The forecast for yesterday was cloudy with an 80% chance of rain. Well, for me that meant there was a 20% chance that it wouldn’t rain. Ann and I ate breakfast and it hadn’t started to rain yet, so we were thinking that maybe we were home free. We decided to head out. On the way, we saw some ducks in a pond behind a nearby Firestone store. We saw Green-winged Teals and Northern Pintails there.
Northern Pintail with Green-winged Teal in the background.
We had not been to San Angelo State Park in several days so we decided to go to the the bird blind there. We were hoping to see a Spotted Towhee that had been reported there. It would be an addition to our 2015 Big Year list. We were not disappointed as it did make an appearance, and the other bird species were quite active, considering the oncoming cold front. We were able to see many other species. We were not so lucky in seeing a Verdin, that also had been reported earlier. With the skies being heavily clouded the light was somewhat low. However I was able to come away with these images.
Curve-billed Thrasher
female Northern Cardinal eyeballing that upside-down peace sign created by that hanging branch of a Cholla plant.
A feisty Spotted Towhee
Pyrrhuloxia
Pyrrhuloxia
Black-crested Titmouse
Shortly after that final photo was captured, it started to rain. We skedaddled out of there. We were happy to head home, as I felt we had come away with some nice images and we added two more to our 2015 Big Year list; Spotted Towhee and Northern Pintail. We are now at 86, with “only” 124 to go to make our goal of 210 by December 31. Should be a piece of cake. Right? Yeah, right. Stay tuned…… 🙂
Texas Tweeties by Bob Zeller 
Great images as usual. The first time I saw a Pyrrhuloxia we were camping in Chisos Basin, fond memories.
Thank you very much. Wish you could make a trip back out here again.
Beautiful birds, Bob!
Thanks, Tina. I appreciate it.
We had a heck of a rain storm last night. But it had stopped by the time I was ready to take my dog for her morning. The cold weather had not arrived here yet, but was on the way. While I was walking the dog, though, I noticed that there seemed to be a lot of birds flitting around. There were birds everywhere. And I did not have my binoculars with me. Darn.
We got 3/4 of an inch last night. But as yours, it stopped this morning. Now it is 38 degrees and the wind is 20-30 MPH. The wind chill is really bad. Didn’t feel like getting out and doing any birding.
I am so enamored with your pyrrhuloxia. That second image really caught my fancy! Your list is growing quickly!
Thanks, Amy. Yes, my list is growing quickly, but it is because that every bird I see now is mostly the first of the year. But, soon it will get slower and slower until I will be struggling to get that last one in late December. But what fun!!
Gorgeous birds, Bob!
Thank you very much, Dina.
Are you doing, or, going to do some studies at Lake Balmorhea any time soon?
Not sure, Carl. I hope to get back out there in February or March. I love that place during the winter months.
Really, enjoyed the Green-winged Teal as well as the Pintail.
Thanks, Carl. I appreciate it.