Today I found myself at Bluebonnet Swamp. Again. I left the house with my camera in tow, not sure where I was going, and my car just sort of took me there as though on autopilot. Was I ever glad that I went! Except I could have done without the oppressive humidity. Ai yi yi! Wasn't I just complaining about having cold, stiff hands a few days ago? I think I'd rather be stiff and cold than wet, sticky and miserable. There's just no pleasing me when it comes to weather conditions in the south. Enough yammering...here is what I saw today!
 |
| My first ever sighting of the rose-breasted grosbeak! |
 |
| What are you looking at, lady? |
 |
| First of season indigo bunting. Not my best shot, but the blue is really something. |
 |
| This one is either a female or juvenile |
 |
| Brown thrasher eating "bark butter" that my birding friend had just smeared on the limb. |
 |
| A very large rabbit |
 |
| The skinks were out in large numbers today. |
 |
| This one was at least 6" in length. |
 |
| Bloom from a tulip poplar that someone placed on the boardwalk ledge |
Finally, a huge thank you to Hilary for choosing
Iris and April for
Post of the Week! It is truly an honor. Please visit
The Smitten Image for beautiful photography and other Posts of the Week! Thank you times a million!
The Rose Breasted Grosbeak and the Indigo Bunting are stunning and new-to-me birds. That blue is just amazing and no doubt even more brilliant in real life.
ReplyDeletevery, very jealous on the grosbeak and the indigo! i've only seen the rose-breasted pass thru here twice - very quickly. and the indigo - never! gorgeous!!!
ReplyDeleteand, yeah, you were just wimpering about the cold, once again! :) silly goose.
our skinks have been very active. i think they're adorable - even when they hide in the end of the garden hose and scare me when i turn on the water. :)
Have never seen or heard of the Rose Breasted Grosbeak! We have similar weather -- we should have her too. The Indigo Bunting is rare in northern Florida and have never seen them in Atlanta. Lovely and sharp photos.
ReplyDeleteGail, You just get better and better! Where is National Geographic anyway?
ReplyDeleteA great series of photos. The Rose-breasted Grosbeak is especially beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThose are some prize birds you were able to capture. I hope seeing them made the heat and humidity bearable.
ReplyDeletewe have the grosbeaks here and i think their name is misspelled....it should be gross as i think they are an ugly faced bird.....oh that's so mean of me :(
ReplyDeleteBUT your photos are beautiful !
I love the colorful birds you have down there, great shots. I especially like the blue one A LOT
ReplyDeleteMy, oh my! What stunning birds! You hit the jackpot that day!
ReplyDeleteThese are just excellent, Gail! I've been privileged to see both the grosbeak and the indigo bunting, but your photos of these two are spectacular. The thrasher and the juvenile and/or female are also stunning. The tulip poplar is our state tree, so I enjoyed that one, too.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your visit to Bluebonnet Swamp! Such a wonderful place, wondrous images of wildlife.
ReplyDeleteI can't recall for sure, but I don't think I've ever seen a grosbeak. I've only seen an Indigo Bunting once or twice. Both are beautiful! Great shot of the thrasher, too! That IS a rather large rabbit!
ReplyDeleteOkay, now I am totally jealous. I have yet to see a grosbeak. And I've read in my guidebook for Texas birds that they're in our area. Lucky you!!!
ReplyDeleteI am not sure, but I think that perhaps that indigo is in molting stage; during their first breeding season?!!. Maybe not. [the one that looks discolored.] I got a photo of one too this week, and online it tells me that in Spring they molt and the colors are speckled with browns...
Ewwww, the skink looks slimy. LOL
Great photos Gail. Truly.
It great when you get a new bird - and pictures are a bonus!
ReplyDeleteThe group shots were taken at the expense of very wet feet and mud caked knees - worth it I would say!
