Posts in Category: Texas
Green Jay. We must be in the Rio Grande Valley
The other way you can tell you are in Texas, specifically in the Rio Grande Valley of south Texas, is the Green Jays. This one is at the National Butterfly Center in Mission, but they are present in large numbers everywhere in the Valley. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos.
Kiskadee: This must be Texas!
We will take a break from Uganda today. I am in Texas for the Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival, one of the oldest birding festivals in the US, and still going strong. This year we are in the brand new Harlingen Convention Center. I took a walk at the Hugh Ramsey Nature Park on the east edge of Harlingen yesterday morning, and this is the obligatory Great Kiskadee. We must be in Texas! Sony Rx10iv at 1200mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr.
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Here is something you don’t see everyday…a Yellow-billed Cuckoo sitting right out in plain sight. This very wet and very bedraggled cuckoo was feeding near the boardwalk at the Birding Center on South Padre Island, Texas, part of a wave of migrants coming through with the storm front. The bird continued to feed in plain sight as long as we watched it. It even perched on the boardwalk for a moment. Sony RX10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode. Processed in Polarr.
White Ibis
We spent the morning at Estero Llano Grande State Park and World Birding Center in Weslaco Texas yesterday. It was overcast but the birds were still beautiful on the pond by the Visitor Center, there was lots of activity around the trails. This White Ibis is caught in a classic pose over its reflection. Sony RX10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode. +1EV to deal with the bird silhouetted against the bright water. Processed in Polarr.
White Pelicans in the air…
As we got out of the car at Fronteria Audubon in Weslaco Texas the other day, we looked up and into a huge swirl of White Pelicans moving over. They slowly circled over us, the center of the circle moving north slowly until the were behind the trees. Very impressive! I don’t know where they were coming from or where they were going, but the beauty of will remain. Sony RX10iv at about 250mm equivalent. Program mode. Processed in Polarr.
Chachalaca, chachalaca…
I did not know Plain Chachalacas did this thing with their tails…and neither did other birders that I talked to today, but they clearly do. These birds were strutting their stuff at the National Butterfly Center in Mission, Texas, where I was teaching a field workshop for Point and Shoot Nature Photography. Sony RX10iv at about 400mm equivalent. Program mode. Processed in Polarr.
3 Kingfisher Day
Not great photos, but still, any day when you see 3 species of Kingfishers is a GOOD day. All three were too far away, but again, see previous statement. Ringed Kingfisher, Belted Kingfisher, and Green Kingfisher. Edinburg Scenic Wetlands World Birding Center in Edinburg Texas. Sony RX10iv at 600mm equivalent and heavily cropped. Program mode. Processed in Polarr.
Clouded Sulphur on Turk’s Cap
It was a very slow day for birds in the Rio Grande Valley. We went to Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge. Lots of butterflies and dragonflies…more than I have seen there in years, but practically no bird activity. Very strange. After Santa Ana we went to Fronteria Audubon in Weslaco, Texas where the buzz of the day was a intermittently visible Golden-winged Warbler. We missed the warbler by minutes on several occasions, but again the butterflies did not disappoint. This Clouded Sulphur on Turk’s Cap was one of the last photos I took there before heading back to the hotel to cool off before evening activities. Sometimes nature provides light you would be hard pressed to duplicate in the studio. I should add a disclaimer here. I am not a butterfly expert and if someone were to tell me this is an Orange Sulphur and not a Clouded, I would not be totally surprised and in no way offended. 🙂 Sony RX10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode. Processed in Polarr.
Blue Dasher at Santa Ana
Blue Dasher, Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, Alamo Texas
We are in New Mexico to visit our daughter and work the Festival of the Cranes, but yesterday was a travel day so today’s Pic still comes from Texas. The birding was somewhat slow at Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge south of Alamo Texas when I visited last week, but there were lots of Butterflies and Dragonflies. This Blue Dasher posed nicely on its twig, giving me a good close up portrait of the face and wings.
Sony RX10iii at 600mm equivalent field of view. Program Mode. Processed in PhotoShop Express on my Android tablet.
Common Paraque close…
Common Paraque, Estero Llano Grande State Park and World Birding Center in Weslaco Texas
And here is a close up of the Common Paraque from yesterday’s post. Estero Llano Grande State Park and World Birding Center in Weslaco Texas.
Sony RX10iii at 1200mm equivalent field of view. (2x Clear Image Zoom) Program Mode. Processed in PhotoShop Express on my Android tablet.