Trees

Antelope

Sandpipers and Plovers

      The number of birds grows. Added this day: Least Sandpiper and Snowy Plover.
      In addition, nearby I spotted and photographed the White-rumped Sandpiper, Lesser Yellow-legs, Dowitcher, Avocets, Northern Shovelers, Gadwalls, Great Blue Heron, Killdeer, Mockingbird, Mourning Dove, Turkey, Turkey Vultures, Loggerhead Shrike, Meadowlark, Savannah and White-crowned sparrows, and three Canada Geese, one of which appeared to be sitting on her nest  . . .  or just plum ornery about me stomping around the ponds.
      On the way, Red-winged Blackbirds in their striped feathers, Black-necked stilts, Ibis, and Blue-winged teals, along with Common Grackles and swallows on the bridges.

Avocets.

White-rumped Sandpiper and Snowy Plover.

White-rumped Sandpiper.

Least Sandpiper.

An Ibis (White-faced) and Blue-winged Teals.

White Bluebonnet

Busy Birding Morning

    Flush with excitement after my participation in the Big Day, I set out to view birds on my own. An old oil field patch, devastated by careless drillers from way back in the '40s, still has salty soil unable to grow plants; however and somehow, the berms we built to retain water have become a successful ecosystem for birds and other creatures. Avocets, Black-necked Stilts, Killdeer, Sandpipers, and now I discovered that even Dowitchers stop by to benefit from the myriad lifeforms the birds need to survive. 

    In addition to the shorebird life, sparrows, blackbirds, flycatchers, and orioles depend on the area for nesting and food.

    Not surprisingly, I finished the morning with a long bird list: Red-winged Blackbirds, Northern Shovelers, House Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Turkey Vultures, Common Grackles, Northern Harrier, Meadowlarks, Harris' Sparrow, Brown-headed Cowbird, Mourning Doves, White-winged Doves, Pigeons, Song Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Mockingbird, Bufflehead, White-bellied Sandpiper, Killdeer, Green-winged Teal, Canada Goose, American Kestrel, Lark Sparrow, Ibis, Red-tailed Hawk, Loggerhead Shrike, Turkey, Hooded Merganser, Red-headed Ducks, Great Blue Heron, Gadwalls, Bobwhite Quail, Common Snipe, Lesser Yellowlegs, and, of all things, a Sandhill Crane tucked in the grass, perhaps injured or sick . . . or nesting?

Group Photo

     When I take a picture of a group, I take several images. I do so because, invariably, someone has closed eyes, or is  not smiling, or . . .  as in today's group, one of them has to clown around.

Redtail Hawk, Juvie.

Hovering over my house, a juvie Redtailed Hawk rode the thermals searching for food.

Composited image.

Cowboys Love to Work

Violinist's Table

Long John Silver and Scottie

My Favorite Fly Fishing Gear

A collection of my favorite things, gathered together and then light painted. 

Fly fishing reminds me of my brother, Freddy, who looks dapper in his fly fishing hat.

Oh, I forgot to include my hat in this image.

Sunset and Trees

Fledglings Re-visited

While perusing my old files to find pictures for the next newsletter for Wild Bird Rescue, I found many images from the past. 

Mockingbird and Robins.

The late, great, Bob Lindsay holding a Barn owl.

Kestrel.

Inca Dove.

Switchboard and Headset

The Museum of North Texas History owns a historic switchboard. 

They will use my pictures as part of the invitation to one of their events.

Old Tires

Ye Ol' Plow Wheel

Squirrel in a Hole

Robin and Sparrow

Savannah Sparrow

Sandpipers and Killdeer

Least Sandpipers keeping company with one of several killdeer.