I went exploring today on the "reservation" part of Barksdale AFB, Louisiana. Very quiet outside and lots of (skittish) animals. Some I thought you guys and gals might like:

Butterfly on Branch


Summer Tanager....Branch Manager


Dodgey Dragonfly


White in flight


Hovercraft?



Tire Attire


Sunshine...on a stick!

[J.Scott]

you're a damn fine photographer ... and witty, too! Love the 'hovercraft' pic.

Where in the world were these pictures taken? The reason I ask is that is not like any Cardinal I have ever seen. The Northern Cardinal has a black mask, a tufted head and a much smaller beak.

Thanks for sharing.

[Eastern Shore Charlie]

Bayou country...Man I was born on Barksdale..lived off Patricia Drive when I was youngun...long time ago...Beautiful Pics...

[Peter Zack]

Fine stuff all. Great sharpness and colour. Well Done. i have the same questions as Jeff, especially where?

[Ash]

Very nice...
Love the butterfly - the lighting and details are classic.
You nailed the focus perfectly for the dragonfly and the hovercraft.
Just brilliant!

[cardinal43]

I believe he is talking about Barksdale AFB, near Shreveport, LA. If my quickly fading memory is correct, it's closed now as a result of recent Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) actions. I caught a hop out of there in the early '60s on my way to Love AFB (Denver), then on to McChord AFB (Tacoma, WA), then by bus to Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (Oak Harbor, WA). 2 AF hops + a bus, and I was a sailor.

[cputeq]

Thanks all for the comments!

Barksdale is quite alive and well, though I've been stationed here for about 5 years now.
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My father told me it's not a cardinal, but I'm not sure what sort of bird it is. He mentioned possibly an "aubern blah blah blah". He said he's never seen one, but was unsure of what exactly it's called.

He also asked me how I took the "hovercraft" picture and I told him I have no idea! >,<

I think I just happened to be standing on a small bridge when the bird took off, and I snapped very quickly without having much time. That was the result (after some photoshopping to restore color balance -- darn those bright birds!) Slightly cropped too, but not by much.

Fun stuff -- I really wish I had taken a picture of what made me turn around on one of the hikes -- Gator tracks in the mud! *eeeeeek* Would have been a good finisher photo

[Bud]

Nice shootin'!

Your unidentified red bird is a male Summer Tanager and the "hovercraft" is a Great Egret... Great Shots!

Bud

[JCSullivan]

To be more specific, it is the male of the species. The female is olive-green in colour. BirdSite - Summer Tanager
Excellent captures of the Birds and Butterfly.

[séamuis]

Sunshine...on a stick!

thats classic, I love it.