Birds and Nature

Like many adult males those of the Vermilion Flycatcher species are brightly colored. This fellow was foraging at Anzalduas County Park. SeEtta

It was crummy weather, mid 30's and drizzling when I spotted this Vermilion Flycatcher at Anzalduas Park. The bird's feathers were pretty wet which caused them to stick together in some areas. Instead of sallying out to catch insects in flight it was foraging on the pavement. So I drove slowly near it and parked about 40 feet away. And I stayed in my car to photograph it using my car as a blind, a technique I use a lot as it reduces disturbance to the birds. After watching the bird several minutes it flew near by car and proceeded to forage on the pavement within 10-15 feet from me. I used the silent setting on my camera (while I don't hear any noise I have seen some birds reacting so there is apparently some sound that is audible to them, but this bird did not show any reaction to my shots). I couldn't see what the bird was pursuing but it sure worked hard at it. And I got some nice close up pics. SeEtta

I found this Roseate Spoonbill walking along a canal at the Mission Nature Park. "Like many other bird species with beautiful plumage, roseate spoonbills were nearly hunted to extinction during the 1800s. Their striking pink feathers were popular on women's hats, and hunters from all over the United States competed for spoonbill plumes. In the early 1900s, roseate spoonbills began to recolonize areas along the Gulf Coast and slowly increase in number. Today, threats to roseate spoonbill populations come as a result of habitat loss." (from Texas Parks and Wildlife website) SeEtta