Rondeau Ric

Happy buoy , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. Sitting high and dry in Texas near the mouth of the Rio Grand.

Checking out our front yard. , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. We had a group of seven turkeys come into the front yard the other day. They stayed a few minutes then something spooked them and they flew up into the trees. Turkeys were reintroduced to our area about 10 years ago and seem to be doing very well. Always fun to watch them fly. Taken through the kitchen window. Meleagris gallopavo

Do you come here often? , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. There were about 20 American coots feeding on grass at the edge of a road, looked like a flock of free range chickens. They would wander over and drink from this roadside puddle. Fairly large at 15 inches they are a ducklike bird with a blackish head and neck, slate grey body and a white bill. It's big feet are lobed. Fulica americana

This explains why there were no birds at the feeders. , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. A coopers hawk was sitting in the tree at the back of the yard. From there he had a good view of the entire feeding area. After he left it took 10 minutes for the smaller birds to come back to the yard. Accipiter cooperii

Evolutionary adaptation? , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. American bitterns extend their necks and freeze blending into the background. Frogs and fish don't seem to realize the bird is there until it is to late. When we drift by they raise their heads to blend in even more. botaurus lentiginosus

A windy day , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. This great egret is in full breeding plumage and the wind has ruffled the plumes. A large bird at 39 inches, white with mainly yellow bill. The legs and feet are black. This was taken in Texas at a nesting site. ardea alba

Having a monkey on your back is one thing... , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. but a frog? Seen at a street fair one summer

Look up, way, way up. , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. At the very top ot the tree there is a golden-winged warbler. Not one I see very often and this is a typical look. Birders suffer from warbler neck during migration. Wonder why they call it warbler neck? vermivora chrysoptera

Ruby throated hummingbird , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. A little taste of summer. These are regular summer visitors to our yard, we have had as many as 15 at one time. They spend more time chasing each other than they do feeding. archilochus colubris

Our pink toed, rat tailed visitor , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. We have two or three opossums that visit our feeders for a free meal. With their pink toes and bare tail they are almost cute.

Waiting for the food truck, a.k.a. Mom , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. There is a heron rookery across the bay from the park with about 12 nests. Each spring we go over on the boat to get a few photographs. Ardea herodias

Crested Caracara , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. A large, long-legged,big headed, long necked bird of prey that we saw in Texas. They are fairly common along the gulf coast.Caracara cheriway

Brown jay and a red winged blackbird , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. While in Texas last year we had a brown jay cross the border and visit a feeding station we were at. You can get an idea of its size by comparing it to the red-winged blackbird. cyanocorax morio

Not rare, not fancy , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. But the American goldfinch is still a touch of colour in the middle of winter. Third straight day of snow. Bah, humbug. Spinus tristis  

Box seats , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. With the Super Bowl coming up even Crash and Oz want box seats for the big show.