Park Deer

Early one morning before rush hour traffic built up, I left in a light fog, heading to Calallen Texas and my favorite park along the river. In hopes of seeing some wildlife. Not only birds, but perhaps some white tailed deer if I got there early enough. And sure enough, just before reaching the gates to enter the park, a hawk was perched on a power pole, but flew off before I got some really good photos. [I will share one photo on my bird blog this Saturday]. No sooner had I entered through the open gates to the park, two white tailed deer were grazing on the grass. But this time they had company! A solo javelina [ha vah LEEN ah]. Once they noticed I had stopped the vehicle, they all ran for shelter in the wooded area behind them. I had only time to take photos with my cellphone.

I spent some time walking and driving along the riverbank, around the circular drive to the ponds, climbing down to the observation deck on the larger pond, and up the hill to the hawkwatch platform. The fog lifted, but it remained gray and overcast. The temp was a mild 66 degrees. All the time while I was walking and climbing I started watching a green kingfisher [I took many many photos of it fishing and will share the string of action photos at another time] that was on the pond diving for its breakfast, I could hear the beautiful calling of a Carolina Wren...which I finally found and also took a photo. Of course, all my bird photos [including the kingfisher next week -not this weekend, but next week] will be shared on my other blog "I'd Rather B Birdin'". By the way on the other side of the river, the trees were lined with vultures. And one area, along the picnic area, so too were dozens of vultures!! Here are a few photos of nature calling to me. As you notice, our "Autumn foliage" happens in the dead of Winter.  The very last photo is a long distance shot of the kingfisher; see it?...

February 4th is National Heart Awareness Day...wear RED!