Jean Lafitte was an interesting character to say the least. I would suggest checking out the Bryan museum next time you come to Texas and can go birding on galveston Island!
So nice to see habitat I'm pretty familiar with, haha - and great views of lovely birds too! Can't think how many times I've had to handle anoles though, they seem to love coming inside my house. Nice look at the barred owl too!!! I was astonished to find out first hand that those owls can and do live in urban spaces. First hand because, one buzzed me one night on his way to catching a rat! I had to do some detective work of course - seeing any owl in flight at night is NOT the easiest way to ID it - but after hearing it calling and catching sight of it in daylight (VERY briefly) - definitely a barred. And I live smack in the middle of the city, basically!
Excellent video, really enjoyed it! Fun fact: So-called 'Spanish moss' is neither Spanish or moss, nor lichen. It's a type of airplant. Specifically, Tillandsia usenoidies.
According to allaboutbirds.org “The Prothonotary Warbler got its name from the bright yellow robes worn by papal clerks, known as prothonotaries, in the Roman Catholic church.”
Did ya'll try across the street from the visitors center? They have some dirt trails that are pretty nice and packed with woodpeckers. The girlfriend and I hit Jean Laffite every other weekend pretty much. We live about 10 mins away. If ya'll are still on the westbank, I would suggest the wetland trace, which across the bridge in Laffite, by fischer highschool it's a big loop with a nice bit of open water at the end. And if you explore around the water you can find some cool birds. Bring some DEET yellow flies will eat you alive. Also if you go to Belle Chasse down woodland highway, there's the Woodland Trail. They have a walking path, and a horse/walking path that's about 5 or 6 miles with an old military bunker at the end. Plenty of armadillos.
Great vid as always. Derek, are you looking for the ivory billed woodpecker while you are in Louisiana? That would be a fun (likely much longer) video to make.