♫ 'Tis the season to shoot sparrows, fa-la-la-la-la....♫

[sandboa]

After reading Icephoto's Texas Photo Blinds blog recently, I found out that Pedernales Falls State Park had built a new improved photo blind. So I sped up there last week and spent some time checking it out. Needless to say, it was overcast and rainy the whole time.

One of the things I like about this spot and South Llano River State Park's blinds is that you get an interesting diversity of sparrows in the winter. This trip was no exception.

(I'll post non-sparrows in a separate post)

Field Sparrows are pretty easy to come by in a large part of the state, but they are still cute -



I saw, but didn't get any decent photos of Dark-eyed Juncos, so I'll cheat with an older shot from the same spot (when there was sun...backlighting all the birds )



The sparrow star for the day for me was this gorgeous Fox Sparrow. Don't you hate it....as soon as you get food in your mouth someone pulls out the camera!



OK, so House Finches aren't sparrows, but they look like them -



Rufous-crowned Sparrows are more common in western Texas but show up on this edge of the hill country -



But my favorite sparrow at this spot (and one of my favorite sparrows) is certainly the Spotted Towhee. They are really common here and very pretty photo subjects -




So the blind is nice, sparrows are fun photo subjects, and that's all I have.

C&C always appreciated.

Chris

[lfmerrell]

♫ 'Tis the season to shoot sparrows, fa-la-la-la-la....♫ - Today, 01:10 AM

Admit, you knew some demented soul would post this link.

Tom Lehrer - Poisoning Pigeons In The Park - now on DVD - YouTube

Tom Lehrer - Poisoning Pigeons In The Park - now on DVD - YouTube

[houtex01]

Very nice array of Sparrow photos...my fav is the Tohee...

Ron

[scottbuckel]

Very nice series of images. I like the pose of the Field Sparrow, the Rufous-crowned would have been a lifer for me. I need to plan a trip out to the Hill Country.

Scott

[Stargazer77517]

I agree very nice captures of the sparrows, didnt see the elusive Jack Sparrow.....oh wait, Nevermind
South Llano River State Park's blinds are some of the best I have ever been in. Wished I could have spent more time there. Its on the return list for sure.

[Fireball]

Love the Spotted Towhee! We saw them for the first time here last year. Hope they come back again.

[corralup]

Neat! Appreciate the link. Next year or if my job takes me that way first I'd like to check these Parks out again.

[Bayskiff]

Good shots Chris, been seeing a few Spotted Towhee here.

[Patti Edens]

Wonderful images, Chris. I really like the Finch the best - lovely background.

[slickshooter]

Great shots Chris
Good job on the tohees.There were some fox sparrows in Bear Creek Park in Houston a few weeks ago,but I couldn't get a clear shot of one.Great find and shot by the way.

[icephoto]

Thanks for the shout-out, Chris, and nice shots--especially on the Spotted Towhees and the Fox Sparrow. I have to give credit where credit is due to jasond for letting me know about the building of the new blind. Or maybe it was more just reminding me why I needed to come home to Texas, I think, as I was away in Ohio going to school when it opened up and he made some fine shots out of it.

I haven't been back in a while--I need to go back.

-jim

[Jim Victory]

Outstanding variety of captures! Love the Towhee.