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Why do they suddenly fly off in a group and fly back to their takeoff spot the same way? Click on image for best view.
They must love the heat. It was about 101 degrees yesterday afternoon! The colors in the background are from the children's floats in my son's swimming pool, the water, and a tree on the right side. The skimmers usually return to their previous perch. I watched that happen when I got too close. It flitted off, I waited about a minute, and it returned and perched again on this same twig.
From Texas A&M Agricultural Center:
Skimmer, Dragonfly
Common skimmer, Libellula luctosa Burmeister (Odonata: Common Name: Skimmer, dragonfly
Insect Order: Odonata
Scientific Name: Varies
Description: Skimmers are the most common and colorful of the dragonfly family. They have two pairs of large, usually patterned, gossamer wings. The hind pair of wings is slightly larger than the forewings. The wings are held flat and extend outward from the body when at rest. The abdomen is long and variously colored. Commons skimmers are the most common and most colorful of the dragonflies. Male and female adults are different in appearance (dimorphic). They also change color with age. They have large compound eyes and short antennae and are equipped with chewing mouth parts. They vary in length from 1 inch to over 3 inches. Their wing span can reach about 4 inches.
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Today, January 5, 2017 is National Bird Day. I made this photo at the Blackland Prairie Center in Allen, TX in 2014. They have a photographers only day in May every year. A wonderful rehab organization for raptors. I attend every May for the opportunity to view and photograph the raptors up close!
Click on image for best view. The water drops are from a mister used to keep the raptors cool.
Probably the most common hawk in North America and is the second largest "Buteo" hawk after the Ferruginous Hawk.
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Many of them are blooming at the large lily pond at the Dallas Arboretum! On a very bright morning at f/13. Click on image for best view.
Thanks all for your views, faves and comments! They are always appreciated!
Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden.
Nelumbo nucifera, also known as Indian lotus, sacred lotus, bean of India, Egyptian bean or simply lotus, is one of two extant species of aquatic plant in the family Nelumbonaceae. The Linnaean binomial Nelumbo nucifera (Gaertn.) is the currently recognized name for this species, which has been classified under the former names, Nelumbium speciosum (Willd.) and Nymphaea nelumbo, among others. (These names are obsolete synonyms and should be avoided in current works.) This plant is an aquatic perennial. Under favorable circumstances its seeds may remain viable for many years, with the oldest recorded lotus germination being from that of seeds 1,300 years old recovered from a dry lakebed in northeastern China.[1]
Native to Tropical Asia, and Queensland, Australia,[2][3] it is commonly cultivated in water gardens. It is also the national flower of India, and Vietnam. (Wikipedia)
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They are back now! Click on image for best view.
American White Pelican, Sunset Bay area of White Rock Lake, Dallas. TX. We are fortunate to have these big birds migrate to this lake every year! They are back now and will be at this lake through March-April.
Migratory big white beautiful bird! They remain at White Rock Lake's Sunset Bay (Dallas, TX) until March or April.
One of the largest North American birds, the American White Pelican is majestic in the air. The birds soar with incredible steadiness on broad, white-and-black wings. Their large heads and huge, heavy bills give them a prehistoric look. On the water they dip their pouched bills to scoop up fish, or tip-up like an oversized dabbling duck. Sometimes, groups of pelicans work together to herd fish into the shallows for easy feeding. Look for them on inland lakes in summer and near coastlines in winter.
Size & Shape
A huge waterbird with very broad wings, a long neck, and a massive bill that gives the head a unique, long shape. They have thick bodies, short legs, and short, square tails. During the breeding season, adults grow an unusual projection or horn on the upper mandible near the tip of the bill.
Color Pattern
Adult American White Pelicans are snowy white with black flight feathers visible only when the wings are spread. A small patch of ornamental feathers on the chest can become yellow in spring. The bill and legs are yellow-orange. Immatures are mostly white as well, but the head, neck, and back are variably dusky.
Behavior
American White Pelicans feed from the waterâs surface, dipping their beaks into the water to catch fish and other aquatic organisms. They often upend, like a very large dabbling duck, in this process. They do not plunge-dive the way Brown Pelicans do. They are superb soarers (they are among the heaviest flying birds in the world) and often travel long distances in large flocks by soaring. When flapping, their wingbeats are slow and methodical.
Habitat
American White Pelicans typically breed on islands in shallow wetlands in the interior of the continent. They spend winters mainly on coastal waters, bays, and estuaries, or a little distance inland.
allaboutbirds.org
Klasse: Vögel (Aves)
Ordnung: RuderfĂŒĂer (Pelecaniformes)
Familie: Kormorane (Phalacrocoracidae)
Gattung: Phalacrocorax
Art: Kormoran
Wissenschaftlicher Name: Phalacrocorax carbo
They are back now! Click on image for best view.
