Hot Diggety!! Migration is starting!!

Okay, I might be rushing the season, but with the storm Saturday dropping an average of two inches and the temps dropping into the low nineties and even upper eighties, you can’t blame me for getting excited.  And, right on time, a Yellow Warbler showed up at the bird blind in San Angelo State Park.  I got this photo, which isn’t a very good one because it took me by surprise, and I had a camera in one hand and a breakfast burrito in the other.  It didn’t stay around, so I didn’t get a second chance.  It isn’t as sharp as I would like, but at least, you can tell what it is.

Yellow Warbler

Because of the heat, birding was not very good.  Still, during a few limited short trips out I did get a few images last week.  Please click any image to see some very nice enlargements.

A trip to the Hummer House down near Christoval, netted me a couple good photos of a Black-chinned Hummingbird.

Black-chinned Hummingbird

Back in San Angelo, we went to San Angelo State Park, early one morning.  We stopped at the blind there first and this Curve-billed Thrasher obliged us by making a brief stop.  The light was still a little low but I think my Canon 7D Mark II handled it nicely.

Curve-billed Thrasher

The following morning, we returned to to just take a meandering drive through all of the roads that interlace the park.  It is great fun doing that, as we never know what we will come across.

Cactus Wren

There were still numerous Scissor-tailed Flycatchers hanging around.  Because of the shorter tail, I believe this one is a young one.

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher – juvenile

Before heading home we saw this perched Common Nighthawk, not fully awake yet.

Common Nighthawk

I guess that’s all for this post. I hope to get in more birding in the following days, now that the temperatures are more tolerable, both to me and the birds.

Oh, one more thing.  I have my 2017 Calendars in now.  More beautiful than before.  Twenty bucks plus mailing will get you one.  E-mail me at bobzeller@pobox.com if interested.

You can see more of my photos at http://bobzellerphotography.smugmug.com

Why it Pays to Edit

Ann and I were out near Middle Concho Park yesterday.  It was getting late in the morning, the light was harsh and contrasty, and the birds were laying in for the afternoon.  However, as we were driving along, Ann was startled to see a Great Horned Owl fly from a branch near the car.  We followed along to where we thought it had landed, and eventually spotted it far back in the woods.

I turned the car around so I could get a shot through the trees from my driver’s side window.  I was using my Canon 7D Mark II and a Tamron  150-600mm lens.  Shutter priority, 1/2500 sec. @ f7.1, ISO 3200.  This is original image.

orig – Great Horned Owl

Now, this image, in itself is really not a bad photograph.  Most people would be happy to have it.  However, with a bit of cropping for composition, some color and lighting adjustments for the bright conditions, I was able to come up with this final photograph.

Great Horned Owl

So as you can see, the camera really does lie.  It cannot always cope with difficult lighting conditions.  In this case, bright sun high in the sky, making harsh shadows.  I would prefer softer lighting, i.e. clouds covering the sun, or even overcast.  But, when trying to capture wildlife, you deal with what you have to work with.  I edited this image in Photoshop, but the minor adjustments I made could be done with any inexpensive software.  Click on either image to see enlargements.

So, enough about editing.  Monday afternoon, Ann and I were sitting in front of our house watching the neighborhood birds.  This juvenile Curve-billed Thrasher landed in our ocotillo, and minutes later an adult arrived and began feeding it with an insect of some type.  I cursed myself for leaving my camera inside.  I ran to get it, but by the time I got back the adult was gone.  However, I got some images of the young bird.  Interesting, though, that if I hadn’t seen the adult, I may not have recognized the bird for what it was.  I realized that with the juvenile, the bill is shorter and they eye has not yet achieved that fierce orange color.

Curve-billed Thrasher – juvenile

Driving near O.C. Fisher Lake at San Angelo State Park on Sunday afternoon netted me a couple of other photos.

Ash-throated Flycatcher

Common Nighthawk on mesquite branch.

Well, that’s it for this post.  Catch ya in a few days.

Happy Birding!!

