Category: Observation

A Slower Life

Just got back from a photography seminar by Ian Plant (link here). For the last three years, Linda and I have been going to the Peoria Camera Club featured photography speakers. The first two had speakers we were very familiar with, however, Ian was new to us and we did not know what to expect. There was some hesitation this year due to the fact that the $75/person fee is a pretty steep if you are unsure if you are going to get any takeaways for the investment. We checked out his site and his work was very interesting – he also ranged from landscape to wildlife which covered both our interests. Being that it was our little thing we do together, we took a chance. We definitely didn’t expect the 9+ inches of snow accumulation that started late last night and has continued throughout the day. This kept a lot of planned attendees home – living in the country we are accustomed to the slippery driving conditions and made it there without incident (can’t say the same for all the trucks and cars we passed in the ditches on our way there). Turned out we had a great time and have new ideas to try out next time we are in the field. Also had a chance to mingle with some of the Peoria Camera Club members which was fun as well.

Having been inspired by Ian today, thought I’d go ahead and put out another post.

Texas Tortoise found at Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge in January 2017

Nope, that isn’t a bird for a change! Based on the multitude of hate mail sacks that hit our front door, it was apparent that you wanted a break from the birds. After a quick look through my queue, I found this prehistoric throwback and thought it would fit the bill. Granted, I did come upon this slow moving creature in the midst of birding Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge on our Texas birding trip back in January 2017. This would have been our first visit to the Sticky Mud Lagoon (in case you were wondering what Atascosa means), quickly making its way into my top 10 birding locations. Just be sure and keep a close eye on the road into that place or plan a visit to your favorite tire alignment technician. Actually, let’s call it a giant pothole that leads into the park that happens to have some high gravel parts in it.

Texas Tortoise found at Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge in January 2017

Hit the jump to read more about this featured creature!

Continue reading A Slower Life

The Evening Star

Ever been tasked with something you weren’t sure about? Maybe you committed to an event that might be (way) outside your comfort zone to the point it starts to produce stress several months out from the designated day? How about being cast in a situation where the audience probably knows more about the topic you are presenting than you do? Okay, now imagine a situation where ALL those conditions come to the same confluence and you are standing in the middle wondering if the current is going to drag you under. That is my best analogy of what Wednesday evening felt like to me.

Vesper Sparrow discovered at William Goodrich Jones State Forest in December 2016

I eluded to a commitment I had made last December but really didn’t go into it – choosing to wait and see what kind of disaster would occur. History has taught me humbleness over embarrassment, obscurity over grandstand and work before celebration. Those tenets have served me well. It is also the reason for the stress over the last several months. Last year, I had mentioned my interest in birding and wildlife to a member of my wife’s dog club (Carol). Not sure how, but somewhere in that conversation it came up I had a blog. Carol is also the catalyst for extracting my wildlife content into a separate site for broader consumption. Turns out Carol is currently the president of the Peoria Audubon Society and asked if I would give a presentation on my blogging and photography. Whoa, that’s definitely putting the big boy pants on. At the insistence of my wife and brother, I confirmed and we eventually set the date.

Vesper Sparrow discovered at William Goodrich Jones State Forest in December 2016

Hit the jump to find out what this bird is … well, maybe ha!

Continue reading The Evening Star

Paying It Forward

Tonight has been quite the event. Headed out to Menards to get a number of 2x4s and other materials for a new project for the garage. Sparing you the details, but thanks to an ill advised decision by the managers there, but I’ll be getting my lumber from other merchants going forward. I only mention that to set the mood as I was already perturbed before a White-Tailed Buck opted for a game of Chicken on the way back home. Barely avoided that before hearing a loud crash at the rear of the truck. Those of us in big Deer populated areas know all too well, that you need to always be aware of the companions that cross behind. Looked through my rear view mirror and groaned – couldn’t see the lumber anymore. Pulled to the side and braced myself for disappointment and went back to check the damage. Turns out hard braking to avoid the Buck caused the tailgate to give way – that was the crash, not another Deer. Wood was still there, just below my view line in the bed. Now doubly perturbed, had to slam on the breaks for a second time thanks to a stupid black Cat playing Frogger across my driveway. Some days it is just better to stay in bed! Decided the best way to beat the stress was to post on a more uplifting experience. With that I bring you another new check in my birding list.

Common Pauraque discovered at Laguna Atascosa, Los Fresnos, TX in December 2017

How cool is that! Wait, you can’t see that? Well, don’t feel too bad, I definitely didn’t see it at first either. Backing up a bit, I was taking pictures of the Golden-Fronted Woodpecker that was featured several posts back (link here). A refuge volunteer came up and asked me what I was taking pictures of. If you recall that post you’ll understand my response was to point to the sign being used to brace the camera. He then responded with “Do you want to see a Parrot playing croquet?” Now I ask you, who doesn’t want to see a Parrot playing croquet? Correct, no one. Responding with “sure”, I let him pass to lead the way. Linda (who had arrived at the same time as the volunteer) allowed our tour guide to get a small lead on us before asking me if I even knew what that was. She corrected suspected my response would be “Nope”. Figured it would be a Parrot with a large mallet.

