Tricolored Heron

Pictured below are a series of pictures of a Tricolored Heron, formerly known as the Louisiana Heron that lives in Louisiana..

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With wings held high, this Tricolored Heron wades the shallows watching for the slightest movement in the water.

He detects movement in the water and freezes in his tracks. The Tricolored Heron pinpoints the precise location of his quarry. He is in luck. The fish is in range of his long neck and sharp beak.

Water splashes into the air as his s-curved neck snaps forward with l-i-g-h-t-n-i-n-g speed!

This expert fisherman is rewarded with a small minnow at the tip of his beak. Left-Click to Enlarge.

His stalking skills prevail a few minutes later. Note the minnow in his beak.

This Tri-Colored Heron certainly has some cool moves as he skulks the shallows for prey. They are entertaining and hilarious to watch.

Hope you enjoyed the pictures of this fine Heron species. :)

Jefferson Island Rookery

My wife, grandson and I took a trip to Jefferson Island Rookery recently to see what was up with the birds in the Rookery.

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The setting sun nicely lit a white juvenile Little Blue Heron hanging around in the trees.

This first year Little Blue Heron transitioning into adult-like plumage was a different looking bird and certainly cool to witness.
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A Cattle Egret landed in a tree and added his stick to his nest.

This Cattle Egret in his magnificent breeding plumage was continually hounded for food by his chicks.

'Golden Hour' placed a golden glow on this Cattle Egret as he set on the edge of a tree limb.

The baby Roseate Spoonbills were just plain cute with their little spatula beaks.

An adult Roseate Spoonbill showed himself on the edge of a limb later in the day.

My wife and I had a great time observing the variety of birds and chicks and look forward to going back one day next year.

Prothonotary Warbler

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Do you recognize this bird? It showed up about a week ago in a swampy area transforming into its adult plumage.

Once its transition is complete it will look like this. One of its parents was close by. This brilliant yellow bird is always a pleasure to see and is a striking sight in the Louisiana swamps.

Kistatchie's Red-Cockaded Woodpecker

Skilled birder Steve Shively put us on some of Kisatchie's endangered Red-Cockaded Woodpeckers. A Bachman's Sparrow, Prairie Warbler, and  Brown-Headed Nuthatch were in the area, all of which were firsts for me.

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A Bachman's Sparrows was sitting on a vine singing away in the open Piney Wood's area.

The harsh, hilarious songs of the Yellow Breasted Chats broke the silence in the Piney Woods.

It was a delight to see the endangered Red-Cockaded Woodpeckers. The thin line of red plumage behind his eye identifies him as a male.

A hat's off to the personnel at Kisatchie for doing an excellent job managing this endangered species.

A closer look.at the thin red line behind his eye between the black and white plumage.

A Prairie Warbler was a first for me. This little guy was singing his little heart out in a pine tree close by.

Here he is again perched on a limb.

Some Brown-Headed Nuthatches were seen in the area but never came into camera range. It's always great to add new species to one's list.

The Peveto Beach Surf Scoter

The Peveto Beach Surf Scoter reported on labird was not breeding in Canada or Alaska and was still present this morning. It was loafing around in the surf inside the barrier rocks almost even with the eastern boundary of the Santuary. It didn't seem disturbed at all by my presence.

Its multi-colored orange, yellow and white bill with a black circular spot was remarkable and a sight to see. I'm not certain why it doesn't have the white patch on its forehead and on the nape of his neck typical of male Surf Scoters but there must be an explanation. Regardless, it was a pleasure to see such a sea duck and obtain a picture for our fine group of labirders to see.

The dark area at the top of the picture is the barrier rocks just off the beach.

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Light-Colored Rail

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Have you ever seen such a light-colored Rail? This is the lightest one I have encountered and wanted to share with you in case you haven't experienced one as such. I have seen and photographed many Rail but the ones I see traditionally have a grayish face and are not this light in color. Perhaps the only Rail I've seen are Clapper Rail and this one is a King Rail. I'm not sure what is up with the light coloration but I wanted you to see this guy for yourself.

Forsters Terns / Cave Swallow

How do you like the graceful Forster's Terns? Watching them hover over the water and dive for prey makes it a delight to watch.

It's maneuverability is spectacular as it twists and turns, setting itself into position for the plunge.

The rocketing, twisting, turning Cave Swallows are challenging birds to photograph. Due to its increased numbers it has been removed from the rare, Review List Birds.

The Gaudy Painted Buntings. They're Back!

What do you think of this brillant-colored neotropical, migratory songbird found in Louisiana? For me, the vibrant-colored Painted Bunting appears as if it should be found in a Rain Forest along with Parrots / Parakeets and not in brushy fields with areas of dense undergrowith.

What do you think of its multi-colored eye ring? Is this fascinating or what? If you look closely at its eye ring you see red, yellow, blue and green colors.

It is a special day whenever this small, colorful songbird appears with its sweet warble makes his debut.

Flamingo

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My wife and I drove to Grand Chenier after work Thursday afternoon to see the Flamingo. It was a pleasure visiting with Mrs. Bonsall. She was just as excited as we were about their Flamingo and eager to show us their Flamingo and to tell us its story.

We were awestruck when we spotted this long-legged, long-necked slender bird decorated in its brilliant pink plumage contrasted against the dark green marsh grass. It was weird observing this tall, pink, misfit bird that should be in Africa or South America and not in the wild feeding in the marshes of SW Louisiana

We watched the Flamingo as it fed with its head in the water going back and forth across a small pond in the back of the marsh.

At times it would spread it wings as if it was going to fly.

Two Great Horned Owlets

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Our Granddaughter's teacher invited us back to see and photograph the young Great Horned Owlets in her yard. Their soft, downy, white feathers are slowly disappearing as they transition into their adult plumage.

The two Owlets were inseparable. They stood side by side on the limb the entire time. They no longer remain in their nest as it had blown down from the tree due to the continuous howling south winds. They are a 'hoot' to watch. They keep their eyes trained on you the entire time and follow your every move..

A couple of days after this picture the two GH Owlets flew away, never to be seen again. It was a pleasure to see them and I wish them the best.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I lost the blinking contest and blinked first. :)