vermilion flycatcher « westernviews.us

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More from Falcon State Park

Saturday, February 5th, 2011

A three-day cold spell just swept through here, as it did a lot of the country. Went from the low 80′s during the day and 60′s at night to the 30′s and 20′s, with one day of light snow and sleet. It’s starting to warm back up now.

I often find good picture opportunities in inclement weather. Got the picture of the blue-gray gnatcatcher above, and the caracara below in the cold weather, as well as the roadrunner further down the page.

Came upon a large gathering of caracara’s. One adult had found something to eat, and caracara’s from all over landed nearby to see if there was anything for them (there wasn’t). There were a number of juvenile caracara’s (seen above).

Inca doves on a cold morning.

Vermilion flycatcher. Also saw juvenile vermilion flycatchers.

There are lots of young ones in the flocks of pyrrhuloxia’s (adult seen above).

Roadrunner. Initially saw it sunning itself after a night of freezing temps.

Posted in caracara, Falcon Heights, gnatcatcher, green jay, pyrrhuloxia, roadrunner, State, vermilion flycatcher | No Comments »

Falcon State Park

Sunday, January 25th, 2009

I have moved 50 miles northwest to Falcon State Park. Was surprised to find the rv section about 80% full. When I was here last March it was already really warm, in the 90′s and 100′s, and was not nearly so full. Winter is the prime season here. A lot of the rv people still have their Christmas decorations out, so many have been here a while. The water & electric sites are pull-through and you have a lot of privacy. The full hookup area seems more dense with a lot of motor homes.

The way here: Highway 83 changes from an expressway to a regular highway with two lanes on each side, right after the turn off for the Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park. At the town of Roma, it becomes a two-lane highway. The end of the expressway is also the end of all the newly constructed national chain stores and fast food outlets. It is hard to even find a grocery store.

The bird above is a pyrrhuloxia, a member of the cardinal family. The main difference from a Northern cardinal is the yellow bill and the long pointed crest.

The water level in the reservoir is high and encroaching on some of the parks’ picnic and camping sites. The egret above is hunting near a picnic table with water lapping underneath it.

Update: Found out the high water level is from hurricane Dolly. There was a drought here for 10 years until Dolly brought a huge amount of rain within a short time.