The Egyptian Goose at Community Park - Critter 113

When walking at one of our community parks, we saw several kinds of birds. There was one particularly strange-looking goose.

Fig 01 - The Egyptian Goose

Look very cool, we have never seen a goose that looks like that. After googling, it is said that the critter is an Egyptian Goose, origin from Africa.

Since this critter is not our native one, we believe the birds might be:

- ornamental pets, then escaped from nearby owners of our community park.

- migration from our neighbor state, Texas.

In case of Texas, population of Egyptian Goose is quite abundant, because the bird is good in adaptation to state warm climate and there are fewer natural predators, especially in urban landscapes.

Fig 02 - A whistling duck

We saw another migration duck, a whistling duck. They came from Mexico for breeding in our areas.

Fig 03 - A couple of whistling duck.

Have you seen Egyptian geese in your areas?

# Previous postings:

- Snails as One of Popular Seafood – Sign 21 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- May Yogurt Reduce Risk of Heart Diseases? - Part 1 – Heart 11 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- From Caterpillar to Monarch Butterfly – Critter 18 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- May Drink Coffee Regularly Improve Healthy Heart? - Part 2 - Heart 8 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Jersey Giant Roosters Look Like Hens – Critter 19 | Tanza Erlambang Update

Blooming of Iris in the Small Garden - Gardening and Hobby 78

We have several favorite flowers, and the Iris is one of them.  Its blooming period is usually from late March to April each year.

Fig 01 - Pretty flower

As far as I know, our state has five native Iris flowers. Iris hexagona is our favorite. It is because:

- easy to grow 

- low maintenance

- simple but attractive in colors, ranging from blue to violet.

We planted Iris hexagona many years ago, and it has blooming almost every year.

If we are lucky, we may observe these blue or violet flowers growing as wildflowers in the nature.

Fig 02 - Native flower of Louisiana.

We believe that Louisiana native Iris often grows wild in the ditches and other areas around here.

Fig 03 - African Iris, illustration

What varieties of Iris grow in your areas?

# Previous postings:

- Two States of USA are Legal for Texting and Driving – Sign 20 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Waking up after Sleeping for 24,000 years – Part 2 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Eastern Cicada Killer Wasp in Our Neighborhood – Critter 17 | Tanza Erlambang Update

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A Bald Eagle around our Areas - Critter 112

We saw a bald eagle a little bit closer around her nest about a couple week ago. A beautiful creature. 

Fig 01 - Bald Eagle.

Bald Eagles were very rare few decades ago, but nowadays we often see them flying around our areas. 

Interestingly, the birds keep the same "big" nests years by years, it is because the eagles match for life.

Hence, we might observe their babies in numerous numbers are born there over multiple years.

We believe there have been pairs in close by area for many years now, rebuilding each time a hurricane has been bad enough to destroy the nest.

Fig 02 - The bald eagle nest

Have you seen the eagles and their nests?

# Previous postings:

- Herbs Show at Our City Park – Sign 19 | Tanza Erlambang

- Demanding of Tofu was Increasing During Covid 19 Pandemic – Part 2 – Food Variety 21 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- A Blonde Squirrel at Our Backyard – Critter 16 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Blooming of Freesia Flowers – Part 2 - Gardening and Hobby 25 | Tanza Erlambang Update

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The Dragon Fruit Cactus Flowers - Gardening and Hobby 77

In case you didn't know, Dragon Fruits are actually Cacti that come from tropical rainforests. They have beautiful flowers.

Fig 01 - Flower of Dragon Fruit Cactus.

Tropical rainforests meaning:

- they need regular water

- we must protect them from freezing temperature.

The blooms are very large almost 12 inches (30.5 cm) across and about 9 inches (22.90 cm) long.

This cultivar is rated to be self-fertile, meaning the Dragon Fruit Cactus can produce fruit with its own pollen. 

The fruit that is red outside and white inside.

Fig 02 - A dragon fruit.

The plants are thorny, so we will need gloves if we would like to cut or prune them.

