Birds of South Texas Wildlife Refuges

[terrib]

I drug my 76 year old mom down to south Texas to visit two different wildlife refuges - the Attwater Prairie Chicken NWR and the Brazoria NWR. I was really hoping to see the mating dance of the endangered Attwater Prairie Chicken but we didn't see any at all. But my mom was a real trooper and quickly got into being a great spotter for me. Here is a small selection from the trip.

All were taken with my Canon 100-400. The Mourning Dove was shot from the truck using a window mount bean bag. The rest were handheld. C&C always welcomed.

#1 American Bittern with dinner.



#2 White-faced Ibis in breeding colors. This was the first time I'd seen one of these.



#3 Mourning Dove. These were all over this foggy morning.



#4 Yellow-crowned Night Heron



#5 Unknown little shore bird. These were really fun and difficult as they darted very quickly all over so I didn't always get the angle I was going for. But I rather liked this going away look and decided to try for a different sort of crop.

[Brownbear]

Hi Terri,

I especially love the image of the Morning Dove and the Yellow-Crowned Night Heron (stunning detail, colours, composition, and an especially special moment). Beautiful! I also very much like the last image for the artistry and story.

Thank you for sharing. Your Mom' sounds like a gem... (note the 2nd word (typo) in your post.

[Kyle]

All very nice shots. I especially like the last one. It tells a neat story.

[RichardTaylor]

Good catches, my fave is #3.

[Shadowman]

Nice series.

[pnodrog]

Years ago it crossed my mind to drug the children to get a good nights sleep..... I can see now that I am a grandad the opposite may happen...

Nice photographs. The one with it's back to us maybe either a plover or dotterel (part of the plover family) - they tend to rush around and not wait to be photographed.

[terrib]

First, thank you everyone for you nice comment on the pictures.

As to my grammar, I concede that the past tense of drag is "dragged" and not "drug" but it is common dialect in the southern U.S. I, being a southern girl, am allowed. But let's not start picking apart my grammar. I will not fair well. I was a math major.

[IzzieK]

First, thank you everyone for you nice comment on the pictures.

As to my grammar, I concede that the past tense of drag is "dragged" and not "drug" but it is common dialect in the southern U.S. I, being a southern girl, am allowed. But let's not start picking apart my grammar. I will not fair well. I was a math major.

If others don't...I will tell you that I do...I heard my mother said once that people who are really very good at maths sucks in English. I am not good at maths but I suck at English too.

Anyway, I like all of your shots...especially #1 with the snake on the bird's beak. Eawwwww...!!! and the end tells a good story via your narrative. Great ones.

[FootLoose]

I think they are all good, Terri. They all have good depth of field, good framing and they each tell a story, but the very last is my favourite.

[Stagecoach]

Terri, I do not photograph birds but very much admire so many that are posted here and No's 2, 4 and 5 stand out amongst the best.

Grahame

[wtlwdwgn]

These are wonderful images. The first one makes me leery of visiting an NWR unless I know the Bitterns and Herons are very fat!

[ShaneS]

They are all beautiful images Terri but I'm a sucker for the last one It's a very different image and the bird is literally leading us somewhere...and we are left to imagine where that somewhere is!

As you know birds are not my thing so I applaud your for the diligence and good grace (that you must have inherited from your dear Mom) that is required to get these shots.

[John 2]

My English is OK however, my Maths sucks - but who's counting.

Great set of images. 1 and 3 stand out for me for reasons already given but they are all very good.

[chauncey]

Years ago it crossed my mind to drug the children to get a good nights sleep

There is not a parent alive that hasn't had that yearning at one time or another...on an airplane/on long car trips/whenever. My grandmother's technique was to cut a switch and take us to the woodshed.

I liked the snake getting his comeupins.

[terrib]

And thanks to everyone else for your kind comments!

Steve, the snakes were only one worry... This guy swam under the wooden walkway on which we stood and proceeded to go under and grab something to eat. He never opened his mouth wide enough to tell what it was but this shot was as he raised up to swallow. The walkway across the water led to a trail around the slough. No thank you!!

[Brownbear]

Gorgeous image!

I forgot to say earlier that #1 is an amazing capture - the snake is so beautifully sharp...

I'm not familiar with southern dialect so please excuse me for pointing out what I thought was a typo.

And thanks to everyone else for your kind comments!

Steve, the snakes were only one worry... This guy swam under the wooden walkway on which we stood and proceeded to go under and grab something to eat. He never opened his mouth wide enough to tell what it was but this shot was as he raised up to swallow. The walkway across the water led to a trail around the slough. No thank you!!

[ShaneS]

The first and the last shots are why I stick to landscape shots - I would not want to get to close to a hungry wild animal of any sort so I would need a VERY long lens! Even, landscape shots gave me some pause when I was in Arizona due to the snakes...

Most of the critters in Hawaii are fairly small and relatively harmless.

[bnnrcn]

Very nice shots Terri

[terrib]

Gorgeous image!

I forgot to say earlier that #1 is an amazing capture - the snake is so beautifully sharp...

I'm not familiar with southern dialect so please excuse me for pointing out what I thought was a typo.

Thanks, Christina for the compliments. And no problem about correcting me!

[terrib]

Thanks, Shane and Binnur for the compliments. Always appreciated.

Shane, I'm more nervous about venturing out very far now that my husband is not with me. As if he was going to wrestle the alligator for me! We'll see how adventurous I get on my own when I get up to Colorado. You may see more landscape images out of me too!