Beautiful Birds of Winter As the landscape evolves from verdant to gray, summer birds quietly leave and winter birds (not so quietly in the case of Robins and Cedar Waxwings) take their place. We welcome them back with full feeders and delight. In the past two weeks, an American Kestrel, a Song Sparrow, and aContinue reading
Tag: bastrop birds
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Beautiful Birds of Winter: American Kestrel, Song Sparrow, Green Kingfisher
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Magical Morning at Little Piney
Magical Morning at Little Piney At 7 am mist floats above the front field. Spiders’ webs fly like white surrender flags in the dawn. The webs hold hundreds of Lynx spiders’ eggs guarded by watchful mothers. Sparrows and Cardinals chip and sing in the tall fading field. A Lincoln’s Sparrow, just back for the winter,Continue reading
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Red-shouldered Hawk’s Crunchy Breakfast
Red-shouldered Hawk Sometimes all I see of the Red-shouldered Hawk is a dark shadow passing over the field, sometimes, a familiar shape disappearing at the edge of vision. She is in front of me, then behind me when I never saw her move. Sometimes, I turn around, and she is only feet away calm andContinue reading
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When I’m Birding It’s Totally Up to the Birds
It’s Totally Up to the Birds I have to confess, on my first few “birding walks” led by expert birders, I asked myself “Are they making this up?” Most of the time, I never saw the bird they pointed out. When I did, I saw a gray silhouette against the morning sky while the guideContinue reading
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Painting Birds at Little Piney
Painting Birds After painting yet another landscape in June, I felt restless to try something new. I wanted to paint in a looser style, and I wanted to paint some birds! I pulled out my pastels for a change of pace and some favorite photos for references and got started. I collected some old acrylicContinue reading
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Yellow Warblers and Central Texans Singin’ in the Rain
Relief from Triple Digits Came with Rain! Just when we thought we couldn’t take it anymore, rain and cooler air both moved in over the weekend! What a relief. I spent much of the weekend outside on the porch or out in the rain with my rubber boots on. As the rain arrived, so didContinue reading
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Special Moments in Nature–A Lucky Witness
Special Moments in Nature I pull out onto the highway from a dirt road. In front of me, a single black crow feather spirals slowly down from the sky. The suspended feather spins like a tiny dirt devil as I leave it behind. I step outside to watch for a late delivery truck.Continue reading
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Visiting Bastrop Texas–The Heart of the Lost Pines (update January 2021)
Visiting Bastrop Texas Visiting Bastrop Texas can be an easy day trip from Austin, San Antonio and most of Central Texas, but it’s really worthy of a weekend visit. I love the relaxed feel of the town. It’s easy to park, easy to get a table at a restaurant, easy to get around. and easy toContinue reading
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Ten Reasons Life is Never Boring in the Country
Some people get bored in the country. Not me. Ever. Here Are Ten Reasons Life Is Never Boring In The Country -One- Because you never know who’s going to stop by for a drink. -Two- You are never alone. -Three- You will hear plenty of free outdoor music. -Four- Family time is plentiful.Continue reading
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Beauty Magnified–Zooming In On Birds
Zooming in on Birds Birds move fast. That’s why photographers often create a natural looking perch above a feeder, or play recorded bird sounds to lure a bird in front of the their tripod mounted camera. There’s nothing wrong with a tripod or staged bird photography but recorded bird calls interrupt the bird’s natural behaviors.Continue reading