tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-204548742024-03-07T18:51:42.955-08:00See Jane Bird. Bird, Jane, Bird.my encounters with birds and other critters in Louisiana (mostly)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06426579273598914488noreply@blogger.comBlogger183125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20454874.post-78405580143850465452013-08-04T18:53:00.000-07:002013-08-06T18:55:30.072-07:00Cypress MysteriousCome along with me as we paddle our way through the cypress forest of Lake Martin (near Breaux Bridge, Louisiana). Fair warning, it's quite "balmy" this time of year! But there are wonderful sights to see...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Blue Heron (yeah, I know it's white :) This is what they look like their first year)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Juvenile Yellow-crowned Night Heron</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Blue Heron</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Weird alien swamp creatures that had crawled out of the primordial ooze</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06426579273598914488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20454874.post-79004407228193512682013-08-03T18:26:00.000-07:002013-08-03T18:34:44.060-07:00Noisy babies!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adult Mississippi Kite</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miss Kites in love</td></tr>
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There's a particular type of raptor that is increasingly more visible in urban and suburban Baton Rouge in the summer time. All you have to do is look up to see the unique shape and flight pattern of the Mississippi Kite on the wing. People say it's a new phenomenon; that there were no Kites overhead 10 or 20 years ago. I'm not sure we know the reason for the apparent increase in population around urban areas, but it's undeniable. They'll nest in the taller trees in just about any neighborhood. And then, in late July, come the babies. And not only will you *see* the Kites, you will hear them, too! A constant chorus of whistles from the adults and babies alike as the young'uns leave the nest and learn to make their own way, with some help from mom and dad of course. I'd been hearing the family across the street from my house, but today was the first time I was able to get pictures. What a fine looking bunch! The babies are the typical stripey brown and white of most hawks, but the adults are a fine gray with the most wonderful red eyes set deep in a dark mask. Definitely one of my favorite birds!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/71657276" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> </div>
<a href="http://vimeo.com/71657276">Baby Mississippi Kites</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/seejanebird">Jane Patterson</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06426579273598914488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20454874.post-80016079695159070862013-07-31T20:20:00.001-07:002013-08-02T07:10:45.834-07:00Paddling a new stretch of Blind River<div style="text-align: center;">
I read somewhere that the area of Blind River below Airline Highway was a good place to paddle. I'll have to see if I can find where I read that, because they were right and I thoroughly enjoyed my outing last weekend. </div>
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The put-in location is the St. James Boat Club on Airline Hwy in St. James parish. There is no fee, but there is a kiosk to fill out a Wildlife Management Area check-in card since you're entering the Maurepas WMA here. You have to have a valid hunting, fishing, or LA Wild license to enter.</div>
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It's on Airline Highway in St. James Parish. If you look on the map you can see that it's in a very rural area. The middle of a wildlife management area, actually. There is nothing else around...which makes it very easy to find.</div>
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The boat club has 2 concrete boat launches, a large parking area, a rec building and a park. </div>
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I chose to go south from the boat launch. The river was fairly wide, but the two bridges that I had to pass under made me think I'd probably have the place to myself.<br />
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Except for the alligators, of course. More alligators than I've seen in any waterway in all my kayak travels. Most were small....4 feet and under. And *all* of them went the other way as I approached...<br />
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And LOTS of birds! Nice selection of waders...herons and egrets and spoonbills...<br />
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Even a few of these Solitary Sandpipers. I liked this 3-legged one...<br />
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More Tri-colored Herons than you could shake a stick at. And they let me get so close!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tri-colored Heron</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Family of Black-bellied Whistling Ducks</td></tr>
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Passing under the bridges was probably the most treacherous part, what with the dive-bombing Barn Swallows that were nesting under the bridge...</div>
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And they were working on the railroad bridge. They had a pile driver going which definitely interrupted the tranquility of the scene..<br />
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.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_o7On2TTC6Z7DO3aNZDPwdVrcU-_IBIjFGQCeqEWOG6FXh8Q9L0d1ADIdfd0x-PuLWEJuYDik7aocf5LZKra58-Okm57aWTi617MM7RGvzcLCCpJtyPxDq71hgZMvbvaldcwhpg/s1600/pile+driver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_o7On2TTC6Z7DO3aNZDPwdVrcU-_IBIjFGQCeqEWOG6FXh8Q9L0d1ADIdfd0x-PuLWEJuYDik7aocf5LZKra58-Okm57aWTi617MM7RGvzcLCCpJtyPxDq71hgZMvbvaldcwhpg/s320/pile+driver.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoKXTq-CL3mqoxJ3v8sZCk4LQ5gJaecr_I-kph2rqpWq6b0WEvQEt-tA5GzjfTNujw937mYDWo_eFxtXU6Lthy9-OVaMnnulcW6W_9GnFmlGKveqieOzCyn2m22gLp9gSz5BRf6w/s1600/IMG_8500.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoKXTq-CL3mqoxJ3v8sZCk4LQ5gJaecr_I-kph2rqpWq6b0WEvQEt-tA5GzjfTNujw937mYDWo_eFxtXU6Lthy9-OVaMnnulcW6W_9GnFmlGKveqieOzCyn2m22gLp9gSz5BRf6w/s320/IMG_8500.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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This was the railroad bridge you have to pass under. You very nearly have to duck, even in a kayak. You could probably get under in a canoe or pirogue, but not a bass or speed boat.<br />
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These were the only other two boats I saw...and they must have come from the canals to the south, because there is no way they passed under the railroad bridge.</div>
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A natural totem pole</div>
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The nice things about this location...for the most part, it's away from population so after you get away from the launch, and the pile driver, it's fairly tranquil. However, once you do return to civilization, it's nice to find a decent bathroom available.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3K0Uc2MyHR3rshnIencuck_-um0HUb8RQIvOJkTz04DiN1Y9rQ6xwAdMRtQNTUs8er2nQsns2gIxEwyzEZuffmFxGjsuk-MR0Ouv-g3R_Q24hFy8HWjL3VkWNKAcMSOyZ4yjIug/s1600/P1100561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3K0Uc2MyHR3rshnIencuck_-um0HUb8RQIvOJkTz04DiN1Y9rQ6xwAdMRtQNTUs8er2nQsns2gIxEwyzEZuffmFxGjsuk-MR0Ouv-g3R_Q24hFy8HWjL3VkWNKAcMSOyZ4yjIug/s320/P1100561.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">what?</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06426579273598914488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20454874.post-22761960340116333342013-07-21T19:06:00.002-07:002013-07-21T19:09:23.585-07:00Trees and Trails Found a new trail to explore today. And it's nearly in the heart of the city. A nice green space...the only downside being its proximity to the interstate. Burden research farm is an interesting place. It is home to the Rural Life Museum, Windrush gardens and Barrett Arbortetum. But a few years ago they also added nature trails. The trails are particularly focused on tree interpretation. But with 4 miles of trails throughout the property, there is plenty of area to explore.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbrw2A0XP5xeIJOLD0kzU1hLKapXb-HH0_kk4yFJW44Il_EVejvl7Xrd7QYvX7nzw9hxQMpwI-9MckwUHEewPvg2e_gE3FCp0N_fyg4_aFKlZPkSYdxvYKZ1yJBc5rHef2qk-7TA/s1600/burden+map.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbrw2A0XP5xeIJOLD0kzU1hLKapXb-HH0_kk4yFJW44Il_EVejvl7Xrd7QYvX7nzw9hxQMpwI-9MckwUHEewPvg2e_gE3FCp0N_fyg4_aFKlZPkSYdxvYKZ1yJBc5rHef2qk-7TA/s320/burden+map.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The trails are gravel and pretty well marked. The front areas areas have obviously been cleared of underbrush and most understory. Several of the trees are marked with signage, which is kinda nice....I learned a few things. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb0cmyLUmk1P3cCjE9YM5bNwklnF0a2qs_rK4bu6imZY62TDbhvTzaoltNrJMqRRlhGxCy3f6CANHDjvxUZez1S5AM_3vdPd67rMkxEdBjoElMdVHsyQplL2EQI5aTXWi_45PwDg/s1600/burden+trail+map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb0cmyLUmk1P3cCjE9YM5bNwklnF0a2qs_rK4bu6imZY62TDbhvTzaoltNrJMqRRlhGxCy3f6CANHDjvxUZez1S5AM_3vdPd67rMkxEdBjoElMdVHsyQplL2EQI5aTXWi_45PwDg/s320/burden+trail+map.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trail Map</td></tr>
