Yesterday evening we walked around Anderson Lake. There are at least two in Washington, so this is the Jefferson County one. The park closes at dusk and we left before dark.
The sky is amazing walking and I love to photograph water. The water is even more amazing that normally, but it's because the lake has toxic algae. Bright electric blue and turquoise floating mats of algae along the east shore of the lake, disconcerting and make me feel a bit anxious. A woman walked by earlier with her dog.
"What about the geese?" I ask. "Doesn't the toxic algae bother them?"
"I think it's only mammals." says my friend. "I don't understand someone bringing their dog."
We are both bearing cameras, hoping to sneak up on birds.
Through the trees I see a bird on a log sticking out of the water. We walk as quietly as possible along the path.
"Graup graup burp graup." Deep croaking hoarse sound. We both freeze. Washington state does not have alligators.
It stops. We go along the path even more cautiously. The geese are making their noises. That wasn't a goose noise.
An opening in the trees. We can see seven of the birds. They make the noises every so often. We are trying to figure out if this is courting. No. It is roosting competition. Whoever is in the water comes up one of the dead snags sticking out. The other either graups back or in turn goes into the water. And then approaches the same or another bird on a snag.
We try to snap shots through the trees, very quietly. And tape them. And grin.
We walk along the path to the open, but they are swimming away. And the geese are taking off. We've disturbed them.
And who, Beloved Reader, were we listening to? Towards the end of the recording here....
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/news/high-toxin-level-prompts-anderson-lake-closure
https://www.allaboutbirds.org