All posts by Sheila

I have a passion for the outdoors and I am most happy enjoying what nature has to offer. Hobbies include photography, birding, Pickleball, astronomy, biking and hiking. I have been happily married, for 40 years, to an amazing person and we share our love with two smart, beautiful and wonderful doggies.
On The Road, Photos-Birds

~Birding in Texas, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

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~Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

I would see this lone Scissor-tailed sitting on a wire fence along the main entry road into South Llano River State Park. It had claimed this section of fence line and was hunting bugs.

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
~Scissor-tailed Flycatcher~

I decided the best way for me to capture a few photos of this gorgeous flycatcher was to try and take the shots from my car.

When taking photos from the car, I roll the window about 2/3 down and place a swimmer’s noodle, that I have cut to size, over the glass.  It stays in the car for just this purpose. The lens fits nicely on top of the noodle.

I tried to take a few photos outside the car, but he/she would just fly down the fence line out of camera range. {sigh}

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~Pink underwing coverts~

The photo below shows the long tail and pink patch on the shoulder.

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~Beautiful long scissor-tail~

After a few days I noticed one other Scissor-tail hunting in the area; hopefully it was the mate.

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~They like to sit with their tails cocked to the side~

I can’t even guess how many Scissor-tailed Flycatchers we saw during the few weeks we were traveling in Texas. It was nice to see so many!

My challenge and goal is to capture a good photo of one in flight.

Happy Birding!

 

On The Road, Photos-Birds

~Birding in Texas, Let’s Chat!

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~South Llano River State Park, Junction, TX, April, 2017

 

~Yellow-breasted Chat…

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I first saw the Yellow-breasted Chat on June, 9, 1987 in Loveland, Colorado. I was out birding with my birding mentor Ann Means not long after Howard and I moved to Loveland. Ann was my dear friend and she taught me a lot about birds. She was a retired school teacher and loved nothing more than to go driving around in search of birds. She also loved to share her life time experiences with bird watching. I will always treasure my time with her.

Back on June 9, 1987 we were birding west of town on a dirt road off of Highway 34. You might be familiar with this highway; if you keep going west on Highway 34, from Loveland, you will come to the town of Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park.

What I love most about the Chat is its varied, musical notes. They like to sit at the top of a shrub and sing! It likes to mimic the song of other species of birds.

It is an enjoyable experience to sit and listen to the Chat’s singing.

While visiting South Llano River State Park, the Chat would fly in to the yard of a blind, search around for just the right “puddle” of water and take a bath. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to hear it sing.

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Yellow-breasted Chat

I have a few more photos of the Yellow-breasted Chat that I will share.

Happy Birding!

On The Road, Photos-Birds

~Birding in Texas, Painted Bunting, #2

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~Painted Bunting, South Llano River State Park, Junction, TX, April, 2017

 

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“Do I still look handsome wet?”
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“I’am just thinking about how nice that felt. Think i’ll go again”
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Splash
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“Time to dry.”
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“Jeez, hurry up.”
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“I think I’am hungry now.”

After several good soakings, he flew toward the back of the bird blind and sat on this wire fence. He stayed there for awhile sunning himself. So pretty!

 

Happy Birding!

On The Road, Photos-Birds

~Birding in Texas, Painted Bunting, #1

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I don’t think an artist, given a blank canvas and asked to paint a bird, would have dreamt up the color combination of the Painted Bunting.

Reds, orange-reds, blues and greens all present in bold and iridescent shades, makes this male Bunting a striking specimen. Nature created magic with this beautiful bird.

Painted Bunting
Painted Bunting, male.

~

dressed

in

many

colors

a

sight

to

behold

~

I first saw this gorgeous bird at South Llano River State Park on April 13, 2014. It is number 365 on my Birding Life List. It was a thrill. Park staff told me when we checked in that one male Painted Bunting had arrived and was spotted at one of the bird blinds. I felt lucky to have seen it then and very happy to get to add it to my life list.

I took the photo above on April 17, 2017, and it was still a thrill to see this bunting.

More photos of the Painted Bunting to follow.

Happy Birding!

 

On The Road, Photos-Birds, Photos-Flowers

~Birding in Texas, Spotted-Towhee & a Texas Wildflower

 

~South Llano River State Park, Junction, TX, April, 2017

Spotted Towhee
Spotted Towhee

Nice to see the Spotted Towhee enjoying a bath. Towhees are one of my favorite birds.

 

Texas Wildflower

As you can see from the header photo above, spring was making its grand entrance. Lush green grasses and dazzling wildflowers were gracing the area with their presence.

 

Happy Birding!

Spotted Towhee
“See ya next time!”