Fish hunting, not the same as fishing.

After spotting a few muskrats in the feeder creeks, it was clear that this was going to be a photo opportunity. No muskrats would pose, however:

Even at this distance, I can see that there is definitely some animal out there. The gulls are paying some attention, too.

Whatever it is, it's huge. These are fish, and they are schooling. The slapping and splashing noise is attention getting. Wednesday morning in May and not a fisherman in sight.

Now I'm getting very excited. It's the same feeling I got when I spotted deer while hunting. The very size of these fish is thrilling to see.

They are carp. Almost as big as Ellie. Some of the local people catch these to eat. I'm told they are best when covered in cornmeal and fried.

By the way, these bold fellows were not deterred by me or any other human on the bank. Fishing them would have been so very, very easy.

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Little Pond

Low River in West Elmira, NY, USA

Remember the threat from flooding in West Elmira this past winter? This is why. The Chemung runs very shallow up here. We are walking near the Pirrozolo Park behind the Town Hall and Police Station. The levee ends here.

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Little Pond

The Pond Slayer

I shot this from all different angles, some of which give a very good view of the complexity of this windfall.

This particular view, however, is perfect for showing the Pond Slayer. I took many photos, and trashed most of them. While I was reviewing them, because they look cool, I remembered a program I saw at Educational Images Ltd.

I worked there for thirteen years, during which time I absorbed a lot of biology and earth science.

So. I'm looking at the photos of the windfall, when it dawns on me that I was looking at the likely death of Foster Pond. If the Water Board doesn't interfere, the windfall will decompose and clog the inlet. Remember that the "pond" here is really a boggy branch of the Chemung River that surrounds Foster Island.

The clogged inlet will fill in with detritus from the island, the levee and the various litterbugs that inhabit the area, both human and otherwise. And the pond will eventually be no more.

Wonder if I'll live to see it?

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Little Pond