Can’t Miss a Breeding Ibis in Watery Bliss

It’s been a busy week here at Intrigued which admittedly is becoming the norm – especially with haunt build season in full swing. As mentioned in a previous post, we started the week down at the Poodle Specialty Agility and FastCAT (100 yd dash) competitions being held down at Purina Farms in Gray Summit, MO. Imagine Poodles of every size, every color, every groom and EVERYWHERE you look. Linda calls it heaven on earth, I call it the danger zone as I fret we will come home with more Poodles than we brought. The agility runs didn’t go as we had hoped, Ruger got a bit spooked by the photographer at the side of the ring and never really recovered. Raven was just one second over from qualifying in his run – heartbreak. Ruger redeemed himself in the dash clocking his second fastest run ever at 19.3mph earning this monster ribbon for his second FastCAT Championship title.

Ruger's 2nd FastCAT title at the Poodle Specialty Competition April 2026

Look at the size of that ribbon! What a ham hehehe.

On a personal front, three big accomplishments on my ongoing ankle recovery. Made it through my first 7+ mile continuous run without have to take a break to let the pain subside, completed my first 7 mile trail run (I’m back baby!) and today I made my official return to Farmdale Reservoir for the first time since the injury – 16 months ago. I was worried I would seize up at the spots where I broke my ankle and shattered my elbow but made it through – there was a shudder at each spot as the impact visuals popped in my head.

Linda is giving me “the look”, time to get to the real wild topic for today.

White Ibis found at Anahuc National Wildlife Refuge (Jocelyn Nungaray National Refuge) in April 2024

Now that is what I call making a statement on the water! Hit the jump to see more shots of the White Ibis in their amped up breeding colors.

Continue reading Can’t Miss a Breeding Ibis in Watery Bliss

A Handsome Devil and Friends

Not much to report in the non-birding realm. Managed to tweak my back this week giving me some unwanted rest days, but fingers crossed I was able to run the rest of that weak sauce out of me in today’s run. What’s the saying .. “The beatings will continue until the pain subsides!“. Beyond that, we pack up the RV this weekend and head for the Poodle Nationals at Purina Farms (Gray Summit, MO) next week where they boys will be matching agility skills with other Poodles across the nation (actually international as well). Ruger has double duty as he’ll be competing in FastCAT (100yd dash) and should get a major title for his efforts if we calculated all the potential points correctly. I also get to have a little fun with some birding at one of my favorite spots – Shaw Nature Preserve. Let’s hope the migration is kicking in down there as it is dismal up here.

I am going to pick up where I left off as we were celebrating the breeding season for Birds – thankfully not Rabbits or we’d be here practically the entire year ha. Going to give you an extra bonus this post, but for now, let’s start with this handsome “devil”.

Anhinga found at the Rookery in High Island, TX in March 2024

Hit the jump to read more about this flying cross, oh, and for the bonus content!

Continue reading A Handsome Devil and Friends

Great Focus Target…by Brad Marks

Howdy everyone! Been busy around the Intrigued Headquarters this week. We turned on the lights in the haunt lab, fired up all the 3D printers which are now going around the clock and there are props in various states littered about the lab – it’s haunt season and, like every year, we are already behind schedule. It is clear the finger issue will need to be taken care of as it is slowing me down, especially on the heavier items – ugh, not like I need ANOTHER medical procedure to deal with. The good news is I did officially finish processing all the spoils from the January 2025 trip to Texas..yes you read that year right. On the bright side, plenty more fodder for future posts and now I can start on the March/April trip to Arizona which I believe netted me the most +1s in a single trip – I think you are really going to like those finds! While I try to get the scare factory back on schedule and put more thought into how to resolve the latest injury, Brad is going to take over and bring you another entry in his “Down Under” series. Unless you are from that area, you might want to turn your monitor upside down so you can read it easier..or stand on your head ha.

Take it away Brad…

One day during our photo assignment Down Under . . . I’m betting some of you may think I’m just reusing this opening line from other stories.  Well, I am, sort of.  Jan and I had a fantastic time in Australia and New Zealand, and ended up photographing over 130 different species.  All but one of these species was a +1.  That means there will be plenty more stories from the Birds Down Under series.

Today, I’m going to start with a bit of photography education, mainly for me, to help with today’s story.  Camera basic 101 (at least how I understand it): all auto-focus capable cameras, whether SLR, point-n-shoot, mirrorless, or smartphones need some sort of contrast to be able to achieve a sharp focus.  The camera sensor relies on finding sharp edges in the photo, contrast, or patterns, to achieve a sharp focus.  What better photography target for birders than one that is starkly black and white?  In other words, high contrast.  No fuzzy transitions between various shades of yellow, green, or brown.  I’m talking ends of the spectrum, polarizing black and white.

