What a difference a day makes. I went back out to the photography blind at San Angelo State Park yesterday to see if I could get a better exposed photo of the Green-tailed Towhee. The sky was cloudy, but it wasn’t raining. There was an abundance of birds to be seen, and the light was perfect. There was this Canyon Towhee (Melozone fusca) eating seed that was put on this log.
Canyon Towhee
There also was this Lesser Goldfinch, (Carduelis psaltria), hanging sideways on a branch sticking out of the pond.
Lesser Goldfinch
How about a female Northern Cardinal, (Cardinalis cardinalis)
Northern Cardinal - female
Or a Pyrrhuloxia , Cardinalis sinuatus), a relative to the Northern Cardinal.
Pyrrhuloxia
Don’t you love the bokeh on the three above above photos? A few minutes later about a dozen Northern Bobwhites, (Colinus virginianus) came running into the area. What fun it was watching them scurry around. This is a photo of one of the females.
Northern Bobwhite - female
Oh, lest I forget why I decided on this post, the Green-tailed Towhee, (pipilo chlorurus), finally made an appearance. He flew in from the surrounding brush and made himself at home in this bird feeder. I took this shot, then he was gone. I haven’t seen him since.
Green-tailed Towhee
I hope you enjoyed looking at these photos. I have this habit of wanting you to see all of my photos at once. I don’t have any left for the next post. So you know where I’ll be tomorrow. There is no time to rest, but I must keep going to satisfy my readers. 🙂
All images were shot with my Canon EOS 7D with Canon 500mm lens, tripod mounted. No tele-converter was used.
Click on any of the images to see an enlargement. Have a Happy Super Bowl Weekend. 🙂
Texas Tweeties by Bob Zeller 
An excellent assortment of lovely photos in this post. Congrats on the lifer!
Thank you so much, Linda. I really appreciate you. 🙂
I love the comparison of the female cardinal and the pyrrhuloxia in the same pose. Yes it’s great bokeh!
Thank you very much, Cindy. It was lucky that I caught them both doing the the same pose.
I really like the Bobwhite photo! Those are great birds, I remember accidentally flushing a covey of them when I was a teen hiking through a deserted farm field one day. Love their calls!
Hi, Tracy. Nice to hear from you. I can often hear the Northern Bobwhite’s calls, then have to look carefully around to see them. Quite often I spot them in the trees calling to one another. Thanks for the comment.
Great photos Bob and good luck on your next outing…can’t wait to see what’s next!!!
Thanks, David, very much. I enjoy having people anticipate what I am going to photograph next time. 🙂
Beautiful images, Bob! I love the Cardinal, and the Bobwhite is really cute. Hope you have another great day tomorrow / today (whenever you read this).
Thank you so much, Jo. I like to think that all of my days are great. 🙂 You have a great one, too. 🙂
Beautiful clear shots! I couldn’t pick just one favorite! Well done.
Thank you, Donna, I appreciat your compliments and comments. 🙂
Thanks for sharing, Bob. My feeder hasn’t provided me with as many shots as I’d like so far this winter, so it is great to come over here and see yours. I find that relative of the northern cardinal quite fascinating. Does it have an easier, more common name than “Pyrrhuloxia”? I can’t imagine exclaiming, “ooh, look at the pyrrhuloxia!” if I ever happened to see one! 😉
No, I am sorry to say that there is no easy name for the Pyrrhuloxia. It is pronounced “Pie-roll-loxia”, if that helps. 🙂
I don’t know who is is in charge of naming birds, but I think they could have come up with something easier. 🙂
Thanks for commenting, Karen.
Great photographs, Bob! Tell me, how did you manage to persuade them all to face to the left? Bet you can’t come up with a joke for that one?
Cheers
John
Thanks for the comment, John. Let me think about that for awhile. 🙂
Yes, my eyes are completely satisfied after watching so many of them! 😀
Loved these shots, the light is perfect, and the colors are absolutely beautiful! 🙂 My favorites – Northern Cardinal – female & Her relative. Fantastic tweeties. 🙂
Thank you so much, Nandini. I really appreciate you compliments and the comments. I am glad you liked the Cardinals. 🙂
Wow! These are really beautiful Bob! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you very much, Karen. I appreciate the compliments. 🙂
NIce shots! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Em, I appreciate it.
Wonderful images Bob. I love seeing the Northern Bobwhite, they were a childhood favorite of mine. Glad that you got another chance with the Green-tailed Towhee!
Thank you very much, Mia. I appreciate your kind words, and I am glad you liked the Northern Bobwhite. 🙂
Beautiful work!!
Thanks, Rob, I really appreciate it.
Very nice set of pictures Bob! 🙂
Thanks, H.J.
Great images again, Bob. Overcast skies (plus seed and water) make that blind sing like Placido and you hit those shots on the beak. Well done.
Thanks, Jim. It was great conditions. 🙂
Awesome set of photos Mr. Bob, it seems they all are posing for you.
The Canyon Towhee looks like a Sparrow, but colored like a Morning Dove
Pyrrhuloxia is my favorite.
We have tons of Bobwhites around here in the warmer months, but I can’t recall seeing/hearing one in winter…do they fly south for the winter??
I don’t have a bird blind, but there is a lake down in the meadow that seems to draw the birds in…maybe I’ll head down there tomorrow bout noon.
Raven
Thank you for all of your comments, Raven. Have a great day tomorrow. 🙂
Absolutely beautiful..could not say which would be my favorite. The cloudy day really popped out the colors and details on the birds. Thank you again for sharing…take care and have a fun day tomorrow…
Thank you, Syl. Again I appreciate all of your kind words. It is supposed to be colder tomorrow, but that won’t keep me in. 🙂
If favorites are to be had, I love the Northern Bobwhite. Her feather colors are beautiful.
Thank you, Angeline. I am a bit partial to quail, also. 🙂
What fabulous photos. I am so glad I found your blog. The photos are so crisp, the feathers are clear. In looking at some of your previous posts, I can see that you are a talented photographer.
Maggie, what a complimenter you are. I really appreciate what you have to say, and I thank you for your comments. 🙂
Love them, Bob! Sharp and beautiful photos. The birds are looking their cutest!
Thank you, Karen. You know that I always appreciate your kind compliments. 🙂
Fantastic – your photos make me feel as if I’m there too!
Thank you very much, Julie, I appreciate your kind words. 🙂