I Got You, Babe

As I sat on the pier, I watched the many anglers try their hardest to catch those elusive fish they hoped to bring home for dinner. Some were lucky to catch a few small fish but there were others who seemed determined to snag the lager ones.

Being one who loves to fish, I wanted so eagerly to remind them that most of those larger fish they were seeking, didn’t come this close to shore. It would have taken approximately another twenty feet, maybe a bit more, with them standing at the very end where the water was deeper, for them to catch those fish. I didn’t say a word but as long as they were having their fun fishing, I’d have fun watching them.

It wasn’t a tremendously hot day and what amazed me was the vast number of people in the water. I sincerely doubted that the water was warm enough to entice that many people to swim, and yet, there they were, as if the water was just warm enough. My first thought was: snowbirds! To them, our water is always warm enough. Before I headed to the dock, I removed my sandals and waded in the water. I didn’t think it was that warm and certainly would not have sunk my body in it. As I said, the weather wasn’t that hot, and being in the cooler water, to my mind, would make me even colder once I began heading for the sandy beach. Oh well, they were enjoying themselves, as I was watching them, the anglers, the boaters, and the birds that were perched on the pier’s railing waiting for someone to toss them some unwanted bait.

I couldn’t help but notice how many birds would attempt to land on the pier, quietly and stealthy approach someone’s bait bucket hoping to steal a piece of bait. Several of the anglers could be heard saying, “Get outta here, you dirty feathered, birdbrains” while waving their hands to chance the birds away. Others were somewhat oblivious and never noticed.

Smiling to myself, I suppressed a laugh as I watched the birds return as quickly as the men and women who were fishing turned their backs on the bait buckets. This wasn’t a real concern to the anglers. They always arrived with two coolers: one held their lunches and cool beverages, white the other held additional cut bait.

For those who don’t understand why it’s important to keep bait cool, I’ll briefly explain. Bait can be anything from cut fish to cut chicken, etc. Using your imagination, think of how smelly an open bucket would be if all the smells from their cut bait was “roasted” in the bucket as the sun beat down on it. No, it would not cook but it would spoil enough to emit a horrible odor. I know because we had that problem, thankfully only once while we were fishing. We learned the hard way!

While I was watching the bait thieves, two birds caught my eye. I can’t even pretend that I know or understand the mating ritual of birds but if they have such a thing, I wonder if what I saw might have been part of it.

Two gray doves kept circling around each other. It appeared one was “interested” while the other was not, even though she refused to fly away. The male, I am going to put myself on a limb (ha-ha, no pun intended) and say I believe the bird to be the male kept nudging the other one who always took a step backward.

Should he move to her side, she sidestepped him. I’d seen him block her escape, so she flew over his head and landed behind him. Keep in mind, all this while never leaving the area where he stood.

This “dance” they did, went on for close to an hour.

They didn’t even leave their spot on the dock’s wooden rail to get a piece of cut bait like the other birds did.

Suddenly, their dance stopped. He stood in front of her, while she stared at him. Neither moved for at least ten minutes. Yet, something inside me whispered to ready my camera.

As slowly and quietly as possible, I changed to the larger zoom lens. Not wanting to frighten the gray doves (pigeons, whatever they were), I sat as still as possible fearing that if I moved closer, they’d fly away.

With the lens securely in place, I slowly crossed my legs, and rested my elbows on my knees. Then, bringing the camera up, I focused the lens and waited. I had no idea what they might do but surely, I wasn’t about to miss the shot.

Then it happened! He leaned in a put his beak on hers. She pulled her head back ever-so slightly but didn’t back up her body. He leaned in a bit more and she didn’t move at all.

I pressed the shutter release and caught what I feel had to be a beautiful photo to two doves kissing.

I know there are professional wildlife photographers who can capture much nicer photos than what I have but to me, it was the opportunity of a lifetime and I have it now stored in my computer.

When the male finally made his move and kissed the dove he was chasing around, I had one thought, “I Got You Babe” and he surely did.

After their “kiss”, they flew off together to what I can imagine a quieter place than the pier which by then, started getting noisier since it was lunch time and the anglers started conversing loudly with each other.

I knew in my heart, the doves would not return that day. I took the hint from them and the anglers. I packed up my camera and headed to the concession stand for lunch, and now when I hear Sonny and Cher sing their signature song, I think of the doves who gave me my photograph of a lifetime.

I Got You, Babe!