Last night while we kept watch for beavers at the secondary dam where they’ve been recently spotted, they sneaked to the primary dam and gave a much awaited show to a young couple who had driven all the way from Modesto just to see them. They reported an adult and a kit but we don’t know if they saw Dad or GQ.
Meanwhile we were treated to a silent movie of the luckiest green heron ever who caught a MONSTROUS fish that was easily a third of his body length. He sat with it trapped in his beak for a long while, afraid to move it into swallowing position for fear it would get away. Then he embarked on the impossible task of turning it around working it into his throat, shaking the banana sized wriggling thing into his stomach. We saw the fish become a tail and then nothing at all.
For a moment after that the bird looked down at the water as if he still ought to find more fish. Then he seemed to feel the moving weight inside him and think better of it. With a repose worthy of an antacid commercial (“I can’t believe I at the whollllle thing”) he sat very still in the dark for the rest of the evening.
Have an excellent day what ever you do and here’s a little tradition I’ve grown very fond of.
On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me A Dam in Alhambra CreekOn the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me Two adult beavers and A Dam in Alhambra Creek
On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me Three watching women Two adult beavers and A Dam in Alhambra Creek
On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me Four furry kits Three watching women Two adult beavers and A Dam in Alhambra Creek
On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me Five City Council! Four furry kits Three watching women Two adult beavers and A Dam in Alhambra Creek
On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me Six baby ducklings Five City Council! Four furry kits Three watching women Two adult beavers and A Dam in Alhambra Creek
On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me Seven on committee Six baby ducklings Five City Council! Four furry kits Three watching women Two adult beavers and A Dam in Alhambra Creek
On the eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me Eight eager muskrats Seven on committee Six baby ducklings Five City Council! Four furry kits Three watching women Two adult beavers and A Dam in Alhambra Creek
On the ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me Nine children laughing Eight eager muskrats Seven on committee Six baby ducklings Five City Council! Four furry kits Three watching women Two adult beavers and A Dam in Alhambra Creek
On the tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me Ten news reporters Nine children laughing Eight eager muskrats Seven on committee Six baby ducklings Five City Council! Four furry kits Three watching women Two adult beavers and A Dam in Alhambra Creek
On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me Eleven cameras snapping Ten news reporters Nine children laughing Eight eager muskrats Seven on committee Six baby ducklings Five City Council! Four furry kits Three watching women Two adult beavers and A Dam in Alhambra Creek
On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me Twelve hatching turtles Eleven cameras snapping Ten news reporters Nine children laughing Eight eager muskrats Seven on committee Six baby ducklings Five City Council! Four furry kits Three watching women Two adult beavers and A Dam in Alhambra Creek
