A Stroll through the Park...

At Bazemore Park [in Calallen, Texas], I spent a few hours watching birds on the two ponds and along the Nueces River banks. There were ducks, Avocets, Black Necked Stilts, young:[?] meadowlark, Widgeons, Grackles. Two particular species captured my attention. Several Hooded Mergansers were swimming, enjoying the company of each other. A few females and an estimated half dozen males. While taking photos of them, I spied a male Belted Kingfisher perched on a rotted tree stump that was jutting out of the water...it flew off to the back side of me [behind me was a smaller pond]. And, naturally, I was a bit distracted from the mergansers and followed the kingfisher with my lens. I took photos of it at the water's edge, on a tree branch as it dived into the pond and back up on its sentinel branch. By the time I completed my series of photos, I turned back to the larger pond, and the mergansers had left!

...all photos below taken at Bazemore Park - Calallen, Texas

AMERICAN AVOCETS and BLUE WINGED TEAL
habitat maps:  Avocet - Teal



NORTHERN CARDINALS [female and male]
habitat map:  Cardinal


GOLDEN FRONTED WOODPECKER and KILLDEER
habitat maps: Woodpecker - Killdeer


GRACKLE
habitat map:  Grackle


BELTED KINGFISHER
habitat map:  Kingfisher


HOODED MERGANSERS [female far left]-AMERICAN WIGEONS
[2nd photo HOODED MERGANSERS]


HOODED MERGANSERS
habitat maps:  Merganser - Wigeon

RED TAILED HAWK
habitat map:  Hawk

Afterward, I returned to the car and drove the circular drive. I never got out of the car but found a flooded field from the previous rains received. It was filled with movement...all Killdeer. I also spied a MAMA AND YEARLING WHITE TAILED DEER, the yearling pulled my heartstrings!!  [if you'd like to view the deer photos, click here].  In the wooded area, I noticed a woodpecker atop a dead tree. A hawk was also spotted on the power lines high above and one hawk soaring in silence above me. I stopped at the hawkwatch platform and found two Northern Cardinals...male and female at the drip system.  Winter months can be quiet, but many times several different birds can be seen on one outing - especially the day after a storm.

...this one I am not sure. I don't think it's a sparrow...the bill is too long and too thin. I need some expert advice on the ID. Is it a young or 'freshly molted' Meadowlark, in its winter plumage?  I'm guessing meadowlark, but dunno if it's Eastern or Western.  I'm gonna say it's Eastern since they're more common in my area.  lol

MEADOWLARK{?}
habitat map:  Meadowlark

BUD AND I WILL HAVE COMPANY ARRIVING TODAY [the 24th], and our son will be here with us for the holiday week ahead through New Year's Day while he's on teaching  hiatus as college professor...  I hope, for those celebrating,  that you and your loved ones have a glorious Christmas and a wonderful and prosperous 2017.  If I don't get by to visit with you, understand I'm thinking of you all!!

I DO HAVE A SPECIAL 'NEW' BIRD SIGHTING FOR DECEMBER 31ST PRE SCHEDULED FOR NOON POSTING.  So, don't forget to come by on New Year's Eve.

Now, share your birding experiences:








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