your momentum – see, I feel like that with my walking. Even if I wasn’t walking in big parks, I was always walking at Council Point Park. I did drive by there yesterday as I wanted to take the car for a brief ride and the heavy construction equipment is gone, but one cement sewer remains in the parking lot, so I will be able to go there now, after this hot spell or by Labor Day as planned and see if the magic, as well as the squirrels and birds, has returned.
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Hi Linda – it has been so fun comment chatting this month!
Seriously – fills my heart and I really do like following along with your walking – and when you do not get to get out thee and get your steps in!
I also enjoy your very original photos and liked hearing about how you have so many to cherry pick from for Terri’s challenge (and your other posts – like WW).
Did you know that your posts sometimes come to mind when I see BushBoy’s posts. You both are diverse bloggers – but have some things in common with the nature theme – and I enjoy seeing Michigan shots and then his Australian Bush photos.
—
Oh and yes, Osprey is a top brand for hiking backpacks in the Priorhouse – but I think my husband and sons like other brands.
And oh my gosh! you remembered a very special hike for me! The hair tie that was used to keep my husband’s sandal on – that was crazy.
And speaking of osprey backpacks – on that two-day hike – did you know I still had healing ribs. I was in a car accident earlier that year and so I did not think I could carry a backpack. But the crazy thing is the way they slide over the shoulders and buckle on the hips – my ribs were never pulled on (I was also moving along with the healing – but still…) and we had poles and the hike was not treacherous (I can only do mild).
Anyhow, I can understand that you do not want any backpacks when it is very hot outside – but when/if you do go shopping for backpacks – Osprey has models like the Osprey Daylite and Daylite Plus –
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I have enjoyed our comments too Yvette! I always marvel at BushBoy’s nature posts; I especially like the colorful parrots and the kangaroos/wallabees (I can’t tell them apart). I didn’t remember that you were healing up at the time of that hike, but I do remember the broken sandal – you came to the rescue in a big way! When I Googled for Osprey backpacks, two backpacks came up right away that looked waterproof and also very lightweight. I thought it was a great idea … maybe I can implement the backpack idea in the Fall (although we are having a very warm Fall too I hear). I decided to apply myself in the house today and do some more deep cleaning. Before you commend me too much, however, I had a reason, because I am looking for a shoebox of photos. I want to scan them in for two posts I have in mind, one which would be for Christmas. All that work and they were not there. I am going to go through a seldom-used closet one day this week or next and see if I can find them. All my photos were in albums, but these were loose as I needed to buy a new photo album and had not done so. Fingers crossed I find the pictures, though it is not really the end of the world if I don’t. I also have a film reel shot at work at the ad agency in that box. My parents bought me a movie camera and I took it to work and took pictures around the office. I would have to have it converted though.
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Fingers crossed that you will find them – and it is cool that there is not a lot of pressure to find them….
and that film reel sounds like it will have some really amazing “culture-rich” footage – especially cause there were not a lot of folks with movie cameras – and so I really hope you find the box – for that – and for the photos that you need too.
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Unbelievably, I did another search today and even went through all the albums and scrapbooks as I wanted a few more photos that I didn’t scan in the first time for upcoming posts this year and next year, but no luck. And, of course, I made a mess pulling everything out of the boxes as there are so many of them and the pages are not hooked in the binders anymore as the bindings got dried out and pulled away. I’m glad I’ve scanned so many pictures back in 2017 as now I have them forever, but it’s sad to see how the albums just fell apart. My mom’s albums of her parents and grandparents from years ago are in excellent shape as they are black pages with photo corners and a tissue overlay.
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oh I have seen the tissue overlay and corners – so archival safe.
And sorry about the mess the searching created – I can relate because this year has included hours and hours of sorting and cleaning up.
From attic to closet to photos and bins of misc – and while I am glad to have done it – there is a certain drain that comes with it – and so as I read “mess pulling everything out of the boxes” – I could really relate –
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I hesitated to start that project today but because I am not as limber as I would like to be and I was already feeling the results of crawling around under the bed yesterday and decluttering all day Saturday, I decided to just try again today. I am disappointed too Yvette. It was a big project the first time – four days non-stop of scanning albums. The tissue paper kept those photos pristine and the other photos under plastic overlay on a sticky surface not so much as the sticky residue dried out and the photos shifted, some together.
