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Thursday, August 10, 2006

Stalking

The egret was hunting again, working the shrinking waters of my pond. I spotted him from a distance, slowed, and began walking quietly, hoping to get close enough for a decent shot.













He was wading slowly, carefully placing his feet so as to not make a ripple...trying to get close enough to the minnows for a good shot.

When his head was up, I froze. When his attention was elsewhere...I moved ... in slow motion, setting my foot down edge first, then rolling the sole down gently, quietly...so as not to make a sound.













When a minnow caught his attention, he froze, then leaned forward, focused only on his prey. My cue. I moved several paces closer, trying to keep up as he moved slowly, deliberately, along the opposite shoreline. About every third egret step, the pond minnow population dropped by one. He was quite the stalker.

Our paces were matched. Although I kept moving, so did he. Both of us were intent on our prey...on getting close enough for a good shot.













He got his.
I got mine.
Two stalkers.














... here's why the egret was hunting MY pond.
... where's a minnow to hide when the water goes away?
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14 comments:

  1. Oh my gosh FC! It doesn't even look like the same pond we fed fish in just this past March! I'm surprised there's anything living in your "mud hole". And poor Roundrock thinks he's got a pond problem!

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  2. If you could just roll some of their chunks of hail into the pond bowl, you'd probably be okay.

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  3. I enjoyed the parallel hunt yours and the egret's.

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  4. If the present weather patterns persist, we might all have to rethink our pond strategies.

    Excellent stalking. I'm glad you have gone digital so that you can share these encounters with us in near real time. Technology can be great fun!

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  5. Wow, your pond really HAS shrunk! Geez!!!!

    Great job stalking your camera target! I love stalking stuff! It's fun!

    Wonderful pictures.

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  6. Lightnin,
    You're right, it's changed dramatically since then. Come on hurricanes!

    Pablo,
    The answer was there in front of me all the time...

    Deb,
    Thanks!

    roger,
    they are a tough lot, but I think the pond has maybe two weeks of water left in it if the rains don't happen.

    Robin,
    Thanks, we were in sync.

    Hal,
    Thanks. The immediacy of digital is pretty amazing.

    Ava,
    Thanks, it is fun even if it doesn't always work out the way you want it.

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  7. That was a nice bit of stalking by you...I'm impressed.

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  8. WOW! I didn't imagine your pond was that bad! We really need some rain.

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  9. Abandoned,
    Just following the egret's lead.

    Hurricane Teen,
    It's bad.

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  10. So glad you're such a good stalker - those are incredible pictures!

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  11. Eee, that water's so low! I sure do hope you get some rain soon.

    Lovely egret.

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