Continuing this Cypress Swamp series......I post here this lone Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) perched in this beautiful setting.

In the Spring, during breeding season, they nest in colonies with other species of egrets. Funny how we only pay attention to these during that time when their colors and habits are so unique.

Thanks for taking the time to stop by.

I truly enjoy your visits..

Have a Great Saturday !!

Louisiana Brown Pelican -- State Bird

Spotted in the Atchafalaya Basin as it sat perched in a Bald Cypress Tree. Kind of an unusual location to see this species there.....as this area was quite a bit North of their natural habitat.

Thank Y'all for takin' a look.......

I'm always humbled by your commentary.

Here's wishing you all a wonderful start to your week.

Among the most elegant of the Herons.....the slender Snowy Egret sets off immaculate white plumage with its black legs and brilliant yellow feet.

This one was in full breeding plumage as witnessed by the red lores and even brighter colored feet.

Couldn't pass this beauty up as it stepped through the foliage and into the early morning light.

Thanks for the views, faves, and always wonderful comments my friends.

Have a Happy Saturday and a Blessed Sunday too !

As the evening sun was setting, I spotted this female Barred Owl perched & keeping an eye on her two owlets.

Though I didn't notice, my wife said something fell out of her mouth just after I took this shot.

Would've been cool to have unknowingly caught that action.....but obviously I was about a second too quick on the trigger.....

Funny how sometimes you catch unsuspecting objects and actions in your photos......but can also barely miss the same......

Thanks for taking a look.

Your comments are what keeps me behind the camera......

Happy Friday & may you all have a wonderful weekend !

Tri-colored Heron found in South-Central, Louisiana, USA

The hunt began as it flared its wings. Obviously shading its prey as to see much better. Quite a unique ritual........

Thank Y'all for your views and comments as they are very much appreciated !

Have a great Thursday......

Just doing what Pelicans do.....

Found in the coastal region of South Louisiana USA

The Fall Season and the migration of fish species to the cooler waters is the time when the Browns return to the marshes. Plentiful food supply.

Time to get back down there for some Fall fun.....

Thanks for hanging out with us for a bit......

Have a restful Saturday and a Blessed Sunday.

Louisiana Brown Pelicans......just sittin' on the Dock 'o the Bay

Happy Friday Flickr Friends !

Thanks for the visits and kind remarks.

Here's wishing Ya'll a wonderful weekend ahead.

Hungry Great White Egret chicks waiting on Mom's return.

One of many, but a different nest than the one previously posted.

That cozy spot seems to bring a new meaning to the phrase "Southern Comfort".

Thank Y'all for the faves, comments, jokes, & puns......

It really means a lot !

Have a great Tuesday

Spotted this singing beauty at Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge

Guess this 'lil guy was singing for joy while bringing in the New Year.

Thank y'all for stopping by.

Hope your 2023 is still shaping up to be a good one !

Jeff Hebert © All rights reserved

Like the transition of the Summer to Fall colors in the background......this Louisiana Brown Pelican is transitioning from juvenile stage to adult.

This time of year brings the migration of fish species to the cooler waters, and also the time when the Browns return to the marshes. There is plentiful food supply and that's when I head out to find 'em.

It's great to find one with the changing plumage on the head/neck area like this one. They stand out uniquely.....and almost look like they're very "old".

Such fun to observe and photograph.

Some allow fairly close encounters......others not.

Thanks for taking a look.

Have a restful Saturday and a Blessed Sunday.

The 2022-23 Louisiana Sugarcane Harvest is in full swing now. It's reported that sugarcane acreage increased again this year.

In 2021, 469,000 acres were harvested. This season about 475,000 acres are expected to go to the state’s 11 sugar mills.

This is actually the fifth straight year that cane acreage has increased.

In the past, sugar mills were generally finished grinding cane by Christmas.....but the increased acreage has now pushed finishing dates into mid-January. That means there is a chance of a killing freeze. But, if everything goes well, Louisiana farmers are projected to cut 16.6 million tons of cane which should produce approximately 1.6 million tons of raw sugar.

Located in South Central Louisiana in St. Martin Parish, I showcase here, another of the State's 11 remaining Sugar Mills as she "grinds" away.

Thank a Farmer when you see one.

Appreciate everyone taking a look and always appreciate your kind remarks.

Have a great Weekend !

Jeff Hebert © All rights reserved

Captured in South Central Louisiana.......this Louisiana Brown Pelican was transitioning from juvenile to adult.

