Blue Winged Teal male

This picture was taken on February 16th, 2010 at Paradise Pond, Port Aransas, Texas.

Buff-bellied Hummingbird

These pictures were taken on February 5th, 2010 at Estero Llano Grande State Park, Mercedes, Texas. Camera settings are the same as those stated for the Ruby Throated Hummingbird below.

Ruby Throated Hummingbird

These pictures were taken on February 5th, 2010 at Estero Llano Grande State Park, Mercedes, Texas. The first picture is a juvenile male and the other 4 shots are of a female. I was attempting to stop all wing motion. My settings were, f7.1, ISO=800, 400mm lens, 1/8,000th of a second, flash with a better beamer attached. Double click on the 4th image down. Even the wing tips are quite sharp. These setting are fine but there is a bit of a problem with the background which was about 10' away. It's a little underexposed and some pictures are a little grainy. As well, the ISO=800 has a tendency to make it grainy.

Great Egret

This picture was taken on January 31st, 2010 at Estero Llano Grande State Park, Mercedes, Texas. I'm afraid his eyes were bigger than his mouth. He never did manage to swallow it, even though he dipped it in the water a few times to make it slippery.

Black Necked Stilt mating ritual

These pictures were taken on January 31st, 2010 at Estero Llano Grande State Park, Mercedes Texas. This is a mating ritual that seemed to be initiated by the female. The female stands perfectly still, leaning forward and pointing with her beak which sometimes has its tip in the water. The male then goes from side to side dipping his beak in the water on each side and always crossing over behind the female. He does this about 10 to 15 times before mounting the female. When the mating is finished they walk with crossed bills for a couple steps with the males wing draped over her back. This can be seen in the second and third last pictures although her bill isn't visible. This ritual was very beautiful and I think my favourite picture is the last one where they walk away together.

Black Necked Stilt

These pictures were taken on January 23rd, 2010 at Estero Llano Grande State Park. to get this effect in a bird picture you have to get down to the water level with your camera. For these shots I was laying on my tummy on a board walk that went through the middle of a pond. I think some people thought I was nuts. Stay tuned, I have more Stilt Pictures that I'll post in a few days.

Least Sandpiper

These pictures were taken on January 23rd, 2010 at Estaro Llano Grande State Park, Mercedes Texas.

Greater Roadrunner

These pictures were taken on January 29th, 2010 at Edinburg Wetlands, Texas.

White Ibis

These pictures were taken on January 23rd, 2010 at Estero Llano Grande State Park, Mercedes Texas.

Least Grebe

This picture was taken on January 23rd 2010 at Estero Llano Grande State Park, Mercedes Texas.

Ring-necked Duck

These pictures were taken on January 23rd, 2010 at Estero Llano Grande State Park, Texas.

Black Crested Titmouse

This picture was taken on January 10th, 2010 at Bentsen Rio Grande Valley State Park, Mission, Texas.

Clay colored Thrush

These pictures were taken on January 10th, 2010 at Bentsen Rio Grande Valley State Park, Mission Texas. Previously they were known as a Clay Colored Robin. Note the body similarities to the American Robin.

Pauraque

This picture was taken on December 31st, 2009 at Estero Llano Grande State Park, Mercedes, Texas. Pauraques are nocturnal so it's difficult to get a picture of them with their eyes open.

Red Crowned Parrot

These pictures were taken on January 17th & 20th, 2010 at Llano Grande RV Resort, Mercedes, Texas. There is a flock of about 100 to 200 of these guys that show up in this park every morning and evening at about 8 AM and 5 PM. It's not certain if they're strays from Mexico or if they are escaped pets.