Tag Archives: Birding in Texas

~Birding in Texas, White-winged Dove

September 26, 2017 Sheila 6 Comments

~South Llano River State River, Junction, TX, Spring, 2017

_MG_9461 — White-winged Dove (adult) Note the dark cheek patch and blue around the eye

These beautiful doves are easy to photograph, they are slow moving and like to perch for extended periods of time. They were plentiful in South Llano River State park this past Spring. The males were beginning to show subtle breeding colors, brighter red feet and legs, and yellowish hues around the back of neck. We only get to see them while traveling south. They have a limited range in the US, mostly Texas.

I was sitting in one of the blinds when a Texas farmer came in and sat down. He was very friendly and a good photographer. He commented on the large number of White-winged Doves we were seeing. He stated him and his wife have too many doves around their farm. I could tell by the way he spoke, they didn’t seem to care for these doves. I’am not sure if they caused them problems or they just didn’t like them. Maybe they ate too much bird seed!

This from Wikipedia- “The white-winged dove is a dove whose native range extends from the south-western United States through Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. In recent years with increasing urbanization and backyard feeding, it has expanded throughout Texas, into Oklahoma, Louisiana and coastal Mississippi. It has also been introduced to Florida.”

Happy Birding!

On The Road

~Birding in Texas, Black-crested Titmouse

September 22, 2017 Sheila Leave a comment

First day of Fall! Yay!

~Birding in Texas, South Llano River State Park, Spring, 2017

It was nice this Titmouse had a sunflower seed in its mouth and was intend on eating. They are always flitting around, never still.

It takes a contortionist to eat a little seed.

_MG_9523 — Sweet face. Big, pretty eyes!

Located in western Texas, they prefer oak woods and feed on insects and seeds. My first sighting of this bird was back on 11/20/2008, at South Llano River State Park.

Happy Birding!

_MG_9520

On The Road, Photos-Birds

~Birding in Texas, Goldfinch

September 20, 2017 Sheila 2 Comments

~ South Llano River State Park, Spring, 2017

Back to South Llano River State Park for some additional photos. There were several goldfinches around the park; most of them enjoying the feeders set around the blinds. They were beginning to show their breeding colors.

I can’t say why I like this photo, but I do. This little lessor goldfinch seems to be hiding under a leaf. Look close and you can see his eye. Note the dark color of the legs and the short tail.

_MG_9880 — Goldfinch – American or Lessor?

Note the pail color of the bill and legs.

Note the longer tail.

_MG_9512

~Happy Birding~

_MG_9973

On The Road, Photos-Birds

~Birding in Texas, Lark Sparrow

July 30, 2017 Sheila 5 Comments

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

I need to get busy and publish more bird photos from our trip back in March/April. I am going to run out of time, to publish these early spring photos, before we travel through Texas again. I will then have fall photos to publish. What a fun situation for me to be in! {Grins}

Below are a few photos of a pretty sparrow with a long neck and tail that has distinctive markings on its face. I don’t get to see Lark Sparrows in Colorado, so it is always a pleasure to see them when we are traveling.

I first observed the Lark Sparrow on January 9, 2007 in Catalina State Park, Oro Valley, AZ. In case you might not know where Oro Valley is, it is near Tucson.

~Photo below is an adult Lark Sparrow with its pretty patterned face.

I believe this one enjoying a bath is a younger bird, because of the light tan colored markings on its face. As they age the tan color turns white. Note the difference in the coloring on the face between the photo above and these below. Perhaps the difference is, because it is wet!

_MG_9545 — Note the dark spot on the breast.

Sparrows can be beautiful!

Happy Birding!

And, always try to take a few minutes everyday to enjoy nature.

On The Road, Photos-Birds

~Birding in Texas, Lazuli Bunting

July 21, 2017 Sheila 1 Comment

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

Lazuli’s must have been migrating north when we were visiting South Llano River State Park. A female was spotted, by park staff, on April 6th. I saw the male on April 17th.

From my observation experience, the shy Lazuli Bunting always wary about being out in the open, lets other birds intimidate them easily. Why so shy, wary and nonassertive?

With the Lazuli being so wary it takes a lot of patience to get a quality photo of one. This male would fly into the blind from surrounding trees, would sit in an area with lots of scrubs and wait. When it felt safe, I guess, it would then fly down and eat some seeds. It seems that, more so than other birds, it is always alert and ready to fly away. I didn’t see one enjoying a bath.

We see them here in Colorado during the spring and summer. This morning, sitting outside enjoying coffee, a male flew to one of the feeders looking for sunflower seeds.

It is always a pleasure to see these colorful birds.