Louisiana Belle: muscovy

Showing posts with label muscovy. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

In and Around the Lake

One of these days I will get caught up. I hope you have all been well. Recently, I decided that this will be a year for me to get out and meet more people, which means disengaging from the computer more often. I hate that, but after three years of mourning my mother's death, it's time. Past time.

These are some of the things I've been doing:

- joined a local photography club;

- took a photography class on advanced focusing techniques;

- attended an art exhibit;

- participated in a night photography workshop;

- volunteered for the "Paddle Patrol"...kayaking around Lake Martin to protect nesting birds;

- attended an astrophotography lecture and saw Comet Lovejoy through a massive telescope;

- this week there is a hummingbird lecture and tour + a field trip with my photography instructor;

- joined a Photography Meetup hosted by a local photography instructor.

In between all of that I have been taking photos. Before I can post though, I need to get caught up on 2014. Below are some November images I have not yet shared. All of these were taken at LSU Lakes.

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Monday, December 1, 2014

Nerdy Birdies

I really wanted to post my hawk pictures today, but I can't figure our what type of hawk it is. So in the meantime, you get these goober-heads.

Unknown hawk with both nictating membranes showing. Spooky!

Female mallard striking a pose.

Muscovy getting his bath on.

A different muscovy who spent the whole time I was there with his mouth open.

This is Grace.

Poor thing, she can't help it. One of her toes is bent backwards. I see how she struggles to fish and get food.
God bless her! We've gotten to know each other quite well.

Grace is looking like she's cutting a rug...er...rock. But she's trying to run from the
Great Egret who keeps chasing her off his favorite spot. Bless her heart.

I hope everyone had a bountiful and blessed Thanksgiving. Ours was great...a visit here...a visit there. My house is now decorated for my daughter and her fiancee's arrival on Saturday. Yes! This Saturday. I'm tickled pink. Cannot wait to see them. Four days will FLY. God, help me enjoy each moment and not worry how quickly it will all go by.

Happy birthday to Deanna Lynn, my sister. She would have been 51 today. May God grant her eternal rest and peace.

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Monday, November 24, 2014

The Fisher Kings

Greetings from Baton Rouge, Louisiana!

This past weekend was amazing! If you're friends with me on Facebook you saw the giant alligator that scared me and my friend to death last Friday. He was a good 15 feet, if not longer. The wind was pushing our kayaks closer and closer. Finally, I anchored myself against a tree that was probably 25 feet away to get pics with my phone. When the gator lifted his head, my heart leapt out of my chest and splashed into the water. Haha, I exaggerate, but I was pretty scared. Then he slithered into the water while we paddled as fast as our arms could manage. My friend Cathy kept looking backwards. I kept yelling at her to keep paddling! Later, while putting her kayak onto the roof of the SUV we were attacked by a swarm of ladybugs! Let me tell you those things sting!

Sorry for the poor quality, but you at least get the idea of size.

After my cousin's delightful lunch on Sunday, we drove to LSU Lakes. Double D helped me corral a Great and Snowy Egret onto a small dam that separates the lakes. He is such a good husband. The egrets love to stand there and catch fish that swim unknowingly into the trap.

Even the ducks were in on the action.

They always took their catch to the banks and ate there.

This snowy egret was the most successful fishing. After a while he stood there for a long time
with his mouth open like this. I don't know if he got stuck by a fin, bone, or what.

Double D took this one of me shooting the snowy egret.
My legs are wrapped around my tripod for extra stability.

Wishing each of you a very Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving!! See you next week.

Sharing with the generous Anni at

Monday, February 25, 2013

Hiking

Double D and I went hiking in and around Baton Rouge for our weekend entertainment. Louisiana is abundant in nature, with many areas designated for the public to explore. We traveled to Blackwater Conservation area, Capitol Lakes, Mary Ann Brown Preserve in St. Francisville, and finally ended up at LSU Lakes. We didn't see much at Blackwater, but it definitely has potential and we will go back. Here are some things we saw.

An overcast day so had to get a little creative with the processing on this one. Used a solarize preset in Lightroom.
Downy Woodpecker - Blackwater Conservation - 2/23/13

New growth at Blackwater Conservation - 2/23/13

Lichen on tree at Blackwater Conservation - 2/23/13

Capitol Lakes - 2/23/13

This has to be the rock star of all the Muscovy Ducks.
Capitol Lakes - 2/23/13

Came face to face with a Nutria. I told him we had to stop meeting this way.
Capitol Lakes - 2/23/13

Rare Eastern Chipmunk - Mary Ann Brown Preserve - 2/24/13

Double D at overlook - Mary Ann Brown Preserve - iphone - 2/24/13

Eastern Swallowtail - Mary Ann Brown Preserve - 2/24/13

Gazebo at Mary Ann Brown Preserve - iphone - 2/24/13
Having the iphone is great for landscape shots. I think it does a great job and it's one less lens to carry around.