(INTO THE WOODS AND BEYOND!)
Tossed a glance out the window one morning
And what did my wondering eyes see? Certainly not Santa Claus.
A young bobcat, perhaps only twenty ? Thirty?,feet from our door. It played with a flying grasshopper for a moment and then jumped into some bushes at the base of a palm tree.
I admit it…I eavesdropped on another animal conversation, or perhaps I just imagined it. So I’ll translate what was “said”, or use my mind reading abilities as best I can.
In this first photo, I just missed capturing a picture of the little guys lips moving. Let’s begin reviewing the conversation..
“What’s up there? What is it? I smell peanuts, I’m sure of it…HEY! Don’t pretend you can’t see me down here.”
“Well that just does it. I’m coming up, I’m going to find a way up there and then we’ll just see what you’re hogging for yourself.”
The bigger raccoon finally had something to say.
“Don’t you come up here, there’s nothing up here. I’m just tidying up this bowl thingy, it looked dirty.”
“Well, if it’s just dirty, why do I smell peanuts on your breath?”
Big raccoon started to get aggravated. “I smell like peanuts because I just ate a peanut flavored breath mint. Now get back down there!”
The little raccoon begged to differ. “I just saw peanut shells stuck to your nose, I AM coming up!” As you can see, the big bandit was trying to impede his progress.
A little snarling was followed by ungraciousness. “You only think you made it up here, anything can happen.”
Two seconds later, the big raccoon spoke right to me. “I did NOT push him off, he slipped.”
I didn’t buy this version of events, right after making such a ludicrous statement, the big raccoon smiled at me and stuck a peanut in it’s mouth.
” THIS IS QUITE PLEASING TO MY GASTRO SYSTEM. I DETECT A SLIGHT HINT OF TRUFFLES, WITH PERHAPS A DASH OF HICKORY TREE.”
“I MUST HAVE ONE MORE BITE TO BE CERTAIN.”
“OH DEAR…THAT LAST BITE MADE ME FEEL SO FULL..I NEED TO FIND ANOTHER LINE OF WORK… ONE WEEK ON THE JOB AND I’VE GAINED EIGHT OUNCES!”
HUMMINGBIRDS ZOOM AROUND SO FAST, I’VE RARELY SEEN ONE TAKE A BREAK.
IMAGINE MY SURPRISE WHEN I LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW AND SAW THIS PRETTY THING HAPPILY PERCHED OUTSIDE MY WINDOW.
SO….THESE ARE IBISES…IN MY OPINION, A PRETTY COOL BIRD.
FOR A WHILE THESE GUYS WALKED ALONG IN PEACE AND HARMONY AND THEN SOMEBODY GOT IN THE WAY OF SOMEBODY ELSE’S FOOD AND TROUBLE ENSUED.
I’VE HAD A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE BUT I’M TOO EMBARRASSED TO TALK ABOUT IT.
