Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge

This morning I drove out to Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge . Thunderstorms were predicted for the afternoon, so I wanted to get out early to at least get in a few hours. This was a beautiful magical area. The moment I got out of the car, I was surrounded by the sounds (and the humidity!) of the Bayou. The best way to explore this area turned out to be very slowly driving up and down the levees, using the car as a blind. I did have to be careful about turning the engine on and off as some of the critters were skittish. I will have to archive the mental image of five turtles hauled out on a branch. They dropped, one by one, into the water as I approched.

Except for one other couple that I briefly ran into, I was completely alone the entire time. That in and of itself characterizes this area as a hidden gem. In just a few hours I was able to capture a variety of wildlife, from butterflies to reptiles to birds.

The thunderstorm never really materialized, mostly it just dripped. So I probably could have stayed longer. But there was no way to know that. Regardless, it was a successful wildlife day.

Tomorrow I head down to New Orleans.

Additional images are found in the Gallery.