View allAll Photos Tagged brazosbend
How fortunate we are to have such a beautiful bird to be a common resident. Though there may be lots of Eastern Bluebirds around I never pass up a chance to photograph them. This one was singing away during a recent visit to Brazos Bend State Park. It definitely made my day!
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Sialia sialis
This afternoon I'm going through some of the summer's images, as we wait for tropical storm (hopefully not hurricane) Nicholas to pick it's path. If nothing else, we will probably get a bunch of rain from this storm. Life on the Gulf Coast........
Brazos Bend State Park in SE Texas - 8/2021
I spent yesterday afternoon wandering around Brazos Bend State Park and was pleased to encounter at least three Vermilion Flycatchers along 40 Acre Lake. This one was the best looking of the three. They were all quite confiding, allowing for some nice close shots.
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Pyrocephalus rubinus
This is one of two owlets hatched mid-Feb. The feathers in the front of the nest are most likely from a recent coot meal. My last several park visits have primarily been dedicated to the owl nest. It's pretty captivating. Brazos Bend State Park in SE Texas - 3/2023
We are fortunate to have stilts nesting in the park this summer. This is at least the third summer in a row that they have nested at Brazos Bend. SE Texas - 5/2023.
Taking a break from owls. Here is a very cooperative American Bittern photographed on Easter Sunday. These birds start showing up in our area in October/November, but their numbers seem to peak late winter/early spring. Last weekend I saw one bittern, but I think most have already gone north to their breeding ground. Brazos Bend State Park in SE Texas - 4/2021.
This little owlet was quite animated on a March afternoon. Photographing these birds usually involves watching them with their eyes closed and/or backs turned for extended periods. Suddenly they pop into action for a few minutes, wide-eyed and energetic. When they do, you hope you are paying attention and in position. Sometimes I was, sometimes I wasn't. This was my last visit before the owlets started to branch. Great-horned owlet at Brazos Bend State Park in SE Texas - 3/2023.
It's probably time to back away from owl pics for awhile :)
I always appreciate an opportunity with a green heron. They are animated, and full of attitude. Several summer at Brazos Bend, and a few winter. I see the most in late August / early September. Perhaps they gather in the park before migration?
Love the foot wrapped around the branch. Brazos Bend State Park in SE Texas - 8/2021.
Yesterday I made a quick trip to check on the little owls. Both Owlets have left the nest proper, and are wandering around the tree (an activity known as "branching"). This one gave a nice pose in the spanish moss.
Brazos Bend State Park in SE Texas 3/2023.
We have owlets at the Brazos Bend great-horned owl nest. This little one must have been just a few days old when photographed. I cropped more than I like, but think it was needed. The mother's feathers can be seen in the left background.
Brazos Bend State Park in SE Texas - 2/2023.
This bird was standing on one foot, as herons tend to do. I like the view of the resting foot. This bird has some serious claws. Brazos Bend StatePark in SE Texas. 8/2018
This is from last Sunday, another morning without much light (ISO 3200, 1/30, f6.3). Sometimes these challenging conditions can be fun. Brazos Bend State Park in SE Texas. 3/15/2020
In this and the next image, I had the benefit of a little pretty light on my owlet buddy. Brazos Bend State Park in SE Texas. 3/2019
I found if I patiently sat behind my camera, the chicks would come pretty close.
Brazos Bend State Park in SE Texas - 5/2023
The GBH is our largest wading bird, and pretty much has the run of the wetlands. They will eat anything they can (literally) stuff down their throats. I was told this bird had eaten a siren (an eel-like amphibian) shortly before I arrived. Brazos Bend State Park in SE Texas - 3/2023.
The Brazos Bend Owlets are getting big and moving around the tree. This is the back of the nest tree, 180 degrees from where they have been in my previous pics. They will soon be fledging.
Brazos Bend State Park in SE Texas 3/2023
Some birds just seem to be natural models. I don’t know if it is possible to take a bad photo of a Black-bellied Whistling Duck. They are so neat looking and they almost always seem to be doing something amusing. This little flock was hanging out at Brazos Bend State Park earlier this month. It was a crazy morning around Elm Lake, whistling ducks were pretty much everywhere in large numbers and I took more than my share of photos of them but I think this bunch standing on a hand-rail was my favorite.
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Dendrocygna autumnalis
This goes back to 2017. I remember arriving in complete darkness, and watching the sun rise on feeding egrets and ibis. This image was made as the first light touched the egret, while the bg remained mostly dark. Brazos Bend State Park in SE Texas. 1/2017.
This morning I returned to Brazos Bend to search (unsuccessfully) for eagles. Regardless, fog made for a very interesting morning. SE Texas. 11/2019
This is one of the parents at the Brazos Bend owl nest. I don't know what the prey actually was. A close crop is posted in comment #1, but I don't think it helps. Brazos Bend State Park in SE Texas 3/2022,
ƒ/6.3, 1/250, ISO3200
This is the same green heron pictured in my previous post. He/she let me watch for quite awhile as they went about their business. The bird was initially far out in the water, and then moved quite close to me. The current image was made during a brief overcast period. Adding light to properly expose the heron in the overcast light resulted in a whitish bg. I thought this pano crop complimented the bird's pose. Brazos Bend State Park in SE Texas. 5/2020.