I got a call from my bird look-out friend yesterday (Saturday) afternoon. Sue Oliver is an intense birder always watching for anything new to appear. It was late in the day, but I was ready to go. She said there were some Canada Geese at a neighborhood park near downtown San Angelo. Since I am the “have camera, will travel” type of guy I headed out.
When I got there the sun was very low as evening was coming on. I spotted a few of the geese in the grass, but they were far inside the fence. This is a private neighborhood park. They were feeding then, but as we watched they took flight and flew into the pond about 100 feet away. I drove around the block to the other side of the park which was closer to the water, and it was easier to get a few images there. Because of the late, low sun, the exposure was difficult.
Granted, the Canada Geese are thought of as nuisances in some cities. As a matter of fact, one time when we where were visiting relatives near Mackinaw, Michigan, we ventured into a park where there were many mother geese with their goslings following them around. In trying to get photos I got more than my share of goose poop in and on my shoes. But it was nice to see them here, as they are a rarity around here.
This morning, Ann and I woke early to a beautiful Sunday morning and decided that we would venture to the local parks after partaking of our Happy Meals at the nearby Golden Arches. After arriving at the Spring Creek Park, we spotted this Red-tailed Hawk high in a tree. He was facing away, but decided to have a look at me before making his way to more promising hunting grounds.
After checking out some other smaller birds that were there, we drove over to Middle Concho Park. There we drove along the water and got images of a Great Blue Heron and a Great Egret.
Both birds were across the river and I was able to use my 500mm lens with a 1.4 teleconverter, shooting from my car parked along the near side of the water.
Enjoy the photos and click on any of them to see enlargements.
Hi Bob, thanks for sharing your photos. I am quite a fan of Canadian Geese. I first saw them when I visited Kansas City, Missouri. I would like to share my Canadian Geese as well at http://sidhavision.weebly.com/canadian-geese.html
Thanks, Gde. I have a look at yours. 🙂
Super Bob!
Thanks again, David.
Oh Bob, I can relate to the light challenges when shooting the geese at this time of day. The poop, too, butI am still happy to see them and watch their behaviour.Would love to see an egret…
Thanks, Jane. Maybe you’ll see an egret soon……
Wonderful Bob!
Thanks so much, Donna.
I’m just a few birds behind you for our 2014 list. Perhaps if you can here and we there, we’d BOTH jack our numbers up…
Canada Goose? Would be so great to check that box for my Houston list! BTW, who’s the little guys swimming with them in the first shot?
Shannon, you are right about us getting our numbers up if we visited each other. At least we would get birds that we wouldn’t get otherwise. But I think at years end, we will pretty close to each other. It will be exciting to see who ends up with the most.
Those other little guys in the first picture are Northern Shovelers. They are every place you look here in the winter.
Rats! I could use a Shoveler on my list too. Guess we’ll be San Angelo bound in 2014. 🙂
I am teaching you well. “Have camera, will travel.” I hope that is a promise. 🙂
Yep. And not just for the Shoveler either.
Wonderful. 🙂
Oh…I just put up a permanent page on the blog called The Big Year where I list the species we’ve marked off. It’s on the main menu. The race is on between DirtNKids and Texas Tweeties!
I just checked it out. Well done. Since you want a “race”, I might make a page also, so you can keep up with ours. 🙂
Wow! Great Day, huh?
Thanks, Jim. It was fun.
Sounds like a perfectly good way to spend the day.
Yeah, out in the sunshine looking for birds. It doesn’t get any better than this. 🙂
I love the geese..they are a pain to golfers, and here in Pagosa they brought in some swans to keep the geese away..didn’t work, but surely do enjoy the swans..the Great White Egret is just incredible..as well as the other photos..be glad when birds start coming back North..I miss them..
Not too long, now. A couple more months. 🙂
Gotta love a goose. 😉
You’re right. Thanks terraburrah.
Geese are big pains in the back side at many golf courses in the Denver area.
BTW, Bob…a few weeks ago I saw many flocks of geese honkin’ like crazy and headed South!
I gave them directions to San Angelo as they flew by. 🙂
We will welcome them, Toby. 🙂
Lovely shots. I like Canada Geese. They get a bad rap. And they have rebounded in their numbers only because of us…our lawns and retention ponds! 🙂
Thanks, Lisa. You are so right. We are our own worse enemies. 🙂
I keep reminding myself that I shouldn’t take any bird for granted. Look what happened to the Passenger Pigeon!