Family

Fabulous weekend at the cottage with the family.  But that's not what this post is about (or maybe it is...).  Watch the video below - but don't read what follows (I know this is a PHOTOGRAPHY blog - but this video is way cool...)

Sorry for the poor quality - had to downsize for this site.

At first I thought the larger fish was eating the little fish - it looked like a feeding frenzy!  But after a while of watching, it became obvious that the big fish wasn't eating the little fish - she was protecting them - from me!  Heather looked up 'cat fish' in our cottage reference book and saw that this behaviour is normal for this breed of catfish.  They will hover around the brood and protect them - vigorously if needed.

During the course of the weekend I encountered a couple other examples of close knit families.  Here are a couple other pictures.

OK - without sounding too proud of myself - this may be my favourite picture I've ever taken.  Hannah, Grandpa and me were out in the boat taking a little travelled route behind a couple of islands.  The water is VERY shallow and we were going very slow.  Because of our slow speed I saw this Momma Loon with her two little ones.  We sneaked close and Momma, while keeping a very close eye on us, let me take a bunch of photos.  After a while she had enough and moved quickly away while letting out several loud calls.  Grandpa wondered is she was calling Dad for help!  What a way cool experience.

Here we have another happy family!  A Merganser family.  They were happily fishing until I came around in the kayak.  Then, Momma decided to move them away.  Slowly at first, but then the young ones grew uncomfortable with my presence and started doing a very cute run/flap/swim.  They made it across to the shore of an island and then happily continued their fishing.