Archive for the ‘turkey vulture’ Category

Brazos Bend State Park

Saturday, December 13th, 2008

I’m at one of my favorite parks, Brazos Bend State Park in Texas. It was cold and clear when I got here, but it is supposed to be cloudy and warm (in the 70′s) most of my time here. Like before, it is crowded on weekends, but during the week there are not many people here. Have not seen any residual damage from the recent hurricanes in the area.

Above: pictures of a tricolored heron and black-bellied whistling ducks. There is a flock of 100 or more of the ducks here. They are found only in the southern states and Central and South America.

Below are birds that you expect to see here, at least I saw them here in my last visit as well as currently.

  • snowy egret
  • great egret
  • common moorhen
  • white ibis
  • vulture

Below is a carolina wren that I saw at McKinney Falls State Park in Austin, where I stayed before coming to Brazos Bend.

Last Day in Brazos Bend State Park

Friday, February 15th, 2008

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Last full day in Brazos Bend State Park had two new bird sightings. Above, is an Anhinga, also called a snakebird, because of its long neck. It is found in the warmer Southern states, from Texas to North Carolina and in South America. It is like a cormorant, in that it is a great underwater swimmer and it’s feathers need to dry out before it can fly. Below, I think, is a black-crowned night heron.

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Turtle enjoying the sun.

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There are lots of turkey vultures here. They have a good system, where some are almost always flying above, on the lookout, while the rest of them take it easy. These are my least favorite bird, but I have become a little more tolerant of them since being here. Two of them seem to be nesting in a hollowed out tree near where I have been parked.

Next visit here want to try and record some of the bird sounds by the lakes. I stayed out on a trail after dark last night and heard a really loud owl. It even got my dog’s attention. Also saw some cows that had found their way into the park to graze. Tried to get a picture of them, but as soon as they spotted me, they were off. Not used to seeing cows move so fast.

Back with Pelicans and Grebes

Saturday, December 29th, 2007

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After leaving South Llano River State Park, continued down the road to Goose Island State Park on the Gulf Coast. Picked this park because it is close to Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, which I wanted to visit. My friend, Garmin, came through for me again, helping me find my way here in the dark. Went through Corpus Christi, then the small town of Rockport, and then on to the even smaller town of Lamar. The picture above show the view I have from my RV site. The water directly in front of my rig is shallow with sandbars. It becomes a marsh area to the right of me. Lots of birds here!

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Above is a “little blue heron” seen from where I am camped. My bird book says it is a rare visitor to the edges of shallow, marshy ponds.

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Snowy egret in foreground.

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This picture was also taken from my camp site. It is a roseate spoonbill found only on the Gulf Coast, South America, and the Carribbean.

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There are some serious fishermen here. The three above are the only ones I have seen in the water like this. Most are content to stick a fishing pole in the sand. All down the row of rv’s, there are (mostly) unattended fishing poles. People even direct lights onto the water so they can extend their fishing time into the night! The fish are jumping. You literally see small ones jumping out of the water.

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In Lamar, there is one house with a pond and marsh on the property. Every night white egrets return here to nest for the night.

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Grebe and a mule deer in marsh areas at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. There are supposed to be more than 600 alligators in the park. Have not seen one yet through all the high grass.

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There are two hunting clubs in the small town of Lamar. There was a carcass next to the road by one of the clubs, looked like part of a deer. That was where this picture was taken.