Such fun to observe and photograph.

Some allow fairly close encounters......others not.

Thanks for taking a look.

Have a restful a Blessed Sunday friends, and here's wishing you a great new week ahead.

Common Gallinules eat vegetation, seeds, snails, and insects. They pick sedge, grass, pondweed, duckweed, and flower seeds (shown here) from the water surface or just below the surface.

Just after this was taken, we saw this Hen protecting her little ones from the rainstorm that came through. They all huddled underneath her while she spread her wings to shield them.

They were just so ugly and cute at the same time......

Look at those little forming wings with spurs....

Thanks for taking a look.

Have a great Tuesday !

Mothers are our true first teachers...and there is nothing like their love for their children.

Mother Limpkin showing her baby chick how to break open and eat from an apple snail shell.

Happy Mother's Day to all of you Moms out there. Thanks so much for you dedication and teachings, as they leave such lasting impressions upon us all.

Have a Blessed Sunday / Mother's Day !

In the Fall when the Brown Pelicans are inshore, they know to hang out near the marinas and boat launches. There they can get an easy free meal after the fishermen discard the spoils of their day's catch.

It sure was entertaining to watch this juvenile Brown Pelican try to "down-the-hatch" this rather large redfish carcass.

Took him about 30 minutes....but finally succeeded.

You know what they say about your eyes being bigger than your stomach....

Thanks for taking a look & have a great day/evening

Jeff Hebert © All rights reserved

Took my good friend Alfred (www.flickr.com/photos/alfredlockwood) to see the World's premier venue of the beautiful virgin giant Bald Cypress.

Mother Nature served up an eerie/misty daybreak for us that morning.....a photog's dream.....

And though it was a bit late this year......we hit the peak color on top of that. Guess Alfred brought us quite a bit of luck.

While navigating the boat, I spotted this group of cypress surrounded by a nice cluster of cypress knees. The Cajun French name for these is Boscoyo (pronounced boo-ski-o).

For a Cajun Country explanation on these.....here it directly from Alfred's new friend:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUBYXCZYLU4

Jeff Hebert © All rights reserved

Thank Y'all for taking a look. Comments always welcome.

Enjoy your Thanksgiving Weekend

Black-crowned Night Heron - Adult

Saw this 'lil fella chillin' in the shady areas of a local swampy marsh. Looks like a fair amount of weight to balance on just one leg.....

Love those red eyes though......

Thanks for stoppin' by for a look.

Here's wishing everyone a wonderful weekend.

Did Ya know that Spanish moss was actually given its name by French explorers? Native Americans told them the plant was called Itla-okla, which meant “tree hair.”

The French were reminded of the Spanish conquistadors’ long beards, so they called it Barbe Espagnol, or “Spanish Beard.”

The Spaniards got back at them by calling the plant Cabello Francés, or “French Hair.” Somehow, the French name won out, and as time went by Spanish Beard changed to Spanish moss.

In the U.S., it grows from Texas to Virginia, staying in the moister areas of the South. Its preferred habitat is a healthy tree in tropical swampland.

This location is surely remote and pretty "moist"...

Sure my buddy Alfred J. Lockwood Photography (wading somewhere in the background) would agree.

Thank Y'all for stopping by for a peek.

Wishing everyone a sunny & warm weekend.

Jeff Hebert © All rights reserved

Full belly....

Overcast skies....

Cool still water.....

Peace & tranquility.....

Sure brings new meaning to the phrase "Southern Comfort"

Thanks for dropping in for a closer look.

Always honored by everyone's comments......

Y'all have a great Friday !

This Roseate Spoonbill ( Platalea ajaja ) put on quite the show in the hopes of luring a mate for the breeding season.

They eat shrimp....shrimp eat algae....and the algae make their own red and yellow pigments, called carotenoids.

Some scientists believe that the pink coloration that roseate spoonbills acquire as they mature is due to their diet of carotenoid-rich organisms like shrimp. The more they eat, the pinker they get.

Flamingos are close relatives of the roseate spoonbill.

Folks travel from miles away to see these beautiful birds....

I've even heard some of them refer to these as...."Pink Egrets"

Thank Y'all for stopping by for a peak at the pink.....

Your comments are appreciated..... & give me great entertainment......

Have a great Sunday ! ;-)

Jeff Hebert © All rights reserved

By visiting a raw sugar factory in Louisiana, you will see one of Louisiana’s largest, oldest and most fascinating industries in operation.

