What a difference two days can make. As you may remember, we did not have a quality day on Friday the 13th. Well, Sunday turned out a bit different. However, we had doubts early in the morning. It was damp, drizzly and very overcast. We checked the weather radar and it looked that the rains were on the way east. So we decided to get out, knowing that we could return if things got worse.
We headed towards the San Angelo State Park blind about 9:30. By the time we got there the drizzle had stopped but still heavily overcast. But for photography, I like the overcast, as the usual harsh shadows are eliminated. Here are a few highlights from the bird blind. (For this post all photo were obtained with my Canon 7D Mark II and Tamron 150-600mm lens. Click on any photo to see enlargement).
After getting all of the above photos, we decided to go to the North Unit of the park. We wanted to see if the Lewis’s Woodpecker was still in residence. It is way out of range for that specie, but it arrived here in San Angelo in November. Apparently the climate agrees with him.
We were in luck, however the sky was still very overcast. The bird was hanging out in his favorite adopted trees, but he likes to stay at the top, about 35 feet above the ground This makes for difficult photos as I had hand-hold the camera and lens and shoot almost straight up into that cloudy sky. All I could see was a silhouette, so I boosted my ISO way up to 1600 and added 2.33EV adjustment. That was still not enough to give a good exposure, so I finished it up in my post processing. Here are the results. Not great but the best I could get under the circumstances.
We didn’t see too much else of interest there, so we drove out to Spring Creek Park. Driving around there the best photo op was of these Cedar Waxwings.
Upon heading for home, we again stopped at the beach at Mary Lee Park. The Ring-billed Gulls were again wheeling around in the air or snoozing in the sand. I like this one of a gull in flight.
Not a bad day considering the weather. In all, Ann and I saw 40 species, plus we added a few more to our 2015 list, which now total 98.
That was an awesome day of birding, congratulations.
Thanks, Troy, it was definitely a lot of fun. 🙂
i love that Golden-fronted woodpecker but all the shots are winners, happy that you had such a good day. My day off tomorrow.
Thanks, Jane. Glad you enjoy the photos. Have fun on your day off. 🙂
Wow, you are up to 98 already! So almost half-way to your goal, right? (Isn’t it 215?) That bird blind at the state park looks like it must be a real gem of a place! Don’t you hate it when a bird refuses to cooperate? 🙂 That Lewis’s should know he’s a celebrity by now and give the paparazzi a little slack.
I loved each and every one of these but I especially enjoyed the golden-fronted woodpecker and you know I’m smitten with the pyrrhuloxia – they’re like exotic cardinals! Glad you and Ann had such a successful day.
Hi Amy, thanks for your nice comment. I am at 98 now, but it will get harder as the weeks and months go by. The Pyrrhuloxia actually is in the cardinal family. And as you say, the look a bit exotic. It was a fun day. 🙂
Superb bord pictures, all of them are great. I enjoy specially northern cardinal and Pyrrhuloxia.
Greetings from the south if the world
Thank you, Hernan, I appreciate your kind words. Please visit again.
A wonderful and amazing gallery of birds, Bob!
I am not sure if you remember, but my mother loves birds and I used to show her your posts regularly when I was at home. And it kind of stopped after I left home for work. But recently she got a smartphone, so now she visits your blog anytime she wants to. She really loves your photos. Keep sharing, Bob. 🙂
Thank you, Nandini. Nice to hear from you again. I am glad that you mother can enjoy my blog now. Say hello to her for me. 🙂
bord= bird
if= of
😉
definitely not a bad day, wow!
Thanks, Donna, definitely one of those fun days. 🙂
Great images as always, Bob. I sure miss the Curve-billed Thrashers. You caught his character beautifully.
Thanks very much, Jim. They always look so fierce, but their cry belies that. 🙂
Great day, great captures and one intense character in that curve-bill Thrasher..wow!
Thanks Jagged Man. They sure do have character. 🙂
Spectacular photos. Love the Lewis’s. Good day!
Thanks very much, Lisa. I wish the Lewis’s photos were better, to show more detail, but I’m glad you like them. 🙂
What a great day you had. Just love all the different Cardinal photos you took. We don’t have that species around here. The color and clarity of your shots is so impressive. You helped me decide and I will be receiving my copy of the Tamron 150-600 next week. Thanks for sharing all the information and photos Bob. 🙂
Thank you, Alison. I hope you have as much success and fun as I have had with my Tamron. I am having a blast! 🙂
One more thing, Alison. I found a way to increase the clarity. In Picture Styles on the Mark II, I use Landscape, then I move the Sharpness button all the way to the right to number 7. I believe the default is number 4. But it really made a difference.
Thanks for the tip Bob. I will certainly give that a try.
Wow..I would say you hit the jack pot..I am so excited that you have a Lewis Woodpecker. We so enjoy them at the feeder..Beautiful color in all the pics..Thanks for sharing..today I working a long horn cow..Texas Style (lololo)
Many thanks, Syl. That Lewis’s is sure enjoying himself. I guess he has found a new home. Your Longhorn picture sounds exciting. 🙂
Very nice captures Bob. It really was a good day! 🙂
Thanks, H.J. 🙂