Can you see it now?

Common Pauraque discovered at Laguna Atascosa, Los Fresnos, TX in December 2017

No worries, I was having an equally hard time.

Hit the jump to find out what’s lurking in the brush.

Continue reading Paying It Forward

One Bad Toupee

As hard as I’ve tried, I have yet to find a way to keep Father Time from turning over his hourglass. Each little pebble of sand that falls is another step closer to my Texas birding post deadline. There is light at the end of the tunnel though. I only have a handful of posts that really need to be published before next Wednesday. That day will put an end to several months of stressing over a commitment that comes due. I blame that for my hair turning premature grey ha! Like me, some people embrace the signs of getting wiser, others take more drastic actions to disguise the fact that Father Time paints in grey – case in point…

Black-Crested Titmouse found at Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park in January 2018

This find from our recent Texas birding trip is apparently a little vain about what others think of his greying appearance. The shame sunk so deep in the conscious it has resorted to Le Style de Burt Reynolds. One can imagine the scene before heading out of the nest for the day. Mr. Titmouse slaps on his black rug, attempts to straighten it in the bathroom mirror before turning to Mrs. Titmouse and asking “do you think anyone will notice?”. After stuttering and stammering love rules out and she responds “Of course not dear”, fighting back a revealing eye roll.

Black-Crested Titmouse found at Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park in January 2018

Hit the jump to read a bit more about this bird and where it was discovered.

Continue reading One Bad Toupee

Shoots and Ladders

I actually thought we might be out of the cold for a while. Temps were creeping back up to the point I was able to get multiple outdoor runs with minimal layers. The downside in that it immediately convinces your body that running on a treadmill is beneath it – both metaphorically and literally ha! Apparently it was just a tease being that it snowed this week and temps are hanging in the cold zone. Good news for you, It is still a perfect temperature for birding in my den.

Today’s post happens to come from another one of our Texas birding shoots.

Ladder-Backed Woodpecker discovered at Sabal Palm Sanctuary in Brownsville, Texas December 2017

That there is a Ladder-Backed Woodpecker,. which of course prompted my groaner of a title. The Ladder happens to be a +1 for my birding list, but this is not the only new experience I had that day. Should probably start by telling you where we were when Linda and I stumbled on this tree climbing Zebra. On our trip back to Texas over the recent Christmas/New Year’s break, we headed back to our favorite birding spot – the Texas Gulf Coast. This year we added an additional foray west along the southern tip of Texas. One of those places we stopped was near Brownsville, Texas at a place called Sabal Palm Sanctuary.

Ladder-Backed Woodpecker discovered at Sabal Palm Sanctuary in Brownsville, Texas December 2017

Hit the jump to read more about our visit to Sabal Palm Sanctuary.

Continue reading Shoots and Ladders

Expert Assist

There are times when you look at a bird and go hmmm. Then you look at the bird a little closer and go hmmm. You reach into your pocket, start up your favorite bird identification app, do a bit of searching and then go hmmm. Desperate you ask every person with a camera or binoculars slung around their neck what they think of said bird and now everyone collectively goes hmmm. Pretty soon there is quite the gaggle of humans staring at pretty bird simply sitting on a fence watching the sun go by.

Tropical Kingbird found at the South Padre Bird Viewing Center in December 2017

If you haven’t guessed already, this is exactly one of those times. Linda and I were visiting one of our favorite birding locations along the Texas Gulf Coast – the South Padre Island Bird Viewing and Nature Center. This is our second time to this jewel of a birding place and each time it gets better and better. Oddly enough, we managed to show up there at the one year anniversary of being there back in December 2016. Ever get one of those times when you ask yourself if time travel might be possible and the unexpected side effect is you can’t remember initiating the time travel? (I have dibs on that idea before you get any thoughts of using that in a script hehehe).

Tropical Kingbird found at the South Padre Bird Viewing Center in December 2017

Hit the jump to find out what this bird is!

Continue reading Expert Assist

Yigüirro in Weslaco

Greetings everyone. My apologies for lack of productivity as of late. Wait, I should clarify that a bit .. for my lack of productivity in getting posts out. Thanks to an upcoming commitment, my post counts were significantly elevated in support of that endeavor. Unfortunately, my fairly ample runway of time was gobbled up by some form of rift in the space time continuum. There is no other explanation – one minute there’s like 3 months to go, then there was a small but finely tuned wind storm that ripped the pages right off my calendar. This forced a transition from prep phase to the produce phase and now pretty much in the polish phases. Can’t wait to find out how all this turns out, but you will assuredly be reading about it here…soon. Rather than leave everyone hanging a little over a week, thought I’d treat you to some finds on our recent trip to the Texas Gulf Coast.

