View allAll Photos Tagged brazosbendstatepark
After a passerby flushed the little blue heron I had been watching, i decided to move on. When I stood up, I thought I saw a green heron. Further inspection showed it to be a least bittern. These birds aren't rare at Brazos Bend, but they aren't common either. Most of my previous views have been from a long distance, or for a fraction of a second. I like the tongue in this pic. Brazos Bend State Park in SE Texas - 5/2022.
This photo shows the proverbial “water off a duck’s back,” with a group of Black-bellied Whistling-Duck hanging out in the rain at Brazos Bend State Park, Texas, USA.
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck has a toehold in southern Texas, marking the extent of its distribution in the USA. The pinkish bill is a distinctive field mark. These birds were at Brazos Bend State Park.
At Brazos Bend I don’t often get these birds on an above ground perch. Brazos Bend State Park in SE Texas - 1/2023.
This area of the park (the spillway) has running water when we have ample rain and the birds and gators feed on critters in the flowing water.
The image was made in 6/2024. The spillway is currently dry, but one big rain could change that.
Brazos Bend State Park in SE Texas - 6/2024.
The American Alligator and the Yellow-crowned night heron will always define Brazos Bend to me. I see a lot of gators but rarely photograph them (not sure why not), but I can not resist a good look at a YCNH. I was fortunate to catch this young one early yesterday morning. Brazos Bend State Park in SE Texas - 7/2024.
I spotted these kits peeking around trees while at Brazos Bend State Park. These little guys walked right in front of me, Im not even sure that they were aware of me while I was out hiking.
A little rain wasn’t stopping this Great Egret from searching for food, an essential activity for birds. This individual was in Brazos Bend State Park, Texas, USA.
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.
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.
A wary, but curious squirrel keeping a watching eye on me. Can you see the red juice on its lips from some sort of fruit it had been eating? I love squirrels, they are so playful, athletic and curious.
This is the little one peeking around the tree in my previous post. There is a little blood on the forehead, which I assume came from something the bird ate (or perhaps the sibling's talon?). Both owlets have since fledged successfully. Brazos Bend State Park in SE Texas - 3/2021.
ƒ/5.6, 1/25, ISO 6400
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: ƒ/5.6, 1/20, 12800 ISO
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.
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)
Brazos Bend State Park - 6/2022
With little rain, the already shallow lakes in the park have been drying out. Herons and egrets gather to feed on remaining aquatic creatures.
A few more pics linked in Comment 1.
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.
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.
Some young American Alligators enjoying the protection of their mother. Brazos Bend State PArk near Needville, Texas USA