Sitting here enjoying a hot after-dinner Christmas glögg. A Swedish tradition. The spiced raisins and almonds at the bottom of my glass mug taste cinnamon and clover. Delicious. I’m off tonight from this month’s serious work crunch.
But it’s already dark and too late to go see the birds at the salt marsh. Haven’t managed to get any such privileged breaks so far this week. No new pictures to share or feathered stories to tell. But since Thursday has (kind of) been my posting day, I thought I’d let it all hang out. We’re among friends, as Ben Huberman put it in his post about this week’s photo challenge: Oops! So here we go. My biggest oops in the history of salt marsh stories.
It’s a beautiful day early March this year. Everybody is going about their business as usual. Mama Sandy is sitting on the eggs and Papa Stanley is keeping her company at the nest.
And I’m keeping company to both of them. Suddenly Stanley stands up. He turns around. Flexes his wings and talons.
He looks over my head intensely towards the bay behind me.
I am still only focused on his move and wonder what that excitement is all about. What I don’t see is this (photo taken a few weeks later).
Stanley takes off, staring right above my head. His is talons are ready.
Action! Whatever will happen I’m ready! I see Stanley meeting a big bird in the air, just three feet above the nest. His talons are pounding the attacker. But my camera doesn’t see it. It needes a second or two to reset itself after I’d shot the full sequence. NO! Not now. Please. Come back!
When it finally wakes up after the two longest, most dramatic seconds in the world, it finds Stanley diving down to the marsh for the second time. To teach the silly young man a lesson.
What an event! Stanley successfully defends Sandy and the eggs in the nest…and I miss it. The trust in my photographic skills gets a bigger dent than the leg and butt of the young culprit.
But I recovered. Oops happens. And just a few weeks later, when the eggs had hatched and the little nestlings (who’d grow up to three mighty birds) were in the nest with Sandy, I witnessed another impending attack by the same silly bird. But this time Sandy was on her watch and thwarted his attack before he even got off the ground. And this time my camera didn’t sleep.
But did the young Blue Heron learn his lesson? That remains to be seen when the nesting season starts again in a few weeks. I hope to get some fresh news for you over the weekend.
I think it’s time for another cup of glögg. You’ll find an impressive collection of oops and disasters here.
TINY LESSONS BLOG 
Enjoyed the gogg and oops. That sounds like a Nordic law firm. 🙂
Oh, haven’t heard of that law firm 😀 I hope oops doesn’t happen to them as often as it happens to me.
🙂
Incredible photos Tiny — even the oops. So much drama on your salt marsh, so lovely. 😀
Glad you enjoyed the drama even when I missed the “fight”. Thanks for you visit and kind comment, Jet 🙂
Great action shots Tiny, you have done well despite the Oops! Enjoy your rest and the rest of this season, I have had a poor birding week also, but that’s birding! You have your and bad, and sometimes you just don’t get the time. Have a great weekend:-)
Thank you Ashley. It would have been wonderful to capture the defense itself, but it wasn’t to be. I hope to get in at least one good walk over the weekend, hopefully two 🙂 Have a wonderful weekend you too!
You captured the drama Helen that’s for sure!! Is the same blue heron around this year? If so, I expect Stanley and Sandy will be ready for him … And you will be too. 💛
Yes, he’s still here. Sometimes the Major chases him away, but he always appears again. I’ve seen Sandy already watching him carefully…so I believe they are ready for him. Me, not so sure 😀
… Cue dramatic music … as we wait with baited breath for the dram to unfold in next week’s episode …
That’s right, you never know what will happen in the salt marsh soap opera 😀
Sometimes Christmas glögg and being in the moment is all we need! (sounds yummy!) Loved your story anyway Helen. Glad you are slowing down. 🙂
That’s so true. Tonight I’ve enjoyed just being, then writing and now being again. I don’t know if you remember the dream I had and you interpreted…you were right, I won the bid. And now I’m very busy, but happy too 🙂
Yay!! That’s so good. I do remember that dream. Never underestimate your dreams, they speak to us from deep within. I am glad you are happy. 🙂
I like the view from your balcony. Festive!
I enjoy that view too…and right now festive all over the place, particularly in the evening 🙂
Ohhh, I especially like the action you captured in the next to the last frame. Impending attack, indeed! Enjoy that lovely glögg!
Sandy was so cool and collected. She had been watching him for a while, and then saw he was coming. She was alone with the chicks (Stanley was fishing), so she didn’t want him to come up over the nest 🙂
Ah tiny, even your opps are full of drama! LOL
I will email you sometime this weekend to apologize for not doing what I said I would and an explanation. I’m so bad lately.
LOL. It was a dramatic season in 2015. I just thought about messaging you, not because of “that” (no stress, please), but just to hear how things are going ❤
We both had the same idea! I knew you were super busy, so I’ve held off. 🙂
I so love the story behind your OOPS, darn that delay though at times, lol – enjoy your glögg! 😉
That delay found the most effective spot to create the oops. I’m still fetching the raisins from the bottom of my second cup 🙂
You have the most photogenic birds ever. Excellent captures. I would love some glogg while I blog pretty please……..Does it have rum in it????
Thanks Cindy. No mine doesn’t have rum in it. It’s red wine, spiced with cinnamon, clover and honey, and with added raisins & almonds – all warmed up. And if you want to have it stronger you can add little vodka to it, but I like it just made from wine.
Your Christmas drink sounds delicious, I can almost taste it on my tongue you describe it so well.
It is so easy to make, and fits so well with the season. I always find myself eating the good stuff long after the drink’s gone.