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The highlights of the morning were multiple male Painted Buntings singing. There were Indigo Buntings singing, too. They are certainly some of the last ones to be nesting in Baton Rouge. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4PB27jSF_9jayqqcH1IdgZ1Qedsdj9VNLDNI5KHLak0ZQPaPU44q2scz6m4T2WA2-6_Ws-1cTfXigK4bJyOVvZd2-3PP5MCtN9_t6KJxi7QRWw0pSe7L6dggar40nTMiyGha4Jg/s1600/burden+boardwalk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4PB27jSF_9jayqqcH1IdgZ1Qedsdj9VNLDNI5KHLak0ZQPaPU44q2scz6m4T2WA2-6_Ws-1cTfXigK4bJyOVvZd2-3PP5MCtN9_t6KJxi7QRWw0pSe7L6dggar40nTMiyGha4Jg/s320/burden+boardwalk.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boardwalk to the Black Swamp</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Near the front trails, understory cleared</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY6YziS0cvbAFeKJfBgXBpcL4S7etxUfkD-bJ4CSAr6QmATHG6rk68NyUuvnsIdj84W_T3YhwTt2WZvgVdL330z5ieNGDe2YPmpaaQhET8lwWLC2qdzOsIf3SlRXb25L32bbZZgg/s1600/burden+step+log.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY6YziS0cvbAFeKJfBgXBpcL4S7etxUfkD-bJ4CSAr6QmATHG6rk68NyUuvnsIdj84W_T3YhwTt2WZvgVdL330z5ieNGDe2YPmpaaQhET8lwWLC2qdzOsIf3SlRXb25L32bbZZgg/s320/burden+step+log.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Step-tree</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06426579273598914488noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20454874.post-11739074268141790592013-07-20T16:50:00.000-07:002013-07-20T16:51:30.408-07:00Won't back down!So I learned something about snakes today. Well, a particular specie of snake: the water moccasin aka cottonmouth. I was driving on a gravel road into a refuge area today and I passed, and avoided, what I first thought was a cow patty. This particular road is near a levee and cattle are pastured on both sides of the road. In fact, this is what I drove through yesterday on this very road:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5g0b-8VRuWYen0cuD37orouRl3FcOxv9LNuR625PHsPyxHEzcbqHErSjOVshJyecrnKEK-EnonPpGcGJL_5SfK-0_D43BgEnM3v2pIVUKD962M_OjTU3etj9tfBX7NXyuNigXUQ/s1600/IMG_8482.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5g0b-8VRuWYen0cuD37orouRl3FcOxv9LNuR625PHsPyxHEzcbqHErSjOVshJyecrnKEK-EnonPpGcGJL_5SfK-0_D43BgEnM3v2pIVUKD962M_OjTU3etj9tfBX7NXyuNigXUQ/s320/IMG_8482.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
And when I got to my destination, I'd run through the cow patty gauntlet and my car smelled like a barn. So I was avoiding said patties today... But as I passed, my brain clicked that this particular patty was different. Was that a snake? I looked in the rear view, and it was still there (which actually surprised me; most snakes would have already been gone after a car passed with a foot or two). So I backed up and got to where I could see it out the windshield. Yep, it was still there (another surprise). It was sitting very still in a defensive posture with its head up, but not moving. So I scrambled for the camera, and opened the door carefully. Often animals won't spook when the car passed by but when someone steps out, they head for the hills. Not this guy. So I shot him from several angles, definitely using the zoom to its full advantage. I was pretty sure it was a cottonmouth and I didn't want him to suddenly decide to move *toward* me. He stayed perfectly still and let me shoot away. He was very handsome...although those eyes...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw4bFQePWajaPdFw1dvruBOFqv4j9TIFGgeeiLe4lOmNhtb8jsdZgCFDQ2O_1BVKLR6GbJWBzf_8Cvi257a4G2DeEfJWjUNv5MSRJ2CpNKdgDbrXzyA_D6Q9KRX5ouomu3upABuw/s1600/cottonmouth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw4bFQePWajaPdFw1dvruBOFqv4j9TIFGgeeiLe4lOmNhtb8jsdZgCFDQ2O_1BVKLR6GbJWBzf_8Cvi257a4G2DeEfJWjUNv5MSRJ2CpNKdgDbrXzyA_D6Q9KRX5ouomu3upABuw/s320/cottonmouth.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Darn! A truck was coming up behind me and I'm smack dab in the middle of the road with my door open. I debated...should I let them know what I was doing? Chances were good it was someone I knew...I was there for a birding event and it was possibly a fellow birder. But I couldn't tell from this distance. And most people seem to hold the opinion "the only good snake is a dead snake". I thought about trying to shoo the snake with a rock or something, but the truck was coming quickly and I thought maybe it would try to go around me. So I hopped in my car and moved forward slowly, hoping the snake would finally get perturbed and get off the road. I looked in my rear view, hoping that when it saw this huge red truck bearing down, it would decide he'd had enough aggravation....and as I watched, the left front tire went right over the snake. </div>
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As it turns out, it was actually someone I knew in the truck, and they were NOT the kind that would deliberately run over a snake. I was recounting the story later to some fellow birders and a friend told me that it's in the nature of cottonmouths to stand their ground. They evidently think they're big and bad and everyone else should get out of their way...and I'm sure most do...except us in our vehicles. I was sad, and I feel guilty for allowing it to happen. As we left later I looked for the squished snake to take another picture (y'all know my penchant for taking pics of dead things) but he was no longer in the road. I will have to hope that one of the opportunistic vultures that was hanging around made a nice meal of him. A small consolation.</div>
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Sorry, snake. But at least you're immortalized here in permanent pixels, and I've learned a lesson. Cottonmouths won't back down!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06426579273598914488noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20454874.post-15366281863320794582013-07-19T20:20:00.003-07:002013-07-20T17:10:37.302-07:00Pass the Tony's!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdE7l8kET76YVnI57zp3wVJPLblIHdwnsg7GLTHkJGCPvELhTyUS_swdTNOfpdCVNX7rVXWsVnTQfMMIj7a6N-FdrkKvhEfVm8YU9hjMCHPJj9Le3aj0Atx2cE7zIJ8IM5bz5WyA/s1600/ibis+crawfish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdE7l8kET76YVnI57zp3wVJPLblIHdwnsg7GLTHkJGCPvELhTyUS_swdTNOfpdCVNX7rVXWsVnTQfMMIj7a6N-FdrkKvhEfVm8YU9hjMCHPJj9Le3aj0Atx2cE7zIJ8IM5bz5WyA/s320/ibis+crawfish.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
A White Ibis captures lunch on a wildlife refuge in South Louisiana. You can see it manipulate the crawfish to remove the claws and the legs, get it in to the right position, and finally, swallow it whole. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8cZgjR2sjGyFuoFPlZ4Db78l68DVP9X7-kHNiu4EC3r8od8GpnN2M85fJpvYdGA9IdtcPWzymMILWepwHVuoIvkObZalVE3QakUnJWuFYbff3PgyQjphfLr8dMAViFiUqCPrIwQ/s1600/ibis+crawfish2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8cZgjR2sjGyFuoFPlZ4Db78l68DVP9X7-kHNiu4EC3r8od8GpnN2M85fJpvYdGA9IdtcPWzymMILWepwHVuoIvkObZalVE3QakUnJWuFYbff3PgyQjphfLr8dMAViFiUqCPrIwQ/s320/ibis+crawfish2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I can't help but think about how it would continue to wiggle in his throat! I'm glad we boil 'em before we eat 'em!</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/70664070" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/70664070">Pass me the Tony's!</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/seejanebird">Jane Patterson</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.
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By the way, for those of you not from Louisiana, "Tony's" refers to Tony Chachere seasoning, a staple in Louisiana cooking! Mais, yeah, sha!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06426579273598914488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20454874.post-63760736326699997592013-07-19T20:11:00.006-07:002013-07-20T17:30:00.429-07:00Rainbow bird!The only thing more lovely than a bird that looks like a rainbow, is a singing rainbow bird!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn8yD4qnEP1G27xLqf6n2mAw8MhbHXEhWZN4dukjqfk7fsZcN_7ejGLQvuh0orkeOtL0ESwFslM3I9oB_vYe6rL0bLfNEmHi0oFXlSE_WPzgA0LpbLxFmSxX-7VBjnoHe8WaYlXw/s1600/perfect+painted+bunting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn8yD4qnEP1G27xLqf6n2mAw8MhbHXEhWZN4dukjqfk7fsZcN_7ejGLQvuh0orkeOtL0ESwFslM3I9oB_vYe6rL0bLfNEmHi0oFXlSE_WPzgA0LpbLxFmSxX-7VBjnoHe8WaYlXw/s320/perfect+painted+bunting.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/70664069" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe><br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/70664069">Rainbow come to life!</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/seejanebird">Jane Patterson</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
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Painted Buntings are common breeding birds in south Louisiana in the summertime (if you know where to look and what to look for). How wonderful is that?
