There were tons of butterflies, including this common buckeye.
The Bogue Falaya river. I've heard something recently about some possible dredging, so that boaters can get all the way to Lake Pontchartrain again.
This was my first definite sighting of an osprey (with a fish.) There was also a handful of bluebirds flitting among the trees.
It was surreal the way this water fountain was running by itself (we stopped it, to preserve water.)
The slightest flash of a mystery bird, unfortunately the best shot of it I got (click for larger view.) If it looks even vaguely familiar to you, I'd appreciate any input you might have. It seemed to be slightly larger than a blue jay & it flew pretty quickly, following the river. (Update, 3/16/10; This is a belted kingfisher.)
Stop by Travis Erwin's blog for more My Town Monday posts.
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57 comments:
Nice pictures, especially the butterflies.. pls visit my blog, too
We've become fortunate enough up here in PA to see osprey more frequently. I love to watch them fish. Such a great bird.
I got some photos of the buckeye butterfly this year. First time ever. I like your copy better or just as good as mine. I don't think I have shown mine yet.
Lovely photos, Lana. There is an abundance of bird activity there, which is kind of amazing to me since it's such a small place. I don't know if we need boats passing through there.
Lana, my library of reference books was destroyed by fire, so I cannot look up your bird for you. Have you tried the Kingfishers?
A real bonus to see the Ospaey ccarrying a fish. Lovely place for a picnic.
What AMAZING photos, Lana. You always have such great outings.
That would be awesome if boaters could enjoy the Bogue Falaya River more. Dredging can bring up some interesting artifacts.
WOOT that you stopped the water fountain.
You are truly blessed with your environment and life!!!
Hugs, JJ
It looks like it was a gorgeous day - nice pictures :-)
Beautiful pics, Lana. I love the state park, and I used to paddle down the Bogue Falaya after a rain, when it was high.
Nice shots, Lana! I understand how hard it is to get a bird shot! I mean photo! Good try!
Looks like you two had a great outing! :)
Gorgeous pictures, Lana! I love the one of the Buckeye butterfly. :-)
Picnicking is the BEST! It feels like winter here now, so no picnicking for me.
Unfortunately, if they don't dredge that river will be silted in before long. It's extremely extremely shallow in many places. but I hate the disruption it'll cause to the wildlife.
arzed, jeanne; Thanks!
paul; The osprey was so massive we almost mistook it for a great blue heron. It was an awesome experience for me. :)
abe; No, I don't think I've seen yours yet. I have better ones than this one, but those are from other days.
rob; We see boats going through there once in a while even without the dredging, but yes...there'd certainly be more if they dredged. "Progress" is relative.
arija; Eek! Sorry about your fire! Yes, I'd considered kingfishers. This was too large & heavy, though, & didn't have that flight pattern. I was up 'til 4am trying to figure it out with no luck (surprising, considering the distinct markings!)
jj; Thanks! Most of the artifacts they'd probably bring up would be Katrina-felled/lost items, if anything.
billy; Thank you. :) There was a kayak on the edge of the water while we were there. That'd be a fun afternoon. I don't mind motorless boats--they keep the peace, y'know?
jenny; Thanks. :) I was just ill prepared when both of the birds suddenly showed up. All things considered, I'm surprised the pictures came out as well as they did!
dave; It was a great day. The light effects in the trees were just lovely.
lisa; Thank you! A picnic will be held in your honor in the near future. ;)
charles; I hear you, of course, but you know how humans just love to meddle. <:(
The butterfly is amazing. What great protective coloration with the leaves.
That osprey is cool. I've never seen one in either. Is your mystery bird a bittern? (sp?)
pattinase; Yes! Had I not seen it land there, I never would have noticed it, y'know?
travis e; Unfortunately no, the mystery bird's not a bittern. The wings are too narrow & the coloring's wrong. I appreciate the input, though! I've checked out all of the local water & perching birds to no avail. Perhaps I'll send it to the ornithological department at Cornell & see if they can help.
Lana, They are great shots!! I love the photo of the butterfly, I hate them in real life, but they really beautiful.
Your photos have a lovely quiet feeling about them. Thanks for posting them.
lyzzydee; Thanks. I've never met anyone who had something against butterflies. Interesting!
debra; Thanks for the kind comment. :)
Hi Lana!,
The pic of an osprey with a fish is my pick.
Lovely variety of nature pics.
Cheers!
Today we walked a couple hours in the mountains to the northeast.
Lot of Bellbirds, finches, ducks, etc. I thought of you.
Brilliant photographs! I do love visiting this blog :D
You have inspired me so much over the past few months - I have asked Father Christmas for a new camera!
tabib; Thank you. :)
steve; Ooooh, mountains. I've got to get back to some mountains again at some point, myself.
miladysa; Thanks! I'm sure you've been SO good you'll get the best new camera available. ;)
Lana - You photographs are so beautiful and it looks like summer. You will be even more excited to be where you are now - It is snowing here at the moment!!
