TimeOut

Actually I am at the Slough today. But it's such a confusing word! If you are an English-born English speaker, you might say Slough (pronounced like Plow) when speaking of a town just west of Heathrow, above Eton. If you are a native American-English speaker describing a marshy body of water, you would say Slough (as in slew or bi-yew), OR if you are talking about a snake getting rid of his old skin, it would be Slough (sluff).

Let's get to the action. We came early because it was 70°F by 6am, the light is better early, and the wildlife are searching for breakfast...

Like this egret

and this one.

There were 5-6 of these tall white birds -- easy to spot at a distance but difficult to focus on, especially in direct sunlight. This light is just right!

My wife spotted this bunny, took a picture with her iPhone 8 to show me where he was (about 30 feet away)

After some serious searching, I found him again, breakfasting on a prickly-pear cactus fruit (what a difference the camera makes!)

I imagine from the look in his eye "who me? no, I didn't bite on that fruit, guv" juice dripping off his nose...

The duck found something too.

The egret continued to stalk something

then suddenly struck the water, causing a whole school of small fish (and me) to jump, seeking safety. I missed the shot but it was fun to see.

The occasional flower brightens up the native brambles and vines around the slough.

Hmm. A skunk might have passed this way.

There are marked paths but it's still tricky to spot the birds while simultaneously watching for flowers, mud holes, and trip-you-up rocks and steps.

Watch out for the branches!

And watch your step.

Finally coming back to the water's edge, I saw a ripple racing across underwater, looking like a submarine was passing through.

It was a cormorant which is the animal kingdom's equivalent of a sub, here shown coming up to swallow.

If only we could walk on water.

This stump is the TOP of the pecking order at the Slough. The King sits here.

Sometimes they don't want to have their pictures taken. I saw 3 hummingbirds this morning and couldn't get a clean shot on any of them.

But I got these little ones.

Mainly because they seem to cluster in groups of 20 or more, which gives me more than one chance to find a few in focus.

Cactus fruit, with a bit of mildew, I think.

Another angle on the King.

At one point the path comes close to a road. This lazy cat doesn't look like it has missed too many meals lately. My wife talked to a lady who says it lives in the Slough but she gives it breakfast each morning.

We took the right path.

The King and a blue heron, perhaps waiting for his chance to take over as Slough Boss?

Best hummingbird shot I could get today. Sorry.

And an artsy lizard capture.

Thanks for walking with us.

Cazalea

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