FALL GUYS - 8

[Shortsighted]

 Mergansers can sometimes be spotted in the fall. They have been known to explore small ponds and creeks. I cannot recall anyone ever visiting this kind of habitat with the aim in mind of finding merganser, Common or otherwise. Sometimes I think Common merganser invade these intimate inland waters because they are searching for birders so that they can flip them the bird. I’ve seen a gang of them staking out a park creek, turning their head from side to side in a furtive manner. They strike me as a gang of punks looking for trouble. For instance, a small gang of Common merganser were sitting on those larger rocks that boldly jutt above water level in Highland Creek, which is in Scarborough, and their presence in the park seemed completely out of place. Mergansers therefore remain plausible fall guys.
 
 
 Small ponds such as Reesor pond and Amos pond regularly feature foul weather fall fowl. Try quickly saying that three times. Encountering Hooded merganser in a flooded forest such as Amos or in a marshy wetland pond is commonplace in fall. Amos pond is quite deep because it was a stone quarry before the flood and it therefore provides these diving fowl with what they want. Satisfied mergansers are good subjects. Personally, I would have held out for more. Reesor pond is very shallow by comparison, so I tend to see disgruntled grebe at that location rather than happy merganser. Nonetheless, merganser have been known to visit the site and I’m sure they regretted it afterwards.






 
 

[Shortsighted]

 Even when superbly well-designed for life afloat there are times when circumstances demand time spent in dry dock. At any marina in the late fall you shall be witness to the sad remains of desiccated boats atop traditional wooden frames each covered by an undistinguished tarpaulin that unceremoniously flaps in the uninvited breeze, a scene that makes me turn away from the smite while turning up my collar in synchronous reflex.



THE THIN RED LINE

 
 
 Not all vessels are hoisted to purgatory. Some remain due to shear gravitas. Those that remain are empty and ride high in the water to reveal their thin red line, which is suggestive enough for a passing cormorant to be shown the way. Follow the thin red line, young cormorant.. Perhaps the ship is named the Cormorant. Perhaps my imagination runs away with me. You be the judge.