I really had intended on taking pictures of birds at Caddo Lake today.
Kristi and I taught a photography course to some of the members of the Cypress Basin Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalist. After the classroom portion, we went out by the lake so our class could practice some of the techniques we taught. We had Prothonotary Warblers zoom past, saw a Summer Tanager, a couple of Parula Warblers and the usual suspects in that area. I did not manage to photograph any of those, but did enjoy seeing them.
Kristi and one of the class members, Linda Richtsmeier, spent some time photographing dragonflies and some Cricket Frogs. The dragonflies were quite cooperative and very plentiful. That made it a lot of fun and I think we all got some pretty good shots.
After everyone else left, I stayed for a while longer. It was just too beautiful of a day to quit. I really had hoped to catch a shot at some of the birds we had been seeing and hearing. However, nothing was cooperating and then a group of people came who were a bit noisy so I walked down the road a ways. I did see a beautiful Red-tailed Hawk and caught a glimpse of what I believe was a Yellow Breasted Vireo but it was a very quick look so I am not counting it for sure.
As happens with me, soon I was watching the ground more than the trees and began photographing some of the Spring flowers and the insects that were on them. It led to a fun afternoon.
Here are some of the shots from the day.
Michael is a former biologist and Texas Master Naturalist. Originally from Newsome, Texas (Between Pittsburg and Winnsboro), educated in Dallas & Garland schools, then off to the University of Texas system where he received a degree in biology and worked as a biologist with the University of Texas system. After many years away from nature and biology, he relocated to the banks of Lake O' the Pines where he has been rediscovering the joys of nature. He is somewhat surprised that he has become a birder. Most of his interest in nature was centered around reptiles. Perhaps just like birds evolved from reptiles starting in the late Jurassic, he has begun his own evolution. During his formal education, his interests in biology/nature grew to include community ecology and population studies, all with a binding of evolutionary processes. He liked birds, but they were secondary at best. All at once he finds them fascinating.
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