More Surprises–September 17, 2013
I can’t handle all the surprises the peninsula is throwing at me these days. Today it was two Ibises. They were busily working the marshy area at the north end, in the circle now filled with water. 
It is the first time I’ve ever seen them on the peninsula. To date, they have either been flying overhead, or on the far side of the lake. The standing water must have been irresistible to them.
They are another of my favorite birds–I mean, how can you not love that face? It’s interesting the way they forage for food. Moving slowly through shallow water, they probe the bottom by sweeping their long bills back and forth across the bottom. They can also forage on land. The Ibis’ preferred meals are crabs, crayfish, and other crustaceans, but they also eat insects, fish, frogs and a wide variety of aquatic animals.
I came upon this pretty little Indian Blanket wildflower standing all alone. Its bright colors called out for attention and it certainly got mine. Emerson was the one who said, “The earth laughs in flowers.” They are a cheery lot, and well worth the time to note their presence and have a brighter day.
There are still some babies around. To the left is a baby rabbit in the background, and the baby yellow-crowned was wandering about, as well. 
The moon is working its way to full. When it arrives Thursday, it will be the Harvest Moon. 
Green Thought: “The dangerous temptation of wildlife films is that they can lull us into thinking we can get by without the original models — that we might not need animals in the flesh.”
― Doug Peacock, Grizzly Years: In Search of the American Wilderness
