Almost Christmas at the ponds

I've taken three trips to the ponds in three days. I spotted a woodpecker (Red Bellied - no photo - too far away) two days ago and yesterday watched a Kestrel performing EXACTLY the hover I had watched on a video. As a poor birder (I always relied on the family experts who are either gone now or who live far away) I am having to make up for my laziness - hence the bird videos.

Today I had errands to run before kids arrived for the holiday...but there was time to check the ponds. It was the usual cast of characters (although I probably missed more than a few because I was driving). A couple of Crows perched near the road. The Great Egret and Great Blue Heron were fishing in the far ponds. There were ducks on a pond, but I am not good at ducks and had left the binoculars at home. A hawk surveyed the fields and I figured it was the Red-shouldered Hawk I have seen here before.

A Cardinal flew across the road and then posed for me in the trees. I do think of Cardinals as Christmas birds and messengers from those who taught me to love the wild.

Posted on 23 December, 2017 23:47 by

alflinn329

Observations

Photos / Sounds

5 photos

What

Great Egret (Ardea alba)

Observer

alflinn329

Date

December 23, 2017 11:28 AM CST

Place

Bell County, TX, USA (Google, OSM)

Description

At the ponds on Witter Lane. Thought I should check since there have been some changes over the last few days. Sure of all but the hawk...but believe it is a Red Shouldered Hawk regularly seen in this immediate area.