The great egret had returned on a late July morning to hunt in the shallow pond that borders our backyard. This is the second time in 22 years that we have seen that species here, other than an occasional flyover.
Its surprising visit lasted about three hours, the big, white bird hunting for frogs and mudminnows, both easy pickings, the water at the time no more than 4 inches deep and dropping.
It was joined by a green heron, a frequent visitor over the years. There was some hesitancy on its part when the egret moved close, eventually replaced by cautious tolerance.
I've written about the pond before, it being a large part of the appeal this place has for birds. In wetter times it has a depth of 4 feet in the middle.
It's small, no more than a quick stroll today, side to side in knee-high rubber boots unless you're concerned about sinking out of sight in the middle muck.
We've had nesting wood ducks, mallards, hooded mergansers and Canada geese. There's a snapping turtle, several painted turtles, seven species of frog at one time or another, and mudminnows, a wonderful species of fish.
Mudminnow was a heavy menu item yesterday. It's a very special animal, not only food for birds. Briefly, it can survive for long periods of time without water, wet mud being all it needs. It can breathe air, as you do, but with different mechanics. It also can survive extremely cold water, some say even ice.
I first learned of this fish two years ago when the heron kept catching them. The pond went dry last year, damp mud under a crusty cover, then frozen hard when winter came. Were there minnows down there, waiting?