American White Pelican, Sunset Bay area of White Rock Lake, Dallas. TX. We are fortunate to have these big birds migrate to this lake every year! They are back now and will be at this lake through March-April.
Migratory big white beautiful bird! They remain at White Rock Lake's Sunset Bay (Dallas, TX) until March or April.
One of the largest North American birds, the American White Pelican is majestic in the air. The birds soar with incredible steadiness on broad, white-and-black wings. Their large heads and huge, heavy bills give them a prehistoric look. On the water they dip their pouched bills to scoop up fish, or tip-up like an oversized dabbling duck. Sometimes, groups of pelicans work together to herd fish into the shallows for easy feeding. Look for them on inland lakes in summer and near coastlines in winter.
Size & Shape
A huge waterbird with very broad wings, a long neck, and a massive bill that gives the head a unique, long shape. They have thick bodies, short legs, and short, square tails. During the breeding season, adults grow an unusual projection or horn on the upper mandible near the tip of the bill.
Color Pattern
Adult American White Pelicans are snowy white with black flight feathers visible only when the wings are spread. A small patch of ornamental feathers on the chest can become yellow in spring. The bill and legs are yellow-orange. Immatures are mostly white as well, but the head, neck, and back are variably dusky.
Behavior
American White Pelicans feed from the waterâs surface, dipping their beaks into the water to catch fish and other aquatic organisms. They often upend, like a very large dabbling duck, in this process. They do not plunge-dive the way Brown Pelicans do. They are superb soarers (they are among the heaviest flying birds in the world) and often travel long distances in large flocks by soaring. When flapping, their wingbeats are slow and methodical.
Habitat
American White Pelicans typically breed on islands in shallow wetlands in the interior of the continent. They spend winters mainly on coastal waters, bays, and estuaries, or a little distance inland.
allaboutbirds.org
This egret wasn't skittish. Believe it or not! They usually are. I propped myself up behind a large tree and went crazy taking photos of this beautiful creature. Click on image for best view.
Bethany Lakes Park, Allen, Texas. A very lovely park.
Bethany Lakes Park, Allen, TX. This egret had patience, plenty of it. When I arrived at the park, it was on this perch. I walked all over the park, which is quite large, came back, it was still standing at same spot. I never saw it catch a fish. When I was leaving the park I looked back and it was still there. Maybe it had turned to stone! The lighting was very bright and there was debris in the shallow water. So, I darkened the surroundings.
From: allaboutbirds.org:
The elegant Great Egret is a dazzling sight in many a North American wetland. Slightly smaller and more svelte than a Great Blue Heron, these are still large birds with impressive wingspans. They hunt in classic heron fashion, standing immobile or wading through wetlands to capture fish with a deadly jab of their yellow bill. Great Egrets were hunted nearly to extinction for their plumes in the late nineteenth century, sparking conservation movements and some of the first laws to protect birds.
Size & Shape
Great Egrets are tall, long-legged wading birds with long, S-curved necks and long, dagger-like bills. In flight, the long neck is tucked in and the legs extend far beyond the tip of the short tail.
Color Pattern
All feathers on Great Egrets are white. Their bills are yellowish-orange, and the legs black.
Behavior
Great Egrets wade in shallow water (both fresh and salt) to hunt fish, frogs, and other small aquatic animals. They typically stand still and watch for unsuspecting prey to pass by. Then, with startling speed, the egrets strike with a jab of their long neck and bill.
Habitat
Youâll find Great Egrets in both freshwater and saltwater habitats. They are colonial nesters, typically placing stick nests high in trees, often on islands that are isolated from mammalian predators such as raccoons.
A ornamental tree that produces beautiful early springtime flowers. Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Gardens.
Magnolia Ă soulangeana (saucer magnolia) is a hybrid plant in the genus Magnolia and family Magnoliaceae. It is a deciduous tree with large, early-blooming flowers in various shades of white, pink, and purple. It is one of the most commonly used magnolias in horticulture.
Photo from two years ago. A friend of mind just mentioned that it's "National Pollinator Week" so this close-up of a honey bee (with it's little friend) is in honor of all the pollinator insects.
Tulips @ the Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Gardens.
Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Gardens. Dallas Blooms - Peace, Love & Flower Power festival takes place from February 25 - April 9, 2017.
Thanks everyone for your views, faves and comments1
Late evening lotus blossom, Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden. This one plant produced several gorgeous flowers, this being the last one!
Click on image for best view.
Brilliant tomato red tulips with a bit or yellow trim. A very reliable tulips that blooms and blooms! A favorite of mine at the Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Gardens. Name and type of tulip: "World Favorite" Darwin Hybrid. Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Gardens. Dallas Blooms - Peace, Love & Flower Power festival takes place from February 25 - April 9, 2017.
Thanks everyone for your views, faves and comments!
