A bit if a different view from the bayou from Tuesday. I was on my way back to the take-out point when I heard something extremely loud on the water. At first, I thought that it was some wayward pleasure craft that had become lost and had violated the no gas engine rule that is posted for the bayou. It left Armand Bayou and headed into Mud Lake and I thought that I had seen the last of it until I heard it coming back. By this time, I had left Horsepen Bayou and was making my way back to the takeout point at Bay Area Park. I had taken a photo of the offending craft and was preparing to send it to the Armand Bayou Nature Center office when it cruised by me on Armand Bayou and headed toward the boat barn owned by the Nature Center. At that time, I realized that it was an airboat used for spraying the water hyacinth. He was on the far side of Armand Bayou, which at this point is roughly 300 yards wide, so the capture is not the sharpest in the world. It will give you some idea as to what it takes to keep the invasive hyacinth in check.

I know that the use of chemicals is an issue, but not using them can be more damaging and I trust the judgement of the people involved. They don’t take things like this lightly. The water hyacinth is really a deadly predator that chokes the life out of the water that it covers. It depletes the oxygen levels in the water and kills whatever is trapped beneath it. This can happen very quickly, and I am glad that the Parks and Wildlife authorities are taking a proactive stance against the plant. I’ll include a photo of just how bad things can get if you don’t take care of the problem. I’ll include a couple of links if you would like to read more but it can quickly become a major problem.
www.saps.org.uk/saps-associates/browse-q-and-a/455-how-fa...

earthobservatory.nasa.gov/blogs/earthmatters/2016/06/01/s...

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An Orb-Weaver Spider demonstrates his skills along the banks of Horsepen Bayou. I am going to do a rare double post because I found these two spiders within a foot of each other on the bayou. It was odd that I found two spiders together and of a different species almost stacked one on top of the other. I know about Orb-Weavers but am clueless as to what type of a spider the other one is. The Orb-Weaver was the closest to me, and the other spider was photographed through the web of the Orb-Weaver.

Thank you Sue for the ID on this species. Since he was near the water's edge, that would be perfectly logical.

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An Orb-Weaver Spider demonstrates his skills along the banks of Horsepen Bayou. I am going to do a rare double post because I found these two spiders within a foot of each other on the bayou. It was odd that I found two spiders together and of a different species almost stacked one on top of the other. I know about Orb-Weavers but am clueless as to what type of a spider the other one is. The Orb-Weaver was the closest to me, and the other spider was photographed through the web of the Orb-Weaver.

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It’s called Elephant ears and I know that everyone has likely seen the plant. They call them ornamentals, but for me it’s yet another rotten invasive species that has invaded the bayou and add nothing to the beauty of the area. Not sure how to control the stuff, but the lead in words here are not that important. I should have started out with…you find her…which is more about what this post really focuses on. Not the best capture ever of the White-tailed Doe, but you’ll get the idea after you spot her peeking out at you from those elephant ears. This was all I saw of her and she merely turned away and vanished into the greenery. Not a great shot but something different. Photo taken on Horsepen Bayou.

I also want to alert everyone about the storms entering the Gulf of Mexico and say that there is no cause for concern. There will likely be some heavy winds associated with the system, but let’s hope that it will be a rain event and it should drop the temperatures a bit. The exaggeration by the news media is nauseating and they seem to blow everything out of proportion when it comes to events like this. Will keep everyone informed but there is little to worry about in my opinion. Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.


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First there was Jack and beanstalk and then tales of the Werewolf surfaced in the old and those were joined by Sasquatch sightings in the Northwest. Not to be left behind, the people of Louisiana speak of a beast that inhabits their bayous and the Rougarou it definitely not something that you want to encounter on a dark night.

I am here to tell you that they are left in the dark by the new legend that has come to life on the banks of Horsepen Bayou. Most people have poorly focused captures of their beasts, but there is absolutely nothing left to the imagination when you see the documented evidence of my encounter with….que the eerie music and the deep guttural groans and the mist.
Okay, no music or mist, but as I sat silently in my canoe photographing a 21 foot long alligator KNOTHEAD staggered form dense grasses and growth surrounding Horsepen Bayou and grabbed up the defenseless 21 foot long gator and ripped him in two with his bare branches….REALLY???? You bet!! I saw him with my own eyes before I hastily paddled away. Everyone that now paddles Horsepen Bayou should keep a sharp eye out for Knothead of Alligator Alley…….IF…...they are ever brave enough to paddle Horsepen Bayou in the future.

Sorry I let my fears and imagine run wild and sorry that I didn’t have the photo for Halloween, but such is life. Just an ol’ eerie tree on the banks of Horsepen Bayou. I only hope that everyone is able to get to sleep after reading about these disturbing events.


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Tags:   WanaM3 Nikon D7100 Nikon D7100 Texas Pasadena Clear Lake City Horsepen Bayou bayou outdoors nature nature photography make believe foolishness tree tree trunk branches Knothead

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