Australian Magpies found by Brad and Jan Marks on their trip to Australia

I think “Mama” took the Kodachrome tin and replaced it with Lomography Lady Grey. Hit the jump to learn more about this black and white specimen…while you try to get that song out of your head ha… “I got a Nikon camera, I love to take a photograph, so mama don’t take my Kodachrome away…“

Continue reading Great Focus Target…by Brad Marks

Two Firsts

Today I bring you two firsts, well, at least in my adult life starting with our recent trip down to Springfield, IL for a CPE Agility trail at the state fairgrounds. This is a homecoming for me as I was born and raised there and have spent countless hours hanging out at the fair while growing up. Some kids hang out at the malls or local car-hops, Springfieldians have acres and acres of dangerous as hell rides, rigged games, farm animals and temporary carney/fair girls (don’t ask) to keep us entertained. We do not get down there very often these days now that my parents are no longer with us, so a chance to walk the grounds and recall childhood memories is “usually” a fun time – until last weekend. In short I ended up getting “swarmed” by self-important sheriff deputies apparently so bad at their jobs they are reduced to protecting pavement and empty buildings. Glossing over most of the encounter to keep your eyes from rolling too much, but I decided to get a walk in between the boy’s runs heading out to the conservation area having familiar windy paths, a small pond and lots of trees for….yes, birds! Thought I heard a Fish Crow which is unusual there, so whipped out Merlin which confirmed it putting me on the hunt. Walked through the always open gates at the back scanning the trees and water for the rarity. No Crow, but noticed a black car following me around trying to be discrete – not good at it – game on. I’d take a path away from it and it would have to creep back and navigate back to another position to watch me. When the car got to the new place I’d change direction causing another move….this went on for a while – keep in mind I still had my phone out with Merlin hunting birds. Reinforcements were called in and I see an ATV pull up in a nearby parking lot, guy in black car pulls up to it, guy jumps out, has an excited discussion with the ATV occupants, all jump in the ATV and come after me – they got me now. I am practically laughing now as they pull up and demand to know what I am doing – “I’m looking for birds” and show him the list of birds Merlin has already found (and cleverly still recording so I had an audio track for whatever was coming down). He intently looks at the screen and proclaims an individual saw me and said I was acting “suspicious” and wanted to know how I got here. “Through that open gate over there” – mind you there is NO gate on the other end so the state of that gate is irrelevant. I get some okay we are just checking out the situation garble and they leave clearly disappointed they were denied the highlight of their year. This was all rich coming from a declared sanctuary state and apparently it is the victim’s fault if you are gunned down taking a walk in Chicago (link here). Not to mention the humorous fact my grandfather was a police chief of Spfld, uncle fire chief, cousin police dispatcher, youth baseball coaches were sergeants on the force. Saved the Merlin recording of the interaction and continued my walk more confident in my young decision to choose a career elsewhere.

Fortunately, my other first is far more exciting, a breeding Reddish Egret.

Reddish Egret found at Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center, Port Aransas, TX in March 2024

Hit the jump to read more about this second installment of Breeding Plumage in honor of April.

Continue reading Two Firsts

Blue Means it’s Frisky Time

Well, we are in April now and it is time for me to start earning my keep around here – break time is over boys and girls – at least as it pertains to my absence. Big thanks to Brad and Jan for keeping the ball rolling here. The finger issue is still a concern, I just haven’t decided what course of action to take as the three possible options pretty much suck. On the positive side, the ankle continues to improve and now pushing 8 to 9 miles at a run and nearly every day. On the off days rucking the hardest bluff trails in the area for another 7 to 8 miles. Still a long way to go to hit my October goal, but the knee scooter sitting in the corner of the weight room is a constant reminder of the struggle. That isn’t the only progress this month. I’ve been working day and night to get through the spoils of the Texas trip (sheepishly looks down) from last year – I am trying, I am really, really, trying to get caught up. Along with that effort I did get another Halloween tutorial put together – will give a link to that at the end in case you are interested.

Linda: “All I hear is blah blah blah, how about finally getting to the real reason your audience is here!?!” “But my peeps like to know what I’m up to…“See that blue billed thingy right there, get to it, pronto!“

Tricolored Heron found at High Island Rookery, Texas in April 2024

That sound you just heard is the Intrigued CEO putting her foot down ha! How about we get to Little “Bird” Blue right after the jump.