 

Some Labor Day images

Labor Day.  You certainly won’t catch me doing much laboring.  Even though I was aware that there may be too many people doing their outdoor things, Ann and I decided to go to San Angelo State Park to visit the bird blind, AKA the Wildlife Viewing Center.  After stopping there, we did a little drive-around through the park.  There still aren’t too many birds, but we managed to see a few or the regulars.  Here are three nice photographs that I stumbled into getting.  First up was this little juvenile Northern Cardinal that I captured at the blind.

Northern Cardinal
juvenile

When we took the little drive around the park I managed to get these images.

Bobwhite in tree

I love those Bobwhites.  Along the way, we saw another covey of them, about twelve, but they scurried into the underbrush before I could even get my camera ready.

We witnessed several nighthawks in the air when we previously entered the park.  Driving around, we saw two perched on mesquite tree branches.  Here is the best of the two.

Common Nighthawk

Migration is only a few weeks away, so soon I might have some more photographs for you.  We are planning another birding trip to the Big Bend later this month, and my new Canon 70D is supposed to arrive today.  So exciting things are looking up.

Blustery day images……

It is nice to have rain here in west Texas, but I would love to have it in larger amounts.  I know that sounds selfish, but these little sprinkles we have today, along with the cool temps and blustery winds, don’t do much to ease our drought.  We need some big gully-washers.

Great Blue Heron chicks on nest.

Nevertheless, I did get out a little today.  First I stopped at the Shannon Clinic to get an innoculation, then while downtown, checked on the young ones on the Great Blue Heron nest.  The chicks are getting larger, but staying near the nest so they are available so their mother, pictured atop a nearby branch, can bring them their daily meals.

adult Great Blue Heron

From there we decided to check in at San Angelo State Park and see if there had been any recent run-off into the lake.  Surprisingly, there was an acre or two of very, very shallow water.  Well, it’s a start.  But most likely it will evaporate before we get another measurable rain on the watershed.

Common Nighthawk

While driving around the park we saw our first roosting Common Nighthawk of the year.  We had seen several in flight a few days ago, when they were feeding on the flying insects in the evening.  We also saw this Curve-billed Thrasher nearby in a tree.  I just love the fierce look that these guys always have.

Curve-billed Thrasher

Since the weather was seemingly getting a little more inclement, we decided to head for the house.  Click on any image to see some enlargements.

A few random shots from the week

I didn’t get many really earth-shaking photos this recent week.  However, it was just as much fun, as usual, just to get out, communicate with nature, and see what might turn up.  But I can show you a few highlights.

Earlier in the week I went to check on the nest of Yellow-crowned Night Herons.  They were in the act of fledging, leaving the nest.  This photo is what you might call the class of 2012 picture.  As for most of those pictures that I had obtained, the lighting was difficult.  But thankful for a little fill-flash and post editing I managed to get an acceptable image.

fledged Yellow-crowned Night Herons
Class of ’12

I went back a few hours later and the birds were away from the nest completely.  I searched the big trees and found that they were scattered among the branches.  I also discovered another previously unseen nest, containing some more newborn.  I will leave it alone as it is far too high in the way and deep in the foliage to attempt any photograph.

Common Nighthawk

From there we went out by Twin Buttes Reservoir.  We hadn’t been out there in quite some time as, because like O. C. Fisher Reservoir, the water was pretty scarce.  As we drove through the area, we spotted this Common Nighthawk perched in a shady spot on a tree limb.

In mid-week we decided to make a run through Spring Creek and Middle Concho Parks.  Again nothing that was outstanding, but we happened to be there later in the heat of the day.  We’re talking nearly 100 degrees and the birds were smarter than us.  However, I photographed this Green Heron feeding in a small inlet of the river.  He was so unaware that I was able to nearly fill the frame with this shot.  I barely needed to do any cropping.  I was only about 35 feet away, shooting from my car window.

Green Heron

On Thursday, the day began with cloudy skies, cooler with a possibility of showers.  We had planned on making a trip to Eden, Texas, about 40 miles to our southeast.  We had read about a man that took it upon himself to beautify some land and build what he calls, a butterfly garden.  It was beautiful, full of all kinds of blooming shrubs, cacti and numerous tiny pools.  It should have been a natural haven teeming with birds, but by the time we arrived the weather had really cooled, and light rain was coming down.

