I wasn't alone in the woods today.......

Did a little birding the morning of the 26th October (Sunday). Pretty good couple of hours, got a new bird for the list (Philadelphia Vireo), saw a covey of quail which had eluded me all summer, and started seeing some sparrow species that show up around this time of year. Then on the way out I noticed a set of tracks I had not noticed on the way in. Now I realize I am never alone in the woods, there are always lots of critters to keep me company. But when you see these kind of tracks it brings on some new meaning...... a different more primal awareness creeps in and afterwards you are a little more awake than before....... I promise!

Louisiana Black Bear tracks, October 26th 2014, 9:41am.

Louisiana Black Bear tracks, October 26th 2014, 9:41am.

Louisiana Black Bear tracks, October 26th 2014, 9:41am.

Couldn't have planned it to do this well........

At the end of last year I drove an hour and a half southwest to collect some submerged aquatic grass from some shallow ponds near Pecan Island. Judge Edwards (Vermilion Corporation) and I waded through his ponds pulling a pirogue and raking up grass (Widgeon Grass, or Southern Naiad, Najas guadalupensis) and  bagging it in garbage bags, then later into multiple ice chests for transport. The next day I brought it to the large shallow pond on the property and waded through the water punching fistfuls into the shallow soft mud bottom and hoped it would take.....
Well, it took. Now the water is crystal clear and almost every square inch of the pond has it up to two inches below the surface! Take a look.

Could not have planned it to turn out this way if I tried. Wow.



October 4th 2014....approximately one year after introducing to pond.