Category: Photo Challenges

Water Water Everywhere: August 21, 2019 Alligators

One of our favorite places to go when we go to Louisiana is in LaPlace, about twenty-five miles outside of New Orleans. A company called Cajun Pride Swamp Tours offers a unique experience that is both educational and entertaining, a tour of a swamp. This sounds like a place that you would use tons of bug spray, but one of the interesting facts that I learned on this tour is that mosquitoes do not live in the swamp.

We have taken two sets of our grandchildren on this tour so far. They have both had such a terrific time seeing the wildlife, especially the alligators. The captains of the boats which carry about 30-40 people each are very knowledgeable about all aspects of the swamp and also about Louisiana history in general. They present this information in a way that makes you think and also has you laughing at their down home humor.

We have seen lots of alligators on this tour because apparently they like marshmallows. When they hear the engines of the boat, they come out because they are waiting to be fed this treat. The highlight of the trip is when everyone is allowed to hold a baby alligator, if they want to.

So, for an experience that is different and very enjoyable, I would recommend taking this tour if you are ever in Louisiana. The website for the company is https://www.cajunprideswamptours.com

BOTD: August 19, 2019 Great-tailed Grackle

The day I watched the seagulls playing king of the hill, I was sitting on a concrete block. I turned around for a few minutes and right behind me on another block with this beautiful grackle. His feathers were bluer than any grackle I had seen before, maybe because I had not been this close to one before, but I think my camera settings may have accentuated the blue a little more than it actually was in reality.

For more information on Grackles go to https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great-tailed_Grackle/overview