00 - A1 - 2009 ** A day at Choke Canyon State Park

On Wednesday 11/04/09, I was told by Paul Jaure, Choke Canyon State Park Interpreter, that there was a Rare Bird Alert at the park. The bird was a Northern Jaçana and folks were reporting it at 75 Acre Pond on the park. Birders were coming from all over to see it, since it's not normally seen
this far north.....I decided to pay the park a visit today.

I got in touch with Paul when I got in and we went out to the inlet where the bird had been spotted. I didn't see anything, so we decided to HIKE around another inlet and we still couldn't see it. Finally, another photographer/birder came around behind us and pointed to where the bird was
hanging out....so trekking we went...and lo and behold, there was the bird, still too far out. But we were patient and finally the Fog lifted and the sun came out helping us to see it better...The bird is just absolutely gorgeous...

The photog/birder, Martin from San Antonio got very close to it and we moved in. I got "shots" of it, not decent, for some reason I just couldn't get focus. But I got "shots" of it. Here they are. Also saw 3 alligators, quite close to the Jaçana, probably waiting for a good time to jump. I was able to photograph my first Perigrene Falcon that flew right over us. I wouldn't have ID'd it had it not been for Martin, he also saw a Merlin and pointed out a few other species. Got a "shot" of 3 Black Necked Stilts, again, not
happy with them either, but I wanted to share them anyway.

I got a good shot of an Osprey, I think this was probably the most in focus and I was panning too, go figure? I want to take a few photos of birds at the park for the Birding Festival in February. I will be speaking at 5pm and want to show what is found at the park. The Perigrene surprised me, I didn't know they were so close to the low-lands....wow!!!

Be Blessed and enjoy God's creations.......sylvia