Although we knew mid-August in south Texas wouldn’t be the most ideal time for birding (!), we took a 2-day trip from our kids’ home in Houston to Aransas, a remote and wonderful 59,000 acre National Wildlife Refuge along the Gulf of Mexico. Aransas’ bays, fresh and salt water marshes, savannas, sloughs, and woodlands boast 165+ species of wildflowers, scores […]
My daughter and her boyfriend sent us this very special postcard [above] from their recent visit to the Muir Woods in California. I love the wonderful quote from John Muir, which reminded me why he was such a hero of mine years ago: “In every walk with nature, one receives far more than one seeks.” Reading about John Muir‘s travels and his […]
Sometimes a seemingly ‘random’ collection of photos doesn’t really ‘tell a story’, but I want to post them as a tribute to the wonders of nature all around me. Maybe the ‘story’ is a reminder to be thankful and never to take this beauty for granted. These little wonders also make me think of one […]
These two young Cattle Egrets above are looking quite debonair, with their sleek feathers and mini-crew cuts. In the early weeks of their lives “both parents feed the young by regurgitation. Young begin to climb about near nest after 15-20 days, begin to fly at 25-30 days, and become independent at about 45 days.” (Audubon.org, Cattle Egret)At this […]
We almost walked right past this young Great Horned Owl sitting on a low branch, even though he was less than 20 feet away. It was nearly sunset and he blended right in with the trees. As the sun sank below the horizon, we heard loud, nervous quacking and soon realized that TWO young Owls were eyeing a […]
A few days ago, while birding in the Everglades, we were treated to the spectacle of two stunning Swallow-tailed Kites swooping and soaring right over our heads for nearly a half hour – what an amazing experience!Swallow-tailed Kites breed in the southeastern U.S., primarily in the freshwater marshes, wooded swamps, and lake shores of Florida, lucky for […]
A very common sight in our freshwater marshes these days is the Common Gallinule, seen above helping one of its many new chicks learn how to feed on the aquatic vegetation not far from the nest. The fluffy black Common Gallinule chicks are comical (but adorable!) with their giant chicken-like feet, bald heads, and stubby little wings. […]
What a sweet and gentle expression on the face of the young Purple Gallinule featured above!This little beauty was peeking out from among the pond greenery next to the boardwalk. Despite the low lighting and the shadows playing on his face and back, I couldn’t resist posting a few shots of him. Just before he climbed deeper into […]
Lucky me – this lovely Roseate Spoonbill emerged out of the reeds and was the first bird I spied on my walk today. Though he spent most of his time with his head down, foraging in the shallow water, I noticed the broken tip of his large spatula-shaped bill right away.I got thinking about a Roseate Spoonbill I’d seen last […]
When I first moved to Florida, I was so awed by the egrets, herons, spoonbills and other large wading birds, that I scarcely noticed the more ‘ordinary’ waterfowl. But now I’ve grown to love the Ducks, like these Mottled Ducks above. They are rarely seen in large flocks, but rather, gliding gently by in pairs like this […]
Birder's Journey 