Photos under the Sun

First of all, let me say a very big “Thank You” to Barbara Kramer who suggested I use the names Starlet and Elroy for the two snazzy Snowy Egrets I noticed a month ago.  Here’s a link to the April 29^th post:  Part I

It looked like they were having a sweet little fling so I decided to keep an eye open for them the next time I was in their neighborhood.  Here’s what followed:  It seems that, after a few elegant moonlit dinners at Mullet King and All Ya Kin Eet Shraimppe, they were in full courtship and the displaying of mating feathers began:

They were full of the bloom and blush of first love:

But something was not quite right and Elroy could feel it in his neck feathers.  You see, every human and every critter on this wonderful earth has a divining rod.  For Elroy, the D-rod hid in 3 of his neck feathers and they drove him crazy when the balance was tilted:

[caption id="attachment_2010" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption=""The neck, the neck, the neck!!!!""][/caption]

He stopped showing off his magnificent feather fan and faced Starlet:

[caption id="attachment_2011" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption="“Is something wrong, my widdle, wee, sweet Starlet pea?”"][/caption]

Nearby, Krank the Great Egret (Sixth cousin, 10 times removed of Maya the Great Egret) tried hard not to listen but couldn’t help thinking:

[caption id="attachment_2012" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption="“Way ta go, Elroy!!! No good can come of this. Never ask a snowy girl why she’s feeling sad.” "][/caption]

Poor Starlet could no longer hide her pain:

[caption id="attachment_2013" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption=""Elroy, darlin', don't get me wrong but... I love the Everglades and the vast, vast plains and the ponds and the lakes and the magical evenings but I miss my barrier islands and home.” "][/caption]

Elroy thought a moment and asked:

[caption id="attachment_2014" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption="“Would it help if you told me about your barrier island home?” "][/caption]

At this, Krank the Great Egret (Sixth cousin, 10 times removed of Maya the Great Egret) let out a massive sigh, then shrugged, sucked in his cheeks and with a jaded eye mentally declared:

[caption id="attachment_2015" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption="“Diggin’ yerself in deeper, my friend—doant say I dinnit warn ya!!”"][/caption]

Starlet’s lore blushed deeper and deeper and her heart was ripe to bursting with love for this darling, caring Snowy Elroy.

And so the floodgates opened and Starlet told all who would listen–but only Elroy mattered—about the glorious barrier islands on the unparalleled gulf of Mexico:

Starting with a heart-wrenching description of her own piece of beach, where the famous Great Blue Heron, Baudelaire, took his evening stroll…

[caption id="attachment_2018" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption="Baudeliare, The Great Blue Heron--known to all, far and wide."][/caption]

…She continued late into the evening and night with tales of unimaginable joy of a wading bird’s life in and around the Gulf of Mexico.  But the whole family (at least, those who could) moved to the Everglades because something terrible—oh-so-terrible—happened in the gulf farther up the coast…

Come back soon for a long look into the marvelous world of Starlet the Snowy Egret’s Island home and other beautiful wildlife that also call it home.

Speaking of home, I came across something recently that I hadn’t heard since I left my home in Ireland.  It’s one of the pieces of music that my father, with uncontained joy, would share with us.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I’ve enjoyed rediscovering it.  HERE IT IS.