The Fisher Kings

Photos taken May 25, 2015 at LSU Lakes. This was a super fun afternoon sitting on the bank watching these experts at work. I was about 12-15 feet from them.

The bird with the "golden slippers" and black beak is the Snowy Egret; yellow beak and black feet is the Great Egret. The Snowy wins the prize for most fish caught.

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2014 Photo Overload

Happy Monday, y'all! Here are (hopefully) the last of my 2014 photos. Hope everyone has a great week! Will be checking in during the next few days.

The Leaning Gazebo at City Park Lakes

Male Ruby-throated hummingbird
Magnolia, MS, Sept 2014

Jumping spider - my back yard
Oct 2014

Anhinga readying for take-off - Lake Martin
Oct 2014

White Pelicans - City Park Lakes
Nov 2014

Snowy egret - City Park Lakes
Nov 2014

Lord, give us this day our daily fish. Amen.

Happy birthday to my dear daddy!

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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Pre-Merry Christmas!

Red and Grace

Last weekend, I went back to City Park Lakes to stalk Grace. She and her competitor, a Great Egret, were not having much luck fishing. It didn't matter (to me anyway), because out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a large raptor-type bird about two football fields away, on the golf course. Suddenly, another appeared. My heart skipped a beat. Does anyone else get as excited as I do when there is a chance to photograph a cool bird? I have seen many hawks, but never have I gotten close enough to get decent photos. Here was my chance, y'all!

I did my usual: walk stealthily as close as I dare, snap off a few, advance another few steps; lather, rinse and repeat. Finally, I was about 30' (9 meters) away. That was as close as the pair allowed. They flew into different trees, so naturally I continued my stalking maneuvers to the closest tree. The tree vantage point let me get even closer. I was thrilled!

Later, I tried my best to make an identification. The more I Googled, the more confused I became. Our trusty blogging friend, TexWisGirl, came to my rescue! Thank you so much. Just to make sure––not that I don't trust you, T––I put some of the pics on Facebook. Most all agreed it was a Red-tailed Hawk. 

Hope you enjoyed my hawk pics. Although I just posted Grace on Monday, I am using her again today for my HAPPY DANCE! If I danced in public (which is a rarity), this is what I would look like. Why a happy dance? My daughter and her fiancé arrive tomorrow! I can hardly contain myself. Unfortunately, this means I have to take another short blogging break, but hopefully I will be back with stories and photos to share. Y'all have a good week. :)

P.S. This is my 1000th post. Geaux me!

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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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.

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