Saturday, December 26, 2009

Cold Saturday on The Wacissa








Winter is a good time to see holes which might be big enough for ivory bills to nest in. This hole is big enough. These holes are often near feeding sources such as the red berries that the birds like so much which ripen in December. I look for them and plant myself underneath them and take photos. The berries aren't quite ripe enough yet but the birds are checking them out. Robins seem to be the only ones that eat them slightly unripe! I saw lots of woodpeckers today but they are skittish and it was very cold and the wind was blowing on the Wacissa which make s photography challening. The Wacissa had ivory bill sightings as late as the 60's and is considered a prime spot for the possibility of a sighting. I'm still looking but with the watching over my folks need now, my trips are somewhat shorter. I may be going out again later this week but dad fell today (12/28-09) so we will see. The pileated woodpeckers like berries and they are easier to see along the river's edge where the trees hang over the water.
The ibises flock on the river in winter. Northern flicker

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Piney Z at Dusk Part III

I was so excited to have a clear afternoon to vist Piney Z Lake after all our rainy days.




Dusk on Piney Z Lake is a wonderous time for watching birds coming in to roost. It has been raining a great deal and the lakes are very full of water. The lake is also full of cormorants, eagles, osprey,woodstorks, ibises, great egrets and anhingas. I was in hog heaven!

I also saw five eagles including three juveniles but they fly so fast and the wind was blowing and the water was rough...I found it difficult to get a good image this afternoon.



Their were many osprew out today at dusk.

Somehow I always see an interesting plane when I am out on the water.

There is a woodstork rookery at the other end of Lake Lafayette. The woodstorks are now back to take advantage of their nesting habitat.


I am fascinated with the woodstork. I love to watch them take off and to hear the wooshing flap of their wings. It is spooky when it happens behind you. They can fly extraordinarily high and they look like sleek jets to me when they are taking off from a perch over the lake.