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06426579273598914488noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20454874.post-3628526804110347642013-07-02T05:31:00.001-07:002013-07-02T05:31:01.704-07:00Architects Extraordinaire!<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYYkSHeXkXrbVNCVuJ6aARBh86FVO5-iReu9YweySnfMc_a2fswpzF0F1-GoDaBDM880GuBLRb4L7a6f8Y_mMQBgdN6Sx7nGRLEU5gYcUGDhnb_E9cy3lNs4Z2PU0j6ocz9br_oQ/s1600/cliff+swallow+in+nest+%2528Large%2529-761705.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYYkSHeXkXrbVNCVuJ6aARBh86FVO5-iReu9YweySnfMc_a2fswpzF0F1-GoDaBDM880GuBLRb4L7a6f8Y_mMQBgdN6Sx7nGRLEU5gYcUGDhnb_E9cy3lNs4Z2PU0j6ocz9br_oQ/s400/cliff+swallow+in+nest+%2528Large%2529-761705.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5895994790622891666" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhTGWOYm7uoVdbm-7BlZb98Pjk3bnxGWyGhSuWSGDJFiZB-LaniYdbo03vjZX9jvLuGhse4buMTBffA0xoVLsig2T4UaKhOmMBgEaQbNHF18rpb3_dUs4o52tj2o5Mw1tAdv19Ew/s1600/nest+portal+%2528Large%2529-764103.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhTGWOYm7uoVdbm-7BlZb98Pjk3bnxGWyGhSuWSGDJFiZB-LaniYdbo03vjZX9jvLuGhse4buMTBffA0xoVLsig2T4UaKhOmMBgEaQbNHF18rpb3_dUs4o52tj2o5Mw1tAdv19Ew/s400/nest+portal+%2528Large%2529-764103.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5895994800110437874" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7fGxy_WdVI3qzvSLAcojgCMZ27iTokTOAhJqOBwWjJX55E-0ZdFUClR20jqy3sY-3syyf6YC-dRjN9yUF8O8S6q4ywgr2WuFwJZoYCUZjxgbj_WcHFm49MN2frUMoB207FKAxJA/s1600/swallow+nests+%2528Large%2529-765969.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7fGxy_WdVI3qzvSLAcojgCMZ27iTokTOAhJqOBwWjJX55E-0ZdFUClR20jqy3sY-3syyf6YC-dRjN9yUF8O8S6q4ywgr2WuFwJZoYCUZjxgbj_WcHFm49MN2frUMoB207FKAxJA/s400/swallow+nests+%2528Large%2529-765969.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5895994809620949842" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBdc91XfarrXXL-YokqY6gablM2FVzCGNovRU1AYxkV9BiqTHivk9qwYz_KPSiKqHpIQvkDxJi0EYJvaJ6EfSavbMErHd5KVKIbEWuQqE2aY7V5zIhZrNE5lQu4rUgnNqFHWMgjg/s1600/triple+nest+%2528Large%2529-767984.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBdc91XfarrXXL-YokqY6gablM2FVzCGNovRU1AYxkV9BiqTHivk9qwYz_KPSiKqHpIQvkDxJi0EYJvaJ6EfSavbMErHd5KVKIbEWuQqE2aY7V5zIhZrNE5lQu4rUgnNqFHWMgjg/s400/triple+nest+%2528Large%2529-767984.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5895994819738381890" /></a></p><div dir="ltr">Would you choose to live under a busy highway?  And I mean *right* underneath.  We are seeing more and more Cliff Swallow colonies under our bridges and overpasses here in Louisiana.  These birds fascinate me.  They construct these gourd-like nests with mud and saliva, a mouthful at a time.  You can see the work here in these closeup photographs.  How long must it take to construct one of the nests??  How does the constant rumble and vibration of traffic not affect them as they raise their families?  How do the nests not fall off??  I guess some do..you can see the scars left by some that have fallen.  I have to hope those were abandoned nests and not active ones.  Fascinating birds!</div> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06426579273598914488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20454874.post-82527936855974553372013-06-30T12:40:00.001-07:002013-06-30T12:40:36.284-07:00Close Encounter with a Broad-winged Hawk<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOE8X53f6ijKopB1aegi1KnyoixdbEl9x-KVFH2jPkHW8ieWPGtbhM0bdyvuCHB7Yew_ppRQn_GH8kuCMvH5Az4zbasDsPEVFCmNpi2y3PHmIKIpEc47Ptfu9C4du6OGRNU0iv1w/s1600/photo-736285.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOE8X53f6ijKopB1aegi1KnyoixdbEl9x-KVFH2jPkHW8ieWPGtbhM0bdyvuCHB7Yew_ppRQn_GH8kuCMvH5Az4zbasDsPEVFCmNpi2y3PHmIKIpEc47Ptfu9C4du6OGRNU0iv1w/s400/photo-736285.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5895363326244175858" /></a></p>I was birding in the Felicianas last weekend when I was surprised to hear a Broad-winged Hawk nearly over <span></span>my head!  As I watched (and photographed) it moved closer and finally flew down into the road to claim a bit of road kill. I obviously stopped right in his way. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06426579273598914488noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20454874.post-27990780281699517952012-05-21T10:16:00.000-07:002012-05-21T10:17:44.405-07:00Jungle birding<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHexcD5EazrWQyDnH6pj0zLGLkYNM55TYMNQorCfUqgE24Hnae-FAPBDwRxkEGFpnlmCxqNNDPNHmYOa21i74yhP057j3LC6V67qryuV-jJfJd7smwjsIlgJiIz_qcOdNCqfOisw/s1600/photo-764406.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHexcD5EazrWQyDnH6pj0zLGLkYNM55TYMNQorCfUqgE24Hnae-FAPBDwRxkEGFpnlmCxqNNDPNHmYOa21i74yhP057j3LC6V67qryuV-jJfJd7smwjsIlgJiIz_qcOdNCqfOisw/s400/photo-764406.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5745037012867167442" /></a></p>Our truck and our guide LeoAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06426579273598914488noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20454874.post-55022491878131198382012-05-20T05:56:00.001-07:002012-05-20T05:56:43.702-07:00Another day another flight<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJaer_edIoFTsat7_59tI_IOCHN28m5puEfXPCZHd8mOQ1T_NwPklwOBdpHCEhCVu_YkXuzMqc2e7339l-Db8jQ46Amc3A-qZJ4Srd1a7L_RbJ2MLfywkbJ0Pq3URbC04Wl4sW8A/s1600/photo-703703.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJaer_edIoFTsat7_59tI_IOCHN28m5puEfXPCZHd8mOQ1T_NwPklwOBdpHCEhCVu_YkXuzMqc2e7339l-Db8jQ46Amc3A-qZJ4Srd1a7L_RbJ2MLfywkbJ0Pq3URbC04Wl4sW8A/s400/photo-703703.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5744598666212487154" /></a></p>Waiting for our local flight cross country to Pereira. Checking phones for messages from home!
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<br>Picked up some city birds this morning.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06426579273598914488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20454874.post-36577575389327429352012-05-19T10:50:00.001-07:002012-05-19T10:50:25.654-07:00<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHbqUvOvrRIVf2D9bxftXn49TwdKWIoJQw7FAHOrqvdkzMBSp7MUjEI63LOM51tpeRKka7piEZyOZwjx6lgvlZm4W3hdq2aV3JTpQ6bF_mBkgwJj0_cLyRvWCMzXJDUCxkVnnZMg/s1600/photo-725655.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHbqUvOvrRIVf2D9bxftXn49TwdKWIoJQw7FAHOrqvdkzMBSp7MUjEI63LOM51tpeRKka7piEZyOZwjx6lgvlZm4W3hdq2aV3JTpQ6bF_mBkgwJj0_cLyRvWCMzXJDUCxkVnnZMg/s400/photo-725655.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5744303265140043250" /></a></p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06426579273598914488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20454874.post-63463117678056769262012-05-19T10:48:00.001-07:002012-05-19T10:48:35.586-07:00Here we go!Studying Colombian birds in the airport. Antwrens and Antoittas
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<br>-- JaneAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06426579273598914488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20454874.post-3933859293755665542012-05-18T11:59:00.001-07:002012-05-18T11:59:38.990-07:00Colombia bound!<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMTzIhbSXYOVkdESd5YMlzG1a-9opfN6JW-naStkwDIST7capmWOYMYia78MGtba48pvOtT7mQoySAkyXrvZj3X_cwgTcxazouL1NEHHV4CWAgqWQakMjcudwL-k_QMVTZ3Llh2g/s1600/photo-778991.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMTzIhbSXYOVkdESd5YMlzG1a-9opfN6JW-naStkwDIST7capmWOYMYia78MGtba48pvOtT7mQoySAkyXrvZj3X_cwgTcxazouL1NEHHV4CWAgqWQakMjcudwL-k_QMVTZ3Llh2g/s400/photo-778991.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5743950017303443106" /></a></p>4 birding friends and I are headed to Colombia South Anerica on a birding expedition tomorrow. Internet access will be limited but I'm hoping to be able to send some updates via email, which will post to my blog and Facebook. Won't be checking fb directly since that will be too data intensive.