Raceland Raw Sugar, LLC was built in 1892 in Lafourche (La-foosh) Parish, Louisiana under the ownership of Godchaux Sugars. In 1996 M. A. Patout & Son, LTD, LLC purchased the factory as a wholly owned subsidiary.

Today, Raceland Raw Sugar receives cane from seven neighboring parishes and has a grinding capacity of 15,000 tons per day. It is one of the last remaining 11 raw sugar mills/factories in the State.

A BIG Salute goes out to ALL Farmers....everywhere....in this month of Thanksgiving for what they do to provide us the simple things we often take for granted......

Jeff Hebert © All rights reserved

Thanks for taking a look.

Have a great day.

watching the twins on River Street

Great Blue Heron begins his quest to hunt for an early breakfast.

Oh, the peace and tranquility of swamp early in the morning.....there's just nothing like it !

Hope everyone is faring this weekend's weather ok.....

Gloomy, cold, and steady raining down here in South Louisiana today.

But, cooking up some cajun shrimp and corn chowder sure makes staying indoors a bit more enjoyable.

Thanks for stoppin' by.....and have a good one my friends !

After many stormy seasons & hurricanes, it's amazing how long an old unpainted cypress cabin can endure the test of time.

Unfortunately, Hurricane Ida (Aug. 29, 2021) really did a number on many of these old fragile structures.

Some of them completely collapsed.....

This Plantation was one of our favorite photo locations.....

We have been fortunate to shoot some very memorable photos that tell the unique story of this special place.

Jeff Hebert © All rights reserved

Thanks for taking a look....

Here's wishing y'all a very Special & Happy Thanksgiving !

Gathering of vessels belonging to Fishermen, Shrimpers, Crabbers, & Oystermen down in South Louisiana.

'Lil town called Yscloskey.

Always love to stop at this location....

It's not the famous "Peggy's Cove"......but it'll have to do.

Thank Y'all for stopping by for a look.

Much appreciated !

Have a Great New Week ahead.

Snapped : Dya's Southern Winter

Found : maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Phantos/154/158/28

Watched this big fella hunting from this perch while looking down to spot crawfish. He dove down into the brush right in front of us, but came up "empty-beaked".

Sure was hoping to catch him score one of those bright red mudbugs....... Maybe next time.....

Thank Y'all for taking the time to look.

Your commentary is always a pleasure to read.

Have a Blessed Sunday my friends........

One of my favorite fishing villages to visit in South Central Louisiana. Pretty threatening weather rolling in off of the coast. Just love these colorful locations.

Happy Sunday friends.

Thanks for taking a look.

May you all have very Blessed week ahead !

From our home to yours......Here's wishing everyone a wonderful Holiday Season and a very Merry Christmas.

Thought I'd pour out a little "Southern Comfort" to those of you enduring this brutal Winter Storm Elliot, and wish you all the very best.

We're fortunate here down here in the Deep South. It's cold !

But.....at least we won't be wearing shorts and flip flops while enjoying our gumbo this year.......

Hope Santa is good to Y'all......

Be Safe !

Ali and I headed out yesterday morning in search of a Great Horned Owl family that we had heard about.

No success there.....but wound up at a local car show.

Had a "hoot" photographing some beautifully colored and magnificent ole automobiles. Such fun subjects to practice your photographic skills.

This 1948 Cadillac was a real show stopper & very photogenic. I doubt they were painted like this back in the day......but the owner sure did a bang-up job restoring and bringing such life back to this ole Sedan.

Thank Y'all for taking a look.

Have a Blessed Sunday my friend......

In the mid-1800s, these were the common types of Acadian homes, as they usually had a porch on the front which gave families a place to sit....cool off.....and "socialize".

I can remember growing up in the 60's & 70's....prior to cable TV, shopping malls, organized children's dance/sports, fast food restaurants, and the internet......and on the weekends.....we would just "go visiting".

Back then, we all kept in close touch with our relatives and always knew what was going on in everyone's lives.....even if sometimes sharing one another's business was considered "gossip".

Hopefully, these challenging times will remind us all of how insignificant some things really are......and how precious life and family really is to us......

Maybe it's best to use this as an opportunity to reassess our priorities and reconnect with some long lost friends and/or family members.

When this "social distancing thing" is over.........Let's do more "visiting".

I'm very thankful for the visits I get here on Flickr.

Thank Y'all for your comments - Have a great Weekend !

