Two Antlered Bucks

Paddled out to Creek's End early...thought to get pics of the little birds...took a seat at Owl Log with my back to the sun, and looking into the young Alders and tangle of snags...got pics of a couple of the little ones..for sometime...over at Heron Point there were little birds too...so walked over there....and from there I saw the Bucks...they are really magnificent!....the Bucks browsed a bit right where I had been sitting, then went up the Diversion Channel...I heard Hawk, somewhere again out in Chapel Meadow...so went up Lodgpole Point...stopped for awhile to try again for the little birds...they are really hard just to see, let alone to take pics....only one call from Hawk, but at Chapel Bridge I sighted Merganser upstream by the 'L' Snag....was able to get close, and took lots of pics and clips, but very hard to get good one...Merganser's feathers dont lend themselves to bright light....too much contrast...while taking these pics, I was surprised by Blue Heron gliding by....I'll save this surprise for sometime too!!....followed the way Heron went back to Creek's End...quiet...and sat beneath the Leaning Cedars where it was shady...and I heard a large Pine Cone fall right below the Ponderosa....'Chickaree will be along shortly!' I thought....and that happened...it was three cones together, and Chickaree went to work trying to seperate them..lots of pics and clips!!...for sometime....picked up and went up the Creek...and Pileated Woodpecker was by the Swath again...and again pics marred by too many branches in the way!!...it was a long morning...over four hours, with a pause for Breakfast...Ouzel showed up at the Pond...and a flock of Blackbirds...clip....but no Hawk....sunny hot blue...and weather report says more hot weather on way...Heron showed up almost to the day this time last year too, and the year before that!....cool...while getting ready for work, I saw Pileated in an old Black Oak above the Bus...very cool...Pileated is making the Backyard home...