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<br>Here's a map of our destinations!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06426579273598914488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20454874.post-41471907274265871362012-01-09T18:12:00.001-08:002012-01-09T19:13:41.236-08:00Up a Crazy River<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTBfToT3CXJ0TPtTSY-yMg-evn7bteTmwRM2qMG1_YRjMCKLTTNTNZ-AJmFSy6TdRq34LslA6q5lqFVect9jJio4REuQOnfRJnU8HOZvVSgo-5bg9GZ9NGjDEd9khBrRGFli8-3Q/s1600/photo-757126.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTBfToT3CXJ0TPtTSY-yMg-evn7bteTmwRM2qMG1_YRjMCKLTTNTNZ-AJmFSy6TdRq34LslA6q5lqFVect9jJio4REuQOnfRJnU8HOZvVSgo-5bg9GZ9NGjDEd9khBrRGFli8-3Q/s400/photo-757126.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695820522494891922" /></a></p>I really wanted to go kayaking this weekend. Wanted to try a new <br>location. Hemmed and hawed and today finally decided to try the Bogue <br>Chitto river at the state park. Got the boat loaded up (I'm getting <br>pretty good at that) and headed out. It's almost a 2 hour drive and I <br>was worried the rain might set in, but it held off. Checked in at the <br>gate. The girl actually laughed at me. I told her I was going to put <br>in and then turn around and head back -- make a loop, as it were. It's <br>what I usually do -- have done on other rivers. But apparently there's <br>a significant difference with this river -- it has a current. One of <br>the other rangers suggested I put in at the takeout so I could start <br>going upstream first and then essentially float back down if I got <br>tired. Sounded like a plan.<p>Had to drag the boat several hundred yards to put in. Not fun. And <br>they were not kidding about the current. But I got all my stuff and <br>started out, feeling strong. Did okay for the first quarter of a mile <br>or so. Then I hit a baby rapids. I paddled as hard as I could...and I <br>was just standing still. If I let up for a even a second, the current <br>pushed me backward. This was just not going to work. I enjoyed the <br>float back to the takeout :-)<p>So...lesson learned. Next time I need to either rent one of their boats <br>and and get a takeout, or take someone with me so we can take out down <br>river. Got it!<p>Oh, and birds? I had a great little flocks of warblers, Blue-birds, and <br>woodpeckers at one point, but my favorite bird of the day was the Winter <br>Wren that yawned at me. Yes, yawned. I saw him, played the Winter Wren <br>recording. He looked over at me and yawned. Allrighty then, so much <br>for that :-)
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqBz5L5XMKrjEQuQBLuvA6YIJBddI-fGLG608VunsGNXOlKQ8xymwaoQ_-qRyW9_oXW_AflZIMXlhOxNbbQm060bYrP79dFB6GjNUlLT25JmWYNCsWWRnTulr_WsUwLgtA4U-HKw/s1600/winter+wren.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqBz5L5XMKrjEQuQBLuvA6YIJBddI-fGLG608VunsGNXOlKQ8xymwaoQ_-qRyW9_oXW_AflZIMXlhOxNbbQm060bYrP79dFB6GjNUlLT25JmWYNCsWWRnTulr_WsUwLgtA4U-HKw/s320/winter+wren.jpg" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06426579273598914488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20454874.post-68774188716238741672012-01-08T08:48:00.001-08:002012-01-08T08:59:46.580-08:00An Eagle is born!Checked the nest near Sherburne South Farm (off Ramah-Maringuoin exit from I-10, just east of the Atchafalaya basin) last week. What I saw surprised me! I was hoping to see downy eagle chick heads and unless I saw a chick that's almost as big as the parent already! I love this location because you can easily observe the nest from the road or while standing on the levee. Afternoon is really the best time because the light is coming from the west. Note to self: bring an extra tripod for the camera! This location is always windy and because of the extreme zoom and the distance, a handheld video leaves a lot to be desired. I hope no one gets seasick watching it!
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3089141870454.157135.1321193575&type=1&l=0ea7436393"target=_blank">Some still photos from my Facebook album</a>
(with more to be added as I watch the nest over the next 6 weeks or so)
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<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/34741272?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&autoplay=1" width="398" height="264" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06426579273598914488noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20454874.post-9371253874433820802012-01-07T21:16:00.000-08:002012-01-08T09:20:11.429-08:00I'm partial to redheadsThere is red, and then there is RED. The word "vermilion" was made for this bird. It shines like a beacon, especially against the more drab landscape of winter in Louisiana. And indeed, it should stand out, because it doesn't belong here. This is another bird of the Southwest that visits Louisiana in small numbers in the winter time. This particular one has returned to this horse stable for the 3 years now. He particularly likes looking at himself in the dressage mirror that they have in the training paddock!
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO4pj4V-pgvukNBRWPyjd00p3fjY4x6tXgdRmeT_8REkjgmYUeL119ZIrVGTnpvQAa_VaxcRiqZ-AQPf6nuJ_t8Yr8GVVuitXYWVM-HewGfdC0xVoGzbkVUPFW3y4OcRzfCHiKPA/s1600/P1300785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="180" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO4pj4V-pgvukNBRWPyjd00p3fjY4x6tXgdRmeT_8REkjgmYUeL119ZIrVGTnpvQAa_VaxcRiqZ-AQPf6nuJ_t8Yr8GVVuitXYWVM-HewGfdC0xVoGzbkVUPFW3y4OcRzfCHiKPA/s320/P1300785.JPG" /></a></div>
<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/34723398?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&autoplay=1" width="398" height="264" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06426579273598914488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20454874.post-91014061134647100012012-01-07T20:41:00.000-08:002012-01-08T08:43:56.339-08:00Rare bird + lifer = good bird day!An oriole in winter in Baton Rouge is a good bird. This
bird was located just before the Christmas Bird Count in Baton Rouge and it has been determined to be a Scott's Oriole. This is a bird normally found in the southwest US and Mexico, and there are very few records for Louisiana. The homeowners have been very generous about sharing with all of us. <br />
<br />
I decided to try for the Scott's Oriole today. They
reported that it had been seen at 8am today and that it seemed
to come with some regularity in the mid-afternoon so I decided to go
about 2pm. We were treated to a winter hummingbird spectacle while we waited on
the Oriole - several Rufous and possible Black-chinned hummingbirds were snap, crackling, and popping all over the place. (This same home hosts a Broad-tailed Hummingbird -- another great bird for LA in the winter!) Another friend
arrived to give the bird a try at about 3:45pm. At 4pm I decided I'd
best go, and told them to call me if that bird showed up as I was
pulling out of the driveway. I dawdled a bit talking to the homeowner and was
not even out of the subdivision when they called to say they'd seen the
bird! I zipped back. The bird was spied moving
cautiously toward the hummingbird feeder at the back of the yard. It
eyed everything suspiciously but finally drank from the feeder for
something over a minute before it flitted away. I'm sure there are other photos
are better than mine, but here's a video (from about 60 feet?) and a
couple of stills.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="264" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/34721283?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&autoplay=1" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="398"></iframe> <br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06426579273598914488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20454874.post-20244052355742962902012-01-01T08:07:00.000-08:002012-01-08T08:45:26.735-08:00New Year's Resolution!How can it be a year since my last blog update? Oh, yeah...Facebook. So much easier to throw a few pics up there!