You know, if you weren't married to Charles, you'd have a conga line following you down the street! Beautiful work as always!!
I always get confused between something old Hank Williams was singing about, "On the Banks of the old Ponchartrain" and the Porchartrain River, which is supposed to flood.
Oh well, I once got a 52 in Geography.
Great photos!.
I enjoyed looking at your photographs :)
michelle; Ew, icky...You said the sn*w word! It is like summer here...or perhaps late Spring. Perfect weather started the 1st day of Autumn. As you can tell, we've been taking total advantage of being able to get out of the house again.
rick; Aw, shucks...You're too kind. *blush*
ivan; Thanks! From what I can assertain, there is no Pontchartrain River, only the lake. Although Google will bring up "Pontchartrain River," most of those references seem to be inaccurate. Might have been different when ol' Hank was around, though.
jafabrit; Thanks. :)
Awesome photos, indeed.
I am particularly drawn to the eeriness of the first one, it's like an alien landscape ;->
erik; Thanks. That 1st shot is basically just fallen leaves on the beach. ;)
All excellent photos...I think I like the first one best ... not that I have to pick one, lol. It's just really beautiful.
i love the butterflies
drowsey & free music; Thanks.
That mystery bird has the shape and coloration of a gull. Do you have one of those bird books that includes a black silhouette of each bird flying?
Great pictures, as usual. We went to Bogue Falaya Park once or twice, and I remember it had such a peaceful, mysterious feel to it.
lana:
It's been ages since I've visited there. Thanks. : )
Mo : )
shauna; Yes, I'd even gone through all the gulls in my books, too & there are none with this blue tinge. Unfortunately I don't have all of the silhouettes of flying birds, no. I've net searched for hours, as well. Still no luck. It could be some kind of weird color-morph, too. I think I may just never know on this one.
Bogue Falaya Park's a great place for a picnic. :)
mo; Anytime! Let me know if you ever get the hankering to visit again. I'll meet ya! ;)
It's that time of year here in Michigan where we prepare for winter, reeling in the garden hoses, shutting off the outside water, and putting away the outdoor furniture. I sometimes wish for warm weather all year round.
Kick butt osprey picture!!! With prey!!! In flight! I'm jealous! Sounds like a wonderful time, too cold in Chicago for a picnic already!
jr; I remember those times. I don't miss them. *sympie hug*
chris; A picnic will also be held in your honor (we love us some picnics!)
Sounds like y'all had a wonderful picnic. The osprey shot is great, but the buckeye is my favorite.
hey lana, the 2nd and the 4th photos are absolutely beautiful. nices pictures to wake up to.
marvin; Yeah, picnics are always good. :) I may paint the osprey at some point (in the minimalist style of my previous great blue heron & pelican paintings.)
nw; Thanks! I hope they're just the start of a great day for you. ;)
Swinging by for another look at your great photos and post. :D
Hugs, JJ
I love the pictures you take, and you are slowly making me decide that I might want to move away from the city. It's all the nature photos!
This is my first visit to your blog. I live up in Bozeman, MT.
My fiance took me to New Orleans for my birthday earlier in October. It was my first time, and I loved it.
Your pictures brought me right back.
Beautiful pictures, Lana. :-) Thanks for sharing these. Looks so peaceful.
Your post is nudging me a bit to do something nice for DH when he comes home from his business trip. We often forget to take care of each other in the midst of kids, mortgage, etc.
Lovely post, all around!
Oh, I like the birds in flight. Cool. Neat pictures-need I say it--as usual! D
jj, dh & donnetta; Thanks. :)
christina; It's very peaceful out here. :)
joe; Welcome to the blog! Glad you enjoyed it. Happy belated birthday. :)
chris; Yes, it's easy to get lost in the shuffle of mundania. Good to take a moment for things like this, though.
I am back to thank you for stopping and commenting about my birds meal. I belong to the Cornell ornithological dept or paid to look for birds as their index is huge. I just have to know what to look for. If you have any ideas or names, let me know and I can look it up for you. But those white wing spots should be a dead giveaway.
abe; I've e-mailed you in response. Any help you could provide would be greatly appreciated, of course.
Very nice photos of your hike, though I like the second one best. The water, trees and parklike setting are soothing.
barbara; Thank you. It's a wonderful place for a picnic. Very peaceful. :)
Love the butterfly photo...particularly how spying the butterfly makes me look so much more closely at everything else there, looking for more hidden treasures....
jay; Thanks. Yes, there's plenty to see if we just slow down enough to really look, y'know?
Great shot of the Osprey with the fish!
larry; Thanks. Fortunately I saw the (great, big,) shadow coming before the bird came into view, so I was somewhat ready.
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