Visiting Swan-Like Possible Pelican On Lake Wichita

That which you see here I saw yesterday floating on Lake Wichita. I was on top of Lake Wichita Dam, on the Circle Trail, and as soon as the lake came into view I saw what looked like a big swan, with no other birds of the same feather anywhere to be seen.

The photo does not quite make this bird look as swan-like as it looked upon initial visual perusal. When I got the photo off the camera and in computer screen view, and saw that big beak, the big beak had me figuring this must be a pelican, but I'm sort of bird ignorant, so I really don't know. Maybe it is a swan.

Yesterday I thought this morning I would be navigating my motorized travel means to the Dallas/Fort Worth metro mess, specifically to Haltom City. But by the time last night's evening arrived that trek to D/FW was postponed a week.

Three days after next Wednesday's drive to D/FW I will be flying back to D/FW on a little plane to switch to a bigger one to fly to Phoenix for about a month long stay. I am looking forward to being warm in the outer world, and swimming in a heated pool.

And going to the Maricopa McDonald's to have a fish sandwich with Penny...

An Old Man In The Fosdick Sea Has Replaced The White Swan While Germany Floods

With the temperature a relatively chilly 87 degrees I thought it'd be a fine idea to drive to the relatively shadeless Oakland Lake Park to walk around Fosdick Lake.

And throw some swan food at the Fosdick White Swan.

However, the Fosdick White Swan was no where to be seen.

What I saw near the former residence of the Fosdick White Swan was the Old Man in the Fosdick Sea, sitting in the water, fishing for marlin, or maybe catfish.

Where did the Fosdick White Swan go?

Today I brought flour tortillas and brown rice tortillas for the Fosdick White Swan. With the Fosdick White Swan absent I threw chunks of the flour tortillas at the Fosdick Ducks. The ducks liked the flour tortillas, fighting over the chunks. But, there was no fighting over the brown rice tortillas. Those were totally rejected.

Fussy ducks.

I wonder if the Fosdick White Swan decided to fly out of town, heading north for the summer. Maybe a flock of swans flew overhead, with the Fosdick White Swan deciding to flock with birds of the same feather.

Speaking of strange bird behavior. This morning I was freshly reminded of my great disdain for passive-aggressive hypocritical neurotics.

No, I am not talking about Elsie Hotpepper, but I was sitting here thinking Miss Hotpepper has gone missing again when I saw Elsie show up, right now, via incoming email.

Let's open the Hotpepper email and see what's on Elsie's mind....

Flooding in Germany on the Elbe River.

Clearly Germany needs an Elbe River Vision to put a stop to this type flooding. Perhaps a flood diversion channel would have abated this disaster. J.D Granger really should lend his flood control expertise to Germany and help do to them what he's been doing for, and to, Fort Worth.

A Walk Around Fosdick Lake With A White Swan Being Kite Bombed With Turtles

The Fosdick Lone White Swan is still taking up residence at Fosdick Lake in Oakland Lake Park.

Today the Lone White Swan's entourage was only two ducks.

I think the Lone White Swan may be being always in the same shady location because he/she has learned that park visitors bring him/her goodies.

Like today I tossed some Swan food at the Lone White Swan in the form of whole wheat bread.

While the Lone White Swan was holding food court, nearby a she of the human type was being a kite launcher for her boyfriend.

You can see the Lone White Swan to the left of the trunk of the tree. The birds seemed not to mind the kite that was being launched and crashing, over and over again, in their neighborhood.

The kite was in the shape of a bomber aircraft. The kite would successfully launch and then do a dive bomb. To me it looked like the boyfriend was purposefully dive bombing the girlfriend. The longest the plane kite stayed aloft was about 30 seconds.

Today the Fosdick turtles were congregated on their main log. This log has done some floating to new locations on the lake due to strong winds of late. Somehow the Fosdick turtles seem to always find where their log has moved to.

This morning my computer based weather  monitoring device had the air quality being sufficiently bad that it was suggested sensitive sorts not expose themselves to it. That warning has since gone away. However, the air is noticeably smoggy, unlike the ultra clear sky I saw on Sunday from the top of Mount Tandy.

The bad air has not had any noticeable effect on my ultra sensitive breathing.

Today I Could Not Wake Up The Fosdick Lake Lone White Swan

It has been several days since I last visited Fosdick Lake in Oakland Lake Park in East Fort Worth.

The Lone White Swan who took up Fosdick Lake residence several weeks ago is still in the same spot, along with the Lone White Swan's entourage of ducks.

Today the Lone White Swan did not wake up from its slumber when I stood nearby snapping pictures. The ducks were equally sleepy.

I hope the Lone White Swan and the ducks aren't ailing from eating fish they caught in Fosdick Lake.

Having Myself A Closeup Visit With The Fosdick Lake Swan

On Monday I walked around Fosdick Lake in Oakland Lake Park in East Fort Worth and mentioned seeing a big white swan for the first time at this particular location.

Today, due to weather related restrictions as to the viability of my regular go to locations for my daily endorphin inducing aerobic stimulation I opted to return to Oakland Lake Park to walk around Fosdick  Lake.

One is never too far from ones means of motorized transport, when one is at Oakland Lake Park, in case a sudden downpour necessitates a quick run for cover. No sudden downpour necessitated a quick run for cover today.

I did experience a slight downpour whilst heading to the pool this morning. That downpour only necessitated jumping in the pool for cover.

Changing the subject back to the big white swan.

On Monday the big white swan was floating solo on Fosdick Lake. The big white swan was not part of any like feathered flock.

Today the big white swan had moved to shore and had acquired a following flock of ducks.

Usually the ducks of Fosdick Lake are very skittish. I get near, they flock to the lake.

Today when I walked up to the big white swan, and his duck flock, the swan was peacefully resting, as you can see in the photo.

I think I may have awakened the big white swan from a peaceful slumber, which resulted in the photo you see at the top.

It seems as if the ducks feel protected by the big white swan, losing their usual fear impulse which usually causes them to flock to the water to get away from the potentially dangerous human.

The big white swan seemed to have zero fear of me being a potentially dangerous human. I think I could have reached out and petted the big white swan, if I had been able to overcome my fear of getting snapped at by a biting bird.

Years ago I was attacked by a mad, aggressive goose in a raspberry field. One would think getting bit by a goose would be no big deal.

But it is.

It left me permanently scarred. Not physically, but psychologically, instilling a lifelong fear of angry biting birds. And plus-sized women with overbites.

Taking A Walk With A Big White Fosdick Lake Swan In Fort Worth's Oakland Lake Park

A Fosdick White Swan

As soon as I arrived, today, in Oakland Lake Park's east parking lot, I saw something I've never seen floating in Fosdick Lake before. That being a big white swan.

During the course of walking around Fosdick Lake the big white swan was motoring all over the lake, often coming close to shore.

Unlike the Fosdick ducks and turtles, the big white swan did not seem to care, even a little, if humans were close to it.

I suppose this fearless swan behavior may have something to do with the big white swan being bigger than a large percentage of the humans

In the valley from whence I moved to Texas, that being the Skagit Valley of Washington, large flocks of trumpeter swans visit valley farmland during their yearly migration. The flocks of trumpeter swans could be quite a spectacle, en masse on the ground, or taking flight, making a cacophony of noise with their wings flapping and trumpets playing.

Why was this Fosdick Lake swan all alone, I could not help but wonder? Where was his or her flock? Was he or she banished for some bad swan behavior?