Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Great-tailed Grackles


I have almost finished reviewing my 1,300+ images from our Texas trip and have loaded 350 new photos to my website. Now, there are some stories about these, I want to share.


Everywhere along the Rio Grande Valley and the Texas Coast, the Great-tailed Grackles were in their glory. The male of this species was in full breeding plumage, a blue/purple iridescence or lustrous and changing colors (definitely a kingly color). This particular male just held his ground next to the car as I approached. As a result, I captured his arrogance.

Photo taken at Laguna Nature Walk, TX on 3/22/2007
Everytime we sat down at our campsite at Lake Casa Blanca International State Park, Laredo, TX, a male grackle would come to proclaim that this site was his domain. He would stand on the picnic table, fluff all his feathers and send forth his song (loud ruckus) of high pitched notes. To finish his statement, he would puff up his throat and make a long, low growl of hisses, rattles and guttural noises. Then, he would repeat the entire sequence of song and display, even though no female or other male was in sight. So, I am sure this was meant to intimidate us.

Photo taken at Lake Casa Blanca International SP, TX on 3/8/2007

Other times we would see several males posturing as if to say "I am king of this mountain here!" or "Don't we sound like the 3 tenors!"


I think that these displays are performed to defend territory or impress a female grackle. She does not have his beautiful colors but when you see her by herself, she has nice browns.

Photo taken at Falcon SP, TX on 3/11/2007

At Galveston State Park, TX, a male grackle put on a display and song. He was only about 15 feet away from where I was sitting in my lawn chair. This time, however, his statement was meant for several females nearby and one male. The funny thing was, all the females ignored him the entire time. Maybe, they heard and saw him but these females kept right on looking for bugs. This is my interpretation of these pictures:

Photo taken at Galveston SP, TX on 3/30/2007 To a female: "Don't you like my new song?"

Photo taken at Galveston SP, TX on 3/30/2007 To a female: "Look at me, aren't I handsome!"

To another male: "I am better looking than you."

Photo taken at Galveston SP, TX on 3/30/2007To another male: "I am strong, regal and fierce." (This look intimidates me)

Photo taken at Galveston SP, TX on 3/30/2007 To both males and females: "Look at my tail, its the best!"

My husband and I sure enjoyed watching the Great-tailed Grackles and many times wished we had a video camera, so that we could capture their displays and songs (growls) on film to show you and, of course, to prove to you that these birds really do all these things.

The references and gear I used for this blog are:

Camera: Canon EOS 10D
Lens: Canon EF100-400mm F4.5-5.6L IS USM
Steiner 10x42 Predator Binoculars
The SIBLEY Guide to Birds

Monday, July 9, 2007

Orange to Yellows

From Orange to Yellows:

Photo taken at Goose Island SP, TX on 3/27/2007

Globemallow - Species unknown (Mallow Family - Malvaceae)


We have come full circle in colors but I had to show you my yellow wildflowers, too, though 3 of these photos are not wildflowers but rather tree flowers. (Did you know that most trees have flowers?)

The little yellow-orange balls on the Huisache are so cute. The white-yellow flowers on the Blackbrush really look like the bottle brush that I use to clean the hummingbird feeder. The flowers of the live oak were food for a huge flock of Red-winged Blackbirds.


Photo taken at Bolivar Flats, TX on 4/1/2007

Beach Evening-Primrose - Camissonia cheiranthifolia (Evening-Primrose Family - Onagraceae)

Photo taken at Falcon SP, TX on 3/13/2007

Blackbrush or Chaparro - Acacai rigidula (Pea Family - Fabaceae)


Photo taken at Hwy 77, TX on 3/25/2007

False Dandelion - Pyrrhopappus pauciflorus (Aster Family - Asteraceae)


Photo taken at Aransas NWR, TX on 3/27/2007

Live Oak - Quercus fusiformis (Beech Family - Fagaceae)


Photo taken at Aransas NWR, TX on 3/27/2007

Prickly Sow-thistle - Sonchus asper (Aster Family - Asteraceae)


Photo taken at Falcon SP, TX on 3/13/2007

Rough-pod Bladderpod - Lesquerella lasiocarpa (Mustard Family - Brassicaceae)


Photo taken at Lake Casa Blanca International SP, TX on 3/9/2007

Free wallpaper (desktop background) for personal use
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Huisache - Acacia farnesiana (Legume Family - Leguminosae)


Photo taken at Lake Casa Blanca International SP, TX on 3/9/2007

Dogweed - Dyssodia pentachaeta (Aster Flax Family - Asteraceae)


Photo taken at Goose Island SP, TX on 3/27/2007

Coastal Plain Tickseed - Coreopsis gladiata (Aster Family - Asteraceae)


Photo taken at Hwy 77, TX on 3/25/2007

Neuces Coreopsis - Coreopsis nuecensis (Aster Family - Asteraceae)


Photo taken at Goose Island, TX on 3/27/2007

Scarlet Pimpernel - Anagallis arvensis (Primrose Family - Primulaceae)