Before the sun rose, we punted the boat across the shallows to the island, passing columns of black swans ...
Geordie came out of the rivermouth and motored slowly across the inlet.
That's our net. I can see its meandering under the murky waters. Fishing pelicans give its position away.
Later, as the water gets too deep for them to duck down to the net, ripping out mullet and whiting or just stripping the scales clean off the fish, they hang around the boat, waiting for trumpeters.
Nice post.
ReplyDeleteHow'd you get that orange to go like that?
ReplyDeleteWhen you post these poetic images, these snapshots from the ponds and lagooons, I'm prone to thinking you've got this thing going on, this image and word representation of image thing that - whatever the reality - captures the motivation behind and the pleasure of doing what you do.
There's more to it than what we see here, but what we see here is like poetry, that milisecond when you are no one, no where, just a feeling, a glimpse of something special, picked out and presented.
Fleeting but gorgeous..
I've had a good day.
Thanks Ciaran and MF. Sometimes I'm thinking about the story while I am out there - but also the early mornings on the water are so surreal and quiet (punctated by outboard motors and searing chill).
ReplyDeleteIt's a Fanta Sea, that orange! (heh heh). A funny morning - the dark side of the inlet all blue and gloomy and then heading towards the hidden sun, everything started glowing. I did play with the 'saturation' button but apart from that, it is what it was.
I wish there was an arrow device, so I could point to the picture of the pelicans on the nets - and write "That's the moment I really hate them!"
ReplyDeletePelicans are a joy but when they are eating fish out of the nets in front of us, well, they are akin to seals, stingrays and fisheries officers.
When they have the gall to come back for seconds, is when I love them.
I could go on ... as soon as a species competes with humans for food, then they are in trouble and most likely heading for extinction.
Well, there is one pelican that you are sure to like and it is Kurungabaa! Strangers and selkies!
ReplyDeleteCool, thanks Ramsnake. I will check it out. I don't really hate pelicans. That last sentence was an observation on our screwed up history with competitive predators, not a sentiment of mine own.
ReplyDelete