Brazos Bend

Red-eared slider turtle on a log in Elm Lake, Brazos Bend State Park

While we packed the car, the kids stayed busy with various pursuits: Audrey writing and drawing, Iris looking at books upside-down and blowing raspberries into her mirror.

This is a photo of David at Brazos Bend Park.

I've seen these in the past in the area where I shot this, but I hadn't seen any in quite some time. It was nice to see these.

As seen from the path from the nature center to Elm Lake in Brazos Bend State Park

George Observatory, Brazos Bend State Park, Needville Texas

Golden silk spider (aka banana spider) beside a trail at Brazos Bend State Park. The female is much larger than the male.

Brazos Bend

Gulf fritillary in the butterfly garden at Brazos Bend State Park

Brazos Bend State Park in SE Texas

Approximately six-foot-long alligator beside the trail around Elm Lake at Brazos Bend State Park

Roughly 9 ft. long alligator lolling the afternoon away beside Creekfield Lake

Quite a show at dusk each winter evening when thousands of birds come into the Park to roost.

Brazos Bend State Park, SE Texas

Member of the Flickr Bird Brigade

Activists for birds and wildlife

I took this photo at the Brazos Bend State park

Feather - about 5" (13 cm) long - on the ground beside the trail around Creekfield Lake at Brazos Bend State Park

I believe this is from a black vulture. They have wingtips about this color with feathers about this size. There was a large number of them hanging around in the vicinity of where I took this photo.

The small white flowers are crow poison and one of the first wildflowers to make an appearance in the early spring in these parts.

An anhinga swims in Elm Lake at Brazos Bend S.P, with a fish impaled on its beak. It managed to free the fish and swallow it. You could see the bulge as the fish went down its throat. Mother Nature can be pretty raw.

Great egret patrolling the edge of Creekfield Lake in Brazos Bend State Park

I used to hate shooting on cloudy and rainy days but you can get some of the most beautiful photos when out in it . Natures beauty doesn't always consist of sunshine and clear skies

Taken at Brazos Bend State Park in SE Texas

A 9-10 ft. long (2.7-3 m) alligator in Elm Lake in Brazos Bend State Park

Not something I know much about, but I couldn't resist a try. (Click for another angle)

SE Texas

Late January is getting close to the time that alligators in this part of Texas begin courting. Mating will usually take place in March and April, and the females will lay their eggs in late May or early June. The eggs will hatch in late August or early September. Seeing these two so close together makes me think one is female, the other male. It's impossible to tell females apart from males by looking, other than that females are usually a bit smaller.

Great blue heron attempting to choke down a very large bullfrog at Brazos Bend State Park

I don't know how old this tree is, but the lake has been here for forty years or more, meaning the tree has been dead for at least that long. Why it hasn't fallen into the water I don't know.

I spent quite awhile with this anhinga, He/she was very accepting of my presence. It's always fun when the bird knows you are there, but apparently doesn't feel threatened.

SE Texas

Small alligator in Creekfield Lake at Brazos Bend State Park. This one is nearly big enough that it doesn't have to fear getting eaten by other animals, with the exception of larger alligators. Alligators are cannibals, and big gators will kill and eat smaller ones.

Foggy morning, January, cold, and about to rain.

Lily pads in Elm Lake at Brazos Bend State Park

Little blue heron, white ibis, and several black-bellied whistling ducks beside Elm Lake in Brazos Bend State Park

Tiny American Alligator

SE Texas