Can you believe I actually made it out for a paddle?  I know I was shocked too!   Poor kayak is dying of loneliness in the carport and this is only the 2nd time I've been able to get it out (and boy is my shoulder telling me that).   As promised Epic stayed home and Louie and Teddy got to go for the ride.  It was a lovely morning without much breeze but WITH mucho skeeters!   Every time I paused for photos the attacked!

Best kayaking buddies ever and not long after Louie just pooped out and laid down and napped.   Teddy as always was watching all the stuff going on.  He loves this!

Heron Island is pretty quiet.  I really don't think there were as many nesting pairs here this year and honestly know that a number of the nests were in trees that had fallen down over the winter.    There are just a very few fledglings still on the nests that I think are on the young side yet to fly off.  I didn't see hardly any adults and just a few leftover young-uns were hanging out in areas around the lake.    It is late enough in the season I think that many have headed out to other feeding grounds and maybe started on migration.  Not entirely sure. One gets stiff legs standing around for so long!

All his buddies had flown off while this one just kept giving me the hairy eyeball.   Their faces look so weird straight on.

Always striving to get some decent in flight shots of these prehistoric monsters.   This is one of the teenagers.   

Not to be outdone there are the pelicans.  Also rather prehistoric looking when you see them.

I never noticed before the crook in their neck as they take off.

Yeah he didn't go very far.  Apparently I'm not as scary as I thought.

This I think based on the looks of the head is probably a youngster as well but honestly I'm not sure.   Definitely not as wary of the boat as the adults are. There were quite a few orioles flitting around in the willows but never slow enough or where I could capture them.   This western kingbird though was actually in good light to photograph. Not a paddle picture but remember a few months back when I posted about the bald eagle nest that I'd never noticed right by where I live?   Well I am happy to report they raised a very healthy looking youngster (again taken from about 1/2 mile away).   Isn't it huge?   I can say I've never seen a brand new one so this is especially cool - even if it is far away.   How I'd love to be able to get a webcam up there!  LOL