Tennessee Birds - common species

While investigating the forest, I focused a while on the birds. This is a time consuming task, to photograph birds that is. Most of the birds viewed there were the same species as here in The Woodlands, with a few slight twists. The bird above is the Cedar Waxwing. It is migratory and was in the trees in an apparent migration north. They were stripping the trees of seed pods. It was a feeding frenzy!

This little guy is a Kinglet but not sure of exact identity.

This colorful little fellow is a Rufus-sided Towhee.

Another colorful bird I saw plenty of but got few photos, was this Red Breasted Nuthatch above. It was nesting near the cabin. in the BBQ pit. Notice the food it brought to feed its babies.

Here was one of the brightest Cardinals one can ever find. You can see that it was nesting time. Already the birds here in The Woodlands are looking a bit shabby from raising their young.
We have seen this bird time after time in the piney forest. They are also common in Tennessee - the Carolina Wren. This was found near the cabin, feeding in the front yard.
This is a nest of three nuthatch chicks (one flew out). They other two flew out when the flash went off but returned to the nest the next morning.

Tennessee Forest has character and wildlife

I know, this is not supposed to be here in this blog. I confess, I love more forests than that found here in southeast Texas, so this is placed here to remind us of the many sites we can go to appreciate nature in these United States. I got an opportunity to experience my second early spring of the year. Early Spring was long gone in southeast Texas in late April. Here, the land was in full bloom.

Like most forests, one can find some incredible character in the Tennessee forests. Although there is limited and diminishing space containing natural virgin forest, we find many small connected tracts of land sustaining wildlife and ancient timber. Wildlife, as we know it in America, requires considerable space to thrive. Deer, antelope, turkey, and many other creatures will naturally move about seeking mates, food and water, in different seasons of the year. They can't be constrained to a small farm space. I was fortunate recently to stay a couple of nights on a 40 acre private tract near the Kentucky border, connected to other private tracts where the wildlife is highly valued. My observations were from the eyes of a lover of forests, wildlife and trees.
Unlike our pine forests in Texas, this is definitely hardwood country. It has a smattering of oaks, hickory and many other species to form a canopy. Underneath that canopy is a diverse life of trees and bushes, some of which we are familiar with here, such as the Flowering Dogwood. The dominant Dogwood is the white bloomer, but the pink is also found among its canopy trees.
A casual visit to this land is just not enough time to soak it in. Each time I ventured out to photograph, I would see something totally new. From a photographer's view, what you see has everything to do with the light - angle, intensity, color. Early morning is dramatically different than late evening and mid-day with the sun shining, presents the forest "in a totally different light". At times, I ran across varied bird species that I wanted to photograph but could not, because they usually were too shy and elusive to capture with any quality.

This waxwing was one of hundreds feeding on fresh spring seeds in this tree.

Configurations of trees in the forest make interesting scenes. This one caught my eye as I was looking for birds. This place was full of birds, but my eyes met up with the tangled limbs and fauna on the trees and the ground.

To get to these little farms, one often must find the small lanes through the countryside. However, be warned. Everyone participates in informal neighborhood watches. Land owners all have guns and are willing to use them on trespassers.

Deer are plentiful and often large, much larger than our little ones. These were grazing behind the cabin and I photographed them through a window of the cabin.

Turkey are also plentiful. This was during hunting season and we were watching four hens and a gobbler on the slope of this hill.

The Black Vulture in The Woodlands Texas, soars with the Eagles

Over the past few months, I have observed these creatures hanging around the forest. Our Eagles consider them a threat while chicks and Eaglets are in the nest. So there is always one Eagle standing guard, chasing the vultures away from the nest at this vulnerable stage. Both the Bald Eagle and the Black Vulture will soar high above ground, looking for food. It is difficult for a human to ascertain which is which when they are so high. In fact, I can attest to this today. After viewing the young Eagles flying above the high pines of the forest, I left the area and went on to photograph other things, after all, it is spring, and there are no many stories being told in nature every day. This one, however, was not on my list.