We decided that we didn’t want to spend too much time there, but planned on returning at a later date.  We decided that there was time to make a run across to Eldorado, a distance of about 70 miles to the water treatment ponds there.  There is always something to see there.  The weather had cleared in that area, but it was very, very windy.  The large ponds of water actually had whitecaps on them.  Most of the water fowl was making use of the protection of the lee of the banks.  But we did catch sight of a couple of Redheads in open water.  I got this shot of one about 200 feet away.  It could have been a bit better if I would have had time to re-adjust my shutter speed for the action.  I really had to do a bunch of tweaking in my post editing to produce this image.

Redhead

So we will wait and see what next week will bring, but I hope everyone enjoyed seeing these photographs.  You may click on any image to see an enlargement.

San Angelo State Park images

Ann and I went to the park Friday morning  just to spend a few quiet hours.  I especially wanted to try out a new toy.  I purchased a “Puffin’ Pad”.  It is a unique foam cushioned pad that fits over the glass when you roll your driver’s side (or passenger) window down.  Great for resting a long lens or a spotting scope when shooting from your vehicle.  I bought it from http://www.adorama.com.

Besides from getting these snapshots, we saw another Porcupine up in a tree.  This time I couldn’t get close for a shot because of a fence.  I walked up and down the fence-line but couldn’t find a vantage point where I could get a bead on it.  The Bullock’s Oriole was on a feeder at near one of the park hosts’ motor home.  All photos were captured with my Canon 7D

• Common Nighthawk
• Canon 500mm IS lens with 1.4 tele-converter – hand-held
• 1/2500 sec. @ f5.6 minus 1/3 EV
• ISO 1250
• Shutter Priority
• Partial metering

• Bullock’s Oriole
• Canon 500mm IS lens with 1.4 tele-converter – hand-held
• 1/2500 sec. @ f5.6
• ISO 800
• Shutter Priority
• Partial metering

• Brown-crested Flycatcher
• Canon 100-400mm IS zoom lens
• 1/2000 sec. @ f6.3  plus 1/3 EV
• ISO 1250
• Shutter Priority
• Partial metering

We also saw several Mississippi Kites flying and diving for insects.  They were the first that we have seen this year.  I tried to get some photos of them in flight, but with their erratic maneuvers I wasn’t up to it….. this time.  But, I’ll be back. 🙂

June Birding Tour Yesterday

The weather was a little drizzly but we had a total of thirteen people in the group.  The highlight of the tour was when we spotted a Common Nighthawk in the red soil about a quarter mile from the Prairie Dog village.  She had a couple of little chicks next to her.  This morning she was nowhere to be found.  I hope that she just moved into better cover to protect the chicks.   But despite the slightly inclement weather everyone had a great time and are looking forward to our next outing on July 10.

Pam Guelker, one of the birders, most generously donated a fifty pound of bird seed.  We certainly thank her very much.  Donations of bird seed are always welcome.

Ken Coley came up with the correct identification of the spider in my Birds, Beasts, and Bugs post.  It is a Western Spotted Orb Weaver.

Ann and I went back out to the park Saturday afternoon so see if we could see if the Snowy Plover was back on the eggs.  She wasn’t.  So we took a little ride around as we do quite frequently.  When we were in an area of picnic tables, we heard a Northern Bobwhite very close to us.  It took us a good five minutes to spot it, but finally we did.  It was sitting on a mesquite branch about fifty feet away.  I managed to get a few photos and one of them I have posted here.  Click on the image to see an enlargement.  Happy Birding!!

Northern Bobwhite

The life and hard times of a birder

You know, sometimes writing a blog can be difficult at times.  Like right now, I know that I haven’t posted here for a few days, but I also know that I have readers waiting in anticipation for my next printed word.  At least that is what I keep telling myself, and in reality I am hoping that is true.  But I guess that may be just a bit egotistical of me.  But since I get comments from you, I know that you are there, and I know who you are.

But really, some of my posts must seem a little, let me see,  not necessarily boring, but possibly predictable.  I am usually telling you about my latest birding exploits and or photographs.  And from your comments, I know that you are enjoying them and I appreciate that.

