Sister Jo’s visit Saturday, we took the Bird Barge out of Ocean Springs Harbor, toured around the western tip of Deer Island to the Oyster Farms, on the way back we received an escort that you need to see. From Deer Island we headed up Davis Bayou Coastal Preserve into Simmons Bayou to the The…

I can always depend on either of these locations to be pleasant to visit, and for images, whether sunrises, sunsets or the local residents. Click any image to view full size and browse the gallery. “The most important element in fostering a sense of place is to teach ourselves… to see with fresh eyes the…

Every sunset is also a sunrise. It all depends on where you stand. Karl Schmidt Ocean Springs Harbor Pier March 14, 2026 Ocean Springs Harbor Pier March 20, 2026 Gulfport Harbor March 21, 2026 “May I mindfully appreciatethe diversityof every being I encounter,who, like flowers,brings beauty, variety,and sustenanceto our world.” Jean Smith in Now!: The Art…

March 1, 2026 Heading to breakfast Sunday morning, we chose Phoenicia restaurant because it was too chilly to eat outside with the dogs, besides, their pancakes are always the best. It was 47° F (8.3° C) when we went in, and 67° F (19.4° C) an hour and a half later when we arrived at…

My One Person Blind Patty has identified all the birds, and I see she has also added a bit of commentary; cool! I have had some issues with locking in on a good focus lately. Turns out I have missed several firmware upgrades, and it appears to be an improvement.  “We make a living by…

Our day started off at a crisp 18°F(-7.8°C). We had Sunday-morning breakfast at Fat Spoon Cafe in Ocean Springs. After breakfast, we birded our way down the coast to Biloxi, then went in search of the Golden Eye, and Patty found it in Biloxi Back Bay by the shrimp factories.

There is a cold spell coming! Driving home, thinking of the frigid weather coming to us and much of North America. I watch two cars speed through a red light, and I think about how we are becoming, more and more, a ME society, and I mourn how we are treating each other and how…

Feathered Friends Good morning, world! Last year, while birding Clower Thornton Park in Gulfport, MS, we ran into several other birder friends. Steve pointed out that Charlie was in the brush in a blind. With some effort, I was able to locate him in his one-person standup blind; very cool. Talking with Charlie later, I…

In Search of a Common Goldeneye Patty heard from birding friend, Steve, that he had seen a Common Goldeneye in Biloxi Back Bay near the Drain Pipe, so we headed to Biloxi on Friday morning. As hard as Patty searched, no Goldeneye, but there were plenty of the regulars. There must have been runs of…

We still have several rare hummingbirds visiting our feeders; fortunately, we have had, or perhaps because we have had a mild winter. The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is our usual migration visitor, but it is unusual for it to remain in the winter. What is rare are the Broad-tailed and Black-chinned Hummingbirds; they belong much further west…

Happy New Year Happy New Year Friends and Family, Birders, Photographers, Nature Lovers and Mississippi Coast wanderers. Patty and I plan to explore new and old areas this year, with hopes of a few new Live Birds for Patty and me continuing to grow my photography knowledge. Let us all make this the very best…