Archive for the ‘Field Trips’ Category

Northern Flicker, Yellow-shafted (Colaptes auratus)

I recently visited family in Missouri, and was able to fit in a little time outdoors. This is a Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus). I can tell that she is a female because she lacks a black mustache, a trait that is more definitive in flickers than in people. Read the rest of this entry »

I’ve just finished processing pictures from my 3-day trip to Riverside, Missouri. I have a great lineup of images and information to share – probably over 2 posts. For starters, let me introduce you to part of the Missouri River:

This view of the Missouri River is from a new park in Riverside, specially designed to withstand being completely submerged in flood conditions. Read the rest of this entry »

This young Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) might as well have winked at me as he flew right by! This is my last post about my trip to Port Aransas, TX, and it should come as no surprise that I saved the pelicans for last. Something about pelicans – no matter the species – makes me smile. Maybe it is the way they waddle on the ground, or gaze serenely at passers-by over their very long “noses.” Read the rest of this entry »

I invite you to take a look at my glorious day in Port Aransas, TX – rain and all! The area has been dry for so long that the residents have been on water restrictions. This rain was welcomed by wildlife and the locals…so I decided to have fun with it myself. I have lots of pictures to share, so sit back and enjoy! Read the rest of this entry »

I spent my first day in Corpus Christi running errands, but was able to spend my first evening in Port Aransas! I had a wonderful evening near a “jetty,” and took my first ferry-ride to get there.  The fishing pole in this photo is not mine, but it represents one of my first views of the area. Read the rest of this entry »

Birding trips in the middle of the summer are pretty sparse where I live in Texas. Still, about 30 people turned out last Sunday for a tour through the Connemara Conservancy, located in Allen, TX. This special place was founded in 1981, providing area residents with 72 acres of protected habitat to visit and enjoy. The “Meadow,” as it is commonly called, is currently closed to the public to allow it to recover from more than 20 years of visitors. Guided walks are scheduled several times each month, so there are still ample opportunities to visit this special place.

Read the rest of this entry »

Hooded Warbler (Wilsonia citrina)

The goodies from my trip to the Ozark Mountains in Arkansas just keep on coming. This Hooded Warbler (Wilsonia citrina) was a first for me. He visited on two different days, and really hammed it up for the camera. This warbler is every bit as striking “in-the-feather” as he is in the photograph. Read the rest of this entry »

Ozark Mountains-view from cabin

The Ozark Mountains in Arkansas are simply beautiful. I spent four days in a cabin on a mountain, enjoying the outdoors and some new scenery. I saw new birds, butterflies, turtles and even a new species of squirrel. A dramatic thunderstorm and delightfully cool weather moved through one morning as well. I have pictures of everything, and this is the first of 2 (probably) posts sharing the scenes  from the Ozarks. Enjoy! Read the rest of this entry »

Caddo Park at Lake Lavon

I spent a day helping some of my Texas Master Naturalist friends improve the hiking trails at Caddo Park on Lake Lavon. The park had been closed to the public for a long time, but is now open again. I took my “little” camera along to photograph the wildflowers and anything else I might see. Here ‘goes!

Read the rest of this entry »