Cheer and thanks for the link to WBW - Stewart M - Melbourne
Great variety of creatures! I love the Indigo Bunting. Beautiful. It was humid here yesterday also. I can't stand it. Tomorrow we may get blown away. Weather. Sheez.
ReplyDeleteSo colorful! What fun bird watching you had.
ReplyDeleteWe have Indigo Buntings here in the mountains of N.C. and I get so excited everytime I see one...I have never seen a young one though so I was especially glad to see that shot....
ReplyDeleteThat is one big bunny.....so cute.
I am learning so much from you about identifying birds and other animals....Thank you....
How cool that you've seen a new bird. Very exciting, at least I think so. Very nice photos too!
ReplyDeleteI am so glad your cars auto-drive to you back to the swamp. You got some amazing shots there girly..
ReplyDeleteHugs~
So many great shots! I love that one with the seed in the grossbeak's mouth. He's looking at you like "No, I'm not eating this."
ReplyDeleteOh my, look at the beautiful colors - so vivid and bright! The rabbit is quite cute, but I can't say the same about the Skinks (is that what they're called?)...they did not win any "cuteness" points with me :)
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Stephanie
It's Peter Rabbit!!!! Is he a cutie or what???
ReplyDeleteGail, that Indigo Bunting is absolutely gorgeous, and you have photographed it so beautifully.
PS....for some reason earlier this morning [perhaps it was TOO early], I missed the thrasher. Beautiful. We just got back from another outing and I spotted an elusive sparrow [one that is not too commonly seen...so I'm happy]
ReplyDeleteHope your day has been a good one for you so far --it went from 80 something to 67 in about an hour's time here.
Great series that blue stands out.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful series Gail! Loving them all! Getting much warmer here as we'll!
ReplyDeleteStunning bird captures...very colorful beauties
ReplyDeleteI have never seen such gorgeous birds! Wow! I wonder if we have any of them in MO. I will have to look up the maps on them. As always your images are incredible!
ReplyDeleteGail, we have Rose Breasted Grosbeaks and I have yet to get a photo half as good as yours - it's amazing! All your shots are amazing! Congrats on the Post of the Week!
ReplyDeletegorgeous,gorgeous birds!! i've never heard of a Grosbeak or Bunting.
ReplyDeletemust say..adore the rabbit!!!!!
your photos are always breathtaking!
It is amazing what photos you get. I have never seen rose-breasted grosbeak- the colors on it are amazing! Sandie
ReplyDeleteThat indigo bunting took my breath away! So beautiful. I don't think I've ever seen one or a rose-breasted grosbeak, so thanks for sharing your photos! And congrats on your POTW!!
ReplyDeleteGreat photos. Love the Bunting shots. :)
ReplyDeleteAs always, your shots are truly stunning. I'd love some warmth right about now...
ReplyDeleteOH! The indigo is STUNNING!! I am always amazed at nature's colors!!
ReplyDeleteWell this has officially become my favorite post of yours. When I was little and living with my mamaw and papaw, we had a bunch of bird feeders outside in the winter and during this one winter the same rose-breasted grosbeak came along every single day. It was so neat to watch. Truly great memories :)
ReplyDeleteWonderful series of photos ... the rose breasted grosbeak hasn't returned to our garden yet ... I'm sharing the common redpoll this week
ReplyDeleteI'm glad your autopilot took you there, Gail! :-) Such a wonderful series!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad your car took you there! The rose-breasted grosbeak is just breathtaking and so is the indigo bunting...all your pictures are wonderful. Have never seen that grosbeak...first saw the indigo bunting in Texas -- woke up one morning to see our "backyard" just blooming with these beautiful blue birds(the RV Park bordered a vacant lot). I'll never forget that.
ReplyDeleteOh how I'd love to see an indigo bunting. Such a lovely little bird but of course they all look beautiful through your lens.
ReplyDeleteOh cute rabbit..I have had an indigo bunting in passing and sometimes a breeding pair of grosbeaks..hope to see them this year....Michelle
ReplyDelete