Northlake

The weather's been nice, so I've been trying to get out as much as I can before the oppressive heat arrives. I had a day off a while back, so I went to Northlake Nature Center in Mandeville, LA.

There are always a fair number of turtles here, but that day was crazy with them! I watched a few males (smaller than the females,) get in their faces to do their mating display--waggling their claws in the females' faces. Not a lot of takers, though. If you know what kind of turtle this is, I'd love to hear it!

A downy woodpecker with a nice, juicy worm.

Male blue dasher.

More turtles, including at least one red-eared slider.

There were quite a few Carolina anoles, as well. Here a male is doing his mating display.

Oxalis flowers.

A red-eared slider near the boardwalk.

Red buckeye.

Did I mention that there were a LOT of turtles?

Unfortunately a sudden, massive, annoying swarm of termites showed up (seemingly out of nowhere,) chasing many of us away. I popped up the road to Fontainebleau State Park, featured in my next post.

Migrant Bird News

As my regular readers know, April is our big month for migrating birds. I've always enjoyed posting photos of the colorful avians who come through our yard this time of year, but I have no photos to share. The tree outside my back window (my main, photographic vantage point,) has grown enough to block my view. As much as I love the birds, I also love the tree and can't see myself cutting it back any time soon.
Regardless, most of the regular migrants have been seen here again lately. The indigo buntings, blue grosbeaks and brown-headed cowbirds are back. I haven't seen rose-breasted grosbeaks, but I've been out of the house a lot and may just be missing them. We've had a red-headed woodpecker, as well. They're local birds, but for some reason they only come to our yard when nesting time rolls around.
Speaking of nesting time, I've watched a couple of male cardinals giving females sunflower seeds, so they're pairing up, too. We're just a couple of months away from fledging time. If I can't get pictures now I suspect I won't have any then, either, but young birds get all over the place, so you never know!

April 2010.

Big Branch Marsh NWR

A couple of weekends ago we went for a walk at Big Branch Marsh NWR in Lacombe, LA.

Mallard (you can't tell here, but it seemed to have a blue head.)

Monarch butterflies on bull thistle.

Longhorn beetle on Louisiana iris (our state wildflower.)

Pair of blue-winged teals, flying in front of a great egret.

American bird grasshopper (about 3" long.)

Skipper on Louisiana iris.

The Abita Springs Trailhead Art and Music Festival went well this past weekend. The weather was nice, the people were cool, there was live music & I came home with a few extra sheckels in my pocket.

Around the House & an Event

Here are some recent photos taken in and around our yard.

A tulip-tree beauty on our front door. Thanks again to Vernon Antoine Brou for the ID!

Mama raccoon has taken (as she always does this time of year,) to coming around in the afternoon again.

Female carpenterworm moth (about 2" long.) Despite its excellent camouflage, my eagle-eyed husband spotted it.

If you're in the area on Apr. 17th, I'll be vending at the Abita Springs Trailhead Art and Music Festival. Hope to see you there!

Trips to the Flatwoods

Some photos from our last couple of visits to the Abita Creek Flatwoods Preserve.

Yellow pitcher flowers are in bloom.



Eastern bluebird.

Light on the Abita Creek.

Mystery flowers (leave me a comment if you can ID!)

Bogue Falaya Wayside Park

This past weekend, Charles and I had a picnic at Bogue Falaya Wayside Park in Covington, LA, then walked along the river.

Female blue dasher.

Bald cypress and knees.

If you know what flower this is, please drop me a comment.

Bamboo over the river.

Anyone know what kind of fish this is? It was about 7" long.



A red-eared slider. We also saw a small, softshell turtle.

Art News (Updated)

I'm happy to announce that this weekend my work rec'd 1st Place and an Honorable Mention (both in photography,) in the Lacombe Art Guild Spring Show.

Grebe and Grasses (18x12"), Honorable Mention (photography)

Besides the ribbons and prize money, I rec'd a note from the judge, Lori K. Gordon, about why she made her 1st Place (and Best of Show) choices. Of my piece, she said; "...Foggy Morning very successfully portrays its subject matter as well as conveying a striking mood and sense of place; the technical skill of the photographer was also critical in its selection."

Foggy Morning (30x20"), 1st Place (photography)
(Update, Jul. 15, 2011; This photo also took 1st Place [photography] in Slidell Art League's "Cirque du Sol Art" show, as well as a Purchase Award from Slidell Memorial Hospital [who hosted the show.])

Thanks to the Lacombe Art Guild for the hard work and opportunity, to the Louisiana Medical Center and Heart Hospital for providing the space, to Lori K. Gordon for the awards and my fans for their support!