I don't dare park under the hackberry tree when the birds are gathered for the high-energy seeds.
This female red-bellied woodpecker came back several times. I never saw her mate, who would have the red going all the way over his head. Both have red on their bellies, but it is between their legs and hard to see.
We are blessed to live on an organic farm near thousands of acres of certified organic woodlands. It's surprising how many more birds there are in regions where poisonous farm chemicals are not being used.
Tags: #woodpecker #redbelliedwoodpecker #bird #birds #birdsofinstagram #pesticidefree #herbicidefree #hebicide #herbicides #Monsanto #RoundUp #glyphosate #nongmo #nongmoproject #gmofree #garden #gardening #like4like #l4l #f4f #follow4follow #picoftheday #pictureoftheday #pajaro #sustainability #sustainable #beautiful #NatureIsMagic
Kerria Japonica, which has single yellow petals. This one pictured with the double petals is a cultivar known as Kerria "Pleniflora". Native of Japan, China, Korea.
The flower is about the size of a quarter and the shrubs are now beginning to bloom. Our February so far is a warm one. Hoping we don't get a late freeze!
Migratory big white beautiful bird! They remain at White Rock Lake's Sunset Bay (Dallas, TX) until March or April. Click on image for best view.
One of the largest North American birds, the American White Pelican is majestic in the air. The birds soar with incredible steadiness on broad, white-and-black wings. Their large heads and huge, heavy bills give them a prehistoric look. On the water they dip their pouched bills to scoop up fish, or tip-up like an oversized dabbling duck. Sometimes, groups of pelicans work together to herd fish into the shallows for easy feeding. Look for them on inland lakes in summer and near coastlines in winter.
Size & Shape
A huge waterbird with very broad wings, a long neck, and a massive bill that gives the head a unique, long shape. They have thick bodies, short legs, and short, square tails. During the breeding season, adults grow an unusual projection or horn on the upper mandible near the tip of the bill.
Color Pattern
Adult American White Pelicans are snowy white with black flight feathers visible only when the wings are spread. A small patch of ornamental feathers on the chest can become yellow in spring. The bill and legs are yellow-orange. Immatures are mostly white as well, but the head, neck, and back are variably dusky.
Behavior
American White Pelicans feed from the waterâs surface, dipping their beaks into the water to catch fish and other aquatic organisms. They often upend, like a very large dabbling duck, in this process. They do not plunge-dive the way Brown Pelicans do. They are superb soarers (they are among the heaviest flying birds in the world) and often travel long distances in large flocks by soaring. When flapping, their wingbeats are slow and methodical.
Habitat
American White Pelicans typically breed on islands in shallow wetlands in the interior of the continent. They spend winters mainly on coastal waters, bays, and estuaries, or a little distance inland.
"http://www.allaboutbirds.org"
It's a nice winter day and a good time to clean up my #raisedbedgarden in preparation for spring.
More tags: #NatureIsMagic #gardening #organic #farming #gardens #gardener #growyourown #growyourownfood #growyourfood #nogmo #gmofree #pesticidefree #herbicidefree #vegan #veggies #vegetables #vegetablegarden #food #foodies #foodforfoodies #composting #manure #fertilizer #compostpile #compost #weed
I only fill my bird feeder when it is cold and there is a lot of snow. This red-winged blackbird seemed to appreciate the high energy seeds when snow covered his usual food supply.
I love their song and seeing them on top of fence posts or even talk weeds singing but always on the lookout for insects that, along with seeds, are an important part of their diet.
All our songbirds are lucky to live on an organic farm near thousands of acres of certified organic farmland and woodlands.
Other birds are not so fortunate. When a song bird eats an insect that died from a pesticide, the poison can kill the bird. That's why our chemical farming neighbors are not blessed with the abundance of beautiful birds that we have on our organic farm.
Tags: #redwingedblackbird #organic #bird #birds #birdsofinstagram #pesticidefree #herbicidefree #hebicide #herbicides #Monsanto #RoundUp #glyphosate #nongmo #nongmoproject #gmofree #garden #gardening #like4like #l4l #f4f #follow4follow #picoftheday #pictureoftheday #pajaro #sustainability #sustainable #beautiful #NatureIsMagic
This beautiful Black-waved Flannel Moth Caterpillar stood out from her lush green perch.đ
Her gorgeous fuzzy hair was bejeweled with tiny water droplets, giving her the appearance of a beautiful princess.đž
I am consistently awed by nature & forever falling in love anewđ
This bee is literally the most tragically beautiful subject I've ever photographed.
I spotted him while rushing back from my hike to get to breakfast.
He is a warrior. A survivor.
And he's still hanging on.
I kinda really want ro make him the new "Hang in There" poster.
That kittenđ± hasn't had nearly the level of life experience.
Him, I can relate tođđ