WOOD DUCK CHICK

This newly hatched Wood Duck chick climbed to the opening of the nest box and paused to see his new world. He leaned forward and, with a big push plummeted ten feet to the ground. As he bounced up, the little chick scurried to his mother's side. After all the chicks finished jumping from the nest box, the proud mother collected her babies and marched off to start their life's adventure.

It's been fun bringing you pictures of different birds found in Louisiana for 2013.

Best,
Tom

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TROPICAL PARULA

Robby Bacon's amazing find of the stunning Tropical Parula at Peveto Sanctuary now has a face. This bird wanted to hide behind any branch available just to make photography that much harder. :)

I am not certain how many have been documented in Louisiana but to the best of my understanding it is approximately six.

Hope you enjoy the pictures of this rare-to-Louisiana bird.

Best, :)
Tom

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MERRY CHRISTMAS

May your holidays be filled with joy and laughter. :)

Merry Christmas to all,
Tom

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WHITE-FACED IBIS

You are in for a treat if the sun hits just right on the plumage of the White-faced Ibis.

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GREEN-WINGED TEAL

A photo finish for two blazing fast Drake Green-winged Teal !

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OMG, this large flock of Teal is heading toward the decoys!
Can you feel your heart pounding?
Where are you going to shoot?
How many Teal are in this flock?
Would you believe 103?

The blast of a shotgun is over in a flash but with a camera the memories live on providing the proverbial 'thousand words'.

CRAZY STUFF !

  WHAT YOU LOOKING AT !!!
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How do you like this intense 'in your face' crazy look and the mismatched pupils (sun vs shade) of this 'wide body' model Green Heron? Crazy, huh?

I thought both pupils matched regardless of the conditions. Is this a natural phenomenon or is this some sort of alien Green Heron? :)

 

THE LITTLE GUYS

As I was watching some Geese fly by something didn't look quite right. "Could the smaller ones be Ross's Geese?", I thought. In no time at all the camera went up and the shutter clicked. I checked the camera's lcd and my suspicions were correct. The three little guys at the top of the picture were indeed cute little Ross's Geese. It makes me happy to share such pictures in case you haven't seen them. I now know to scrutinize groups of Snow Geese and look for the "Little Guys" that blend in so well.

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Gotta love the 'Little Guys'

HOLLY BEACH FERRUGINOUS HAWK

The Holly Beach Ferruginous Hawk that Paul and Mac discovered on December 7, 2012 was alive and well on December 10, 2013. It was perched atop a utility pole close to the Apache building on Highway 82 a bit west of Holly Beach. It was calm and collected as it checked out its surroundings for a meal. After a while it flew from the utility pole and flew north over a marshy area. Approximately a half-mile out it began hovering, dropped to the ground, and was never seen again. It was a pleasure seeing this magnificent Raptor so I bid him adieu and left for home.

I'm not certain how many Ferruginous Hawks have been documented in Louisiana. I have been fortunate as this is my second to see. Interestingly enough the first one I saw a few years back was a mere ten miles west from this location.

What you looking at?

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Looking around for a snack.

Keeping an eye on the photographer.

Still keeping an eye on the photographer.

It is cool how his legs have feathers to his toes.

A closer look.

Thanks for visiting LA!

A white Little Blue Heron + 10

Here are a few pictures taken of our fine-feathered friends when I was out and about yesterday. Hope you enjoy them.

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A Blue-headed Vireo aka Solitary Vireo,

Little Blue Heron

Another Little Blue Heron (juvenile)

White-faced Ibis

A Snowy Egret fussing while giving me a tongue lashing. What do you think of that tongue?

A deer ran through the marsh and walked up the bank with the water still dripping from him. He paused for a second, looked my way then trotted across the road and disappeared in the marsh on the other side.

A Pied-billed Grebe snagged a fish and wasted no time downing it.

How does that make your throat feel? :)

Northern Shoveler aka 'Spoonbill'

A lone White-fronted Goose aka 'Specklebelly' flew over apparently looking to find the rest of his buddies.

Seven Blue-winged Teal blasted by. You have to look close to find all seven of these speedy guys.