Now I must say from the get go that Erik, our son, is NOT a 'birder'. He was trapped in our car with us over the holiday while Bud and I drove to the islands so we could check out our favorite areas. The morning was a bit cold and windy, but clear skies...by cold I do mean in the 40 degree range, but with the humidity factored in, it felt near freezing. I was thrilled [Erik, not so thrilled...hehehehe] to spot and get a chance to photograph a Cedar Waxwing as it posed perfectly for me and the lens!! Only seeing one about 10 years ago, and at the time I had no camera, I did get some photos this time. They're so pretty. The waxwing was at Paradise Pond. Then, on to the Aransas Birding Center, we saw several different species of water fowl. And, taking some photos of a Pied Billed Grebe as it caught my attention, preening. The three of us ended up going out for breakfast on the island. While driving back to Corpus, we stopped on the island highway to get a photo of TWO White Tailed Hawks!---
CEDAR WAXWING - PIED BILLED GREBE - WHITE TAILED HAWKS
Photos Taken: Waxwing -Paradise Pond * Pied Billed Grebe -Leonabelle Turnbill Refuge * White Tailed Hawks -Mustang Island -- Port Aransas, Texas
Habitat Ranges: Cedar Waxwing - Pied-Billed Grebe - White Tailed Hawk
TRIVIA: The Pied Billed Grebe only has the ring around its beak in Summer!
Although it swims like a duck, the Pied-Billed Grebe does not have webbed feet. Instead of having a webbing connecting all the toes, each toe has lobes extending out on the sides that provide extra surface area for paddling.
Now, share your birding experiences with photos...
Those waxwings and hawks were worth the wait! We get Cedar Waxwings most winters, usually just passing through, but we'd have to travel to your part of the couontry to see a White-tailed Hawk. Great photos of both species!
ReplyDeleteFor me at least, the waxwings are more a rarity than the white winged hawks. We usually see at least ONE each time we go to the islands.
DeleteLovely photos of the cedar waxwing. They visit our garden each year when the honeysuckle berries are covering the trees.
ReplyDeleteI've read where they consume a LOT of berries at one sitting!
Deletejust gorgeous waxwings! i only get to glimpse them migrating through here - and sometimes miss them. love the pied-bills, too!
ReplyDeleteI too think they're gorgeous and rarely see them myself. I was really quite thrilled when this one decided to show its stuff!!
DeleteBeautiful photos! The waxwings are beautiful and I just love the hawks.
ReplyDelete...thanks Gunilla
DeleteGreat photos of the waxwings and the hawks! And, interesting that the pied-bills have no webbed feet.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know that fact either 'til I read it the other day.
DeleteI love the Waxwings, they are so pretty! The Grebe is a cutie! Cool sighting of the White-tailed Hawks! Wonderful series of photos. Thanks for hosting, have a happy weekend!
ReplyDelete...thanks Eileen...and have a great weekend yourself.
DeleteThey are very handsome, aren't they? Like masked bandits! One year we saw a lot. There was a huge flock and they were on a berry bush just stuffing themselves with berries. It even seemed that they were a bit drunk from the berries. I never saw another one again. And this was before the digital camera era, so I had no camera with me!
ReplyDelete...drunk with berry consumption...wow, now that is new to me. I knew they can eat a lot, but to 'get drunk'...that would have been something to see just how much they DID take part in.
DeleteThe Waxwing are gorgeous Anni! I've never seen one "for real". Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDelete...of all my years, this is only the 2nd one 'for real' I've ever seen.
DeleteThe waxwing is gorgeous! Great shots!
ReplyDelete...thanks, glad you enjoyed it all.
DeleteLovely serie!
ReplyDeleteGreat photos!
...thanks Hans
DeleteGreat photos, I waiting for waxwings for years. If they have been there, I have no time or camera to hand.
ReplyDelete...that's usually the way for me too, no camera when there is a great opportunity in front of me.
