Other Birds from Fontainebleau

More birds from Fontainebleau State Park the other morning...

Brown pelicans (our state bird,) at sunrise.

Grebes (probably pied-billed, which I've seen here before.)

One of many red-bellied woodpeckers. These birds are prolific throughout our area.

Juvenile red-headed woodpecker. We're always glad to see juveniles, as these birds are threatened.

Adult red-headed woodpecker with acorn.

Northern mockingbird. This one has been hanging around the same area for at least a year now.

My first sighting of a loggerhead shrike.

Great egret in the distance.

One of 2 or 3 northern flickers, the first I've seen in many years.

Great blue herons.

Some of many dozens of red-winged blackbirds.

One of a couple of Caspian terns.

Probably an Eastern phoebe.

Heron Fight

This morning Charles & I went for a sunrise hike at Fontainebleau State Park in Mandeville, LA. Although the sunrise was lovely & we saw all kinds of birds, a fight between 2 tricolored (aka; "Louisiana") herons stole the show.





The chase is on!

And the winner is...

Blog Changes (Updated)

For those who hadn't noticed, I changed how I blog a while back. To make things easier on those looking for my paintings &/or photos (including me,) I've started blogs featuring just those subjects. This will continue to be my "personal" blog (& will include photography, art news, etc.,) but the other blogs feature my visual arts as a primary focus.

(Update, Spring 2010; The visual arts blogs proved inefficient, so I opted for a website instead.)

Baton Rouge & the LBF

Today was Charles' presentation and signing at the Louisiana Book Festival, which is held on the grounds of the state capitol building in Baton Rouge. This was my first real visit to the area and the weather was perfect. Regardless, like a dolt, I got sunburned again.

Charles' presentation was located in one of the meeting rooms in the capitol building (tallest in the U.S.,) and scheduled for the first slots of the day.

The presentation went well. I admire Charles' ability to talk in front of a crowd (something I'm typically unable to do.)

Outside of the book signing tent; Mardi Gras beads in a magnolia tree. Does it get more Louisianan than that?

The reflections in this hallway (in the capitol,) were lovely. Still, I was surprised at how dimly lit the interior of the capitol building was--as though everything that transpires there is done in the comfort of the shadows.

The lobby of the capitol building.

Our state seal.

The state library, where the Author's party was held the previous evening. I have 2 words to say about that party; chocolate fountain.

I didn't expect to run into Dorothy and Toto from the Wizard of Oz.

I'm not a "churchy" person, but this shot of the spire of the Cathedral of St. Joseph in the sun had to be taken.

Reflections in a building on our way back to the car.

Next time out, I swear I'm bringing my sun hat!

Charles' Birthday & News

Today is Charles' birthday (yesterday was mine.) He likes to act like he's turning 90, but I know better. I do appreciate the signs of aging a lot more (neither of us are Spring chickens anymore,) but despite our increasing gray hair, I'm sure we have quite a few good years still ahead. Please feel free to pop over to his blog & wish him a happy birthday.
This weekend we're going to Baton Rouge, where Charles is scheduled as a featured author at this year's Louisiana Book Festival. I'm very excited for him & look forward to it. Next weekend he has a book signing at the Tale of Two Sisters Bookstore.

2nd Anniversary & Other Stuff

Today's Charles' & my 2nd wedding anniversary. As I write this he's up on the roof, cleaning off debris & looking for a possible leak (I noticed stains on the ceiling in the den today, unfortunately.) Despite the perils of homeownership, I'm still very happy. Charles has been a blessing in my life & I wouldn't trade him for the world.
Today's also Abita Artists' "Meet the Artists" reception at the Trailhead Museum, so I'll have to leave my honeydumplins for a few hours to go shmooze. I'm no good at shmoozing. Fortunately wine will be available. In other, good, art news, one of my pieces has already sold at Phil's Grill (a restaurant in Hammond, LA.) I only brought my stuff out there a week ago.
I wandered around our yard again yesterday, around sunset, & found many bumblebees sleeping among our copious amounts of goldenrod (click on photo to enlarge.) I'd heard of this, but never saw it myself. Often they're mistaken for being dead, but come the warmth of tomorrow's sun & a morning nip of nectar (akin to bee coffee, I suppose,) they'll be up & buzzing around anew. Have you ever seen a sleeping bumblebee?

ARTober Fest

Abita Artists is holding it's first show, "ARTober Fest" Oct. 9-11 at the Abita Springs Trailhead Museum. Members will be onsite throughout the duration of the show, but we're having a "meet the artists" reception/party on Oct. 11th, from 3-5pm (refreshments & music will be provided.) We're all greatly looking forward to it & appreciate the support of the Trailhead Museum. 30% of all sales go to their benefit.
Hope to see you there!

Fontainebleau...Finally

We didn't end up camping at Fontainebleau State Park (the skies clouded over heavily in the late afternoon,) but we did go for a hike, at least. I've been looking forward to getting back here, as I love the proliferation of flora and fauna, but it was still pretty hot. Foolishly, I ended up getting a pretty good sunburn.

Some kind of skipper on some kind of flower.

Deceased monarch butterfly.

Gulf fritillary butterfly.

Buckeye butterfly.

Hawaiian beet webworm moth. Thanks to Ron M. at bugguide.net for the ID!

Chrysallises. There were dozens of them on one tree.

Spanish moss draped live oak tree.

Paper wasps' nest.

One of 3 or 4 tricolored (aka "Louisiana") herons at the marsh.

This was the first time I'd seen a tricolored heron (for certain.)

There were also mockingbirds, killdeer and dragonflies, but the tricolored herons & the plethora of various butterflies really stole today's show.

A Bit More from the Hermitage

I took another wander around our front yard in Abita Springs today.
Here are some highlights...

Bumblebee on goldenrod.

Carolina anole.

Paper wasp on goldenrod.

A particularly impressive goldenrod head.

Honeybee on goldenrod.

The use of my 300mm zoom lens helped me avoid any nasty fatal-stinging-insect-allergy issues. Considering the lovely weather recently & the impending full moon, Charles & I may camp at Fontainebleau State Park tomorrow. If so, it will be our first visit in months.