Over the July 4th holidays I went to our lake house with my family. My brother-in law, Billy, sister, Liz, son-in-law, Brian and I took a two hour boat trip around the lake to try to get some good pictures. I was looking for birds. Here's the first part of our trip. I'll start with this Yellow Eared Slider turtle
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This is a Wood Duck nesting box. They are all over this part of the lake. There isn't a perch because the Wood Ducks just fly right in. The "skirt" at the bottom protects the ducks from raccoons.
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This was interesting. This tree has been blasted apart by lightening.
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We left the main part of the lake and traveled down this canal. On the right is a dike which helps contain the lake. My dad worked to help build these dikes when he was a teenager. My brothers and I used to waterski down this canal. We liked it because the water is so still in here as opposed to the rougher open lake.
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We came out of the canal into this water lily bed. There is a strip of water that never closes, perhaps because it is deeper there, and we used it to make our way through to the flats. The strip of water is like a little pathway.
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We had to go slowly and carefully because there are stumps just under the surface and you can damage your boat if you hit one hard enough. You can see that the wildlife people have put duck boxes everywhere. Unfortunately, some of the protective skirts need to be replaced.
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This is the flats, a shallow water area full of cypress trees and wildlife. There is no access except by boat so no one lives out here. It is a haven for animals and birds. I'm so happy our lake house is one of the last ones in the inhabited area and so close to this wilderness.
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On the Wood Duck box sits an Anhinga. The Anhinga is a strange bird with a long neck. It swims completely underwater to catch fish and sometimes sticks its head and neck out of the water and looks like a snake. We call them snake birds. They eventually get waterlogged and have to perch somewhere with their wings outspread to dry. They sometimes do that on our dock.This one is a male.
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The Anhinga in flight. I was happy we had a gray overcast day because I thought it might be easier to photograph flying or perching birds without the bright summer sun shining down.
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Cypress Trees
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Here is a female Anhinga.
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She perches with webbed feet.
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I took these against the sky. I wish we could have gotten closer, but she was alarmed by us and flew away.
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That was as close as we could get. I was on a slowly moving boat without a tripod so not all my photos will be as sharp as I would like, but some aren't too bad. More in the next blog.
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Nice! I fav'd 12
chossid · 2009-07-09: 23:39
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wow I love #12 and 16, what an interesting bird and I loved the story--great set!!
bedazzled · 2009-07-09: 23:49
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Nice photos, especially the portraits of the Anhinga. No. 10 is a great shot of the....... Archeopterix....:-))
Quark · 2009-07-10: 00:08
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I like shots four and eight. This looks like a really nice place to spend any weekend.
smbunation · 2009-07-10: 00:47
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wow, fantastic place!! wonderful shots as usual! Love that tree blasted by lightning, and the reflection in 12
eternity65 · 2009-07-10: 02:52
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#12 is friggin' brilliant! Actually, am hard put to choose any one photo: you're so darn talented - love your work.
SoulCurry · 2009-07-10: 02:56
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Neat set. Love the anhingas and the boxes.
Jarvo · 2009-07-10: 03:49
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these are all fantastic captures!!! I love #12!!!
jennye · 2009-07-10: 04:07
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super beautifull done! I love the 1st and all the birds - they are so splendid!
gonia · 2009-07-10: 05:52
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Nice story, beautiful place.... I like the colors and also the photos #3, 7 and 12!
miclaud · 2009-07-10: 06:59
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Awesome shots and story. Nice Work!
SunFlower1990 · 2009-07-10: 07:16
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Love #12 the best!
TWOZEES · 2009-07-10: 08:02
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Thanks for the tour around the lake - very enjoyable! Love all the shots of the birds especially #s 17 and 18....and the reflections in #12 are beautiful!!
lookagain · 2009-07-10: 08:21
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You take us to a very, very interesting place!
daisydavinci · 2009-07-10: 14:18
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Great captures! Well done work. Thanks for sharing!
davidcardona · 2009-07-10: 14:57
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it is really a strange bird Cathy but nevertheless beautiful photos
GKorts · 2009-07-10: 15:49
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Stunning work catherine ! well done !
finbarr · 2009-07-10: 16:48
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wow! the turtle! the view! all looks amazing Cathy! :)
onlyricky · 2009-07-10: 21:04
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Another awesome set! N6 and 11 are so lovely! N10 really rocks!!!
agaga · 2009-07-11: 04:59
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The reflection in 12 is beautiful, and 17th + 18th are like plates in a bird book. You've made a very nice set.
Saipanhohhot · 2009-07-11: 14:24
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WOW!!! You captured some amazing shots...my favs are #1, 6, 11, 12, 13, and 15...SUPERB :))
lynnsgallery2 · 2009-07-11: 18:47
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Love the first one :o)
Ryana · 2009-07-12: 03:40
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i wish there was a place like this here near by... I`d spend most of the time out there, looks like there is plenty to discover. and a paradise for children, the best way to teach them about wild life.
longimanus · 2009-07-12: 07:32
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beautiful set! a lot of amazing shots...
tomie · 2009-07-13: 09:20
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I love #12. Great reflections. I didn't get anything as nice as that. The Anhinga turned out well too.
dontblink · 2009-07-13: 14:55
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呵呵！
likecat888 · 2009-07-20: 21:41
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That was a fantastic set !! Great job !! cd
catdad · 2009-07-21: 14:07
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Wow !! #6 is great !!
Chete · 2009-08-02: 14:27
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