Cooler weather, better birding……

Cooler weather is here and along with it there have been an influx of some new winter birds arriving.  We have been driving around the local parks over the weekend, but on Monday we decided to drive down to the South Llano River State Park.  It has always been a great place to see and photograph birds.

Here are a few images from there and around here the past several days.  Please click on the images and you will see some amazing enlargements.

Let’s start with a couple from San Angelo State Park.

I was fortunate to get this image of a female Belted Kingfisher.  We were driving along the nearly dry Concho River.  There was about 75 yards of trees and brush between us and the riverbed.  We heard the bird first and that made us do a little searching.  Finally, through the brush and branches I spotted her.  She was watching the water below, something we couldn’t see, and her mind was on that.  She was completely oblivious to us, as she probably couldn’t see us anyway unless she happened to peek back through the brush.  I was able to get the center focus point of my camera on her.

female Belted Kingfisher

We made a brief stop at the bird-blind and I was able to get this shot of a Lincoln’s Sparrow.  I think this is my best image of this particular specie.  That also may be true of the above Belted Kingfisher.

Lincoln’s Sparrow

On Monday morning, we made our sojourn to South Llano River State Park.  We were not disappointed.  We visited three of the four blinds there.  Here are some of the results.

Northern Cardinal

Black-crested Titmouse

Black-throated Sparrow

The following are two photos of an Orange-crowned Warbler.  At first, I didn’t recognize it.  I had forgotten about the orange crown the is very seldom seen, but shows up in these images.  It took me a bit to realize  what I was looking at.

Orange-crowned Warbler

Orange-crowned Warbler

male Lesser Goldfinch

Hermit Thrush

Field Sparrow

It was a fun day.  However, we missed seeing a Painted Redstart that had been seen and photographed two days before.  Rats!!  I am always too late.  I was at the airport the day that my ship came in.  Oh well, those things happen and I will have a lucky day soon.  On second thought, I think I am having lucky days all the time.  I am 81 years old, I can get out and crawl through the weeds and have a great wife that (will help me get up) and loves to accompany me to the great outdoors.  What more could I want.

I hope you enjoyed the images as much as I enjoy going and getting them.

Happy Birding!