Fig 03 - Flower turns left

Have you seen the Dragon Fruit Cactus Flowers and fruis?

# Previous postings:

- Peanuts in the Farmer Market – Part 2 - Food Variety 20 | Tanza

- A Fox on the Box of Neighborhood – Critter 15 | Tanza

- Waking up after Sleeping for 24,000 years – Part 1 | Tanza

- May Drink Coffee Regularly Improve Healthy Heart? - Part 1 - Heart 8

- Herbs Show at Our City Park – Sign 19 | Tanza Erlambang

Spotting a Quail in the Bushes - Critter 111

We saw a quail in the bushes while we are walking or jogging around recently. The quail looks like a domestic one.

Fig 01 - A quail in the bush.

There are two domestic quails in our area that are:

- Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica)

- Common quail (Coturnix coturnix), few is domesticated.

We found quail's eggs sold in the farmer markets and bought some of them. The price is quite reasonable.

The farmers sell both fresh and pickled eggs:

- about US$ 8 per dozen for fresh egss.

- around US$ 12 per jar for pickled (processed) eggs.

Fig 02 - A little quail

We do have native quail, wild species in our state, Louisiana. The name for native species is Northern Bobwhite, Colinus virginianus.

Fig 03 - The bird looks confused.

Have you seen domestic or wild quails.

# Previous postings:

- The Orb Weaver Spider in the Yard – Critter 14 | Tanza

- Demanding of Tofu was Increasing During Covid 19 Pandemic – Part 1 – Food Variety 21

- Drinking Problem in the USA – Sign 18 | Tanza Erlambang

- Blooming of Freesia Flowers – Part 1 - Gardening and Hobby 25 | Tanza

- Peanuts in the Farmer Market – Part 2 - Food Variety 20 | Tanza Erlambang

Early Blooming of Amaryllis - Gardening and Hobby 76

It is quite surprising that we have blooming of Amaryllis early than usual. The flowers typically bloom around next month.

Fig 01 - Surprise Blooming.

We have "fantastic" names for the beautiful Amaryllis:

- the pink one is called Pinkolo.

- and the white one is Marquis.

We think that Pinkolo is playful and has theatrical energy to it. Then, Marquis feels elegant and regal. 

Several flowers come back bigger and better each year. We are waiting their bloom to return soon.

Fig 02 - Starting to bloom, indoor.

In case of indoor flowers, we keep watching them grow or changes from day to day. Waiting for surprise.

Fig 03 - Another Amaryllis.

Do you have flowers that are blooming early?

# Previous postings:

- Less Books in the Box – Sign 17 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Pug was a Breeding Dog for Royal Families – Critter 13 | Tanza

- Peanuts in the Farmer Market – Part 1 – Food Variety 20 | 

- Cutting the Tree Before Hurricane Coming – Part 2 | Tanza

- The Orb Weaver Spider in the Yard – Critter 14 | Tanza

A Yellow-Rumped Warbler.in the Winter - Critter 110

 This critter is one of birds which migrate to our areas during winter. I don't know the exact name but look like A Yellow-Rumped Warbler.

Fig 01 - A Yellow-Rumped Warbler.

The scientific name could be Setophaga coronata, and several common names in our city are following:

- Goldman’s Warbler

- Black‑fronted Warbler

- Myrtle Warbler

- Audubon’s Warbler

The bird came by our tray feeder recently, usually between January to February almost every year.

Fig 02 - One of fruit for wild birds

A Yellow-Rumped Warbler is a cute tiny guy and like it has no neck. We loooove the stripes on the wings.

Fig 03 - A lonely bird.

Happy New Year. Hope, things going well for all of us in 2026.

# Previous postings:

- Our Yards are Visited by Bees Regularly – Critter 12 |

- Declining Population of Mammals with Cube Feces | 

- Small Business at Nearby Neighborhood – Part 2 | Tanza

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- Less Books in the Box – Sign 17 | Tanza Erlambang