Rondeau Ric

Truck Country , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. A line of vehicles at a Texas state park was filled with row after row of pickups. Even split between GMC and Ford. There was one car, it was being towed by an RV

Forest graffiti , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. Beech trees are the message boards of the forest. Their bark is easily cut and carving your initials in to the tree is easily done. The cuts are probably not good for the tree, allowing easy access for insects. Unfortunately the message lasts longer than many of the relationships they are meant to celebrate.

Scaled quail , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. This wasn’t a bird we expected to see on our Texas trip. We were at Falcon Dam and heard they were at the park. We sat in the bird blind for about 10 minutes and got the scaled quail, bob white, green tailed towhee and spotted towhee. If they were all that easy we probably wouldn’t bother. Yah, we would. Callipepla squamata

foot bath , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. A pair of brown thrasher were bathing in the small water feature we have in the yard. I thought the water was cold but I guess it was perfect for a foot bath. The photo was taken through the Wonderful Wildlife Window. Toxostoma rufum

He's baaaack , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. The yellow throated warbler has shown up again this year. We had several hundred birders come to the cottage to see this bird which is rare in Ontario.

synchronized grooming , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. For some reason Crash thinks he looks good in a basket two sizes too small for him. Maybe he is a fashonista.

Basket case , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. Oz, the little wizard of getting into places he shouldn't, is a basket case. He was climbing on a high shelf to gt to this bowl. Instead of having the shelf come crashing down at some point we moved it to the table in front of the Wonderful Wildlife Window. When he is not sleeping he uses it as a hunting blind.

Harris's hawk , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. There were two of these hawks in a tree at the road side. Shouldn't that make them Roadside hawk? Yes there is such a thing as a roadside hawk. Harris's hawks will hunt as a family group. Parabuteo unicintus

Hiding in plain sight , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. A common paraque on the ground. they can be hard to see even when you know they are there.

Look Ma, no cavities. , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. The hippos were licking the groind and then doing this display. No idea why.

green winged teal , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. The green winged teal is the smallest of the dabbling ducks. He likes shallow water or mud flats for feeding Just beautiful in the sunlight. anas crecca

Here there be dragons , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. A wicked claw on a water monster, the dragon of the marsh. The hind foot of an alligator who was sunning on the bank.

The hokey pokey , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. You put your left foot in, You put your left foot out; You put your left foot in, And you shake it all about. You do the Hokey-Pokey, And you turn yourself around. That's what it's all about! i love shovelers, the are the silliest looking of the ducks.

Battleship Duck , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. Low and wide like a battleship, this wood duck plows his way through the water of the marsh. And a very colourful battleship he is.

As hot as a Texas lizard lying in the sun , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr.

How big was that fish , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. Big enough that the osprey had trouble flying. At least they don't try to swallow the whole fish at once. This was the best, overall, shot I got of the bird and the fish. Some had the bird in focus, others the fish, but none had both nice and crisp. I would have asked the bird to fly around again but he was too busy eating.

Stranded , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. Not sure if it was chasing food or got caught in the waves but his small manta became straded as the tide was going out. It was being eyed by a coulpe of gulls so Anne decided to give it some help and used her cane to nudge it back into deeper water.

Crash and Oz , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. The boys are taking up the family pass time, bird watching. There is a sunflower seed feeder just outside the window. Gives the size comparisson for the two of them.