One of my new year's resolutions will be to update this blog more often, even if it's just a quick note or a single picture. I put it off because I want to go into a lot of detail...but I think more frequent updates are key rather than blathering on and on about a single event :-) So, we'll see how long I can keep this up!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06426579273598914488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20454874.post-84955203695125422702011-12-17T22:55:00.000-08:002012-01-08T10:56:12.859-08:00How to prepare perfect sushiCouldn't resist!
<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/34743205?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&autoplay=1" width="398" height="264" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06426579273598914488noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20454874.post-14625651548306758552011-02-06T17:34:00.000-08:002011-02-06T19:00:56.647-08:002011 Baton Rouge Winter Hummingbird TourFor the past dozen years or so, Baton Rouge has featured a tour of homes in the Baton Rouge area that are hosting winter hummingbirds. What's a winter hummingbird, you ask? Well, hummingbirds are not supposed to be here in the winter time. In the east, our "standard" hummingbird is the Ruby-throated Hummingbird, which returns from Central America in ~March and stays til ~Oct. So when hummingbirds show up in winter...well, that's something special. It turns out that several western species of hummingbirds sometimes come to spend the winter with us. The most common is Rufous, but we also get Black-chinned, Buff-bellied, Calliope, Broad-tailed, and even more sparsely, Broad-billed, Anna's, or Allen's. So we've learned to keep an eye out and keep our feeders up.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkojR1ZXe2eUQRi_tyZC20fpk8L4dFgTxw7dKEpGhmkxfJy6wWy33trJQHctaRcgZkabcaKgnB69IViyxntrxIko82hRk_DX8W17PVnjK44XYNyzym0RNC-ySmaLbDJRR_HX_uvA/s1600/P1030319.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkojR1ZXe2eUQRi_tyZC20fpk8L4dFgTxw7dKEpGhmkxfJy6wWy33trJQHctaRcgZkabcaKgnB69IViyxntrxIko82hRk_DX8W17PVnjK44XYNyzym0RNC-ySmaLbDJRR_HX_uvA/s200/P1030319.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570773889066313026" border="0" /></a><br />About 30 folks showed up for the tour this year. We started the clear and chilly morning at the Davey's house looking for the elusive adult male Calliopes. They have excellent habitat, which means LOTS of dark and tangled places for tiny birds to hide. Finally spotted the Calliope in the winter honeysuckle - most everyone got a look. Usually this yard has a good number of birds, but it was quiet, hummer-wise, this year.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6_6ow4HkQNud20nlSopxLRdOXLDwVaSixNVObC5vhvznuDgkM-qXmVR8n-fibUQZf16ruwXQmAVKIWrz1IhqO8YT0HSaT5Rcr9EE5fE-4R8cQwQpEFzo5b0TNl1e9L4_dJ1lRtw/s1600/P1030436.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6_6ow4HkQNud20nlSopxLRdOXLDwVaSixNVObC5vhvznuDgkM-qXmVR8n-fibUQZf16ruwXQmAVKIWrz1IhqO8YT0HSaT5Rcr9EE5fE-4R8cQwQpEFzo5b0TNl1e9L4_dJ1lRtw/s200/P1030436.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570775107907389106" border="0" /></a><br />Moved to the Allen's house. There were so many hummingbirds here it was hard to keep track of them all! Many were banded and color-marked -- 11 have been "processed" in their yard -- but there were more that had no color marks and thus were unaccounted for! We saw at least 3 Buff-bellied hummingbirds for sure, 1 female Calliope, and assorted Ruby-throats and Black-chinned besides. The Baltimore Oriole was a treat, too!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3tXJyrcwzB_56NeIGySu3-8RB2mAvoEt9wViAAhGBtcExDKT7FZWtyrWFPmcFM1lK6wAjwLyHQK_q5qg0BbFAl1XwljBgQ7lNyaJ_RF7nStUkFXKhMmXDdtt7lSqekJqRnYVJSA/s1600/P1030321.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3tXJyrcwzB_56NeIGySu3-8RB2mAvoEt9wViAAhGBtcExDKT7FZWtyrWFPmcFM1lK6wAjwLyHQK_q5qg0BbFAl1XwljBgQ7lNyaJ_RF7nStUkFXKhMmXDdtt7lSqekJqRnYVJSA/s200/P1030321.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570772185779971890" border="0" /></a><br />Then on to the Leblanc's home where the Rufouses were dueling it up! Joan had taken the feeders down in the front so we were able to stand in the backyard and have good views of the birds vying for the feeders. Highlight was a hummer in the hand. An immature male Ruby-throat was on the feeder and someone said "It flew down to forage in the grass under the feeder." Um...not a common practice for hummingbirds. After a minute or so, Ryan Terrill walked over and picked up the tiny torpid bird and gave it a little mouth to mouth (not really -- he just held it and breathed warm air on it) and before long it flew away -- lived to fuss another day!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRuBTOZkJozvPrGbQXoiG_XdC7smqUyjLf_XWl0e2DkyR2yH1l7zBGTHci95Lzw2dFHrl_hFjvIYuGHb_rDtGtKz-Q9zrtE2cFzzlvNgiga3odwmw1iAMSGfigr36hHhWPTg_Ysg/s1600/P1030383.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRuBTOZkJozvPrGbQXoiG_XdC7smqUyjLf_XWl0e2DkyR2yH1l7zBGTHci95Lzw2dFHrl_hFjvIYuGHb_rDtGtKz-Q9zrtE2cFzzlvNgiga3odwmw1iAMSGfigr36hHhWPTg_Ysg/s200/P1030383.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570773172085759474" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2pwyhTv0qbY3wdqhMlByYWycPfBhM68m3PYse17CQP_LP6-KPX9Xul1Cghq4LRWityYBliyGBBGeDGFEU9lk2-KboXtzoEt-qRZLUyxc34wPmsw4x9JV2yafSlnrltyoLEp59Cg/s1600/P1030370.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2pwyhTv0qbY3wdqhMlByYWycPfBhM68m3PYse17CQP_LP6-KPX9Xul1Cghq4LRWityYBliyGBBGeDGFEU9lk2-KboXtzoEt-qRZLUyxc34wPmsw4x9JV2yafSlnrltyoLEp59Cg/s200/P1030370.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570772580842533634" border="0" /></a><br />Our last host home was the Schutte home in south Baton Rouge which backs up to a large swampy area. There were several birds here, including a feisty molting male Rufous, and we picked up our last species for the day -- Broad-tailed hummingbird.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjevJ_cSFcl3AqfmSMohzxapQMXfk60j11FUNhJZkXW7_LQ9YwbgmQeJmHWJ67Gy8rIDageNPDeaQrmPbShSTAm0_rznrAcXlQfr6_6F4IRTfsCGaig2fNGQezeAabrwPIN_bWAog/s1600/P1030475.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjevJ_cSFcl3AqfmSMohzxapQMXfk60j11FUNhJZkXW7_LQ9YwbgmQeJmHWJ67Gy8rIDageNPDeaQrmPbShSTAm0_rznrAcXlQfr6_6F4IRTfsCGaig2fNGQezeAabrwPIN_bWAog/s200/P1030475.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570775877973234002" border="0" /></a><br /><br />So happy that the 30 or so tour participants got to see the birds they wanted to see - especially to Steve and Cindy who made the trip from Houston to see the birds! Many, many thanks to our hosts, to Dennis Demcheck for lending his advice and leadership, and to Kevin Morgan for the up-to-date bird info. We look forward to next year!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7dIxuBdB6rJp0I9Ve8PqQt6YCHngQK9ocfcNiBv25TV36kA1PBTxLixirrTIYx-4N_LAWuPBJGRxYGYoJF5cj1wdJ9vNF2AKBXK-f6jomyc0BlxYeU4tcIegsl_M1ggCr_7EfEw/s1600/P1030435.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7dIxuBdB6rJp0I9Ve8PqQt6YCHngQK9ocfcNiBv25TV36kA1PBTxLixirrTIYx-4N_LAWuPBJGRxYGYoJF5cj1wdJ9vNF2AKBXK-f6jomyc0BlxYeU4tcIegsl_M1ggCr_7EfEw/s200/P1030435.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570769075963509666" border="0" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06426579273598914488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20454874.post-63133831510302827652010-08-23T19:52:00.001-07:002012-01-08T09:43:35.862-08:00Sunset at Lake Martin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxPLHvbnaH-AQajCCZZiSFUqIdguY-UlGcVthN6TObaO5mdRwmGQfMPT-IQHisYMLAqG_EhQH6XctZPBSjaRWog3Z12RfVW0kqfkxjUoBv2gT0iFrBBntIKxYRiqDbUjHrruAqcw/s1600/P1050048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxPLHvbnaH-AQajCCZZiSFUqIdguY-UlGcVthN6TObaO5mdRwmGQfMPT-IQHisYMLAqG_EhQH6XctZPBSjaRWog3Z12RfVW0kqfkxjUoBv2gT0iFrBBntIKxYRiqDbUjHrruAqcw/s320/P1050048.JPG" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1611512290638.77936.1321193575&type=1&l=2bf7e4ba7d" target="_blank">[click here to see album]</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06426579273598914488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20454874.post-50092854792005429912010-08-21T14:39:00.000-07:002010-08-21T18:01:54.443-07:00Late summer at South Farm<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoVpoRr-Vxo_JsdpXBXAYrNS30iiU9XOBG8rM7bxIZnlcslY4nFwW4LQgxek2ZXg3vyH81FkP6KGbPEw5KXig7fwR-zdMEIFpdqbIBCUdnxGIfc3d00Exw1b1Y_02Dt7BbbTKrZA/s1600/sunrise.