May your Christmas be blessed with glogg and goodness. 🙂 I think the biggest oops was on the part of the heron. What a mistake he made. 😉
I agree! The Osprey family is very determined to keep their nest for themselves. I hope that this GBH has grown up a bit and will leave them in peace this coming season. Very nice to see you Gallivanta & I wish you a wonderful Holiday Season 🙂
Stanley’s wing span – simply awesome!
It is! It took me a bit of learning to get the whole wing span into the picture when he suddenly decided to take flight 🙂
A very entertaining ‘Oops’ series, Helen. I’d love to join you in one of those glöggs. 🙂 Sound really delicious. Stanley is such a hero! No wonder Sandy loves him. 🙂 Enjoy the rest of your relaxation time. xx
Thanks Sylvia! It would’ve been nice to have glögg-company! Yes, Stanley did well, and later on Sandy too when hubs was out fishing. They are such a cool couple. Have a wonderful weekend. XX
Such interesting photos and facts! If you have time, read this article about a Blue Heron and an Osprey: http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2010-10-17/news/os-lk-sherry-boas-simply-living-1018120101017_1_great-blue-heron-osprey-fish-hawk
Thank you for sharing this interesting article! My interpretation of the outcome is that the Osprey gave up because it was “only” a perching platform, and not a nest. They usually have several perches they favor at different times of the year. Ospreys are not considered territorial birds, and that is because they will only defend their immediate nest – and in that they are fierce, which I’ve been lucky witness twice last season.
I can’t help imagining the sound of glug, glug. glug as the glögg goes down.
Oh, it goes down much slower than that nowadays 🙂
What a lovely bird-story with plenty of suspence and adventure,dear Tiny!Wonderful photos,even the oops moments had a lovely role to play!Thank God the family was saved thanks to Stanley’s brave efforts and fights.Enjoy a wonderful weekend with more glogg hot drinks and less work 🙂 Doda xxx
Thank you dear Doda! I can now laugh at the oops, but was close to cry when it happened 🙂 I have a good weekend and I’m finally planning to go to see these fellows later this afternoon. I wish you a wonderful weekend as well! Tiny XX
I share your feeling then,I was reading and reading with great anxiety to see if the family would be saved.Enjoy your walk and your wonderful friends there 🙂 xxx
Thank you, Doda 🙂 XX
Wow! The neighborhood is getting some drama! …Bird lives Matter! Great photos Tiny! 🙂
Thank you H.J.! I hope we’ll have little less drama this nesting season 🙂
Have a wonderful weekend, my friend.
I laughed out loud when I saw the oops photos. I KNOW those seconds well, especially when I am doing long exposure and I see a truck coming towards me standing on a rickety bridge that shakes, rattles and rolls any time a vehicle crosses it. And yes we both know what happens to that picture cooking. LOL Great story … and take care of you. I KNOW busy, oh believe you me! I don’t have any hot glogg and truly wish I could join you. LOVED the photo of your Christmas lights, something I have yet to photograph. *sigh* Maybe not this year? LOL Time is just flying!!!! ❤
I knew you could relate to this oops, Amy 🙂 Those delays are bound to happen when we’re most eager to capture some action, or are working ona long exposure. I wish too you could have joined me for the Christmas glögg! We have so many holiday light here around that one evening I plan (hope) to go out there and take some photos. Take care and have a wonderful weekend, Amy !! ❤
I plan on getting some photos too. Hopefully tonight!! Happy lights hunting, my friend! I’ll think of you as I try to figure out the best settings in which to shoot. It’s been a while since I’ve done night photography. LOL (((HUGS))) Amy ❤
Good hunting to you too, Dear Amy 🙂
What awesome photos you captured! 🙂
Thank you Donna! Some of the captures were nice, but would have liked to document the main drama of defending the nest…but that was not to be 🙂 Have a wonderful weekend.
Too bad with the Oops shots but the rest were amazing photos and story. I hate those seconds when the camera resets… Happy Holidays Tiny!
Yes, it’s bad when it happens in the middle of some action 🙂 Happy Holidays to you & yours too! I hope the little baker has lots of fun!
You’re funny Helen! Hope you have a wonderful break from all of your hard work!
Thank you Kathy! I had a very tiny Christmas break and now a second one…trying to catch up 🙂
Even your oops are exciting. Well done.
Thank you and sorry to respond this late…work intervened 🙂
You do such a good job of capturing life at the marsh that you deserve an occasional oops (and another mug of glögg).
Thank you! I had a few mugs of glögg over the Christmas time. We have a say in Sweden “Christmas lasts until Easter” but that doesn’t apply to glögg 🙂
I marvel at what you are able to capture!
Thank you Elena! Hope your holidays have been good this far 🙂
Even your “oops” impresses me. Busy is okay. We do need to allow ourselves to take a step back and just “BE”. I like the sound of your drink very much. Sometimes I will lace my coffee with cinnamon, almonds and coconut flakes! Hahaha. I hope your festivities were wonderful. How nice it must be to sit on your balcony and sipping whatever and just enjoying the moment. I can’t wait to see all the goodness 2016 will bring. Have a lovely day Tiny! 🙂
Thank you Koko! And sorry for this tardy response. I had piled up too many work commitments to be done before end year…and finally it’s all done and I can breathe out 🙂 Have a wonderful New Year and I wish you peace and happiness, and life just the way you like it, in 2016! XX
Please never worry about responding. I know how busy you are! You have a lot on your plate with keeping up with your blog and with life tossed in, well…things do add up! I always love hearing from you, but know if I don’t I still value your kindness. Here’s to 2016! I am so excited to see what is in store for all of us! Take care Tiny! Peace, Koko 🙂