2011 ended and 2012 began with a bang. I was able to scratch off more birds off my list of those to see with the help of my family to identify some of the birds I saw. I’m slowly learning that identifying the birds I take pictures of is the hardest part of my new hobby. Hopefully, it’ll get easier as time goes by. Still, feel free to correct me if I do misidentify a bird.
I’m talented at losing things for brief periods of time, such as these pictures of Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs. I went to the 210-acre forested peninsula on Lake Hamilton earlier this fall with my aunt as a Saturday get-a-way with our dogs. It was definitely interesting and was still filled with plenty of flowers despite the approaching cold weather.
One of the things I like about the place is its Hixson Family Woodland Nature Preserve. The Garland County Audubon Society says it has more than 100 different birds including the pileated woodpecker, tufted titmouse and the occasional bald eagle.
The Garvan Woodland Gardens opened nine years ago and is a department of the University of Arkansas’ Fay Jones School of Architecture. It was initially the beloved property of Malvern businesswoman Verna Cook Garvan, who dreamed of tranforming it into a public garden for all Arkansans to enjoy. She donated the private garden to the university in 1985 (26 years ago) with the understanding it would be developed into a first-class botanical garden.
It’s easy to get lost within the property that includes Evans Children’s Adventure Garden, Garden of Pine Wind (has a cool koi pond, see top picture), Singing Springs Gorge and Millsap Canopy Bridge, Three Sisters of Amity Daffodil Hill and Anthony Chapel where more than 355 couples were married in 2010 and 2011.
I can’t wait to go back in late spring, early summer, especially since it was that gorgeous in late fall. Until then, below are some of the pictures I took:
I recently spent a three-day vacation in Covington, La., visiting my cousin Stephen (see here) with my parents. The majority of our time was spent at the seminary, although we did take time out to visit Fontainebleau State Park.
The state park is home to the crumbling ruins of a 1829 sugar mill near Mandeville, La. The 2,800-acre park abuts Lake Pontchartrain and is also the home of Bald Eagles (which I unfortunately never saw). It is filled with live oaks with Spanish moss draped across the branches and is absolutely teeming with wildlife — we especially saw an abundance of herons and deer.
I absolutely loved the visit. My only complaint was that I didn’t have enough time to spend at the park. I am hoping one day I’ll be able to go back for a second visit.
We’ve had plenty of fog-covered mornings lately. Fog can be nerve-wracking, but it has its pluses. I love the little surprises you see when the fog lets up just at the right moments so you can see what its hiding, such as geese in the field you are passing.
The snow geese winter in the area and, lately, you can definitely tell when the noisy birds are flying by.
I brought my camera outside with me on Halloween night since the birds were making a ruckus that night. I decided I would bother taking a picture if a bird or two landed right in front of me.
Well, a Northern Mockingbird did. An European Starling also landed on some telephone wires near me, which I considered was acceptable to photograph as well.
I have to admit, it’s tough identifying the birds, but its also exhilarating when I finally do figure out the names. Of course, I have to get a second opinion on my tentative discovery, but so far I’ve correctly identified the birds.
It’s time for my newspaper annual Duck Edition, which publishes in late November. In honor of the event (which I’m presently working on), here are some pictures of wood ducks that I took during banding season at the White River National Wildlife Refuge on July 29.
My morning started off pretty cool. I photographed these two guys being introduced to a local preschool class who was learning about dark, light and night. The owls belong to a local nature center. 😀
I’ve always wanted to see a black bear and a bald eagle in their native settings. I guess I have this dream of going to the White River National Wildlife Refuge and just naturally seeing one of these two animals.
I’m so busy scoping the area for bears and eagles, as well as other larger creatures, that I sometimes forget that the refuge is home to some smaller residents.
This past weekend, I would frequently hear the local woodpeckers in the trees surrounding me and I finally spotted two of the birds near the end of my walk (see below). Continue reading “Is there life out there?”
It’s one of those days.
I’m cranky, not feeling good and just downright lazy feeling.
The only thing that saved my morning are two small little things:
1 I stumbled across what I should have said to the nosy woman that basically asked me if I, as a single woman, was lonely and jealous of my married friends and if I even had friends. (I think she meant well—we have always gotten along well. It was just inappropriate for the nonprofit seminar setting that we were in.)
While I answered nicely enough, I should have added this phrase to the mix.
Single as a dollar and I’m not looking for change. 
Continue reading “Tuesday blues.”
Rediscovering Arkansas with a few detours.
We preserve, conserve, and study the native plants of Arkansas
Our Nicaraguan Journey
Rediscovering Arkansas with a few detours.
Think left & think right & think low & think high. Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you try!" -Dr. Seuss
I previously worked as a news and sports photographer. Recently I have been enjoying wildlife photography. My approach toward bird photos is similar to sports photography. I attempt to capture mostly action and hopefully a unique perspective.
Urbanites in the woods, doing all our own stunts.
WILD IN FLORIDA: Exploring and Photographing Florida's Threatened Ecosystems, Wildlife, and More
by Jo Woolf
Rediscovering Arkansas with a few detours.
Rediscovering Arkansas with a few detours.
Memos for Me 