In plain sight.....The Owl of Oaklawn Street.

May 2015.  I set out around 6 am heading to the Big Branch Marsh Wildlife Refuge in Lacombe, La. The early morning hours brought the sounds of singing birds and a warm May breeze rustling through the tree tops.  This day, like so many of my photographic excursions was filled with hope of capturing something new or extraordinary.  I spent the next two hours slowly moving through the refuge, each step carefully placed to minimize noise.  Eyes focused on the tree tops looking for movement and ears turned to the wind listening for the slightest sound of wildlife.  As the minutes and hours passed, my disappointment grew, not a single decent photograph.  Now approaching 9 am it was time to pack up and leave. The day was ending in disappointment.  "NOT SO FAST"! Driving out of Big Branch, I came to a stop sign on Oak Lawn St.  I gazed across the intersection looking for oncoming traffic and there it was, sitting in plain sight on the street sign, a magnificent Barred Owl.  Its dark brown eyes looking down on me. Its sharp talons tightly gripping the metal sign that read "Oaklawn". I could read its mind, " you dummy, I have been here all morning".  I quickly rolled down the window and killed the engine.  I pointed my Canon 70D with 200mm (w/2x TC) out the window and fired away capturing several wonderful images of the owl perched on the Oaklawn street sign.  The owl seemed curious just staring down at me before flying to the top of a large oak tree. Excited,  I restarted my engine and rushed home.  Disappointment was averted.

Barred Owl at Oaklawn Ave.

Barred Owl 

I see you!

Links to more information,

Big Branch Marsh NWR

All About Birds - Barred Owl -- more information

CAMO Required..... Osprey at Guste Island.

Osprey at Guste Island Rd, Madisonville, LA.

With the day off for President's Day, I decided to make a quick trip down Guste Island Road in Madisonville, La.  I grabbed my Canon 400mm lens with the recently applied camouflage vinyl tape.  If you have ever owed a high end Canon lens you know they are large bright white objects seen by birds from miles away.  Now camouflaged, I was ready to head out, knowing the lens would  not give away my position. Never mind that my clothing wasn't camo, the birds would only see the wonderful camouflage on my lens and think "no danger here", "HaHa".  Guste Island road is a narrow winding road starting at Hwy 22 in Madisonville and ending at Lake Pontchartrain.  Once past the houses the area opens up to a grand array of green swamp land filled with cypress trees and wildlife.  I found a suitable spot overlooking a small body of water separated from the Lake by the road.  Camouflaged lens in hand I waited.  It didn't take long, within a few minutes I spotted an Osprey that made this lake his home.  Perched in a gray knotted cypress tree sat a lone Osprey searching the waters below for its next meal.  The Osprey either didn't notice me or didn't care, calmly posing for my camera.  Heck, he even shifted positions several times allowing me to photograph all sides. Not a bad way to spend the day off.

Osprey stretching its wing.

Osprey in Madisonville, Lousiana

Ready for take off!

My Bald Eagle Story....... Finally!

Bald Eagle at Fontainebleau State Park

Capturing a decent image of a Bald Eagle was something I had failed to do in many previous attempts. Many times before I'd seen a bald eagle perched in a tree near the shore of Lake Pontchartrain or soaring high above the ground but was never able to get a clear image.  The discovery the of a narrow trail that leads to the sandy edge of Lake Pontchartrain would bring me to a location much closer and with the sun to my back. The following morning around 6:45 a.m. I saw the eagle cruising along the lake heading in the direction of the spot I located the previous night.  Camera in hand, I started slowly moving along the trail toward the lake's edge.  Ten to fifteen minutes into my journey, there it was.  "A BALD EAGLE"!  The eagle confidently perched  high above the ground, the sun illuminating its brown feathers, white face and yellow beak. I raised my camera and focused the lens. "Click,click,click", a burst of three shots and I had my first decent image of a Bald Eagle. I moved 10 yards closer and "click, click, click", firing off another round of shots.  I quickly checked my images, "NAILED IT"! Several sharp images of a beautiful Bald Eagle with its feathers damp from the cold waters of Lake Pontchartrain appeared in my camera.

Images taken at Fontainebleau State Park, Mandeville, Louisiana. (02/13/2016)
Gear: Canon T3i with Canon 400mm F5.6L lens. ISO 200, 1/1600, F5.6.

Who you looking at?  

Bald Eagle ruffles its feathers after a swim in Lake Pontchartrain, Mandeville, LA.

2016 Critter Photo Calendars. FREE shipping now to Feb 16th.

It's not too late to order one of my photo calendars.  Get FREE shipping. use code below.

Enter code FEBSHIP at checkout and get free mail shipping (weight restrictions apply) or 50% off Ground shipping. Offer expires February 16th at 11:59 PM. Don't forget, coupon codes are CASE-SENSITIVE.

Buy here:  Follow link to Lulu

Orange Bender featured in 2016 Critter Calender

Tracking a wild hog at Fontainebleau State Park

Many times while roaming around Fontainebleau State Park I would hear and smell the feral hogs who called this place home.  I was never able to get close enough for a shot, often scaring them into a squealing dash for cover. This day, Aug 29th 2015 was different.  I first heard the sound of the hogs moving slowing as they tore up the forest ground in search of food.  As I moved toward the sounds, I noticed several piles of hog droppings.  Following the trail of droppings I was suddenly eye to eye with a small feral hog.  We both stood still, looking at each other wondering who would move first.  I slowly raised my camera  to my eye getting only one or two shots off before my new friend bolted away in fear.  Since then I have only seen a few large hogs and decided it is safer to avoid contact.  Maybe next time I will go after the BIG ONES.

Eye to eye with a feral hog at Fontainebleau State Park.

Below are few links to some more
information about feral hogs in Louisiana.

Feral Hogs in Louisiana- USA Today

Feral hogs Win- The Baton Rouge Advocate

Red-shouldered Hawk at Fontainebleau State Park

Red-shouldered Hawk overlooking Fontainebleau State Park, Mandeville, LA.

  Captured this image of a Red-shouldered hawk today at Fontainebleau State Park in Mandeville, LA.  I first spotted the hawk about 100 yards away perched in a tree overhanging a small pond.  The sun to my back the situation was perfect for a great photo.  I took several quick shots before attempting to move closer.  I moved in closer but the sun was now at my 2 o'clock causing the hawk to be silhouetted.  I again got off a few shots before moving to a new position.  After many slow and quiet steps I was in a better position for the shot.  Now within 30 yards of the hawk I crouched down behind a bush and steadied for the shot.  This was the closest I have been to a hawk, they often fly away at the sound of approaching humans.  My lucky day I guess!

Red-Shouldered Hawk perched in Cypress Tree