09 | February | 2014 | Texas Tweeties by Bob Zeller

Birders often try to have a Big Year, where they try to see how many different species of birds they can observe in one year. Some may try for one month. Ann and I are always trying to see how many we might see in one day. Our previous record was 44. Today, Sunday February 9, we saw a new record of 48. We were gone from the house for about four hours and a half. However we only added one more to our on-going list of our Big Year. It now stands at 94 after adding a Brown Creeper today.

It was great fun, as I also got some nice photos, which some days I fail to do. We saw a Verdin again, and I finally got it in my viewfinder, as well as a nice shot of a Western Bluebird. Heck, why don’t I just show you a few highlights.

Verdin – at feeder at San Angelo State Park.

We decided to make a stop at San Angelo State Park. There we saw the above pictured Verdin. This is the first time I have ever seen one at a feeder, as usually they are timid and keep pretty much to themselves.

Western Bluebird – showing off it’s beautiful plumage.

The Western Bluebird was scratching in the grass, and I guess I disturbed it and I caught her (it is a female), beautiful plumage as she tried to fly.

Great Egret – triumphant with his catch.

When this Great Egret caught this fish, I thought he was going to come out of his shoes, so to speak. You can see that his feet left the water. I love these beautiful birds.