As you can see, the swamps are actually quite pretty. The black water reflects the vegetation with startling clarity. See these trees that grow in two directions! It's hard to tell where reality ends and reflection begins.
(Some may say that to be true of life, as well. If you checked out the website I gave you last week, you found the dancing ballerina who turns to the left if the right side of your brain is in control and to the right if the left side of your brain is in control. How can she do that? Which is reality?)
And speaking of reflection, we found, just a couple of hundred yards behind our camp, a little outdoor chapel.
Chapel? Nature classroom? I couldn't say. In the sunshine, though, what an ideal spot for reflection (or reality?).
We saw some swamp birds this afternoon. I'll do my best to identify them and trust our friend Allison will comment if I need help.
Our first was this great blue heron, male I think because of his plumage. There is a Louisiana heron too, and we are in Louisiana, but he is shorter with a longer neck
And this great white egret I think of as female because she perches like a queen, not a king. And this swamp belongs to her, obviously.
There would be two families here, wood ducks, I think? on the left and mallards on the right.
And finally this red-eye is obviously a party bird with a very bad hangover.
These birds seemed accustomed to having people around and almost posed for the camera.
Later, our campsite was visited by several white-tail deer, only one of those was willing to wait for me to get my camera though.
And finally, my favorite shot of the day is the swamp dog. The rare black-footed wandering wonder swamp dog.
He was amazingly patient with me while I hosed him off.
We spent a lot of time today walking. Both of us were tired and happy tonight to get back to the RV where dinner was cooking in the crockpot -- chicken thighs simmered all day in a tomato-green pepper-onion sauce. They were delicious over brown and wild rice!
Tomorrow is a new day.
3 comments:
Postscript to last post, the 'coffee table book' could also include swamp pictures as they are also quite awesome. Not to mention the black footed swamp dog! Could you email me the one of the swamp reflection? It just fascinates me--where does it begin/end?? Lots to look at and ponder on, thanks again for your super blog. :-)
You are exibiting a real interest
in birds, and your photography is
wonderful! We know of a great park
on the Rio Grande, where over 200
species of birds may be seen, some never going further north, accord-
ing to the Park Rangers. Bentsen
Rio Grande Valley State Park,
Mission, TX. US 83 into McAllen,
then Mission, then Bentsen Rd. They
also have camping.
I think the ducks with the red faces are Muscovy ducks, originally from South America but bred domestically here. We had one show up at the Nature Center the other day - someone had dumped it there.
I love the picture with the trees that go in both directions. And I agree that the egret is very regal. and black legs.I think it's a great egret again - yellow bill and black legs. I love the swamp dog, too (but I'm glad it's your dog and not mine, LOL. Then again, mine is currently the "snout in the casserole dog".
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