So as predicted, Ann and I have been going to the park the past few mornings to take care of the blind and feed the birds.  Then when we should have been heading back to the house to do things that normal people do, we decided to make our little tours around the park again.  Our yard is getting neglected, our house is getting neglected, I am behind on taking care of some photographic obligations, and I forget the name of our dog.  Of course, she, the dog, is thinking about moving out. 

Such is the life of a birder.  We must simply try to see that elusive creature of the avian family that we can add to our life list.  Ah, the Life List.  We must strive to keep adding to that list of birds that we’ve seen in our life-time.  It is imperative that we do that because it is a status symbol among birders.  I am at 197, and I have just got to make that 200 mark by December 31.  Of course that is just a novice figure but I am starting to sweat.  I haven’t added a new one in a couple of months and I only have six months left to do this.  So I may have to try desperate things.

Right now, we think or imagine we see birds everywhere.  We see an odd shaped tree leave – Hey, a bird!!.  We see a deformed knot in a tree – Hey, a bird!!  We get a call or an e-mail about a rare bird down in Eldorado and we must jump in the van to get there to see it.  Ann and I spent several cold evenings wandering along the Concho River looking for a rare Anhinga that was spotted, the first time ever in San Angelo.  The fifth night after nearly freezing we spotted it, I photographed it, and added it to my short but growing, you guessed it, my Life List.  So I can see why that there is a fine line between a hobby and mental illness.  But I must confess it is great fun, highly rewarding, and gets me and Ann out of doors.

Now back to the real reason for originally starting this blog, here is an update and photos from San Angelo State Park.  There are still a lot of Cedar Waxwings hanging around, but also the Common Nighthawks are arriving in greater numbers that I have seen in the past.  Yesterday, I got dizzy from trying to photograph one of them in flight.  Those rascals are quick, fast and elusive.  My work is cut out for me to get that accomplished.  So I settled for a photo of one on a mesquite branch.  I also came across a juvenile Scissor-tailed Flycatcher munching on an insect of some kind.

I hope you enjoy the pictures.  Click on any image if you would like to see an enlargement.   Oh, I just remembered my dog’s name is Suzie.  And Suzie, I must go.  I just heard about this rare green and purple bird in a cliff hole in Santa Elena Canyon. 🙂

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher - juvenile

Common Nighthawk on mesquite branch

End of a week, Start of a month

Spotted Sandpiper

It’s the end of the week but starting a brand new month.  I’m going to show you a few highlights of the past week.

Yellow-headed Blackbird

On Tuesday Ann and I decided to take our friend Jodie Wolslager on a little birding trip.  We headed to Eldorado first to tour the water waste ponds there.  There are always a good selection of waterfowl there, and you never know when you might get surprised.  Suzanne Johnson had e-mailed us that there were about the thirty-seven White-faced Ibises there the previous day.  By the time we got there the count was down to nine.  But nevertheless I obtained some photos.

White-faced Ibises

We also saw some Yellow-headed Blackbirds, both adult and juvenile.  We saw Spotted Sandpipers and a few other sandpiper types that we were unable to identify for certain.  Also in attendance were probably one thousand Wilson’s Phalaropes.

Leaving there we headed to Christoval and back to our favorite place the Hummer House.  

Wilson's Phalaropes

A great collection of birds there, many more than than what we saw on a previous trip.  Our first Painted Buntings of the season, Summer Tanagers, Pine Siskins, Vermilion Flycatcher. Lesser Goldfinches, plus many others.

This morning Ann and I were out at the San Angelo State Park to give a little presentation on birds for a group of Girl Scouts.  I guess because of the cooler weather this morning, most of the birds stayed away.  However, we were treated to a young male Wild Turkey that entered stage left, and left stage right.  We did see a couple of Bullock’s Orioles though.

Upon leaving the park Ann and I spotted our firse Common Nighthawk of the season.  He was perched as always, parallel on a branch.  I got a few nice photos which I will post one here.  After I took the photos, another birding

Common Nighthawk

 friend of ours, Jimmy Villers, drove up with his wife.  She had never seen a nighthawk before, so she got quite thrill out of it.

Click on any photo to see an enlargement.

Happy Birding!!