Clay-Colored Thrush found at the Valley Birding Center in Weslaco, Texas January 2017

If there is one thing that is prevalent when birding the Gulf Coast and southern most tip regions of Texas its colorful birds. So stunning that many even passed Linda’s high “pretty” threshold that has to be met before she will even bother taking a picture of a bird. This rather drab looking specimen before you doesn’t come close to those other coastal finds (like here and here). That doesn’t mean it isn’t something I’m super excited to now have on my birding list!

Clay-Colored Thrush found at the Valley Birding Center in Weslaco, Texas January 2017

Hit the jump to find out what this bird is!

Continue reading Yigüirro in Weslaco

A Stealthy Imposter

I have trained myself to look for the loner when it comes to water and shorebirds. Experience tells me those are the ones that end up being the most intriguing. In the birding world, it is the intriguing ones that get you excited because those are the ones that end up making the latest checkmark in your life list. Contrast that with staring at a cover of Coots – if you do not have a Coot you are in luck, already been to any body of water near me, then you typically utter “more damn Coots” and move on. Although not as diligent on tera-firma, I do try to keep an eye out for those brief encounters.

A few posts ago, I featured the White-Winged Dove (link here). That encounter at the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge is the location for today’s post. Most of those shots were captured from within their bird blind just out from the visitor center. While getting that +1 in the tin, another creature came darting out from the ground cover, made an aggressive move toward my subject and then raced back into the shadows.

White-Tipped Dove found at Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, Texas in January 2017

Hit the jump to read more about this elusive bird.

Continue reading A Stealthy Imposter

A Jealous Jay

I suspect my reader base that isn’t fond of birds feel like they are getting a root canal when they come here as of late. To those individuals I must extend my upmost apologies. I will do my best to make up for this lean to the feather, but I am on a mission and I’m running out of time. Funny how a couple of months before the finish line seem like an eternity until that calendar turns and you’re left looking at your to-do list wondering how it could possibly still have that many items. There are definite upsides to all this focus on production – my photo queue, although still rather slight, has been shrinking. It did undergo a transformation from FIFO popping to LIFO popping meaning the memory banks will need to be excavated as the snap to post gap on some of those queued items are getting pretty long (3+ years yikes). The other benefit is I get to show off a number of cool birds!

Green Jay discovered at Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, TX in January 2017

This bird is so cool it got the Linda stamp of approval. She doesn’t pull this particular stamp out very often. Contrast that with her “Total Crap” stamp which is so worn down from overuse you can barely read the words – she’s a pretty harsh critic of my work hehehe. When it comes to bird photography, she will not even give the subject the dignity of taking a picture if it isn’t “pretty”. Needless to say, Sparrows will never occupy her tin. It didn’t take her long to get her camera out and start taking pictures of this gorgeous specimen.

Green Jay discovered at Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, TX in January 2017

Hit the jump to see a few more pictures of this striking bird!

Continue reading A Jealous Jay

Edge of Seventeen

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone! Linda and I had the opportunity to learn more about the International Crane Foundation tonight thanks to a guest speaker at the local Audubon Society chapter. We are members of the ICF based in Baraboo, Wisconsin. Linda discovered that place sometime back when investigating things to do while in the area. About every year since then we have been making our way back up there to see how the Cranes are doing in their recovery. Tonight we were able to learn a bit more about the site and pleased to see the Whooping Crane (link here) status is starting to look up. Unfortunately, Linda nixed my efforts to put on the Crane suit the speaker brought showing how they imprint the young – someday I’ll get to try that bird suit on and post the pictures here hehehehe. Big thanks to the Audubon Society for hosting that event. Oh, and if you are in the neighborhood you might want to check out the guest speaker for next month – heard it might be on Texas Birding.

Speaking of Texas birding, how about this intriguing specimen.

White-Winged Dove Shot at Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, TX in January 2017

If you live in North America and Central America, at first glance you might mistake this bird for the Mourning Dove. That Dove is very common in those regions and wouldn’t be surprised if you didn’t see at least one a day hanging out in trees next to your feeders or hanging out with their friends on powerlines trying to choose which car they want to aim their white bombs at – based on experience this always ends up being the shiniest clean car they can find. From a birding perspective, the Mourning Dove is one of those species that has become so common I generally do not pay them very much attention. Same goes for those water chickens the Coots. I might take a few pictures of them just to help with the end of day count summary. That is exactly what occurred while we were at Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge on our Texas trip back in January 2017.

White-Winged Dove Shot at Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, TX in January 2017

Hit the jump to read a bit more about this feathered encounter.

Continue reading Edge of Seventeen