Continue reading Blue Means it’s Frisky Time

Bad Day to be a Crab…by Brad Marks

Well, when I said in a previous post I was going to take a “break” I had no idea that was going to turn out to be literally. Some would say I might have jinxed myself, others might look at my recent history and invested in the predictive market. As a guiding rule, I prefer to focus on rehabing one injury at a time – stay focused, put the effort in, get past it and prioritize whatever is left. I was having issues with a joint in one of my fingers prior to retiring with a nod to typing being a major component of my career for all 31+ years. I exited the grind, it seemed to get better, started hurting again and then broke my elbow – new priority. Continued to hurt, then broke my ankle – new priority. Having been cleared of that latest injury, went back to my elbow surgeon to FINALLY deal with the finger. Words you do not want to hear when the doctor pulls up your xray – “Whoa, that joint isn’t just damaged, it’s obliterated!” Optimistic day, meet Craptastic day. Looking at joint replacement or joint fusion – for certain, my guitar days are officially over. Got a shot in the joint to relieve some of the pain until I make a decision. As a result, my break may extend longer than originally intended – at least until I can hit the E-C-D keys again. Worry not, for Brad has a number of great posts from their jet-setting adventures already in the queue to entertain you!

Take it away Brad…

One day during our Australian photo assignment, Jan and I went different directions.  The tour group’s activity for the day was to go to the Great Barrier Reef, something I’ve always wanted to see.  That is, until the wave conditions on the day were expected to be between 1-2 meters high (3-6 feet).  Gads!  Intrigued readers know of my fondness for small boats in rough seas . . . NOT! (see here)  I made the choice that day to keep my feet firmly planted on land.  Jan, who’s afraid of nothing (learned to ski Double Black Diamond runs when she was about five) went on the boat ride to Green Island on the Great Barrier Reef.  She did tell me later that several people succumbed to motion sickness on the rough 45-minute transit to and from Green Island and that I would NOT have had a good time on the boat.

Once the tour bus took the rest of our group to the boat headed for Green Island, I grabbed my Aussie hat and went outside to see what the tidal flats of Cairns (pronounced “cans”) were offering that day.  After an hour of photographing shore birds and wading birds in the tropical sun, something caught my eye in the trees to the right.

Sacred Kingfisher found by Brad Marks in Cairns, Australia

That’s NOT a wading bird!!! Hit the jump to read more about this fishing royalty!

Continue reading Bad Day to be a Crab…by Brad Marks

White-Faced Heron…by Brad Marks

Hi folks! Rather big week for me personally. I mentioned previously I had a follow-up with my ankle surgeon last Thursday. Have to admit, was pretty apprehensive going in not really knowing what that outcome would be, which ended up being great news and not so great news. On the great front, ankle appears to be healed (as it is probably going to get) and fairly strong. All that rehab work paid off and now officially released to push it even harder and continue getting it to ultra-condition. Then the mood dampener came when he admitted the current level of “pain” will continue for some time – in the 1.5 year range. Apparently the residual level of annoyance still being experienced with shattered elbow will also occur with this latest injury. I can deal with this discomfort now that I know it has structural integrity. Celebrated with a 9 mile run yesterday (longest since the injury back in October 2024) and today went for a 25lb ruck for 7.5 miles on the hardest hills on the Illinois River bluff. I’m back baby hahahaha! As mentioned previously, I am taking a break (to develop the training plan for this October’s 100 miler race) and will be digging into Brad’s adventure queue – did I hear cheers, I think I heard cheers.

Take it away Brad…

How many times have you been birding and taking photographs when you think you know what the bird is in the viewfinder?  Happens to me all the time.  Not!

After breakfast on our first day in Cairns (pronounced “cans”) in Queensland, northern Australia, Jan and I decided to wander along the waterfront during very low tide.  Our assignment from Intrigued HQ was to photograph anything that flies for future stories.  Just “up” the beach from our hotel (towards the Equator to the left looking out over the water), a squadron of Australian Pelicans catches Jan’s eye.  Off she runs to take some photos.  About the same time, this heron-sized bird flies into view and I begin to wander to the right, or “down” the beach, to catch some photos.  At first glance, through the tiny viewfinder, I think it’s a Little Blue Heron.  It’s about the right size and color.  I do notice there are some interesting colors and a bit of what looks like aging on its face.  You know how some breeds of dogs (and Intrigued photographers) get white-faced when they are older?  That’s what this looked like.  I’ve only seen an adult Little Blue one time, but never a really old one.  I take a few (dozen) photos and move along.  Then my subconscious realizes something didn’t look quite right.  Maybe this is a teenager in between juvenile and adult plumage?  Nope.  A morph with a Snow egret?  Again, no dice.  This is a whole new bird from what we’ve seen before.  In other words, a +1 in birding parlance.

