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Friday, January 25, 2013

Day 14: Anzalduas County Park

The park is an environmental disaster zone, 100 acres of irrigated grass and clusters of lawn shade trees. A Big Texas size picnic grounds. We were there to see the Beardless Tyrannulet, a bird that is rare enough that it doesn't even make it into a lot of the bird books. We saw that little bugger, a nondescript brown flycatcher, but I didn't get any photos. 

No matter, there were a pair of Vermilion Flycatchers. Now, a bird doesn't evolve that screaming orange red color by being a bird you can walk up to. They are almost impossible to get within a football field of, so I am quite pleased with these photos; pleased enough that that's all I'm posting today.




9 comments:

Julie Z said...

Wow!Amazing sighting and well done to get the pictures.

George A said...

This is getting serious. Keep it up and the next thing we know you'll be selling off bicycles in order to buy big telephoto lenses...

Gunnar Berg said...

Just for the record, it is an entry-level hand-held 55-300mm 1:4.5-56, not a lens as big as a Howitzer.

George A said...

Well that's a relief. While you're "swanning about" in the warmth of south Texas, I'm home, out of the snow, sipping hot cider with a shot of Gammel Dansk in it. Feeling better already.

Gunnar Berg said...

7:00, just back from eating with friends, temp has fallen 10 degrees to 76F. We're suffering.

George A said...

Go on then, rub it in! Glad to hear the weather is cooperating. Once I drove down to St. Pete, FLA for a Mid-Winter regatta. A Canadian cold front followed me south. When I awoke down there that Saturday morning it was 27 degrees outside! The news couldn't get enough of talking about the endangered strawberry crop-blah, blah, blah. I called home and Elisabeth laughed and gently told me I'd driven a thousand miles for warmth and it was warmer in Maryland! The Race Committee postponed the start of racing until the air temp climbed to an honest 50. Spray coming over the bow of the boat was "refreshing". It finally did warm back up to sunny and in the 70s--just as I packed up to return home.

Elaine Toft (BloggerToots) said...

Such color, a feast for the eyes. Thank you.

Anonymous said...

I have to tell you, Gunnar, that after observing these beautiful photos you are posting I had a dream last night that I observed, in the skys of our beloved AL, thousands and thousands of migrating.....penguins. Yes, penguins! Is that possible? Is was a glorious dream though.
Thank you for all your sharing..

Gunnar Berg said...

Debb, Just close your eyes and wish, wish with all your heart and soul, and almost anything is possible - but no, that's not one of them.