Brazos Bend ROCKS!

Here is a portion of Elm lake. There were 2 great blue herons in back, and many many waterfowl throughout. I needed a spotting scope so I could see what other species I could find..... oh well.

Male cardinal and yellow rumped warbler sitting together.

An old favorite - carolina chickadee

Group of moorhen

Great egret

This ibis was working on the crawfish for a long time before it was able to finally swallow it

At first I was trying to get a picture of the killdeer, but it kept getting spooked when I got too close and flying further away. I am glad it did, because it eventually landed next to a Wilson's snipe - which I would not have seen if it hadn't been for the killdeer. Due to the killdeer's alarming call when it is spooked, I was not able to get close enough for a very good picture of the two.

Here's another alligator - a big one this time, and it had it eyes open which creeped me out a little!

This next portion of photos was along the spillway trail - the trail that connects Elm lake to 40-acre lake. I think this is where the vermilion flycatcher had been spotted before. I actually posted a little out of order because I saw the red-bellied woodpecker, chickadee, and blue-gray gnatcatcher on this portion, not by elm lake.

Eastern phoebe - and this was actually the BEST shot I got! Terrible.

Looks delicious, doesn't it?

Orange crowned warbler

The pine warblers loved the Spanish moss

Side view of a ruby crowned kinglet....

And a shot of his ruby spot

Swamp sparrow - abundant here

Tufted titmouse - wouldn't turn around for me!

Here's one of those nesting boxes I showed earlier - wrens were using it. (this photo is VERY enhanced and cropped to be able to see it)

Winter wren popping out of the brush pile

He came all the way out finally but turned his head as I snapped the picture, darn it.

This yellow rumped warbler was really showing off his yellow behind

These next couple of photos were taken from the lookout tower next to 40 acre lake. It was about 11 by that time and the sunlight was getting really bright (and bad for photos)

Here is a cormorant

kingfisher

2 goldfinch playing in the shrubs behind the lookout tower

Little blue heron eating.... something (probably crawfish)

Oh forgot to mention the heron was seen on Elm lake on my way back to my car

Here's another

Turtle family

vulture

Last one - red shouldered hawk in really bad lighting

Wow! I just loved your photos. It was like being there! I can't believe you saw an Eastern Bluebird. I have never seen one.

My favorites of your pictures: the Ibis with the crawfish, the Little Blue Heron with crawfish and the Pine Warbler in the Spanish moss. I'm pretty amazed that you got that Ruby-crowned Kinglet's red crown too.

Great pics rn!

Being able to enjoy your photos is like having an Audubon Field Guid online. There are photos of at least ten birds that I have never seen. The one of the kildeer reminds me of the time we were fortunate enough to see one (on the Julie Metz Wetlands) here in Woodbridge. I felt so sorry for it, since it looked like it had a crippled wing. Then I realized it was trying to distract us, and lead us away from its nest.

I know I was pretty excited about the bluebird El, I just wish I got to see more of it! Those of you who get to see them all the time are so lucky.

LOL wb, that's pretty funny about the killdeer