Tag: adventures outdoors

The Scarlet Ibis

The Scarlet Ibis

The Scarlet Ibis

The scarlet ibis, sometimes called red ibis (Eudocimus ruber), is a species of ibis in the bird family Threskiornithidae. It inhabits tropical South America and part of the Caribbean. In form, it resembles most of the other twenty-seven extant species of ibis, but its remarkably brilliant scarlet coloration makes it unmistakable.

The Scarlet Ibis
The Scarlet Ibis

This picture below is a photo that I took in Louisiana, the white Ibis. My first time seeing an Ibis bird.

Have a great weekend.

The Scarlet Ibis

Sandra J’s Into the Light Adventures

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

By Sandra J

The Saffron Finch

The Saffron Finch

The Saffron Finch – probably the prettiest yellow with a touch of orange over the eye. What a bird this one is.

The saffron finch (Sicalis flaveola) is a tanager from South America that is common in open and semi-open areas in lowlands outside the Amazon Basin.

The Saffron Finch

Sandra J’s Into the Light Adventures

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

By Sandra J

Pied Imperial Pigeon

Pied Imperial Pigeon

Pied Imperial Pigeon

The pied imperial pigeon (Ducula bicolor) is a relatively large, pied species of pigeon. It is found in forest, woodland, mangrove, plantations and scrub in Southeast Asia, ranging from Myanmar and Thailand, throughout Indonesia and east to the Philippines 

Pied Imperial Pigeon

Pied Imperial Pigeon

Sandra J’s Into the Light Adventures

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

By Sandra J

Nicobar Pigeon

Nicobar Pigeon

Nicobar Pigeon – the most brilliant colors I think I have ever seen on a bird.

One of the most beautiful breeds of Columbidae, the Nicobar pigeon is the only remaining living member of the genus Caleonas.

This might not mean anything to a casual bird lover, but it means that the Nicobar pigeon is believed to be the closest living relative of the dodo, the extinct bird that has come to be a symbol of extinct animals all over the world.

Nicobar Pigeon

The Nicobar pigeon, as the name suggests, originated in the Islands of Nicobar.

These islands are a union territory of India along with the Andaman Islands (home of the rare Andaman wood pigeon) and lie in the eastern Indian Ocean.

Nicobar Pigeon

The Nicobar pigeon is known not only in Nicobar but also Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands

Nicobar Pigeon

Sandra J’s Into the Light Adventures

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

By Sandra J

Guira Cuckoo Birds

Guira Cuckoo Birds

Guira Cuckoo Birds – South America Birds

Guira Cuckoos are omnivores and groups will forage together for insects, frogs, eggs, large arthropods such as spiders, crabs, etc., and small mammals such as mice, as well as the nestlings of small birds. Their beak is thick and has a downward curve, which is designed for eating meat. They belong to the same family as the Roadrunner.

Guira Cuckoo Birds

They are very noisy birds and make a wide variety of noises, including yodels, guttural calls, gargled trills, and whistles. And, like other cuckoos, they give off a very strong odor.

Guira Cuckoo Birds

Guira Cuckoo Birds

Sandra J’s Into the Light Adventures

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

By Sandra J

Unique Cool Birds

Unique Cool Birds

Unique Cool Birds – My first bird I am going to show you is from Australia, it is called a Masked Lapwing.

The Masked Lapwing gets its name from the bright yellow wattles (the fleshy bit of skin that roosters and turkeys also have) on its face and the ‘lapping’ sound its slow wing beats make.

The Masked Lapwing, also known as a plover, has an eerie call most often heard at night – ‘kekekekekekekek’.

I picked this bird first because I follow a blogger named, aussiebirder

Blogging site link here; Aussiebirder

I love reading is blogs. He is a birder with his wife and he shows the most colorful birds I have ever seen. We have a lot here in the states. But, I think they might have quite a few more over there. Check out his site to see his photos, creative writings and videos of birds from Australia.

These birds coming up next week are from the Mississippi Aquarium, they have an Aviary there, which means all the birds can fly around and swim in the pond, and forage in the grasses. They are not free of course, but they are well fed and taken care of so that they stay healthy and live long lives.

Unique Cool Birds

Birds in the wild have more risk of fatality these days with being hit by cars, windmills and bad weather. Migration routes are in danger because of all the light noise at night. The majority of birds fly at night when they migrate and all the lights on the earth make it harder for them to get where they are going.

Last year I noticed a huge decrease in song birds in the area where I live. Which is one of the farthest regions for a lot of birds to migrate. I hope this summer more song birds will come back to my area.

Have a great weekend. 🙂

Unique Cool Birds

Sandra J’s Into the Light Adventures

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

By Sandra J

Well Cared For

Well Cared For

Well Cared For and well fed these dolphins at the Mississippi Aquarium. They get lots of attention from the trainers and lots of activities to keep them in great shape.

Well Cared For

People are always excited to see dolphins. I am thinking because they look like they are smiling all the time and having fun in the water.

Well Cared For

Here the only photo I took from inside the aquarium. Sometimes one has to put the camera down and just enjoy what it is front of us. Plus shooting through thick glass doesn’t make the best photos. 🙂

Well Cared For

Sandra J’s Into the Light Adventures

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

By Sandra J

Dolphins in the Wild

Dolphins in the Wild

Dolphins in the Wild – I see dolphins a lot when I am on the gulf coast. But, never jumping out of the water when I am just walking on the beach. I mostly see their fin and part of the body is all.

Dolphins in the Wild
Dolphins Rounding Up Fish at a Beach - Blue Heron Standing by Incase they Send Some Fish His Way

Below is a quick video I took of a couple of dolphins rounding up fish next to the beach as a Blue Heron paced back and forth watching them, as if it was trying to tell the dolphins to move the fish just a little closer so he could have one also.

Link to Dolphins on the Gulf Coast

Dolphins in the Wild

Sandra J’s Into the Light Adventures

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

By Sandra J

Mississippi Aquarium

Mississippi Aquarium

Mississippi Aquarium – Last week I ended with a post telling you about some very colorful birds coming up next. First I must show you where I saw these birds, because most of them are from other country’s.

I am talking about a fairly new Aquarium in Gulfport Mississippi, right next to the coast. A fellow camper told us about this place so we headed on over. It is a wonderful drive along the coast line to get to this aquarium.

Mississippi Aquarium

Mississippi Aquarium is a nonprofit public aquarium located in Gulfport, Mississippi; it opened August 29, 2020. The 5.8-acre, complex incorporates both indoor and outdoor habitats with more than 200 species of animals and 50 species of native plants.

First the star of the aquarium is the dolphins for sure. They have lots of fish inside and these two beautiful guys outside.

I will get to the birds in a couple more days.

Mississippi Aquarium

Mississippi Aquarium

Sandra J’s Into the Light Adventures

Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts

By Sandra J