View allAll Photos Tagged brazosbend
Yesterday morning I was happy to find the windmill positioned with the sunrise as a background. The top of the windmill rotates 360 degrees, and faces whatever direction the wind puts it in.
The squiggly black lines near the horizon are vultures leaving the night roost, and heading off for their day's work.
Brazos Bend State Park in SE Texas. - 12/2022.
I have not had many close up opportunities with least bitterns, except for spring/early summer 2022 when several came to the Brazos Bend spillway to feed. We were entering what would become a pretty serious drought period, and wading birds (including the bitterns) came in close to feed on critters that were quickly running out of water. Brazos Bend State Park in SE Texas - 6/2022.
After a about 30 seconds the grebe flung the crawfish off to the side unscathed. I think the grebe wanted a real fish :)
Last weekend I has able to spend a little time with this heron. I quietly sat on the ground as it posed and fished. It's amazing how close some creatures will come to you if you are alone and quiet.
Brazos Bend State Park in SE Texas - 6/2024.
Vultures are abundant at Brazos Bend during the winter. Hundreds (thousands?) roost at the park each night.
On a foggy December morning I caught these two deep in discussion.
Brazos Bend State Park in SE Texas - 12/2022.
This was early morning in 2/2023 near the owl nest at Brazos Bend State Park. The adult female was in the nest to my back, and the male was keeping watch from a nearby tree. I was thrilled to stumble upon him and make a few images. SE Texas - 2/2023
There was not much light: Æ’/5.6, 1/20, 12800 ISO
No need to seek far—the scarlet pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis) is a common wildflower throughout much of the world. It goes largely unnoticed, though, because of its diminutive size.
While photographing birds, I'm often approached by Park visitors who want to tell me about "the big one" (gator) down the trail. These are well meaning people who assume I want to photograph gators, but couldn't find one and had to settle for a boring bird. I always thank them, and occasionally go check out "the big one", especially when their loud, excited report flushed the bird:) Brazos Bend State Park in SE Texas. 3/2018
FYI this animal has his mouth open to regulate temperature. He is not showing aggression.
Foggy July morning at Brazos Bend State Park in SE Texas. This was taken about 7AM. It was already 80F, and obviously a little humid. 7/2018
New Year's Day 2018 at Brazos Bend State Park in SE Texas. Temp was in the mid-30s, and it was pretty windy. Down here, we call this winter.
Here's one more snowy showing off its elegant feathers and crazy yellow feet. At Brazos Bend it can be difficult to isolate birds from the background because they are often close to the background foliage. Water flowing in the spillway provides opportunities to get birds out in the open. If you sit quietly on the ground the birds come pretty (sometimes too) close. Brazos Bend in SE Texas - 1/2024.
I haven't been out for awhile. This is from a few weeks ago. Brazos Bend State Park in SE Texas
3/18/2016
Despite all that is happening in the world, nature goes about its business. Flowers are blooming, and birds are migrating. Egrets are nesting in High Island Texas, and grebes are dancing in Oregon.
With parks and sanctuaries closed, and travel very limited, I won't see much of it this year. Regardless, I know its out there. Brazos Bend State Park in SE Texas, 4/2020 (before the Park closed)
These plants are very abundant in the waters of Brazos Bend. They flower in late spring/early summer, and the big leaves make perches for birds, including green herons.
They are something I see all the time, but have seldom photographed. I caught this one on a bright sunny afternoon, with the help of a passing cloud.
If you look closely, you can see a spider hiding under the flower.
Brazos Bend State Park in SE Texas - 6/2021.
I took this a few weeks ago while driving into the park. The adult and two fawns were on my left as I approached in my car. They crossed the road, allowed me to get a few shots off out of the passenger side window, and promptly slid into the woods. This is far from a great shot, but it was fun to get. There wasn't much light, so I was at pretty high ISO. I'm not a big gear guy, but you have got to love modern digital cameras. Brazos Bend State Park in SE Texas. 5/2020.
Since the beginning of May, 2022, rainfall in southeast Texas has been much below normal, and the small lakes in Brazos Bend State Park have suffered accordingly. Though the lakes recovered a little during rains in the fall, they've begun to regress due to drought during the spring. This is Elm Lake, and the water level in normal times would be all the way up past the lower edge of the image frame.
I spent Sunday and Monday mornings at Brazos Bend State Park. It was hot and steamy, the biting flies were abundant, and the herons were feasting on fish and crawfish. It must be summer in SE Texas. 5/2024
Yellow-crowned Night Herons are common summer birds in SE Texas, but I still enjoy seeing them. We caught this one yesterday at Brazos Bend State Park. 3/2024.
Strong storms went through the area Friday evening into early Sat morning leaving down limbs and a large area with no electricity (including the park). There were strong winds, hail and heavy rain. I was glad to see the park nesting great horned owl sitting on her nest after the storm. She was soaked and looked generally ticked off, but I think she successfully protected her nest through the storms.
For 3 or 4 springs, I had the opportunity to watch and photograph nesting stilts at Brazos Bend. This image is from spring 2023. Brazos Bend State Park in SE Texas - 5/2023. Hope to see them next spring.
On this particular trip, we spotted 10 of these well camouflaged birds. It's easy to look right at them but not see them.
Brazos Bend State Park in SE Texas. 2/2017
Most often I see these birds covered with mud as they poke around in the muck for food. It's nice to get a look at such a clean white bird on a nice perch.
Brazos Bend State Park in SE Texas - 12/2024
I'm fascinated by grebes big and small. These little grebes look so gentle and peaceful until you see one catch a crawfish, snip off the pinchers, and swallow it whole.
I was fortunate to get a few minutes with this one last week at Brazos Bend State Park in SE Texas - 2/2025
Happy New Year All
When I spotted this hawk someone else was photographing it from the front (I am behind the bird). I didn't want to interfere and thought I was out of luck, but found a place to set up with a clear view. Fortunately, the bird gave me some profile views. Conditions were overcast. This is metered exposure +3 stops, thus the white sky. Brazos Bend State Park in SE Texas - 12/2024.
Pretty October Morning at Brazos Bend State Park in SE Texas, although we are still in desperate need of rain - 10/2022.
This is from last October. I rarely see these creatures in the daylight, but saw 3 or 4 on this particular day.
Near the Brazos River at Brazos Bend State Park in SE Texas
10/2015
Anhinga swim under water and stab fish with their dagger-like bills. Their feathers are not water proofed, so they are often seen in the pictured pose, drying their wings. According to Cornell's "All About Birds", their wet feathers and dense bones help them slowly submerge their bodies under the water so they can stalk fish. Brazos Bend State Park in SE Texas - 12/2020
This summer brought several Black-necked Stilts to Brazos Bend. We have had them in past years, but I don't remember as many as this summer. Fortunately, a few pairs nested, and we had several stilt chicks to watch. I think most have now left for the season. Hope to see them next Summer. Brazos Bend State Park in SE Texas - 8/2021
These red-eared sliders seem to be climbing the ladder to the high diving board on Elm Lake in Brazos Bend State Park, Texas
Black-bellied whistling ducks on the hand rail of the large pier in Creekfield Lake in Brazos Bend State Park
Brazos Bend State Park in SE Texas
1/2016
Fellow member of the Flickr Bird Brigade
Activists for birds and wildlife
I had a nice session with these two one morning back in May. Brazos Bend State Park in SE Texas - 5/2024
During the breeding season male anhingas exhibit some interesting markings. They develop a mane, and the skin around the eyes takes on a vivid aqua color. I was photographing this bird as it looked forward, when it twisted around for this over the shoulder pose. Brazos Bend State Park in SE Texas - 5/2025