Brown Pelicans in Flight
Six Brown Pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis) soar above the waters off the coast of Holly Beach, Louisiana, gliding effortlessly over the Gulf of Mexico.
Discover nature's fleeting moments through my lens—visit my photo gallery to see more.
Stillness in the Surf
When I first noticed Great Blue Herons (Ardea herodias), they were flying into a nearby pond and roosting among a flock of white birds—either Great Egrets (Ardea alba), Cattle Egrets (Bubulcus ibis), or both.** Not knowing then what I know now, I assumed they were all the same species, with the blue-gray birds simply being the males. What a difference a little knowledge makes.
I captured this image in Gulfport, Mississippi, one of my favorite places for photography. No matter how many times I visit, I never tire of these solitary birds standing on the beach in the quiet of early morning.
Explore a curated collection of heron and egret images in my photo gallery. Take a look!
Watchful Killdeer
This is an image of a Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) that I captured some time ago, likely during the early days of my photography journey.
"A shorebird you can see without going to the beach, Killdeer are graceful plovers common to lawns, golf courses, athletic fields, and parking lots. These tawny birds run across the ground in spurts, stopping with a jolt every so often to check their progress, or to see if they’ve startled up any insect prey. Their voice, a far-carrying, excited kill-deer, is a common sound even after dark, often given in flight as the bird circles overhead on slender wings." - allaboutbirds.org
If you enjoy wildlife and nature photography, check out my photo gallery here:
I'm Coming After You
Here is an image of a blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata) that seems to be flying straight toward me. In reality, the bird was simply heading to a feeder positioned between us. Still, with its intense gaze, it almost looks like it’s staring right through me.
If you're enchanted by images of blue jays and other captivating corvids, dive into my photo gallery for a visual treat! Take a peek:
Good morning. 
6 May 2025
So here we are—morning has arrived, and there’s coffee. I woke up late, nearly seven-thirty, a rare occurrence since I hardly ever sleep past six, if that long. Hmmm… I had hoped those first few sentences would spark something, but nothing seems to come to mind. Charlie is here. At first, I thought he wanted to go outside, but instead, he curled up next to my chair—an all-too-familiar sight. It’s funny how these small moments and daily habits shape our lives in ways we often overlook. Perhaps it’s the rhythm of life that matters most—the quiet consistency of morning coffee, the presence of loved ones, and, of course, our loyal, furry companions, who are both. Familiarity, after all, is the comfort food of existence.
"Familiarity reduces the greatness of things." – Seneca the Younger
Silent Sentinel
This vulture soared high above, its dark silhouette carving through the endless sky. With thoughtful edits, I accentuated the bird’s essence, enriching its depth and texture to evoke a rugged, western aesthetic. The final image carries a painterly quality, blending realism with artistic expression.
I have a collection of vulture images in my photo gallery. If you're interested, feel free to check it out at:
Gull’s Journey
Charlie and I sat outside this morning, savoring the cool air as we watched the birds flit about. Most of them were the usual backyard visitors, though Merlin picked up the songs of many others, including a northern bobwhite—one I couldn’t spot myself. Merlin has a way of teasing like that, offering glimpses of what’s there but unseen.
The bird in this image is a laughing gull (Leucophaeus atricilla). It’s not from my backyard, though I wouldn’t mind if it were—except during hurricane season. I captured this shot at a beach on the Gulf of Mexico, where it truly belongs, riding the coastal winds with effortless grace.
Enjoy stunning images of gulls and terns? Check out my photo gallery at:
Fluffed-Up Finch
This is the most unusual photograph of a house finch I’ve ever taken—or at least I think it’s a house finch. I’ve never seen one with its feathers fluffed up quite like this. It might just be the cutest finch I’ve ever photographed.
Step into a world where even the smallest moments—like the glint in a bird's eye—tell their own story.
Forest’s Scarlet Jewel
Here’s an image I captured yesterday morning—a northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) in mid-flight, taking off from a stand of trees. The way I’ve framed it gives the image a subtle 3D effect, adding depth and movement to the scene.
Explore stunning images of cardinals and other vibrant members of the Cardinalidae family by visiting my photo gallery here:
Good morning. 
3 May 2025
I bought some white PVC patches to fix the holes in our fence—two different kinds at two different times. And now? I can't find either one. Over a week ago, I went on a full-blown search, only to come up empty-handed. Eventually, I gave up, figuring that if I just waited, I’d stumble across them sooner or later. But so far? Not a.
Where do lost things go? Do they fade into some mysterious void after a certain amount of time? It’s strange how often I tuck something away in a “safe spot” only to completely forget where that obvious place was. Maybe it’s not the objects disappearing into the void—maybe it’s my memory.
If I ever do find them, I’ll probably just think, “Oh, yeah.” Until then, maybe I’ll do what I did last time and just reorder.
"Some things are lost forever, but some things come back." — Stephen King
A Flicker in Time
This an aged picture of a northern flicker (Colaptes auratus) who was around during the winter a few years ago.