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507982757001891282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoVpoRr-Vxo_JsdpXBXAYrNS30iiU9XOBG8rM7bxIZnlcslY4nFwW4LQgxek2ZXg3vyH81FkP6KGbPEw5KXig7fwR-zdMEIFpdqbIBCUdnxGIfc3d00Exw1b1Y_02Dt7BbbTKrZA/s320/sunrise.jpg" /></a> </div><div align="center">Sunrise over misty fields<br /><br /></div><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNJbuftltN-yFhQsrNy4mXZZLz4P0AKBMohxlJjy8RNKcJZSCqmkr4zWH-1a8cs0yUXNRDC_2caCAENEXvinWDwsThA5wldb1qDUHgRumcumL6pNc6UP7dI7iL3ndd6kt91MKdjA/s1600/barredowl3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 239px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507982719777374370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNJbuftltN-yFhQsrNy4mXZZLz4P0AKBMohxlJjy8RNKcJZSCqmkr4zWH-1a8cs0yUXNRDC_2caCAENEXvinWDwsThA5wldb1qDUHgRumcumL6pNc6UP7dI7iL3ndd6kt91MKdjA/s320/barredowl3.jpg" /></a></p><p align="center">Lorry spotted someone watching us<br /><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggSd5fFUgKsiCGigzxaELAeUUayGRBnLKe_7zQF4IJ2VovUqSohRsrW-gweSXHROpfhLYfLF_uh6URLH9Chivl5HqPwxHtOivbb1hfQpMDUANFber2h4j4jjVk7nmO2NEut5JuYA/s1600/P1150712.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507987322588055266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggSd5fFUgKsiCGigzxaELAeUUayGRBnLKe_7zQF4IJ2VovUqSohRsrW-gweSXHROpfhLYfLF_uh6URLH9Chivl5HqPwxHtOivbb1hfQpMDUANFber2h4j4jjVk7nmO2NEut5JuYA/s320/P1150712.JPG" /> <p align="center"></a> </p><p align="center">Beautiful early morning at South Farm<br /><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvr7UYrpPN9qusR8XKyfFmk6ZGV8jt3KMLX9Xy9bpqLduMZ78RvMLPyO5D9dL4UUXqS33AYRSpzIahtnSpCshwjVqlGDWqIpGNTEkYx92eiS0j1Z0sTPj__eD-cBVIawRTSNIFXA/s1600/ycnh+juv2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507986166614034722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvr7UYrpPN9qusR8XKyfFmk6ZGV8jt3KMLX9Xy9bpqLduMZ78RvMLPyO5D9dL4UUXqS33AYRSpzIahtnSpCshwjVqlGDWqIpGNTEkYx92eiS0j1Z0sTPj__eD-cBVIawRTSNIFXA/s320/ycnh+juv2.jpg" /> <p align="center"></a> </p><p align="center">The night herons were still up too<br /><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGzdWmjNruVNHmCsTVtyH8VhsDfdyZU8e-zViDzBwyIS8_nNCDs40-YPLUjw3Ss-Ey_tHnPD_RWzkIWipVAhdTFdMHtoPMOUo7JRrC3p3fyzY_pFomex_gM-Z3zTB1UfUSPOKJtw/s1600/levee.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507982750299637218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGzdWmjNruVNHmCsTVtyH8VhsDfdyZU8e-zViDzBwyIS8_nNCDs40-YPLUjw3Ss-Ey_tHnPD_RWzkIWipVAhdTFdMHtoPMOUo7JRrC3p3fyzY_pFomex_gM-Z3zTB1UfUSPOKJtw/s320/levee.jpg" /> <p align="center"></a> </p><p align="center">Still too much water for shorebirds<br /><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIty2AWCJhc0BmO69nd5WwoXfh6f0iRAimR5UItW0tD4HxMUW-3569J9cFos-sgHPEUrTtYfYERaI-43ZAmDYLFIPi49AZ8bdieEq-YO2n5Z_E8FPvGA0pGL6rFvEQ5HDqFkfi0g/s1600/egrets+flying.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507992633790506066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIty2AWCJhc0BmO69nd5WwoXfh6f0iRAimR5UItW0tD4HxMUW-3569J9cFos-sgHPEUrTtYfYERaI-43ZAmDYLFIPi49AZ8bdieEq-YO2n5Z_E8FPvGA0pGL6rFvEQ5HDqFkfi0g/s320/egrets+flying.jpg" /> <p align="center"></a><br />Though we did see a few wading birds<br /><br /><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq8oDaW23TnvqW8TWvFCyrzt9PGB48_T-OeDxOTxKOr6DyKTcsOnM4uSkAaA1EOb3UALOG1-_BqN7Ii-PdtOQNknY5psb73EuHzO9Yof6IMGrMQdJIMEprn8OS3eefGkP3dccx4w/s1600/weeds.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507986162159892018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq8oDaW23TnvqW8TWvFCyrzt9PGB48_T-OeDxOTxKOr6DyKTcsOnM4uSkAaA1EOb3UALOG1-_BqN7Ii-PdtOQNknY5psb73EuHzO9Yof6IMGrMQdJIMEprn8OS3eefGkP3dccx4w/s320/weeds.jpg" /> <p align="center"></a> </p><p align="center">Darn, we left our machetes at home!<br /><br /><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC1TI7mhkBVmADW3K1pFJ-jX5USiurfPnUuhRiLfaGFcoeevPNK0b513cN8qBalhl_7pVpJsFZORn7fjEW77W-ma8kV2WT0qsFGUDpqKBKTYCY6MR4o06S-SIQgK2zmuDOaErtHQ/s1600/tricolor.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507986149964042274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC1TI7mhkBVmADW3K1pFJ-jX5USiurfPnUuhRiLfaGFcoeevPNK0b513cN8qBalhl_7pVpJsFZORn7fjEW77W-ma8kV2WT0qsFGUDpqKBKTYCY6MR4o06S-SIQgK2zmuDOaErtHQ/s320/tricolor.jpg" /></a></p><p align="center">Our Louisiana Heron (aka, Tri-colored Heron)<br /><br /><br /></p><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj2r-g7WYODSkBKctH_1IYC15wfT5_I2LRh7UjeEWO8qyhH_GtWXowHUR0E-Ak8SwEv4HW0kK42ZsCCia6YGKE-2d1sDB_JmfLmOSfEEiiW_xQFu4E3_tvVFGXkGdfZrlyYfi7gA/s1600/P1150736.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507992627838385330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj2r-g7WYODSkBKctH_1IYC15wfT5_I2LRh7UjeEWO8qyhH_GtWXowHUR0E-Ak8SwEv4HW0kK42ZsCCia6YGKE-2d1sDB_JmfLmOSfEEiiW_xQFu4E3_tvVFGXkGdfZrlyYfi7gA/s320/P1150736.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> Water Hyacinth<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgkHy7XoQEROiXcL0tHADYuiAEdz75T2QffRbHVQNx-Jqi5RXtMErUnexVuBJ23FdPgXIXbqnXJA4XF12sdSl5_m2uC9AJa4crCGmSJ2MnRMLB1Q9P5vkkOVMDR-wImSj-uceRhA/s1600/gold+silk2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507986142439476338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgkHy7XoQEROiXcL0tHADYuiAEdz75T2QffRbHVQNx-Jqi5RXtMErUnexVuBJ23FdPgXIXbqnXJA4XF12sdSl5_m2uC9AJa4crCGmSJ2MnRMLB1Q9P5vkkOVMDR-wImSj-uceRhA/s320/gold+silk2.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Late summer is the time for Golden Silk spiders<br /><br /><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjB76QFF3lT2V34r_P_WOtNfZzRmaelsn5QlL2T4bEFqbCfXAe43fiaxOhys4vneFGwfUOs0i4977kOiF-YY_Pye5dvm3BptiyYtAEp0IfGvTY55D0d5znsHPi6bPUiCilfeWtMg/s1600/gallinule+mama.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 239px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507982725560090930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjB76QFF3lT2V34r_P_WOtNfZzRmaelsn5QlL2T4bEFqbCfXAe43fiaxOhys4vneFGwfUOs0i4977kOiF-YY_Pye5dvm3BptiyYtAEp0IfGvTY55D0d5znsHPi6bPUiCilfeWtMg/s320/gallinule+mama.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Bill and Lorry were treated to a whole family of Purple Gallinules -- this is mom<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVB2J27ukSYynXoKZSQNLva4BOYNu2wcKfStk-40FiaEOSymfGd6vFOnoh7-FbF3sPiLk8wC_Z5JdwD9eXj225nnN0mpkdNmLdI9Jl9l547WuiZwStj6gknXgxkmg_8EGzQG0mvQ/s1600/P1150725.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507992618786550866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVB2J27ukSYynXoKZSQNLva4BOYNu2wcKfStk-40FiaEOSymfGd6vFOnoh7-FbF3sPiLk8wC_Z5JdwD9eXj225nnN0mpkdNmLdI9Jl9l547WuiZwStj6gknXgxkmg_8EGzQG0mvQ/s320/P1150725.JPG" /></a></div><div> </div><div>Button Bush<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwdsV1Goox-OTX_tUswhCrbkcpJWOFMMiRGOcTioc2hpVEMkhkvZzxrfxLrIrjhJSYWtYuXu4nh7klwH3qO_IJKCrVe3LPXZcIfRu-Fz3tJZKUW_mJmIRf71uTXzggovNfQj4hRg/s1600/yel+wht+flower.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 239px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507986171106198466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwdsV1Goox-OTX_tUswhCrbkcpJWOFMMiRGOcTioc2hpVEMkhkvZzxrfxLrIrjhJSYWtYuXu4nh7klwH3qO_IJKCrVe3LPXZcIfRu-Fz3tJZKUW_mJmIRf71uTXzggovNfQj4hRg/s320/yel+wht+flower.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBYvcvfBLrKzFuokOa6QQ5j4WUIISizTMQDjnwhZW3xysFapon1spm3-gi9Jhn5tX4ig6R4xBcdDXhr2E0X72WVW2mFgc2pCwG0pmb1ReqRtHmepMpq5K_gjOHrJpxqp_8TzryAg/s1600/tattered+monarch.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507994562021567586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBYvcvfBLrKzFuokOa6QQ5j4WUIISizTMQDjnwhZW3xysFapon1spm3-gi9Jhn5tX4ig6R4xBcdDXhr2E0X72WVW2mFgc2pCwG0pmb1ReqRtHmepMpq5K_gjOHrJpxqp_8TzryAg/s320/tattered+monarch.jpg" /></a><br /><div><br /></div></div></div><br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06426579273598914488noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20454874.post-41993102516902719962010-08-18T19:04:00.000-07:002010-08-18T19:37:42.471-07:00Egrets, I have a few<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJpVF9W1lD9UyEN1Uk-bqRs-cxlqMZAtyeDh8-lO0MWQpu1z9ikUCAyodB3qpB5w2wy7GmUuyvIH2Rbe5gceLOoMTcLcoaoERwrInayStdQGfLSS1fxEa7_KmS_CfW6cKDdT8SmA/s1600/egret+by+lake.