What luck at the refuge today! Among many others, we were treated to Northern Flickers, an Egret feasting on a crawdad, a really tame(
) coyote, and a gorgeous Pheasant #NorthernFlicker #Egret #Coyote #CommonPheasant #Birds #BirdWatching #SacramentoWildlifeRefuge #Fujifilm #SOoC
Cobalt Countryside Sentinel
This is a Blue Grosbeak (Passerina caerulea), a member of the Cardinalidae family, which also includes other vibrant birds like Northern Cardinals. I captured this photo a couple of years ago and look forward to spotting some again this year.
Don't be blue, visit my photo gallery at:
Above and Below
This great blue heron (Ardea herodias) glided gracefully just above the surface of a small lake located north of Houston, Texas. Its low flight highlighted the bird's effortless elegance as it skimmed over the tranquil waters.
Explore a curated collection of heron and egret images in my photo gallery. Take a look!
Good morning. 
14 March 2025
Do you use a pill organizer? If you do, chances are you’re no longer a spring chicken. I remember when I was first prescribed a daily pill—it was in my forties, and my blood pressure had climbed well past the acceptable range. I was preparing for dental surgery when my dentist, a colonel, ordered me to head straight to the emergency room. At the ER, the nurse who took my blood pressure got quite excited (she did give it back), though the doctor seemed unfazed. And that’s how I ended up with my starter pack of meds. Since then, my daily regimen has grown little by little, to the point where I now struggle to fit everything into my pill organizer.
"I believe in prescription drugs. I believe in feeling better." - Denis Leary
A male and female Common Merganser.
See it bigger here: https://jan-luit.pixels.com/featured/a-pair-of-common-mergansers-jan-luit.html
Tiny Treasures in the Snow
This photo features goldfinches and chipping sparrows in the snow. I'd call it a snow day, but since I'm in Louisiana, it's the snow day.
If you love locking eyes with our feathered friends, flock to my photo gallery at:
Poor Jackie (or it could be Shadow - hard to tell at this angle).
And I thought parenting was hard.
At least the eaglets are cozy under the floof.
#Birds
#Birdwatching
Nature's Subtle Charm
Yesterday, after a trip to a local lake, I shared a photo of a male red-winged blackbird engaging in what appeared to be an elaborate mating ritual. I mentioned the presence of several female red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus), and this bird happens to be one of them.
I don’t upload all the photos I share here to my Pixels gallery. I only post my personal favorites, while some don’t make the cut. I usually give myself a couple of days to decide how I feel about them before uploading.
Feel free to explore my gallery here:
A Bohemian Waxwing in a crabapple tree.
See it bigger here: https://jan-luit.pixels.com/featured/a-bohemian-waxwing-jan-luit.html
Crooning Perch
This morning at the lake, I spotted a red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus). He was quite vocal, proudly displaying his vibrant red wing epaulets. While I’m no expert on their behavior, I suspect he was trying to attract a mate. I’m fairly certain I saw a few females nearby—though I haven’t had the chance to confirm their identification, they are brown. Unfortunately, I left the house without my hearing aids and missed the chance to hear his song, which I would have loved.
Perhaps this blackbird is inviting you to explore my photo gallery at:
Warbler's Day Out
This morning, I drove out to Alligator Lake, a small park managed by Fort Johnson, in search of photo opportunities. While there were a few good moments, I suspect the best time for photography will be in a few weeks when spring arrives, bringing migrating birds to the area. As I was about to leave and opened my car door, I noticed a small bird hopping around on the ground. Luckily, I still had my camera in hand. I began snapping photos as I carefully inched closer. Although I didn’t get as close as I would have liked, the resulting image isn't too bad. It turns out the bird was a charming little yellow-rumped warbler (Setophaga coronata).
Discover nature's fleeting moments through my lens—visit my photo gallery to see more.
Good morning. 
12 March 2025
My old desk has a keyboard tray, but I prefer to type with the keyboard in my lap and my legs propped up on the desk's edge. This morning, after spending several minutes crafting a paragraph, I placed the keyboard back in its tray and stepped away to feed the dogs. When I returned, I grabbed the keyboard, and as I lifted it, one of the keys struck the desk—poof, just like that, my work disappeared. At least it gave me something else to ramble about. Back when I worked, I did some coding and writing, so I know the importance of backing up regularly and even backing up the backup. Despite that, I still write directly in the app. Maybe I should start composing in a word processor... but nah, that would make far too much sense.
"Backups are for wimps. Real men upload their data to an FTP site and have everyone else mirror it." - Linus Torvalds
waiting for summer 