"Northern Flickers are large, brown woodpeckers with a gentle expression and handsome black-scalloped plumage. On walks, don’t be surprised if you scare one up from the ground. It’s not where you’d expect to find a woodpecker, but flickers eat mainly ants and beetles, digging for them with their unusual, slightly curved bill. When they fly you’ll see a flash of color in the wings – yellow if you’re in the East, red if you’re in the West – and a bright white flash on the rump." - allaboutbirds.org
Explore more chic woodpecker photos by visiting my photo gallery.
Moment of Stillness in the Forest
While sitting in the backyard with Charlie, we listened to a spirited sing-off between a northern cardinal, a brown thrasher, a great crested flycatcher, and a Carolina wren. Their songs filled the air, creating a beautiful chorus, though the only birds I actually spotted were the cardinals. As our outdoor session came to an end, I got up, and we wandered to the edge of the fence, scanning the surrounding trees in hopes of catching a glimpse of the hidden singers. Despite our efforts, they remained tucked away in the foliage. Just as we were looking up, a red-bellied woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) suddenly landed in the oak tree above us, offering an unexpected and welcome sight.
Explore more chic woodpecker photos by visiting my photo gallery.
Good morning, friends. 
2 May 2025
A couple of days ago, my wife noticed that Ben's lymph nodes beneath his jaw were swollen. I took him to the veterinarian yesterday and, unfortunately, didn’t receive good news. There’s no definitive diagnosis yet—the vet sent samples to a pathologist, and I should hear something today. Ben is 16, and I fear the inevitable may be approaching. Still, he remains his calm, steady self. I think of him as a gentle giant, despite his small size. It takes a lot to ruffle him, except for my other dog, Charlie, who—every so often—manages to find that one nerve to step on. The dynamic at home is what I cherish most, and I struggle with the thought of change.
"A dog will teach you unconditional love. If you can have that in your life, things won’t be too bad." — Robert Wagner
Eastern Phoebe Against a Blue Canvas
Over two years ago, while strolling with my dogs, Ben and Charlie, I spotted an eastern phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) perched gracefully along my path.
"One of our most familiar eastern flycatchers, the Eastern Phoebe’s raspy “phoebe” call is a frequent sound around yards and farms in spring and summer. These brown-and-white songbirds sit upright and wag their tails from prominent, low perches. They typically place their mud-and-grass nests in protected nooks on bridges, barns, and houses, which adds to the species’ familiarity to humans. Hardy birds, Eastern Phoebes winter farther north than most other flycatchers and are one of the earliest returning migrants in spring." - allaboutbirds.org
If you enjoy wildlife and nature photography, check out my photo gallery here:
White Majesty in the Marsh
This elegant bird is a great egret, also known as the great white egret. I took this photograph some time ago while exploring the bayou at the Sabine National Wildlife Refuge in Louisiana. It may well be the first of these magnificent birds I captured, though since then, I’ve had the opportunity to photograph many more.
Explore a curated collection of heron and egret images in my photo gallery. Take a look!
Good morning. 
1 May 2025
May has arrived, and with it, May Day. At first, I thought we didn't really celebrate it here, but then I remembered the annual May festival downtown. My wife has set up a booth a few times to sell her quilting products. Quilts are a tough sell—while beautiful and intricate, they require significant effort to make and can range from a few hundred to a thousand dollars, making them more of an investment than an impulse buy. To appeal to a wider audience, she also showcases smaller items like baby sets and teddy bears. Her sports-themed teddy bears, especially those featuring Saints and LSU fabric, are quite popular. They often come dressed up, adding to their charm and making them a big hit at the festival.
"As full of spirit as the month of May, and as gorgeous as the sun in Midsummer." — William Shakespeare
Moonlight Through the Pines
An aged image captures the moon’s ascent in the evening, its soft glow filtering through the towering pine trees of the eastern forest.
Discover nature's fleeting moments through my lens—visit my photo gallery to see more.
Feathered Forager
Groups of blue jays frequently pass through this area, making occasional appearances. However, this particular blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata) has become a regular visitor, showing up every morning. Today, I watched as it swiftly sifted through the bird seed mix in search of a peanut. At some point, it accidentally knocked one onto the ground and had to hop down to retrieve it. down to retrieve the nut.
If you're enchanted by images of blue jays and other captivating corvids, dive into my photo gallery for a visual treat! Take a peek:
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Great Egret in Black and White
This is a Great Egret (Ardea alba) captured in striking black and white. The color version of this photograph is equally captivating, with water reflecting a kaleidoscope of vibrant hues—perhaps I'll share that one in the future. I took this image in Georgia a little over two years ago. I love how the water ripples outward in gentle circles from the bird and how its partial reflection adds a delicate touch to the scene.
"Though it mainly hunts while wading, the Great Egret occasionally swims to capture prey or hovers (somewhat laboriously) over the water and dips for fish." - allaboutbirds.org
If you enjoy black-and-white photography, I’ve created a dedicated category in my gallery just for these images. Feel free to explore!
Sandbar Sentinel
Early one morning last year in Gulfport, Mississippi, I had a regular photo session with a great blue heron (Ardea herodias). Every photo turned out magnificent—at least in my opinion. Now and then, I share one of them.
Explore a curated collection of heron and egret images in my photo gallery. Take a look!
