A Bit of Fall Color

I never get tired of seeing the striking, graceful Scissor-Tailed Flycatchers with their long tails.

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It is always a pleasure to see  a Canada Warbler with its yellow throat, yellow breast and contrasting black necklace. Are these guys cute or what?

Who was this Pewee trying to impress with his crest up?

A handsome Northern Parula.

This nervous male American Redstart was kind enough to pause for a picture.

A female American Redstart with her signature yellow tail.

This striking male Painted Bunting was amazing in its fall colorful plumage.

This female Painted Bunting was close by with her brilliant yellowish-greem plumage.

A handsome Clay Colored Sparrow paused for its picture.

How do you like the expression of this Black Throated Green Warbler?

This male Vermillion Flycatcher is not in its mature adult plumage but is nonetheless a good-looking bird.

This Ovenbird found a bit of water and decided to bathe.

The Olive-Sided Flycatcher is always a pleasure to see.

A Least Flycatcher sitting on a limb watching for his next meal to fly by.

A Seaside Sparrow clinging to some reeds.

This Oriole flew down and plucked this bug right from the ground.

This brilliant orange Baltimore Oriole was hard to miss perched on a limb in the woodlot.

This vusually stimulating metallic Roseate Skimmer with his glowing pink neon tail was a first for me.

The smallest of the falcons, the colorful American Kestrel is a welcome sight unless you are a grasshopper, lizard, mice or small bird.

An up close and personal pic of a cooperative Willet.

Left=click and check out the antennae on this guy.

While driving west on Hwy 82  just past Holly Beach there was a Dolphin in the water practically on the beach. It paralleled the beach for a short distance then moved out to deeper water. I've never seen a Dolphin this close to the beach and was glad to get a picture to share.

It reminded me of the scene where Killer Whales charge the beach, grab a basking seal and belly-flop back into the water. I suppose the Dolphins are not aware of this behavior and the Laughing Gulls sitting at beach's edge feel they are safe. :)

The Sabine Pass Lighthouse situated in SW Louisiana on the Sabine River has stood the test of time since it went into use in 1857.

Six years later on September 8, 1863,approximately 5,000 Union soldiers sailed up the Sabine River to take control of the river and Sabine City. Fort Griffin, a small earthwork fort practically in the shadows of the Sabine Lighthouse, was designed to defend the city. The Union fired cannons from their ships on Fort Griffin from afar. The Confederate soldiers were out of sight and did not return fire as the Union ships were out of their range. Due to this lack of return fire and seeing no Confederate soldiers, the Union assumed the fort was abandoned. They advanced upriver not knowing Confederate soldiers were laying low and waiting for them to come closer. Once in range the 44 Confederate soldiers took on the 5,000 Union soldiers in their ships. The brave and determined handful of Confederate soldiers fired fiercely upon the Union ships with precise accuracy shouting,"Victory or Death" as cannonballs struck closeby. After only 45 minutes the smoke cleared and the Confederates were victorious. The Union lost 28 soldiers, with 78 wounded and 315 captured. The Confederates did not lose a single man.

Notice the Gull flying to the left of the  Lighthouse. :)

Immature Bald Eagle

Jay, Mike and I were at the Wetland Walkway Wednesday AM. A striking adult Black Crowned Night Heron was standing motionless in the shallows searching for his next meal as we looked on.

All of a sudden two large birds flew in from the west. An Osprey was harassing an immature Bald Eagle. The immature Eagle with his variety of colors was indeed a pleasure to behold. We got great looks as they flew past with the Osprey hot on the Eagle's tail. What a great way to start the day.

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Wilson's Phalarope

It was a delight to witness Wilson's Phalaropes this afternoon at Global Pond. It was my second time ever to see one. The Wilson's Phalaropes exhibited classic signs of ADHD as they were in constant perpetual motion and never sat still. It was both fun and entertaining just to watch these active birds as they continuously moved about and fed in the shallows.

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This one came up out of the water with something in his beak. I have no idea what it is.

The group of Wilson's Phalaropes at Global Pond.

American Avocets were out and about as well.

Northern Bobwhite

As I was driving down Fabacher Road today several plump Northern Bobwhite scurried quickly across the road. I quickly grabbed my camera and jumped from the truck in hopes of getting a picture. I was fortunate that a few Bobwhites bringing up the rear had not disappeared into the field and was able to get their picture. Note how well these guys blend in with their environment.

The female Bobwhite is on the bottom right side of the picture and the male is to her left..

The Nothern Bobwhite is a Near Threatened species due to its rapid decline in recent decades.

I rarely see Northern Bobwhite but it is always a pleasure when they show up.

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Swainson's Hawk Smorgasbord 1 + 3

My six-year old grandson, Grant, and I set out one afternoon looking for birds. My little buddy and I had fun and came across some interesting birds. His favorite bird of the day, as well as mine, was this majestic Swainson's Hawk sitting on a perch keeping a sharp eye out for his next meal in the Fabacher Road area. Guess what picture Grant will be sharing with his classmates at school for 'Show and Tell Time'? Grant's next two favorite birds of the day we saw were the Scissor-Tailed Flycatchers and the Roseate Spoonbills.