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506941328998134546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJpVF9W1lD9UyEN1Uk-bqRs-cxlqMZAtyeDh8-lO0MWQpu1z9ikUCAyodB3qpB5w2wy7GmUuyvIH2Rbe5gceLOoMTcLcoaoERwrInayStdQGfLSS1fxEa7_KmS_CfW6cKDdT8SmA/s320/egret+by+lake.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx4S04ggZaynxWfytNUhVGHUDqw4vaEpgBHF-R-3FZPlZHvDVhD2yOgMol-CW9C38hMDrN-aiDZEy_P62cP2qREx5EibH70yp7BoHyvfHtNR8MvTVt-d1_SV33i5p7-KQRSqx0ZA/s1600/egret+on+bank.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506941347043562370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx4S04ggZaynxWfytNUhVGHUDqw4vaEpgBHF-R-3FZPlZHvDVhD2yOgMol-CW9C38hMDrN-aiDZEy_P62cP2qREx5EibH70yp7BoHyvfHtNR8MvTVt-d1_SV33i5p7-KQRSqx0ZA/s320/egret+on+bank.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjrIu044ztbsK-Po7FfI8El6y5vLg1ZjdETbGU7QHLHro0RqXVDrGjkTGlQWJmnRXZOAf23n4vj1OBOq3PguNwkMw5cXo8XU4TezllAbBX1TW8qJNeRUtTxCYvijKaqYeZRxlTxQ/s1600/egret+by+tree.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506941335657065618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjrIu044ztbsK-Po7FfI8El6y5vLg1ZjdETbGU7QHLHro0RqXVDrGjkTGlQWJmnRXZOAf23n4vj1OBOq3PguNwkMw5cXo8XU4TezllAbBX1TW8qJNeRUtTxCYvijKaqYeZRxlTxQ/s320/egret+by+tree.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKiaz9BDcaUVpDcv5W5-MMFL7Ssndp22JA35tipkJjcuTvZ9V4JUd2ya2ebfxcOFT-IZ4lMN1-Td51ZByfXv5t5pErYjNiQFmJ3vvwHAORPOXbsToXTyOLBByfV90M-8lZAvYNQA/s1600/egret+water+back.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506941980985308306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKiaz9BDcaUVpDcv5W5-MMFL7Ssndp22JA35tipkJjcuTvZ9V4JUd2ya2ebfxcOFT-IZ4lMN1-Td51ZByfXv5t5pErYjNiQFmJ3vvwHAORPOXbsToXTyOLBByfV90M-8lZAvYNQA/s320/egret+water+back.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTC2l6FD4yPw7WQLZNXunQ6YIfkUUtpzrsOVKANpQZiLLJVzQ38OV_EyfACbs1v0bMcx8rCnnqb9mUhe3vwoe6HXTiI974k4G7YJCghxIdvyRjeuxzrRBB3IQZqtA-gju7pC8gTQ/s1600/egret+preen2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506941972116925810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTC2l6FD4yPw7WQLZNXunQ6YIfkUUtpzrsOVKANpQZiLLJVzQ38OV_EyfACbs1v0bMcx8rCnnqb9mUhe3vwoe6HXTiI974k4G7YJCghxIdvyRjeuxzrRBB3IQZqtA-gju7pC8gTQ/s320/egret+preen2.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsl94g9NEUhB1BYf2qKBS7rMxE5ItuIE4na7dzIoGV3d9J6pCzWyyRFTdOFMVNjuUzrlep6gG0VyA6wMzw5T-qYUbXfrhnIrdsdvJrVXQwvWDyjIirZpBhZGhTOyASVk1Mez3QqQ/s1600/egret+open+mouth3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506941350934056674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsl94g9NEUhB1BYf2qKBS7rMxE5ItuIE4na7dzIoGV3d9J6pCzWyyRFTdOFMVNjuUzrlep6gG0VyA6wMzw5T-qYUbXfrhnIrdsdvJrVXQwvWDyjIirZpBhZGhTOyASVk1Mez3QqQ/s320/egret+open+mouth3.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnnS1aGoD6OQi_pxxAu7JLC0ol88_N4b-Ay9evOpdaSml6TpDM64MVC1GTTrara2fq51-qMyDEx_LxMPHLrRH6Ib7VUe0PbV2SHKodiHkZcUeEU7FLhX7NzPTi8k0oZiv0Ms-OGQ/s1600/egret+close2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506944226178996882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnnS1aGoD6OQi_pxxAu7JLC0ol88_N4b-Ay9evOpdaSml6TpDM64MVC1GTTrara2fq51-qMyDEx_LxMPHLrRH6Ib7VUe0PbV2SHKodiHkZcUeEU7FLhX7NzPTi8k0oZiv0Ms-OGQ/s320/egret+close2.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06426579273598914488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20454874.post-25935925323963367882010-08-16T19:23:00.000-07:002010-08-16T20:40:46.815-07:00Morning at Blackwater<p align="center"></p><br /><br /><div align="center">Blackwater Conservation area is a BREC park in north Baton Rouge (actually in the community of Central). It is a reclaimed dirt pit on the banks of the Comite River. It is today one of the few locations with public access to the Comite. Dirt pits have become fishing ponds, and large, wide, gravel paths have been installed for easy access. Vegetation here is mostly new growth, but a few cypress trees have survived and more are coming back. Other riparian trees -- sycamore, swamp maple, river birch, and, unfortunately Chinese Tallow, are returning. Many of our other native plants can be found here as well.<br /><br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm6vtr0eMbcvn18Qm6t-mBmaiKJ1qUGYmrn-Ywl0DPPNrgv07f9L9Tw-RbKZVZFk1NsRglGRDCMXyhYK7aYwjUk8k6fwynfuXpfeecLoInh2gn5px2CnNxuWgPj4_85pO6FXQzTQ/s1600/P1150392.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506206469506930482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm6vtr0eMbcvn18Qm6t-mBmaiKJ1qUGYmrn-Ywl0DPPNrgv07f9L9Tw-RbKZVZFk1NsRglGRDCMXyhYK7aYwjUk8k6fwynfuXpfeecLoInh2gn5px2CnNxuWgPj4_85pO6FXQzTQ/s320/P1150392.JPG" /></a>Wonderful fishing spot. When I arrived, Chimney Swallows had just risen from their roost and were flying low over the water, eating and drinking. As the morning went on, they were seen higher and higher over head.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbxddDbLg3mDE9OF0lr_3TfN3Isw3UYZqWXXJLz8MA5ie44I3zYld_VFbSGbBv8bmPEhUzBBfg5g4SJ0Kzeo0pYq1-tbr-vStgdc6afqoptP8mBetVOYTHcuegH7icZLYojqaVGA/s1600/P1150338.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506203969933915922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbxddDbLg3mDE9OF0lr_3TfN3Isw3UYZqWXXJLz8MA5ie44I3zYld_VFbSGbBv8bmPEhUzBBfg5g4SJ0Kzeo0pYq1-tbr-vStgdc6afqoptP8mBetVOYTHcuegH7icZLYojqaVGA/s320/P1150338.JPG" /></a><br />Nice spot for a breather.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGDunO3m5YTeidYudOQ4FcmoYMlj_PMNa-kRlGBEUQuhaVPWXAxAteQ669TJXxk6eqkNXri_BZFZSeqUb5X3R6yAM9ZngoEI-TBEQDNkwLxT_QQnP0azupw0JRkXnaNUwuE3-xWA/s1600/P1150441.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506206489406435202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGDunO3m5YTeidYudOQ4FcmoYMlj_PMNa-kRlGBEUQuhaVPWXAxAteQ669TJXxk6eqkNXri_BZFZSeqUb5X3R6yAM9ZngoEI-TBEQDNkwLxT_QQnP0azupw0JRkXnaNUwuE3-xWA/s320/P1150441.JPG" /></a> A bird favorite. This vine was the scene of much activity. Don't know the name, but Mockingbirds, Cardinals, Common Yellowthroats, Blue Gray Gnatcatchers, Hummingbirds, Towhees all congregated here.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTkRbOiZ-73mnNxk9q1WH12j5WE6M3DqQ53euZUxYb51q9nrRtxc8XaED31mBMsjGKyrrY-a00OinQJwkkQ0VaJGVRrzzIcmbZSpSaAvshhbd4cryl40TOqrawCycbkqIpKWNziw/s1600/P1150471.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506206483435257362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTkRbOiZ-73mnNxk9q1WH12j5WE6M3DqQ53euZUxYb51q9nrRtxc8XaED31mBMsjGKyrrY-a00OinQJwkkQ0VaJGVRrzzIcmbZSpSaAvshhbd4cryl40TOqrawCycbkqIpKWNziw/s320/P1150471.JPG" /></a>This one I know -- American Beautyberry. In the winter, the White-throated Sparrows will be found near this plant...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPkSwH8vrd7IM_ComdFxxZYrmdPRMUFfREeOOLj6ScTm1AQZymS5JLFvOIWLPbuyO65q_pzWxK1UTkwm9wcWWAURW8l-au7qzx-wIEH-zq9NjMbwlxyFsOHW-RfgmTKOx6-IM07Q/s1600/fuzzy.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506201349194716594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPkSwH8vrd7IM_ComdFxxZYrmdPRMUFfREeOOLj6ScTm1AQZymS5JLFvOIWLPbuyO65q_pzWxK1UTkwm9wcWWAURW8l-au7qzx-wIEH-zq9NjMbwlxyFsOHW-RfgmTKOx6-IM07Q/s320/fuzzy.jpg" /></a><br />Silver-spotted Skipper. I swore I wasn't going to try to learn butterflies, but they're often easier to photograph than birds.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihIqDhN4oLxZon2VF7L_F-c0kc7J1DDJ7sC7-fQLvs_DBAds1cIvw3Rtan9kmp8RSWwCmVjrrHIW-pNwMA60Y-3yd3rhI_KhsvGV_NaOVCP5xvQ7Hl22xRsrz480zgmCVWfKrfGQ/s1600/P1150537.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506206472442268082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihIqDhN4oLxZon2VF7L_F-c0kc7J1DDJ7sC7-fQLvs_DBAds1cIvw3Rtan9kmp8RSWwCmVjrrHIW-pNwMA60Y-3yd3rhI_KhsvGV_NaOVCP5xvQ7Hl22xRsrz480zgmCVWfKrfGQ/s320/P1150537.JPG" /></a><br />Portent of fall? I like the blues and greens on the yellow.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5lqCQb1gKEJb3s38RMphgkiqtHDJohPBSdoHnvi0JpnPjEaleol9nMpckhr_gaJeqPxw85SEBaQgzjXkRlLCdUTNlxHg88LrhOJM9AHv8Zvh6zz0tZPZEWiGlVVw_rJ-cucD-LQ/s1600/P1150410.