Secret Quintana

Quintana is a little known beach located just east of Freeport. It's a small island with only a handful on local residents. The back bays across the dunes are perfect for hunting waterfowl given the shallow water level and active fish population.

Quintana Beach

Went down to see if any fall activity has started. Tracked a few Ospreys fishing in the surf, however I didn't get setup in time to get a clear shot of their fish grabs. I arrived too late in the morning and was too tired to start for sunset, so most shots where full on sun.

Casper, The Friendly Egret

Guess who was back today at Bay Area Bark Pond. Casper!

This is the friendliest egret I've ever seen. He doesn't mind you walking up to him, and if you sit, he will walk right past you. All that he's interested in the mullet and minnows in the pond. The kids feed the crabs and ducks in the pond, and the fish come to eat the leftovers. When they do, Snowy stomps down on them and almost every time comes up with a catch.

Second Day in a row he's been fishing here!

Eye on the Egret

While at the daughters softball practice in Bay Area Park, I met up with this fellow that didn't mind me sitting with him while he fished. Finally he jumped on one, woofed it down and flew home.

Hummingbird Duels

Starting to zone in on my barkyard hummers and understand their movements. They have accepted me as part of a backyard ornament and they will even buzz a few inches around my balding head.

After stitting in the nearby trees for several minutes, they start their chirping and all at once they will buzz over to the feeders. They then will play tag with each other and even butt chests. The winner gets first drinking rights.

Now I need to learn how to hand feed them like this guy.

Humming at 600mm Full Frame

Gave my 2x converter a workout attached to the 300mm f2.8 for a 600mm focal length. Worked on getting a full frame non cropped image of these little flying devils, and after 100 frames, I finally nailed a few. Im amazed on just how these Ruby's don't mind me walking with them. At one point I had at at least 6 swarming around my head like mosquitos.


I also tried using flash, but didn't really like the results. I need to get going a little earlier to catch some better light.

Hummingbirds by the Dozen

Yesterday two at most, and today at least six hummingbirds zooming about the back yard chasing each other without any reservations of me being six feet away from their feeders. It was almost as the wished to thank me for their new found source of drink. Best viewed in the slideshow fullsize (click on the full screen button at the lower left once started)

Humming for Dinner ISO 3200

Just before dark tonight this little one came looking for a drink, however I haven't seen any hummingbirds since April, so the fountain was dry. Quickly filled the cups and she came a drinking. Ended up shooting at ISO 3200 just to get the shutter above 200.

Missed the Light. Again.

Actually got my butt up at 7am and took off for Brazos Bend State Park this morning. The morning light looked great all the way there, however as I drove up on Elm Lake, a cloud rolled in and I was left with shade. And to top it off, an hour into hunting the rain started. What the heck, dooh... should have checked the radar app...

Was planning to focus on Little Blue Herons today, but ended up with Night Herons. Ooh well. Maybe I'll try again tomorrow.

hOt morning in Brazos Bend

My body is still radiating heat from yesterdays walk around Brazos Bend's Elm lake.  Dang I can't wait until our one day of fall weather.  The Yellow-Crested Night-Heron however was loving the sunshine.

Kite Boarding in Texas City

Somehow forgot to blog about my Texas City Kite Boarding trip...  Anyway, I met Hammerly out last weekend as he was leaving for the afternoon and decided to stay for awhile to get some shots. 

Brazos Bend State Park

I decided to try to make it down to a photo walk in Brazos Bend State Park this afternoon, however shortly after arriving it started to drizzle then rain.   I spend a few hours walking around between showers and managed to snag a few high ISO shots.

Lightroom 3 does a great job at noise reduction, so high ISO is great for these extreeme overcast conditions.

I never did meet up with the photo walkers, but I did notice a few guys in the distance just before dark and I suspect that was them, however I was trying my best to get in a few more shots before dark.

The gaters in these shots were only a foot long, and they were floating about 10 feet from shore.  You really had to look for them in their green camouflage...

The Night Herons are all over the place, and can be found along the bank eating crawfish.