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JOHNSON BAYOU:  Interestingly enough, a few weeks prior to the picture above, Robby Bacon and I were along the coast one morning. This stately Swainson's Hawk was perched atop a utility pole a bit east of Johnson Bayou north of Highway 82.

It took to the air displaying its long tail and pointed wings (compared to other buteos).

The surprise of the day was two more sitting in the same tree a couple of hundred yards away from the first making a total of three Swainson's Hawks in the same place. I've been fortunate to see one Swainson's Hawk here and there but never three at the same time.

Mike Musumeche and Jay Huner observed an adult Swainson's Hawk and two juvenile Swainson's Hawks only a mile or two from this area a few days later which explains the relationship of these three Hawks. What is the probability these juvenile SWHAs were hatched in Louisiana? This uncommon Raptor in Louisiana is being seen more often in our state..

Side Note: If you pass through Hackberry and stop at Brown's Grocery check out their meat market in the back right-hand corner. Indulge yourself with their bacon-wrapped pork loin stuffed with cream cheese and Jalapeno Peppers. Cook it on the BBQ pit, take it up, slice it into 3/4 inch pieces and serve. Your taste buds will thank you.

Tropical Kingbird

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Who would ever expect to see a Tropical Kingbird, whose nothernmost boundaries are South Texas and South Arizona in Cameron Parish, Louisiana?

Gary Broussard's discovery of three Tropical Kingbirds in Cameron Parish, Louisiana was superb. Excellent find Gary and thanks for sharing on labird giving an opportuniy for others to witness! I didn't see the other two Tropcial Kingbirds but was ecstatic to see one of them. Its notched tail and long, thick bill separtate it from other Kingbirds.

Experienced and avid birder Danny Dobbs was present and spotted a Common Nighthawk resting on a limb.

Once you click on the picture to enlarge it you can see the whiskers at the base of the Common Nighthawk's beak. You can also tell the white bars on its wing are not close to the end of its wing distinguishing it from the Lesser Nighthawk.

A Raptor at Sunset

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I worked on our house until late and called it a day. I needed a break so I grabbed my camera and headed out to some nearby haunts to see what was up.

I had almost given up when at the end of the day Mother Nature pulled through. Far away, a vigilant Red-Tailed Hawk with his keen eyesight, perched high in a snag was watching the field below  in the waning light for his next meal. The Raptor's silhouette against the serene sunset provided an inspirational end for the day.

What is Mother Nature's message here? Ralph Waldo Emerson's quote, "Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience" came to mind. What message does Mother Nature tell you?

Juvenile Red-Headed Woodpecker

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I've been on a mission to secure a photo of this Woodpecker with the black/dark brown head for a few weeks. I finally got a break today when it showed up and was in camera range.

I had no idea of this Woodpecker's ID with the dark head a few weeks ago until looking at Peterson's Field Guide. Then it all made sense.

Patience prevailed when it finally returned and was close enough for a picture.

You can see a touch of brown streaking on this juvi's breast. It is also beginning to molt into adult plumage as you can see by the touch of red beginning to form around its eye.

A Red-Headed Woodpecker is always a pleasure to see. Especially a Juvenile as it is a first for me.

Juvenile Swainson's Hawk

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My wife and I recently headed down Fabacher Road in Calcasieu Parish to see what was up. "Look!", my wife exclaimed as she pointed to a Juvenile Swainson's Hawk sitting in a tree. He was keeping a sharp eye out for prey in the field below. As we approached he turned his head and kept an eye on us as we admired this uncommon Raptor and took a few pictures. Once we left, he turned his head and continued watching over the open field looking for his next meal before the day ended.

What can be said about the presence of this juvenile Swainson's Hawk in Calcasieu Parish? Does this provide evidence that a pair of Swainson's Hawks successfully bred in Louisiana? How far do juvenile Swainson's Hawks range from the territory where they were hatched? Do they stick close to their birth area or did this juvenile fly in from another state?

Perhaps all that can be said is, "A Juvenile Swainson's Hawk was present on Fabacher Road in Louisiana", but there is certainly a possibiliy that he is a Louisiana product. What do you think?

Cute Factor: The Wood Duck Chicks

Hope you like the cute little Wood Ducks jumping from their nest box.

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Is this too cute or what?

This is TWICE as CUTE!!

This is the BEST !!

The time has come for the first LEAP of FAITH !!

We're having fun NOW !!

Head first ???

Impatient, impatient, impatient little ones  ... two at a TIME !

A perfect "10" !! This is my favorite. Be sure to left-click for the full effect. :)

The chicks gather around Mom after their daring jump (not all yet). Once all the little ones jump down Mom and her little ones waddle off.