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that is why I sometimes think the best way to keep phgotos is loose in a nice photo box – no sticky mess and no bulky albums – but then they are easier to look at in albums.
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That is true and I wish I had bought a handheld scanner as it would have made a far better job since I had to scan an album page at a time and separate the images later – I still have many to separate. Today I was working on some old photos I digitized in 2017 to use for a post, not related to what I was searching for. I had to tweak each picture – some of them were processed a long time. I remember my mom took B&W pictures with her Baby Brownie camera and whether it was the processing or the camera itself, (likely the former), all the pictures are 2 X 3. Very odd. What I was working on today are mostly B&W and one color photo in the same group, taken the same time. I thought that was odd. They no longer have the handheld scanner on Sharper Image, so I wonder if it was problematic.
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Great shots Linda and a great fishing tale! Sorry, I’m a week behind…..
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Glad you liked the shots and the fishing tale – I know you have fished in the past. I am not going to be behind here too … I got here late due to decluttering and working in the house, then some bad weather as well. I hope all is well with you – I suspect this month is making you sad.
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Yes, August has always been a bad month for me…I hate the idea of summer slipping away, its my birthday month and I’m another year older, and mom died last year in August. I’m a week behind in reading and don’t have anything ready for Thursday either. I’ve never gone fishing? But I did post a really nice photo of someone else fishing that I snapped along the river! I would like to try it sometime, but wonder if I would find it boring….and I would feel sorry for the fish. We finally got some rain around supper – not for long but some…it had been about two weeks…so happy I don’t have to water for a few days…
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I hate the idea of Summer slipping away too, except this year I am weary with Summer. Last weekend it was beautiful weather, no smoke, but horrible humidity and also very hot. Now we have three days of the same plus bad storms – we have one or two days before the heat wave is back. I’ve not been out as much as usual – just too hot to traipse around and I have pics from last year I have not used yet. I was thinking about your mom passing away in August. I did not know or remember your birthday was in August – happy belated birthday or best early wishes for your birthday. I thought you were going to go fishing once and write about it. I feel sorry for the fish when I see eagles and osprey grab them and they’re still alive and struggling to get free. We are getting a bad storm tomorrow and more rain Wednesday – the grass is still green, but we had not had any rain in about 10 days.
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I was going to go, when my brother was here 3 years ago, but i was busy looking after mom and he gave the reel and lures away when we were cleaning out the house. I didn’t really care, as I think I would find it boring, unless I could bring a book, plus a lot of people get up too early in the morning 5:30 to fish around here, or late at night when there are mosquitos. Yes, it hasn’t been a good summer, but I am hoping the last few weeks of August will be better and we usually have a nice and long fall. I always have more energy in the fall. Caught up, going to bed.
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I thought it was your brother when he visited a few years ago. I only went fishing once, with my father and I was 12. He bought me a kid’s bamboo pole fishing rod and he bought himself a reel and rod and lures as my parents rented a cottage for two weeks and it had a rowboat. Mom had made Jiffy Pop popcorn the night before and gave me the rest of the bag in case I wanted a snack and I baited my fishhook with it and caught a pike right away. The cottage vacation was no break for Mom as she still had to cook all the meals. I brought the fish home to take a photo of it and my father wanted her to fix it for dinner. We had black flies the entire two weeks, so we couldn’t sit outside and the Olympics were going on as well as the Republican Convention so good thing we all took books to read as nothing was on TV. She said “we can’t open the windows and I’m not cooking and smelling fish the rest of the time we are here.” The fish was put into a bag and into the freezer. We had to make a trip to the dump to get rid of garbage due to bears in the area … my father was miffed he didn’t catch anything and we never went again in the boat, nor fishing. I do hear that we will have a warm Fall like last year. It stretched to near November last year – good thing if it’s not sickening hot since Summer has been such a disappointment.
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I love the narrative from the poor birds perspective when the cheeky seagull swiped their lunch bless.
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Thank you Zena! That cheeky seagull swiped the fish right in front of all of our eyes. They sure were angry, as was I, for missing the shot! 🙂
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