As I got out my bazooka lens, I noticed two birds high in the sky. I said to myself, how convenient for them to come to me this time. Wrong! This is the same species of vulture that I have photographed in Colombia. In central Texas, we normally see the much uglier Turkey Vulture, with its red face and fully white wing feathers. The Black Vulture has only the wing tips in white and the face is dark or black.

And the Woodlands Eagles Fully Fledge

They have left the nest! Still nearby, but now enjoying their new-found freedom over the forest. Today, I came up on one perched on a tree limb fairly low to the ground. He was a little rustled by the strong winds, gripping the limb tightly with his talons. His sibling was flying over part of the forest nearby while he seemed to be just resting for the day. No parents were flying nearby for the short time I was observing them.
I did catch the first view of him flying but did not capture it well with the camera lens. He was flying at a very fast speed with the wind. I am presenting the photo anyway.

Both young birds were enjoying their mobility and showed signs of advanced training by soaring through the tree tops. They will be hunting soon.

And the Eaglets prepare for flying lessons

Our Woodlands Bald Eagles are progressively raising their "teenagers" to be good Woodlands residents. One recent warm Spring day in March, this large beautiful creature was enjoying the evening just watching over the forest. It takes many trees to support the Eagle's lifestyle. He has to have security. He seems to be quite content with the quietness about him, like a Teddy Bear. Click to see a larger view.

Up here, you have to get your exercise in the gym provided. Flying along the rim of the nest provides a means to "spread your wings and fly", but go nowhere.

Thank goodness there are such things as tree limbs, allowing a young Eaglet like me to fly a little ways.

When mama comes around, we look for food. But she watches over us to make sure we are OK and this time she brought no food.

When papa arrived at dusk, mama gave him a piece of her mind and chased him off. He didn't bring home the bacon either! And it was his turn. They got back home late and we feasted on a fish that papa brought home. What is a kid to do with parents who argue, anyway? Don't they know, we are sitting here dependent on them? Thank goodness we live in a remote spot and they are comfortable with our safety here. Sometimes, people seem to be a threat though. Tonight, we are fine. Mama and Papa are close by. I think we get a real flying lesson soon. They say we are not ready yet, but soon ... I hope ... can't wait!

Eaglets in The Woodlands

How fast do these guys grow anyway? I have seen two rather large eaglets in their nest this year. They appear black from the ground but are a dark brown. Soon we will see them flying around. So after about two months, they have grown by leaps and bounds and I would guess by their size, about two weeks from attempting to fly! Mama and papa bring various foods, from small animals to large fish for them.
One parent is always close to the nest to ward off predators or just to ensure danger is not imminent. The parents actually talk to their offspring, alerting them to danger or in other cases, what I believe to be an "all clear" message. After waiting some two hours for a glimpse of anything in the nest, I finally just gave up and started to leave. As soon as I walked away, I heard the sound - "all is clear". I turned around and one eaglet poked his head above the nest. He was looking over the area, quite interested in my departure. I reassembled my gear and quietly approached my observation point without any parental intervention. The eaglet was now more positioned over the nest, enough to compose a a few photographs, one of which I am sharing now. I almost stepped on a Brown Snake as I was watching the skies. These was taken near the end of February. Watch the skies, chances are that you will see or at least hear one or more of these majestic birds. I would also keep an eyes on the ground if out in a park or green area. Even though most snakes are not dangerous, you don't want to step on one. Almost all of them will bite, given the right circumstances.

Coming through - Red Winged Blackbird

Among several migrating species I observed today in The Woodlands, was the Red Winged Blackbird. I was not sure the bird was actually the Red Winged since there are other species and this one looked very similar to the Tricolored Blackbird of California. I am accustomed to seeing a brilliantly and distinctively colored wing on the Redwinged in the Texas valley. These birds are a bit shy. This male refused to stay out in the open. He hid in the branches of the tree so that he and I would not be able to see each other. Twice he momentarily was visible.