Abandoned, neglected, weathered & worn cabin found in South Central Louisiana.

Thank Y'all for the visit and any comments left.

Happy Fence Friday & have a great weekend ahead !

Storm's a coming !

Here's wishing yours is a different one ...... & that you may all enjoy a Sunny weekend !

Thanks for taking a peek. ;-)

Love to catch the Swamp Tours in Cajun Country while underway....

People come from all over to see the alligators, the swamp creatures, the Spanish Moss draped Cypress Trees, the boscoyos, the Egrets & Herons....

Rarely see anyone with "real cameras".......mainly smartphones...

Such a shame.....they know not what they miss......

Thanks for stoppin' by to take a look.....

Have a Blessed Sunday !

Louisiana has already been opening back up and recovering nicely as more business owners continue to gearing up for our Governor's "stay-at-home" order to expire next week.

Doesn't matter if it does or not.......our citizens are getting back to work one way or another....... It's time.

Here's hoping that everyone's personal situation is also getting a bit better each and every day.

Thank Y'all for stopping by..........

Happy "Spanish Moss" Saturday !

They forced me !!!!

Do You wonder what tales this glass holds ???

Well, I can't tell you :)

This ole shrimping fleet lies in wait for the opening of the inland water shrimping season. The average age of these vessels is quite common & many alike can be found all across the Southern marshes of Louisiana.

Thanks for popping in to take a look.

Comments are welcome and much appreciated.

Have a great new week.........

How much is that Tap handle in the window....

In her quest to lead me away from her ground nest, she kept pointing towards her mate..... Maybe he was supposed to be the real decoy... LoL Really cool to watch though.....

Thanks for taking a look my friends.....

Have a great Thursday.

Shrimping vessel rigged and ready with its trawling rig referred to as the "night trawl" or "butterfly" (wing) nets.

These nets are used in shallow water mainly at night when the shrimp are near the surface of the water.

The rigging consists of two rectangular wing nets, or frames, with 3/4 inch mesh netting. These nets are hinged to the bow of the boat so that the nets can be lowered perpendicularly or raised horizontally to the vessel. This type of net is generally used on small, fast luggers, and Lafitte skiffs, or is mounted to docks or platforms along the bank of the waterway.

Thanks for the visit.

Have a great Monday and new week.

Abandoned, weathered, tattered, & neglected ole cabins located in South Central Louisiana

Absent the modern-day technological advances, air-conditioning, the headaches of traffic, bombardment of emails, text messages, phone call solicitations, stock market worries, health care concerns, & shopping on the internet.....life was so much simpler back then.......

Doesn't really seem that long ago........

Anyone remember that era which some refer to as "The Good Ole Days" ?

Thanks for takin' a look & as always, I really appreciate the comments.

Have a great weekend ahead !

It’s quite common to find old shrimping vessels washed ashore and left abandoned in parts of South Louisiana.

This Lafitte Skiff could possibly still be in use…..but doubtful.

After years of shrimping/fishing for a living ….. it must be tough for the boat owners to have to retire their trustworthy and tested boats and finally put them to rest.

Good thing is the more they deteriorate…..the more they sink….. the more photogenic they become…

I’ll surely be checking on this gal for many seasons to come…..

Thanks for stopping in.

Love to receive your comments and feedback

Have a great weekend !

Found this particular Shrimping vessel fully adorned in very colorful accessories and rigging.

It appeared ready to head out, because in late Fall/ Early Winter when the waters of the South Louisiana marshes cool off.....it's on !

Like all others.....it's amazing how those captains can keep up with all the ropes, rigging, nets, hydraulics, pulleys, skimmers, coolers, etc.... But one might be surprised to see just how quickly the crew can swing/lower those booms, drop the nets, and start shrimping lickety-split.

Thank Y'all for takin' a look.

Have a Terrific Tuesday !

Luchadoria!

Strobist: AB1600 with gridded 60X30 softbox camera right. AB800 with Softlighter II camera left. AB800 with gridded 7 inch reflector camera right. Triggered by Cybersync.

Pretty brave fella paddleboarding at Lake Martin....

I prefer higher sides, more horsepower, and a bit more length on my watercraft when amongst the presence of the alligators.....

To each his own.....I guess.

I took a photo of him.....just in case.....but I did see him back at the landing at the end of the day.....

So he made out ok.

Let's give him a hand for his bravery and fortitude !

Thanks for stopping by and taking a look my friends.

Have a great weekend too !

A little bit of England in the States