The Solitary American Bittern

This was not my first encounter with the American Bittern. My first up close view of this bird was several years ago. This "dude" is memorable in my birding world.  I was looking forward to another opportunity to see and photograph him on our annual new year birding trip. A prayer never hurts, I do this when I am yearning to see a bird I know should be in the area we are in.  I have been highly favored many times and I am thankful for the blessing.  I must say that we saw about 50 or so birds this New Year's Eve Day.  We were in one of our Texas State Parks that we love.  I found it very interesting that small birds like the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Yellow-rump Warbler, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Common Yellowthroat Warbler, and others were flying by or landing close to us as we walked along the marshy lakes.  My husband, JG, alerted me when he saw the Bittern coming toward us.  The rather large bird caught my eye with its stalking movement.  Bitterns winter along the coast where the waters will not freeze. They primarily eat insects, fish, crustaceans, reptiles and small mammals. They forage for food by wading in shallow water. These birds will typically be solitary and hunt in low light  catching food with their bill and killing prey with biting or shaking movements.  I thought it so interesting how his whole body seem to have a wave motion as he moved.  Needless to say, another awesome "birding" day! Blessings!

Photos of Post "Blessings of 2013"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blessings of 2013 and Our Birds Enjoying Goat Weed and Suet!

I am appreciative of all who visit my blog through the year.  This year is quickly coming to an end and as I am writing this post I reflect on how blessed I am to enjoy my love of the outdoors and birding with others. May the new year bring hope, joy, love and prosperity to each of you. 

Winter has arrived for a visit.  Our fine feathered friends are hungry and certainly visiting in large numbers.  I make a peanut butter suet in the winter and my husband(J.G.) and I fill holes in hanging logs and a dead cedar snag.  Once the suet is out in the morning, a flurry of birds compete for a perch to  sit and enjoy it. The cardinals usually arrive first with the Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Chickadee and Carolina Wren close behind. Many days the Pine Warbler will sit on a nearby branch waiting patiently for me to fill the holes.  I will turn to leave and down he comes, grabbing at the suet, as fast as his beak can be filled. Needless to say, the suet does not last long in the morning.  We usually fill the holes again in the afternoon.  We have seen the birds I have already mentioned as well as the Hermit Thrush, Orange-crowned Warbler, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Blue Jays, Chipping Sparrows and Crows eating our suet.  

The American Goldfinch and Chipping Sparrows have entertained us the last couple of weeks.  We have Goat Weed in our front landscape. We have found that birds love it in all seasons. They love the seeds.  The American Goldfinch will hang all over it in an array of different positions. You will see some of these in my photos.  The Indigo buntings love it in the spring and summer.  The Ruby-crowned Kinglets were all over it in the fall.  Sparrows hang around it by the dozens.  We have realized how much it is utilized by the birds. We have entertaining birds!!! Blessings!

A Texas Thanksgiving!

I am writing this post two days before Thanksgiving.  We are enjoying an early winter.  This is the first year in many that I can remember cold weather in November.  We had a mix of sleet, rain and snow today.  Temperatures were above freezing so no accumulation.  I made peanut butter suet for our yard birds.  My husband and I are filling the suet tree holes quite often.  The Cardinals usually arrive at the suet first with others following quickly.  This morning the Pine Warbler sat in a nearby bush and waited for me to fill the suet holes.  We have Tufted Titmice, Carolina Chickadees, White-throated Sparrows,Carolina Wrens, Blue Jays, Northern Cardinals, Chipping Sparrows, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Blue-headed Vireos, Yellow-rumped Warblers, American Goldfinch, Orange-crowned Warblers,Dark-eyed Juncos, as well as Red-bellied Woodpecker and Downy Woodpecker. Yesterday a loud Northern Flicker sat in one of our large trees on the property. I found the flicker with my binoculars and heard his call several time as he sat on the branch.  The weather has brought all the birds   as well as one rat to find our food.   We love our bird visitors, not so much the rat!  I failed to mention our Hermit Thrush visiting daily for a bath. This bird has such personality and beauty. I hope you enjoy his photos.  Happy Thanksgiving! Blessings!