cajuntigertowm

Some pictures of my favorite jeeping trails near Ouray, CO. You need a 4xdrive with high clearance. For Corkscrew Gulch Rd, you might also need a extra pair of underwear.

Peak of Ophir Pass


Just pass peak of OP


Corkscrew Gulch Rd, which you drive all the way to Silverton. It ain't for cowards. (And don't go with rain in the forecast).


The trail below Corkscrew.

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Saw a sharpie, cooper's, re-tailed and harrier.

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That does it. I'm heading out the door!

Each year the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program publishes 2 impressive, high gloss 12-month calendars with great photography. One is a Tidal Graph Calendar and the other is a Birding calendar.

For a free calendar call the BTNEP toll-free at (800) 259-0869. You can take a look at them online: LINK

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I wonder what happened with the chippin sparrows.

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They're all at my house. :lol:
But I've only had 1 white throated (tan form) and NO juncos. If we only knew why.......

If you just want to get away for a quick trip close to home, go to Palmetto Island State Park, 6 miles south of Abbeville.
nice, new cabins with SAT TV
dog friendly, yes.
No real "hiking" to speak of. The Lagoon Trail is a straight end and out, with a small bayou running on the side of it. It's a good trail for seeing woodducks, snakes, wild hogs, and various songbirds. The other trails are really just walking paths through wooded wetlands.
No swimming. In the summer there's a "waterpark" that the young kids love.
There's a boat launch with very easy access to the Vermilion River, and a canoe launch accessing a 7 mile canoe trail through man-made lagoons. There are always small alligators in the 3 lagoons, but if they get to close to your canoe, just smack um on the snout with your paddle.
The scenery is coastal bottomland hardwood forest, and rustic.

1st photo: estimate on the age of the woodcock? superbly camouflaged bird.
3rd photo: the legs, they're banded?? (nice gun)
4th photo: :cheers: (I want your camera, whatever it is)
5th: how far were you from the kildeer chick?

When the goldfinch come, it brings the Sharp-Shinned Hawk. That's cool to watch too.

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Y'all gonna attract the ibwo folks

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Bring 'um on, but they gotta have pics. No bullshite swamp story.

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Birding List Digest

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didn't know about this site, thanks. It's easy to navigate, and I found LAbird quickly. Loads of interesting entries.

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used a 400 mm lens for the shot

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Do you use a tripod with that? I want to get a lens with greater range, but with the type of birding I do, I really need a handheld.

Dont' know if you remember the picture, but on the scenary thread you posted a sparrow. I compared it with the sparrows in 2 birding books, and still couldn't come up with an ID. Without seeing the breast feathers made it harder. Finally, I just gave up!!

I was cleaning out a wood duck box a couple of days ago, and found a flying squirrel in it. It flew out of the box to an adjacent tree. I've lived on the natural levee of bayou Vermilion for years, never seeing a flying squirrel before. Have since learned they're an endangered species. Even though they're nocturnal, seems like I would have at least heard one. Anyone know what sound they make, if any?

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Helps me pass the time in the stand.

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I was sitting in my stand, and bam! a branch fell and hit my head. Hurt like hell. A few minutes later, bam! again, but this time the "branch" grabbed my orange stocking hat & flew off with it. A damn owl. Don't know if it was a great horned or barred, but gave me a good lickin. I really miss that cap.