Winter Hummer With Band

Jeanie Pousson was kind enough to let me photograph her hummer in Moss Bluff this morning. It zoomed about her yard for a while, set in the crepe myrtle tree nearby and finally came to rest on the feeder. It appears to be a Rufous Hummingbird but I'm not certain.

(Left-Click to Enlarge)

To my surprise there was a band on its little right foot. It reads either H82 or H8Z. Hopefully one of the hummer experts knows something about it.


And another ... this appears to be a female Rufous Hummingbird. How cute she is !

Great Kiskadee - Nunez Woods

This is a picture taken in September 9, 2009 of one of the pair of Great Kiskadees found by Steve and Donna on June 14, 2009 at Nunez Woods. It was a spectacular find.

(Left-Click to enlarge)

Red-Shouldered Hawk

A large bird landed in a not too distant tree. I eased carefully through the woods and discovered a Red-Shouldered Hawk perched on a limb with a freshly caught Leopard Frog. He was quite vocal about his catch upon my arrival letting me know it was HIS FROG!

(Left-Click to enlarge pics)

This guy showed no sign of leaving his perch. After a few pics I left and let him eat in peace.

Crested Caracaras

Crested Caracaras were documented being present in Calcasieu Parish on Fabacher Road. Since this road is only minutes from home it was a great opportunity to see this raptor. This phantom bird continued to elude me time after time after time. The search felt like an Easter Egg Hunt on steroids. The more I didn't see it, the more I wanted to see it. Days turned to weeks and weeks turned to months. Three months later, while driving down the road a suspicious looking large dark bird was perched atop a utility pole. I stopped a couple of utility poles away so it wouldn't spook and eased my binoculars up. At last, the fabled Crested Caracara materialized! I exchanged the binoculars for a camera and click, the documentation was complete.

It was a surprise to see the Crested Caracara listed in the Falcon family of my Peterson's Field Guide. I didn't think of them as a flying machine like the Peregrine Falcon, American Kestrel or Merlin. These guys must be spectacular in the air when they need to be.

I once came upon a Crested Caracara on Fabacher Road feeding upon a dead cow close to the edge of the road with some Black Vultures.

Fabacher Road can be quite productive at times. In addition to Caracara, I've seen such raptors as a White-Tailed Hawk, Harlan's Hawk, Swainson's Hawk, Bald Eagle, Merlin, American Kestrel, Northern Harrier, Broad-Winged Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Sharp-Shinned Hawk, Great Horned Owl and of course the Red-Tailed Hawk. According to information found on the net, Ferruginous Hawks, Golden Eagles, and White-Tailed Kites have also been documented here. I'm not sure what is so attractive about this little country road but the raptors seem to like it.

Left-Click to Enlarge all photos.

How about this hairdo. Is it a toupee' or is it the real deal? :)


What's UPPPPPP ???

Louisiana's Brown Pelican Comeback

Our State Bird's comeback was phenomenal in Louisiana. Pictured is a Brown Pelican perched atop a piling as the sun sets and the day comes to a close.

Left-click to enlarge pictures.

Is this a handsome guy or what?


Is this a Brown Pelican or is this a whale?

Brown-Headed Cowbird

I ran across this different looking Brown-Headed Cowbird today. What is the explanation for the spot above his upper beak? I've seen a lot of Brown-Headed Cowbirds but haven't encountered anything quite like this.

(Left-Click to enlarge)

Back Yard Birds

Isn't it funny how we traipse off here and there to find a variety of birds when some neat ones are practically in our own back yard?

The vibrant red plumage of the male Northern Cardinal coupled with its jet black mask is just hard to take your eyes off of.

The widespread Blue Jay with its blue hues and white/black coloration is a familiar song bird with its noisy calls.