A short visual tribute to three of my favorite (and some of our most common) wetland birds . . . . These herons are here with us all year round, and keep us smiling no matter what the weather. Despite the summer heat, they always seem to find relief from the high temperatures in refreshing pools, […]
I guess this should go without saying (!) . . . .But sometimes humans really need to be reminded about the importance of being VERY cautious in areas where American Alligators are present.American Alligators are truly a relic from the past (National Geographic). These prehistoric-looking creatures, who are common in the wetlands of the southern […]
A Sandhill Crane is literally what I call a ‘pretty, tall bird’. . . . .There is something about standing right next to this statuesque beauty – I could really feel its nearly 4 feet in height. And its beautiful face was so photogenic.Though I’ve written about Sandhill Cranes before, I couldn’t resist adding photos from this […]
I love the deep blue color of the water as it looked during a recent late afternoon walk at the Refuge, above.Very few birds were out and about, which is typical this time of year – though we can nearly always count on spotting a Great Blue Heron wading quietly through the marsh.It started to drizzle through […]
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 […]
The current time period on the Jewish calendar is known as The Three Weeks, preceeding Tisha B’Av, the 9th of the Hebrew month of Av. The 9th of Av commemorates multiple tragedies throughout Jewish history, including the story of the terrible destruction of Jerusalem and the First Temple, resulting in the subsequent Babylonian Exile in 586 BCE.Expanding on a verse from […]
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 […]
Birder's Journey 