Hodge-podge Tuesday

I’ve had the last two days off, and have been taking care of mundane chores so tonight’s post will be a Hodge-podge of thoughts with a few bird pics thrown in for good measure.  :)  Also, I need some help with an insect identification.

                                                       NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD

After my last post, several readers asked where I’m headed next.  Well, my destination will be Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge in (surprise) Mississippi.  I’ll be volunteering there for three months.  It’s located just north of I-10 near Biloxi.  I’ve never been to Mississippi before in my life, so figured it was about time.  So I won’t really be leaving the Gulf Coast behind, just moving east a few hundred miles.  I’d like to be leaving the mosquitoes behind, but I’m guessing not.  :(

                                                              EASTERN PHEOBE 

I’ll have two weeks to get there, so I’ve scheduled a stop in Louisiana to have some recalls taken care of and some other work on the rig.  I don’t know how long that will take.  After Boise, last fall, you can guess how excited I am to be camped out in a repair facility!  :)  Oh well, maybe I’ll get a chance to try a shrimp Po-boy while I’m in the area.

                                 JUVENILLE WHITE IBIS (click to see the blue eyes)

If the work gets done in a timely manner, I’ll be meeting fellow blogger and solo fulltimer LOREE in New Orleans for a few days of shared sightseeing.  Neither of us have been to New Orleans, and it’s always nice to have a companion to enjoy the experience with.  :)  If you have suggestions for things to see and do, let me know.

I’m still trying to get an excellent picture of a white-tailed kite, and here are my latest attempts.

I’m not there yet, but I’ll keep trying…

Jack, a  friend of mine, sent me this pic of a pair of insects doing their mating thing.  Does anyone know what they are?

The results are in!  The above photo (#3) of the periwinkle snail was your most popular choice.   I took the top four picks that you all made into Stephanie this morning, and she liked photo #3 the best as well.  The runners up were #s 5, 8, and 9.  Thanks for your input!

As the sun began to set yesterday afternoon, this great blue heron and great egret began to settle in for the night.  I guess that means it is time to pack it in for today.  (Can you believe that those buildings at the top of the photo are miles and miles away across Galveston Bay on the Bolivar peninsula ?  It must be the reflection/mirage from the bay!)

                                                           THAT’S ALL FOLKS! 

Thanks for stopping by…. talk to you later,  Judy