DeleteI have never seen a Cedar Waxwing and I would be beyond thrilled if I did! What great shots and they were perfectly posed. :) Great shots and info. Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDelete...thank YOU Rebecca.
DeleteErik doesn't know what he's missing Anni, but I'm sure you have told him that many times. Mind you if I was a non-birder I wouldn't want to spend time in a car with me either. Those Pied-billed Grebe pictures are just super. Thanks for hosting Anni.
ReplyDeleteHis excuse for most of the morning was "my shoes are not for walking"...blah, blah, blah. Poor thing. LOL
DeleteGive Erik a few more years and he'll get the birding bug. ;))
ReplyDeleteI LOVE cedar waxwings and think they are amongst the most photogenic of birds. Nice photos, Anni!
I think so too. Erik just wanted to be his usual 'PIA'...that is pain in the a$$. rofl
DeleteOh the waxwings are VERY photogenic, and I was pleased as punch to get a chance to capture them on 'film'.
Great shots, Anni! I've seen Cedar Waxwings only once, a few years ago. They are so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI agree....they ARE beautiful.
Deletebeautiful birds all three of them.
ReplyDelete...happy to know, I am, that you enjoyed the images this week!
DeleteAnni, thanks for sharing your photo capture of the Cedar Waxwing.
ReplyDelete...glad to know you liked the waxwings Doug.
DeleteYou do know your birds. Isn't that just the way it is, our kids don't know how to have fun. My daughters don't see the beauty in a cow that I see.
ReplyDeleteYes, I think cows are beautiful too!!! Our kids' generation lacks some refined culture in the glories of nature, I think.
DeleteWonderful photos! And I like how you're doing the copyright on your pictures. I might try the same thing on mine. It's subtle enough so that it doesn't ruin the image of the bird, but it's clear enough that the symbol can be seen.
ReplyDeleteI have found that if we add these copyright symbols they're not being taken as often and used by others. At least that's my take on the whole idea.
DeleteBeautiful job on the waxwing, Anni!! And the white-tailed hawk shot is awesome as well! Sounds like your son was a good sport about it all. Maybe one day he will be a birder yet! Thank you for hosting the link!!! It's become a favorite. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad to know you enjoy the birding meme Gail!! And hope to see some more of your tri-colored herons.
DeleteYour pictures are wonderful. The Cedar Waxwing used to come to my yard to eat the Juniper berries, but I haven't seen them for seveal years. And I laughed when I saw the forth picture of the Pied Billed Grebe ... wouldn't you just love to be that agile:) We don't have White Tail Hawks up here so that was a treat as well. Nice post ... I enjoyed and learned from you today.
ReplyDeleteAndrea @ From The Sol
...happy to know you enjoyed the post this week Andrea.
DeleteOh does this ever bring back memories Annie....we stayed at the RV Park right across the street from Paradise Pond. I can't even tell you how many lifers I saw while we were there. Loved the other birding areas in Port A too.
ReplyDelete...yep, I know the RV Park. And yes, this area is a GREAT place to find so many different birds. Especially during the two migration seasons.
DeleteGreat photos - the Cedar Waxwings are especially beautiful and I had a chuckle at the Grebe preening.
ReplyDelete...it was very comical to watch the Grebe. Wishing I could do those maneuvers.
DeleteThat is an amazing shot of the waxwing!
ReplyDelete...thanks! I was so thrilled to see one again after such a long dry spell of not even getting a short timed glimpse of one in our area.
Deleteloving that Cedar Waxwing especially
ReplyDelete...they ARE very pretty. Aren't they?
DeleteThe Grebes are SOOO cute!!
ReplyDeletetheir 'facial expressions' always make me smile!!
DeleteSuper shots!
ReplyDelete...thanks Kerri.
Delete...thanks Nora.
ReplyDeleteHI Anni Lovely sholts of the Waxwings. I hope we getsome this year. Didn't see any last year at all.
ReplyDeleteOh, I hope you do find some in your birding ventures...they're such an attractive bird.
Delete