White-Faced Heron found by Brad Marks in Cairn's Australia

Did some devious clown bird throw a meringue pie in that Heron’s face? Hit the jump to learn more about this intriguing international specimen!

Continue reading White-Faced Heron…by Brad Marks

The Earl of Terns

Not sure who we pissed off, but the 75 degree weather we were enjoying has turned downright cold along with a steady 20-30 mph. By Monday they are expecting snow with a nightly windchill into those nasty negative numbers. One last gasp for Mr. Winter I guess before it gets its butt outta here. Braved the biting wind today to post my first 8 mile run since well before the ankle surgery last year. Admittedly, managed to see my lungs as they flamed out of my rib cage, but an excellent benchmark for the upcoming visit with the surgeon this week. Would like to push it a little more before the appointment if the weather calms down a bit. Beyond that, not much new other than after the run I braved the cold to stand in a large meadow in the middle of a forest in order to get the Timberdoodle checked off the list for this year. Accidentally got up close and personal with a Coyote that didn’t see me until it was too late – we both had a brief but intense moment of reflection – me hoping it didn’t see my weakened ankle and he wondering if that large black glass held projectiles. I waved, it pointed to its fangs and we mutually agreed not to send Christmas cards.

“Birds Bri, they are here for the birds.” Sorry, let’s get to that. I am actually planning on taking a break for a bit with the doctor’s visit coming up and we need to get our Washington trip planned. Brad and Jan are back from the field and figured that would be a good time to pop a few of their adventures off the queue to keep you entertained. Before I do that though, wanted to get this companion piece out to the previous Least Tern post. Like that featured feathered friend, todays is also a +1 for Intrigued (just leaving one Tern in my backlog queue if you are keeping score ha).

Sandwich Tern found on Convention Center Flats, Sout Padre Island, TX in March 2024

This Tern leaves quite the first impression eh? Hit the jump to see more shots of this readily ID’d Tern and learn a bit more about this particular species.

Continue reading The Earl of Terns

The Least of Them

So, last night Linda and I gathered up a few critical items and took them to the basement in light of the tornado armageddon that was supposedly heading our way. Things you don’t want to be looking for in your neighbor’s lots should the winds rip your roof off. We then went about our normal business as that is life in the Midwest. As per usual, predictions here were completely off (well wishes to those much further north that took a twister to the gut). The real oddity was I ran Friday – 72F, ran on Sunday – 61F, rucked on Monday – 68F, ran yesterday – 80F, the front comes through last night and today I headed out – it’s 33F and snowing. My body does not take too kindly to shorts one day and then a heavy coat the next.

In order to accelerate the hand warming, decided to do some tapping on the keyboard and bring you another featured feathered friend.

Least Tern found at Port Aransas South Jetty, TX in March 2024

One that also dislikes the cold winters and heads down to the Caribbean Islands and the northern shores of South America to keep its talons warm.

Hit the jump to read more about this diminutive Laridae family member.

Continue reading The Least of Them

Sawbills – and Call for Help

Greetings everyone! Good news, Brad and Jan have checked in and all appears to be going well on their current trip into the field. Luckily I had several years of Spanish so I could translate their message. Although at the ready, we will hold off on sending our lawyers guns and money. Not much really to relay from the Intrigued HQ beyond a personal highlight of getting in my first 7 miles road run since the ankle surgery. Not pretty by any means, but it means the hard work is finally paying off and on the trajectory to the end of the year 100 miler goal (crap, did I say that out loud – forget you saw that).

I do need some help from my birding friends familiar with the Northwest. The Canine Performance Events Agility Nationals are being held in Auburn, Washington at the end of May and I am looking for advice on good places to bird in the area. This is my first time visiting there in non-official work capacity and want to make the most of the birding opportunity. We are still planning our route, but it looks like the southern trek through Wyoming-Utah-Idaho-Oregon-Washington out and then across Washington-Montana-North Dakota-Minnesota back in order to catch Glacier NP. Any recommendations are welcome, but the Oregon/Washington hotspots are my main focus right now as that is the biggest opportunity for lifers for the trip. If you have some, feel free to drop those in the comments or I can send you out my email address if you prefer a more direct communication. Thanks in advance!!

Let’s not keep you waiting any longer and get you right to today’s featured feathered friend.

Male Red-Breasted Merganser found on North Jetty of Bolivar Peninsula in April 2024

Quite the splash of color on this specimen eh? Hit the jump to learn more about our thin-bill waterfowl.

Continue reading Sawbills – and Call for Help