Birders know how challenging it can be to find that bird they can hear in the trees nearby but it lingers just out of sight. In my case, that seems to happen more often than not. But I had a few lucky glimpses this spring, and I always rate their success on whether I also manage to capture a picture. The better the picture, the better the success of the moment.
Golden-cheeked Warbler, endangered
My biggest prize was getting to see an endangered Golden-cheeked Warbler at the Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge on my birthday. He sang to me, the best birthday song ever.
The red of a Summer Tanager gets it mistaken for a Northern Cardinal quite often. Of course, they are in the same family.
Here’s a Summer Tanager, spotted at a different outing to another area of the refuge. He was far more interested in looking for a mate than paying attention to the humans below.
Painted Bunting, quite hidden
That same morning, I finally got a picture of a Painted Bunting, though obviously I still have room for improvement. That little bird was far, far away. But the real success here was that I actually recognized his voice and tracked him to where he was perched.
Peekaboo, I see you!
Remember that we had our Mama Screech Owl again this spring? This was the only glimpse I got of the fledgling before it officially fledged. That little one was timid!
American White Pelicans
Sometimes you get to see birds you least expect to see at that moment. This giant group of American White Pelicans was flying way out over the Hill Country in late March. The picture don’t show even half of how many pelicans there were.
The black-tipped wings and classic body shape make American White Pelicans easy to ID from the ground.
Can you see the American Raven in this picture? Good luck.
Okay, she’s in a nest. Now go back and find the nest. Then, try to describe its location to someone and see if they can find it. Now you know what it’s like to be a birder!
Here I’ve zoomed in. If you look closely, you can see Mama Raven’s tail, head, and right eye right along the top of the nest. Tough one, yes?
Young barn swallows
Sometimes you have to look up, not into trees, but above your head at a building to find birds. Buildings are a favorite nesting area for many Barn Swallows.
Mama’s home!
After all that, one can start to appreciate how easy the Mockingbird makes it for us mere humans (and his potential mate) to find him. He sits atop the highest perch and sings his little heart out, as loud as can be.
Sometimes for hours and hours. Silly birdie.
That Golden Cheeked Warbler is gorgeous! I need to really refine my birding skills… I know the basic birds, but recently added Catbird to the list of birds I know by sight/sound!
My mother has a Mockingbird in her acre… he flies back and forth from her rooftop to the pine trees on the opposite side of her yard – just singing his little heart out. It’s amusing, really. She believes he is singing her to though, I don’t doubt it, she grows strawberries for him! 😀
Donna, I would sing too for some home-grown strawberries!
nice photo catches. I love the barn swallows. Not least because of how they will divebomb the cats (which is probably mean of me – laughing at my cats hightailing it away from birds). It’s like the cat I had growing up – got chased all over the house by a hampster in a hampster ball. oh the silly cats…
I can just imagine the barn swallows going after the cats. Dive bombing!