I love me some sittin’ back and watchin’ the fishin’ that goes on at White Rock Lake.  Bein’ one who don’t consume no animal products, it ain’t that I envy the successful fisher so much as I love seein’ ’em doin’ the fishin’.

Some show up dressed in their Sunday best, then they pose so as everyone can look at the fetchin’ young thing wadin’ in the water.

Talk about keepin’ up appearances…

But then a bit of movement below the surface catches their eye.  Suddenly it ain’t about lookin’ pretty so much as it is about catchin’ some fish.

I normally think it’s like a game of bobbin’ for apples.  Sometimes, though, it’s just a little pokin’ of the beak into the water.  Like that’s gonna work…

Huh!  Would you take a look at that.

Maybe that’s why I always failed miserably while fishin’ with the family when I was a young lad: ’cause I ain’t got a clue about what works and what don’t.

Of course, even I know that little ol’ fish ain’t gonna satisfy a big ol’ bird.  So it’s off to do more fishin’…

And more fishin’…

And yet more fishin’…

At least this looks more like bobbin’ for apples.

But at this rate, I’m gonna starve just waitin’ on the darn bird to catch some more fish.

Finally!  Another little tidbit successfully captured and consumed.

Hell, I reckon it’ll take all day to fill that heron’s tummy if all it keeps catchin’ are these snacks.

Then another splash behind me grabs my attention.

Uh-huh.  Show off.

Come to the lake dressed in all white like some southern preacher from stories of old, wade into the water as though it’s one of them there baptismal services in the local river, then catch a fish that puts the heron to shame.  And you ain’t even as big as the blue fella.

Puttin’ on airs is all that is.

And the blue fella knows it.  Poor critter done been embarrassed.  Look at how it’s standin’ there tryin’ to act all not interested and stuff.

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Photos:

[1-8, 10] Great blue heron (Ardea herodias)

[9] Great egret (Ardea alba)