Well with all the stress lately in my life lately (56K warning)

[Maestro]

I needed some downtime so I headed out to a rookery which curiously enough is located just west of downtown Dallas. It is located at the University of Texas Southwest Medical Center. I spent four hours there to unwind and take some pics. The only sounds I heard were the cackling of the birds and an occasional commercial jet.

Lots of nestlings as would be expected.


The above nestlings are cattle egrets I believe but at this age it is difficult to tell.

This great heron nestling is probably not long for this world as it fell from its nest. There is some predation by other birds and this guy looks to be one of the unfortunate ones. I felt sorry for it, but I just left it alone and let Nature take its course.


This Little Blue Heron is one of the more aggressive types that will probably take a nestling if able.






Here it was getting upset with a cattle egret that was about its same size.


Calming back down a bit after hitting the cattle egret on its head a few times.


The graceful adult great egrets were there but usually hung out on the canopy of the rookery.



Here a great egret mingles with cattle egrets.


I found one spot in the rookery that gave me or rather the birds a good perch.

Juvenile Black Crowned Night Herons




Juvenile Great Egrets


It was a fun day that let me decompress a bit. As usual, I hope you enjoy the pics. X-Posted in Photography group.

[YankeyMCC]

1. Great stuff, thanx for sharing nt

[Maestro]

4. My pleasure, -nt

[Inchworm]

2. Wonderful pics as usual

Thanks for sharing them!

:yourock:

[Maestro]

9. You know me.

Anytime Inchworm. If you are ever in Texas, let me know. I'll take you birding.

[musette_sf]

3. great photos!

is a "cattle egret" the same as what they call "cowbirds" down in those parts?

i never knew cowbirds = egret. a new one on me!

[Maestro]

10. No. This is a cowbird.

A brown-headed cowbird to be exact. They are called such since they hang around cattle so much just like the cattle egret.



Thanks for looking and commenting. I appreciate it.

[idgiehkt]

5. beautiful!

I'd never seen the cattle egret or the little blue heron, they are gorgeous.

Yesterday there was both a snowy egret and an great blue heron at the pond here. The pond is very, very low so the area the fish are in is much smaller and I'm sure it is easy pickings. The egret was incredibly tame, I walked over there with my dogs (they were on leash) and it turned it's head around and watched us the whole time, only flying off to the other side of the pond at the last moment.

[Maestro]

12. Thanks

The Snowys and GBHs are relatively common but the ones I see are skittish. You certainly found yourself a brave one. Thanks for looking and commenting. I do appreciate it.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

6. My dear Maestro!

Wow, these are up to your usual great standards!

Really beautiful, and true to life...

They were oblivious of you...and behaving as though you weren't there at all...

Perfect!

Thank you...

:hug:

[Maestro]

13. Thanks CP

There was so much action going on at that rookery that as long as you stood still for a while the birds did ignore you.

[greatauntoftriplets]

7. Amazing photos....

Thanks for them.

[Maestro]

17. Thanks so much greatauntoftriplets.

It's fun sharing them too.

[lildreamer316]

8. Be YOU TE ful!!!

Thank you so very much!! That was a nice break.
Nature is incredible.

[Maestro]

21. Nature sure is.

I just wish more humans would recognize that. Thanks for commenting and looking. :hi:

[UTUSN]

11. Magnificent!!1 n/t

[Maestro]

26. Thanks. -nt

[Radio_Lady]

14. Beautiful! I feel as if I were right there with you and the birds.

Thanks for those magnificent pictures.

Here are some juncos who visited our backyard this year:

[Maestro]

15. Nice Juncos

I would love to take a picture of these birds but they do not make it down my way. :( At least I haven't seen them, but we do have the Painted Bunting. It is an absolutely gorgeous bird the size of a finch. It is relatively reclusive but the males will get out from time to time to call for a mate. I'd love to get a good picture of one on something natural but they tend to stick to utility lines where I am. :banghead: I am going to have to get out far in the country away from utility lines to catch one on a nice perch. Nonetheless, here is one on the ubiquitous utility line. It's not a great pic, but it's the only I have of a painted bunting so far.

[Radio_Lady]

24. This painted bunting looks like a brightly colored parrot! (PHOTO)

Wow! Never saw anything like THAT!



http://www.birdwatchersdigest.com/site/backyard_birds/bird_id/painted_bunting.aspx

[Maestro]

29. Yes it does, but no where near related.

The female is much less brightly colored. They are very pretty IRL, even prettier than any photo.

[wildhorses]

16. i feel so sorry for that baby

:cry:

thank you for another wonderful pic thread :loveya:

simply beautiful

[Maestro]

18. It's Nature's way I suppose however rough.

I really wanted to help it, but I didn't know from where it had fallen and it could have been thrown out by a more aggressive sibling or, if it was ill, by the parents. I took the pictures and quickly left. Thanks for looking and commenting.

[wildhorses]

19. i look forward to your pic threads

they are magnificent. real quality. i snag one every now and then :blush:

[Maestro]

20. For a good dem like you I don't mind at all.

Now, if it were a freeper, I'd send a couple of guys named Guido and Crunch to claim my copyrights. :rofl:

[wildhorses]

22. bless you, my friend

:rofl:

:hug:

[Kat45]

23. Again, beautiful pictures of beautiful birds.

Today I saw a black-crowned night heron catch a fish at the dam in the river in my town. He sat still on a rock in the water for a vary long time, then spotted a fish, went over, snatched it, turned it around in his beak so it was in the right direction and swallowed it. It was so cool to watch.

[Maestro]

25. I would love to get pics in a sequenced

series of exactly what you describe. Thanks for looking.

[Gormy Cuss]

27. Makes me want to get to a rookery.

There's one a few hours from me. I've never seen baby egrets and herons.
Lovely sequence on the little blue -- that's a bird I've never seen IRL.


Thanks for posting the photos.

[Maestro]

28. Thanks Gormy Cuss

I had never seen a little blue either. At the time, I thought I was photographing a tricolored heron, but when I got home and took a closer look at the picture I knew I had something a little different. I had to look it up in one of my bird ID guides. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[Haole Girl]

30. Those are really beautiful

I didn't know you were under stress, too. I hope you found some inner peace. You really are a very good photographer. This may be intrusive to ask, but do you ever think you could do it on a professional basis? Or, would you want to?

:hi:

[Maestro]

32. Thanks KC2.

The thought has crossed my mind, but frankly, I am not anywhere near where I would need to be to sell stock photos to places like National Geographic or any other wildlife magazine. The guys and gals that do it on a professional basis are absolutely jaw-droppingly fantastic. I might be able to sell the odd picture here or there, but I doubt I could do it for a living although I would love to! I'd also have to invest about 10K-15K in equipment to be able to do what the pros do. I am humbled though that you think I can. :hi:

[BarenakedLady]

31. Beautiful

I enjoy your pictures so very much.

:loveya:

[Maestro]

33. Thanks BarenakedLady!

As usual, I have about as much fun taking the pics as I do sharing them.