Images of the Season

Time is a sort of river of passing events, and strong is its current; no sooner is a thing brought to sight than it is swept by and another takes its place, and this too will be swept away.—Marcus Aurelius

At the beginning of each new season we post a new Image of the Season. Past and present Images of the Season appear below in chronological order . . . .

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher at Pilant Lake, Brazos Bend State Park, Texas
Winter 2012-2013: Blue-gray Gnatcatcher at Pilant Lake, Brazos Bend State Park, Texas. The shores of Pilant Lake are hopping with insectivorous birds in winter.
Mated pair of Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks investigating a nest box at Brazos Bend State Park
Spring 2013: Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks at Brazos Bend State Park check settle into new digs around April each year. We look forward to watching for signs of new life everywhere this spring.
Thermoregulating Yellow-crowned Night-Heron at Brazos Bend State Park, Texas
Summer 2013: Thermoregulating Yellow-crowned Night-Heron at Brazos Bend State Park, Texas. Sometimes waders can be seen in this pose on the hottest, most sweltering days. Are they elevating their body temperatures to rid themselves of infections or parasites, or just drying their feathers? Photo taken at 40-Acre Lake.
Snoozing Common Paraque
Fall 2013: Snoozing Common Paraque at Estero Llano Grande State Park, Texas. Effectively camouflaged against the leaf litter, it took me a long time to “see” this bird although I was looking right at it!
Great Blue Heron with Bullfrog
Winter 2013-2014: Great Blue Heron with Bullfrog at Pilant Lake, Brazos Bend State Park. Herons and egrets hunt amphibians in the marshy areas around Pilant Lake year-round—even on cold winter days!
Singing Black-crested Titmouse at Lost Maples SNA, Texas
Spring 2014: The clear high notes of the Black-crested Titmouse are part of spring’s symphony at Lost Maples State Natural Area, Texas.
Male Plain Chachalaca in breeding color with bare red throat patch, Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, Rio Grande Valley, Texas.
Summer 2014: Male Plain Chachalaca in breeding color with bare red throat patch, Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, Rio Grande Valley, Texas.
A Turkey Vulture at Brazos Bend State Park, Texas, in Fall.
Fall 2014: A Turkey Vulture, the ultimate transition metaphor. Brazos Bend State Park, Texas.
Winter 2014-2015: Male Vermilion Flycatcher, Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge, Texas
Winter 2014-2015: The male Vermilion Flycatcher is a standout against a clear blue Texas winter sky. Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge, Texas
Spring: A Swainson's Thrush rests among the yaupon berries at Lafitte's Cove, Galveston Island, Texas. This bird is likely on it's way to Canada for the breeding season.
Spring 2015: A Swainson’s Thrush rests among the yaupon berries at Lafitte’s Cove, Galveston Island, Texas. This bird is likely on it’s way to Canada for the breeding season.
Summer 2015: A Least Chipmunk takes time out to smell the wildflowers. Upper Beaver Meadows, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. Canon EOS 7D/600mm f/4L IS (+1.4x TC).Natural light.
Summer 2015: A Least Chipmunk takes time out to smell the wildflowers. Upper Beaver Meadows, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.
Great Kiskadee, Paradise Pond, Port Aransas, Mustang Island, Texas
Fall 2015: Great Kiskadee, Paradise Pond, Port Aransas, Mustang Island, Texas.
Swimming Clapper Rail, Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge, Texas
Winter 2015-2016: Swimming Clapper Rail, Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge, Texas.
American Wigeon Drake, Lafitte's Cove, Galveston Island, Texas
Spring 2016: American Wigeon Drake, Lafitte’s Cove, Galveston Island, Texas. This bird has pair-bonded and will likely depart for breeding grounds in the north, most likely western Canada.
Female Mountain Bluebird, near "the tree," Beaver Meadows, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
Summer 2016: Female Mountain Bluebird, near “the tree,” Beaver Meadows, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.
Fall 2016: A greedy American Crow crams as many nuts into its mouth as it can! BBSP
Fall 2016: A greedy American Crow crams as many nuts into its mouth as it can! Pilant Lake, BBSP, Texas.
A Gray-crowned Rosy-finch surveys Albuquerque from high above. Sandia Crest, New Mexico.
Winter 2016-2017: A Gray-crowned Rosy-finch surveys Albuquerque from high above. Sandia Crest, New Mexico. Natural light.
Brown Pelican (Pacific Race), Offatt's Bayou, Galveston Island, Texas
Spring 2017: Brown Pelican (Pacific Race), Offatt’s Bayou, Galveston Island, Texas. When will it be time to return to the Pacific Basin?
Pygmy Nuthatch, Rocky Mountain National Park, colorado
Summer 2017: Pygmy Nuthatch, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.
Spring 2018: Canyon Towhee on prickly pear cactus, Cave Creek Canyon, Arizona.
Summer 2018: A Western Tanager sits atop a cluster of elderberries. Portal, Arizona.
Summer 2018: A Western Tanager sits atop a cluster of elderberries. Portal, Arizona.
Young Black-crowned Night-Heron, Paradise Pond, Port Aransas, Texas
Fall 2018: Young Black-crowned Night-Heron, Paradise Pond, Port Aransas, Texas.
Winter 2018-2019: A snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) molts into summer colors after a long bitter winter. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming.

©2013-2019 Christopher R. Cunningham and Elisa D. Lewis. All rights reserved. No text or images may be duplicated or distributed without permission.

2 Responses

  1. All of these shots are rich in color, clarity, texture, detail and surroundings. Both of you set the bar for photographing and documenting at a very high level. You probably do more to bring people to awareness of the beauty and preciousness of bird life and nature in general than a thousand protest marches. Thank you.

    Reply

Leave a Reply