The weather here has been great lately, as I have mentioned before. Ann and I got out yesterday for a few hours, and birds, along with spring, were in the air. Our birding exploits netted us 45 species, which broke our daily record of 44 set last year. It was hard to believe for a January day. But when the temps get to the mid 70s, even the birds are happy.
Photographically, it was somewhat of a bust. Oh, I got photos, but I am, as a photographer, always looking for presentable, saleable images, i.e., photos that are good enough for my Fine Art Gallery, but none of those were to be had. However, strictly for birding bragging images, here are a few that I captured. Click on any of them to see an enlargement.
Above, this Ladder-backed Woodpecker was enjoying himself.
As was this Brown Creeper. It seems they love to work the underside of the branches.
This Greater Yellowlegs was feeding along the river’s edge. Really hustling, and paying no mind to anything around him.
We also saw an American Goldfinch. I was unable to get an image of it, as it was too quick for me. However, I will show you one that I shot at an earlier date. Below that is a photo of a Lesser Goldfinch, that I came across in my files during my search for the previous mentioned American. I thought you’d be interested in the comparison.
For you birders that are interested in the birds that are found around this west Texas city, here is a complete list of what we saw.
- Northern Mockingbird
- Double-crested Cormorant
- Eastern Bluebird
- Western Meadowlark
- European Starling
- Oranged-crowned Warbler
- Killdeer
- Belted Kingfisher
- Pied-billed Grebe
- American Coot
- Northern Shoveler
- Bufflehead
- Vermilion Flycatcher
- House Finch
- Great Blue Heron
- Golden-fronted Woodpecker
- Yellow-rumped Warbler
- Black-crested Titmouse
- Black-bellied Whistling Duck
- Mute Swan
- Great Egret
- Mallard
- Red-tailed Hawk
- American Goldfinch
- Great Horned Owl
- Northern Cardinal
- American Robin
- White-crowned Sparrow
- Brown Creeper
- Ladder-backed Woodpecker
- Gadwall
- Green-winged Teal
- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
- Eastern Phoebe
- Greater Yellowlegs
- Wilson’s Snipe
- Northern Flicker
- Bewick’s Wren
- Wild Turkey
- Ring-billed Gull
- Black Vulture
- Spotted Sandpiper
- White-winged Dove
- Great-tailed Grackle
- House Sparrow