May in South Texas

I had a great trip to South Texas last week.  Temps were a bit warm, but still quite a bit of bird action.  I'm posting a few shots (not great quality) of a few birds I saw while driving around working.

Lots of doves on the ranch this year.  This one was just begging to have it's photo taken.

Northern Bobwhite Quail...always hanging out under the feeders.  It's been a great year for quail down south!

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher...always one of my favorites!

Haven't ID'ed this bird yet.  Maybe a Least or Western Sandpiper?  A group of four stopped over for a rest in a puddle after a brief rainstorm.

Obviously not a bird...but a cool photo anyway!!

Eastern Kingbird hanging around the windmill...and the water.
  

First time seeing a Groove-billed Ani!  Very cool bird to watch in the field.

Hermit Thrush hanging out under some vegetation near the water.  Seems like most critters are already staying near the windmills due to the drought. 
                                                                        

This little Barn Owl's parents weren't too excited when I poked my head inside their hiding place.  But, he produced a nice smile for the camera!



All in all a great trip.  A lot of work done, some flying in the helicopter, and a few nice bird photos.  I'll be adding some better quality photos to the galleries in the next few days...so check back soon!  

Until next time!
Brad

Neighborhood in Bloom

Our neighborhood is beginning to resemble a painting!  All the fruit trees along the sidewalks are in bloom and everyone's yard looks like a crayon box full of colors.  Can't wait for all the blooms to turn into plums and cherries!!

Ready for Summer in Oregon

Well...we've been getting out when the weather allows and we're ready for our first full summer in Oregon! Had a great trip to Cape Lookout near Tillamook, on the beautiful Oregon coast last weekend. We saw grey whales on their northerly migration, a juvenile bald eagle soaring right over our heads and some spectacular views off the trail on the way in.

I can't wait to get out and start capturing some great photos in the upcoming weeks...and I'll be updating the blog more frequently!

Talk to you soon!
Brad

The Big Move

Well, we're finally here...Oregon!!  It took a while but we made the move and are getting settled.  Kids start school in two weeks and work is awesome.  Lindi already has the house feeling like home and the weather is so great.  I look forward to many great photos up here...and more of south TX when I'm down at the ranch for work.  

More coming soon...

Brad

New Photo Uploads

Hi folks!  Uploaded some new photos tonight in the Recent Uploads gallery.  I haven't captioned or added key words, so they're kind of random.  Thanks for looking! 

http://bradwatsonphotography.com/2/99085/#/gallery/recent-uploads/

Another South Texas Trip

Had a great visit down to south Texas last week...and no that's not the only place I ever visit. I just happen to have a great client down there and he let's me do all kinds of cool stuff on his ranch. Last week I flew the ranch in an R44 helicopter and performed an aerial census of the wildlife on the ranch. We saw some nice bucks, javelinas, coyotes, and a few other things...but flying around in the chopper was cool enough...even if we hadn't seen anything...and thanks for the help Scott.

I'm posting a couple photos...you have to click on the one below to really get a feel for it. Until next time!

Louisiana Trip

Just got back from a nice trip to Louisiana. Started off in Shreveport on Tuesday for work, went to Baton Rouge on Wednesday for a meeting, and ended up at home tonight. With the work driving included I drove over 30 hours in three days...but I got some nice photos on the way home!

I stopped by the Atchafalaya NWR as I always do if I'm in Louisiana anywhere near I10 and Baton Rouge...then went to a new place called Martin Lake, just south of Breaux Bridge. I read about Martin Lake in a magazine and it's a great spot for viewing wildlife...mostly wading birds and reptiles. The levee trail was closed due to aggressive female gators guarding nests...so I was a bit bummed about that...but sub-adult gators were basking and swimming around in other areas.

I'll get the shots from the trip uploaded to the galleries soon.

Thanks to Jennifer and our GREAT client for a wonderful trip and thanks to the guys for dinner last night...a 2 lbs porterhouse is never a bad thing! I'll end with that...and hopefully have something to post soon from down south...planning on a little snake adventure in the next couple weeks...I'll keep you posted.