Daily Archives: April 30, 2011

Busy April

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April was a busy month for me.  First, I helped conduct some workshops at FeatherFest/PhotoFest in Galveston.  Then, I guided other photographers on one of the south Texas photo ranches.  After that, I went to South Padre Island and the Ozona, Texas area to lead photo tours and workshops.  Then the month ended with a media event at Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge.  The Cincinnati Zoo education team brought an ocelot by the refuge for a few minutes and allowed us to photograph it.  So, the hectic month ended on a high note.

April was unlike those of most other years.  While the rest of the country was getting blasted with powerful weather systems, Texas was toasty and extremely dry.  One of our favorite bird events, a migration “fallout” of songbirds at South Padre Island didn’t happen because the cool fronts just weren’t reaching us.  The weather man promises a good cold front next week, so you know where I will be Monday morning (if the Lord is willing and the creek don’t rise)… South Padre Island!

Next week, I hope to get busy preparing a photo tour schedule for the coming fall, winter and spring, so keep watching this web site.

Here is a good sampling of the photos I got from all those April trips:

Remember to click on the photo to see an enlarged and sharper version.  You can advance through the photos by clicking in the upper right portion of each photo.

Black Skimmer pair in a courting chase at Galveston Island.
Black Skimmer pair in a courting chase at Galveston Island.
Black Skimmers landing in formation on wet beach at South Padre Island.
Black Skimmers landing in formation on wet beach at South Padre Island.
Black-necked Stilt feeding along the edge of the Laguna Madre at South Padre Island.
Black-necked Stilt feeding along the edge of the Laguna Madre at South Padre Island.

I captured the stilt photo while lying in wet sand and shooting from a bean bag on a frisbee.  In the spring, I always try to have my wading shoes, bathing suit and an old t-shirt for low-crawling in the sand to get these eye-level views.

These dunlins held a tight formation while whirling about the tidal flats on South Padre Island.
These dunlins held a tight formation while whirling about the tidal flats on South Padre Island.
Great Blue Heron chasing mullet in the shallows of the Laguna Madre at South Padre Island.
Great Blue Heron chasing mullet in the shallows of the Laguna Madre at South Padre Island.
Unlucky mullet speared by a great blue heron.
Unlucky mullet speared by a great blue heron.

In the photo above, the bird is angling away from the photographer, but it best shows what a great blue heron can do with that sharp, powerful beak.

A more photogenic pose of a great blue heron hunting in the freshwater marsh at South Padre Island's Birding Center boardwalk.
A more photogenic pose of a great blue heron hunting in the freshwater marsh at South Padre Island's Birding Center boardwalk.
Laughing gull bathing in the Laguna Madre at sunrise.
Laughing gull bathing in the Laguna Madre at sunrise.
Who says Laughing Gulls can't read. This sign is on the South Padre Island Birding Center boardwalk.
Who says Laughing Gulls can't read. This sign is on the South Padre Island Birding Center boardwalk.

I cloned away some screws along the top of the sign.  They were connected with monofilament line to discourage perching birds, but they weren’t working.

Laughing gulls and black skimmers skim freshwater ponds near the lower Texas coast to drink.
Laughing gulls and black skimmers skim freshwater ponds near the lower Texas coast to drink.
This displaying great-tailed grackle was the first bird I saw at South Padre Island. He's not exactly what I was after, but I couldn't resist the display.
This displaying great-tailed grackle was the first bird I saw at South Padre Island. He's not exactly what I was after, but I couldn't resist the display.
Baltimore Orioles were arriving at South Padre about the same time we drove in (April 19). I was able to lure this male onto a good perch by using an orange slice placed just below the perch. Unfortunately, we couldn't get the birds to feed actively until well after the warm morning light had passed.
Baltimore Orioles were arriving at South Padre about the same time we did (April 19). I was able to lure this male onto a good perch by using an orange slice placed just below the perch. Unfortunately, we couldn't get the birds to feed actively until well after the warm morning light had passed.
This nice blackpoll male arrived at my South Padre Island perch well ahead of the other birds and while the light was rich.
This nice blackpoll male arrived at my South Padre Island perch well ahead of the other birds and while the light was rich.
Male ruby-throated hummingbird feeding at bottle brush blooms by the South Padre Island Convention Center.
Male ruby-throated hummingbird feeding at bottle brush blooms by the South Padre Island Convention Center.
Small birds like this Tennessee Warbler feed on insects among the fiddlewood leave at South Padre Island Convention Center. Larger fruit eaters like rose-breasted grosbeaks and orioles feast on the ripe fruit.
Small birds like this Tennessee Warbler feed on insects among the fiddlewood leave at South Padre Island Convention Center. Larger fruit eaters like rose-breasted grosbeaks and orioles feast on the ripe fruit.
This warbling vireo spent the morning of April 20 foraging among the leaves of huisache and tepeguaje trees at the convention center.
This warbling vireo spent the morning of April 20 foraging among the leaves of huisache and tepeguaje trees at the convention center.
Western Tanagers normally are rare visitors to SPI during the spring migration. This year we saw several cooperative males.
Western Tanagers normally are rare visitors to SPI during the spring migration. This year we saw several cooperative males.
An excited male mottled duck in the shoreline foliage of South Padre Island's Birding Center marsh.
An excited male mottled duck in the shoreline foliage of South Padre Island's Birding Center marsh.
My trip to the Hoak Ranch near Ozona, Texas included taking the photo group to historic Fort Landcaster. Even in ruins, the fort is a majestic locale for late evening photography.
My trip to the Hoak Ranch near Ozona, Texas included taking the photo group to historic Fort Landcaster. Even in ruins, the fort is a majestic locale for late evening photography.
A little "star burst" effect as the setting sun slides past a chimney in the Fort Lancaster soldiers' quarters.
A little "star burst" effect as the setting sun slides past a chimney in the Fort Lancaster soldiers' quarters.
One of the sharp-eyed photography students at the Hoak Ranch Workshop spotted a mating pair of western coachwhip snakes. In parts of west Texas, coachwhips take on a reddish color.
A sharp-eyed photography student at the Hoak Ranch Workshop spotted a wary pair of mating western coachwhip snakes. In parts of west Texas, coachwhips take on a reddish color.

 

Zone-tailed Hawks often fly with vultures and blend in with the flock.
Zone-tailed Hawks often fly with vultures and blend in with the flock.
This zone-tailed hawk glided past the Hoak Ranch patio in late afternoon. After springing to the car for a camera, I managed to get a few, shaky shots of this bird riding the air currents before sunset.
This zone-tailed hawk glided past the Hoak Ranch patio in late afternoon. After sprinting to the car for a camera, I managed a few, shaky shots as the zone-tail drifted into the sunset.

My last photos in April were of this female ocelot (below) posing on a mesquite branch at Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge. 

Captive ocelot furnished by the Cincinnati Zoo for an educational tour of south Texas where fewer that 50 of the endangered cats still survive in the wild.
Captive ocelot furnished by the Cincinnati Zoo for an educational tour of south Texas where fewer than 50 of the endangered cats still survive in the wild.
I hope you enjoyed this little look into my busy spring.  It was a lot of fun.  Thanks to all of you who were a part of it.
Larry