Watching the River Flow

Thursday, February 25, 2016

Sometimes even the Snowy Egret, Great Blue Heron and Yellow-crowned Night Heron like to just stand and watch the river flow by:

The Great Blue Heron shown above really does have two legs. Most bird species, not just Flamingos, will stand on one leg and tuck the other leg up against their body when they remain standing for an extended period of time. It is an efficient way to conserve energy.

These photographs were taken on my walk along the Roosevelt Park loop trail of the Mission Reach of the San Antonio River on Monday, February 22, 2016.

Comings and Goings

The number of bird species migrating into, out of and through Bexar County throughout the year is quite remarkable. I have at least mentioned this in several posts, most recently in the one this past Tuesday with the photos of the Cormorants. I included a little more detail in the post on July 12th about the birds at Elmendorf Lake.

This is the time of year when many birds are arriving to spend the winter and others are leaving to return to their winter homes. The Yellow-crowned Night-Heron will soon be headed to their winter home along the Gulf Coast:

This set of photographs was taken on the Mission Reach of the San Antonio River upstream from the U.S. 90 bridge on Friday, September 13, 2013.

A Major Detuor

Monday, September 10, 2012

Sometimes things happen in life that send us on a major detour from our planned route. Last night, one of those things happened to me. I fell and broke the humerus in my right arm just below the shoulder.

As bone fractures go, this one isn't particularly serious. I'm ambidextrous, but what I have suddenly discovered is the long list of tasks that require the use of two hands, regardless of which hand is dominant. The two things that frustrate me the most that I can't do are drive and I can't use my camera.

It will likely be six weeks or so before I will be able to resume taking new photos to publish in While on a Walk. I do have a plethora of photos from previous walks that I have yet to publish, so for now, I will continue to publish posts using those photos as often as I am able.

What better way to begin a detour than with the yellow-crowned night heron on the San Antonio River. These photos are from my walk on Friday, june 8:

Sparkling in the Sun

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Salado Creek Greenway, Lady Bird Johnson Park Trailhead,
SSgt Morningstar Boardwalk

Today's photos:

The angle of the late afternoon sun combined with the water remaining in the wetland from Saturday night's rain made everything sparkle.

Back to the Beginning

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

San Antonio River, Museum Reach, The Pearl Complex Trailhead
downstream to the San Antonio Museum of Art and back 

Today's photos:

Fifteen months ago While on a Walk began with "The Inspiration" on the Museum Reach of the San Antonio River. This evening I returned to the Museum Reach not long before sunset. The light at dusk adds to the challenge of taking nature photographs, but also gives them a specific soft, warm toned visual characteristic.

Typically when I have gone on a walk this late in the evening heading into sunset, it is because my schedule during the day left me few other options. Today I had a specific goal in mind, photographing Mexican free-tailed bats. I have never tried photographing them before this evening.

Between April and October, there is a colony of approximately 20,000 male Mexican free-tailed bats living under the IH-35 bridge over the river. In the hot dry midsummer, the bats emerge from under the bridge at about sunset to begin a night of feasting on insects.

For my first attempt, I might have had a few successful photos similar to the one above. If I did, I will post them tomorrow.