Capturing Wood Storks as they rested in the tree tops.
To see these birds in flight is almost like seeing a ballet in slow motion. Their huge wingspan, slowly up and down, then glide... It's an incredible sight to see.
The lakes where pretty low this time of year, though, as winter approaches closer, I am sure the water level will rise.
Fresh, cold creek water flowing into the lakes.
My brother, Chris, stands still looking at a small American Aligator.
Chris trying to find a rather harder spot to cross this stream. I myself have managed to find all the soft spots. Up to my knees in mud.
Several duck houses, old, put up many moons ago. All the ones we saw were abandoned.
Sure signs of beavers in the area as the cypress have been chewed down, little buds appear all over the exposed ground of the once young trees.
Fall is here, trees slowly but surely changing color.
The Ole Cypress Knees. Some folks say these knees grow the way they do because when it floods, the tree is still able to breath well. Others mention it's for the trees stability in the mud. Both make sense to me.
As close and quick as I could snap, my brother pointed this Osprey out. These birds are on my top 10 of most favorites.
Arrived back home to see the Cardinals feeding.
Along with another favorite of mine, Great Blue Heron.
Christopher Carlisle enjoying a view of Mother Nature.
A hike through an area of the Pascagoula WMA, 8-7-2014, proved to be a trialing one, yet very rewarding.
We visited several trees, mostly sweetgums, that had these markings. Some folk say it could be beavers girdling or hogs rubbing the bark off. I'm leaning more toward black bears peeling away the bark for the sweet sap.
Our jaunt began with the warm rays of the sun falling along our paths for the day. As the day grew older, the heat and humidity grew almost unbearable.
Along the way, were many animals who either watched us for the comforts of their own home, like this little racoon in an old abandoned woodpecker den, to wild pigs "which were quite abundant and one of which followed us from a distance snorting rather loudly". (this one was a little nervous indeed)
Along the hike we heard and saw several Redheads such as this one. He wasn't alone for too long before an adolescent showed up to bug him. (Some teenager asking random questions again).
I believe that our friend could feel the presence of kind hearts as he let us in without question.
Much life lived within this old fella. Never judge a tree by what's on the inside, it's the outside that counts. Much life still lives within Hollow Man.
Hollow Man
One of the few dead lakes around in the area. All just as beautiful as the first.
Standing alone in place, the rest of the world has grown up around him.