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506206465629393218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5lqCQb1gKEJb3s38RMphgkiqtHDJohPBSdoHnvi0JpnPjEaleol9nMpckhr_gaJeqPxw85SEBaQgzjXkRlLCdUTNlxHg88LrhOJM9AHv8Zvh6zz0tZPZEWiGlVVw_rJ-cucD-LQ/s320/P1150410.JPG" /></a><br />Rabbits are common here. Obviously not enough hawks. :-)<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi28YpOEvD5FVklnIvdrxdRwZlBbkbZcHJeDl-zHLRoFE8dQgLSWw-c_NV1-TUJZe8yGf9UXwgZH8e-VZUkhhWeD8jolnfK9gsPYwd9N9nk4nlak8hk0y2uKu3zG0ZByqv7UeYi-w/s1600/P1150399.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506203990204179106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi28YpOEvD5FVklnIvdrxdRwZlBbkbZcHJeDl-zHLRoFE8dQgLSWw-c_NV1-TUJZe8yGf9UXwgZH8e-VZUkhhWeD8jolnfK9gsPYwd9N9nk4nlak8hk0y2uKu3zG0ZByqv7UeYi-w/s320/P1150399.JPG" /></a>Trumpetvine - waiting for a hummingbird<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNNmaM67wtmUQh7ylOqpJAdHweFH-l6WrWHrl-b7ojdbU0j8WrgZg7Y-bKnZMXZFvyXEq5MbH-dMNath4grMQ5b1ubUZ9XYmEFhdlClexXWzFshrVJw1G73duHmqUkKhsH5P5uGA/s1600/river+beach.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506203981969239714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNNmaM67wtmUQh7ylOqpJAdHweFH-l6WrWHrl-b7ojdbU0j8WrgZg7Y-bKnZMXZFvyXEq5MbH-dMNath4grMQ5b1ubUZ9XYmEFhdlClexXWzFshrVJw1G73duHmqUkKhsH5P5uGA/s320/river+beach.jpg" /></a>As I said, the park borders the Comite River. The Comite is extremely shallow with a nice sandy bottom here. You can see that the sandy beach is used by 4-wheelers, which fortunately don't come up into the park itself.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlDAmnrWoZjcIt1Iu1eJVcbjENbS007OMjdKgw0X_22S2B9oydW_NTcYF_mKpi6krBUDKrnUlYaXcGQfkDGToRQ6fB1nCeyCU4vq2335-VGxLkvf_fLI2TEGz7bnLKMV5YCCfDDA/s1600/sand+critter.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506202523463736690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlDAmnrWoZjcIt1Iu1eJVcbjENbS007OMjdKgw0X_22S2B9oydW_NTcYF_mKpi6krBUDKrnUlYaXcGQfkDGToRQ6fB1nCeyCU4vq2335-VGxLkvf_fLI2TEGz7bnLKMV5YCCfDDA/s320/sand+critter.jpg" /></a>Signs of a sand critter<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirsJ_OpIVc3fXGqJpNTatwRdYYupVDfiugUJDV8BOum4HhZiAdau8nd4WxCoJ_eLa-Xftp8dguvnM_Yx_D_girsIY9jHmyhjSFIxYBf13dDp8DSBwoELCMzYMrB58umSLiIAgcHQ/s1600/oats.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506203965312064658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirsJ_OpIVc3fXGqJpNTatwRdYYupVDfiugUJDV8BOum4HhZiAdau8nd4WxCoJ_eLa-Xftp8dguvnM_Yx_D_girsIY9jHmyhjSFIxYBf13dDp8DSBwoELCMzYMrB58umSLiIAgcHQ/s320/oats.jpg" /></a>Something in the ornamental oats family. I made the mistake of planting this in my garden once, years ago. I'm still pulling out its descendants.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxY3bgg-qWbmyMteETYv3Yxj7MpTEWqqw9SnmlGpq0l7-oBxCsfhMBXbD2KUG51r16q716mLoF2WlGiUNYxBxknk-1_qqjMEhpVUnx6v_itYrt26SqfXLe5UpxM8Lz_IMJxGB9Lg/s1600/monarch1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506202525141513026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxY3bgg-qWbmyMteETYv3Yxj7MpTEWqqw9SnmlGpq0l7-oBxCsfhMBXbD2KUG51r16q716mLoF2WlGiUNYxBxknk-1_qqjMEhpVUnx6v_itYrt26SqfXLe5UpxM8Lz_IMJxGB9Lg/s320/monarch1.jpg" /></a>Perfect markings on this Monarch. Yeah, I know...I'm not learning butterflies...<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKZHc4Nx_VFvd-7DnqAEjBWfxQEHP8DKErux0jicmuWN1ZioSGOf5KQthKdEwvsRav2n7cb1aPLZb5y8hndMCVEcinORfPquXE5dzOxaH0Ork5yZs6eGtMBV0JIRTMOcD_xQ7mdg/s1600/underwater.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506202515486011250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKZHc4Nx_VFvd-7DnqAEjBWfxQEHP8DKErux0jicmuWN1ZioSGOf5KQthKdEwvsRav2n7cb1aPLZb5y8hndMCVEcinORfPquXE5dzOxaH0Ork5yZs6eGtMBV0JIRTMOcD_xQ7mdg/s320/underwater.jpg" /></a>Frogs, fish, turtles...there should be more kids here with bare feet and nets<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMiZj7eEkUDLIvWmINDZ2oEzit0lH-VaTWRC3uN9JcV4U_PynkOPadTb6a9w48gErI4-tB7bM754_8HTmzU0dwrwa9VSQoSVqcZWe5dKlmdUjdXY17p_DdfX0mOK3SEZpnNePA3A/s1600/spiky+flower.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506202502879535842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMiZj7eEkUDLIvWmINDZ2oEzit0lH-VaTWRC3uN9JcV4U_PynkOPadTb6a9w48gErI4-tB7bM754_8HTmzU0dwrwa9VSQoSVqcZWe5dKlmdUjdXY17p_DdfX0mOK3SEZpnNePA3A/s320/spiky+flower.jpg" /></a><br />Really cool flower..could it be something in the orchid family with that interesting flower?<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsLx_7hSBxsE-egKG4VarQJhK_flKmQypFM01bpk6f15ia6wm2299HwbEfAWDooYyPzCaj5zeES_JHaywGKtR9QZawoWvLUJo72V5vhkqDZusQTeyaz7akfSDZHIX5TDnnrwLomQ/s1600/P1150352.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506201357028277314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsLx_7hSBxsE-egKG4VarQJhK_flKmQypFM01bpk6f15ia6wm2299HwbEfAWDooYyPzCaj5zeES_JHaywGKtR9QZawoWvLUJo72V5vhkqDZusQTeyaz7akfSDZHIX5TDnnrwLomQ/s320/P1150352.JPG" /></a>I'm not learning dragonflies, either.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM1r3W3ZK_oyOntTEB4LG9Cft8Iw7FabKy17o-kbe9uHx2qcqOu4WZh8M2h25aju7a2pmIWwASP6FY9ZexbbHqK9bKKl-BYodFPxQbl0vRH6K0T-hsi2pch19RlZueDTcbScykMQ/s1600/swallowtail.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506202508434424674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM1r3W3ZK_oyOntTEB4LG9Cft8Iw7FabKy17o-kbe9uHx2qcqOu4WZh8M2h25aju7a2pmIWwASP6FY9ZexbbHqK9bKKl-BYodFPxQbl0vRH6K0T-hsi2pch19RlZueDTcbScykMQ/s320/swallowtail.jpg" /></a>Go away butterflies!<br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2fr04fHTLJBj8o4BscLv89ehNksjd9elpyoToqVwUz3U9PvcDW9FHajxQvARlYiZrJhJwHUpAdpuwOwYDZZlMAWjojUpDmCiMtaTbI6-64JW58_Oji7AKahj2jqnDHgAR-3q9DA/s1600/butterfly+liftoff.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506201335482123314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2fr04fHTLJBj8o4BscLv89ehNksjd9elpyoToqVwUz3U9PvcDW9FHajxQvARlYiZrJhJwHUpAdpuwOwYDZZlMAWjojUpDmCiMtaTbI6-64JW58_Oji7AKahj2jqnDHgAR-3q9DA/s320/butterfly+liftoff.jpg" /></a>Shoo!<br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br />And finally, a bird. This one was a first for me.<br /><br /><p></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6UGYf9dt9DNJhm2Al1g_BHoFR0minS6IF3c8kzAAxfq5Uu0a3XJ3VVhtAYS92qjE4zYcdyHRdFWtxoO7F4JRCnCrbTWxODREmbuC_eiH3RFFXgza0Up5dpO32zlLm9ccD13wCUA/s1600/P1150421.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 276px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506217246610298450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6UGYf9dt9DNJhm2Al1g_BHoFR0minS6IF3c8kzAAxfq5Uu0a3XJ3VVhtAYS92qjE4zYcdyHRdFWtxoO7F4JRCnCrbTWxODREmbuC_eiH3RFFXgza0Up5dpO32zlLm9ccD13wCUA/s320/P1150421.JPG" /> <p align="center"></a>I couldn't figure out what it was, until it called..."Breee"<br />Juvenile Eastern Towhee<br /><br />And here's the dad<br /><br /><object width="400" height="265"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=14197319&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=00ADEF&fullscreen=1&autoplay=0&loop=0"><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=14197319&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=00ADEF&fullscreen=1&autoplay=0&loop=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="265"></embed></object></p><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/14197319">Just doing what he dew</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/seejanebird">Jane Patterson</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</p><p>When this Towhee flew into the path in front of me, I was a bit surprised. Normally Towhees are fairly reserved creatures, preferring instead to skulk in the bushes. Although it's a member of the sparrow family, it acts more like a thrasher, hopping around on the ground, tossing up leaf litter looking for food. When this one flew out in the open and proceeded to forage on the ground (at least that's what I thought at first) I was surprised. And then I realized he wasn't looking for food at all. He was bathing in the dewy grass! Now we were within a few feet of a lake, but obviously it didn't offer the right properties for his morning grooming. Once he finished his bath, he went back to his bush and admonished one and all to "Drink your teeeeeeeeeea!"</p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06426579273598914488noreply@blogger.com0