ABA: Thursday

My second field trip during the American Birding Association convention in Lafayette, La., included three stops. I liked the second spot best.

At Alexander State Forest's Indian Creek area, we stopped to find Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Brown-headed Nuthatch (its squeaky call is so cute) and Pine Warbler. I saw all three multiple times. Eastern Bluebirds seemed to pose just for us.


That tree in the middle with two white rings indicates a RCWO cavity above.


After a short visit to the lake, which yielded a Bald Eagle perched on the opposite shore, we drove to Chicot State Park (pronounced "chee-koh"). What an awesome site. Can you see the alligator?


Can you see it now? (c:


We slowly meandered across the bridge, soaking up the sunshine and various species above and beside us: Black-crowned Night-Heron, Eastern Kingbird, White Ibis, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Green Heron, Fish Crow, Barn Swallow, Prothonotary Warbler. It was delightful!


Walking among the trees beside the road and along a trail, we heard so many calls: Red-eyed Vireo, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Parula, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Hooded Warbler. I got to see a Chestnut-sided Warbler, Tufted Titmouse, Tennessee Warbler and finally Acadian Flycatcher.

Then we drove to Louisiana State Arboretum and eventually ambled along various trails amid the beech and magnolia trees. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds vying for sugar-water and Carolina Wrens at the visitor center amused me. As our group neared a bridge over a creek, a Prothonotary Warbler began bathing in the water -- what a sight!


Before getting to the wetland trail, the group encountered a Hooded Warbler that eventually hopped onto a log to eat a caterpillar. He provided "crippling" looks at his beautiful plumage. We also encountered White-eyed Vireo, Acadian Flycatcher... and a copperhead. The beautiful snake chose to relinquish the trail and settled just a few feet away, giving us a fantastic view of his colorful pattern.


By the way, anyone know the name of this flower?