Bob Jones Nature Center, January 2015

It's been a pretty gloomy January thus far. Today was the first sunny day in at least a week, which of course meant I was itching to get out and shoot. Today's destination: the Bob Jones Nature Center on the opposite side of Grapevine Lake.

The very friendly and helpful office manager, Elaine Parry, gave me a lot of great information about the area trails and local history.  The sun was fairly high in the sky by the time I left the visitor center, and its warmth felt fantastic.

Post oak woodlands ring the nature center property, encircling land undergoing prairie restoration.  The hiking trails are well-maintained mowed grass.

Off the nature center property there are more trails on land maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.  Signage is limited, and could probably be a bit more specific. ;)

I saw a group of four white-tailed deer on the trail but wasn't able to get a clear shot of them.  So when I got back to the nature center I decided to hang out by their feeders for a bit to see who came to help themselves.  Not surprisingly, a red squirrel was one of the first.

If you can change your focus quickly enough, the photobomber can become the subject.  Hello, Chipping Sparrow!

Like back in Colorado, the American Goldfinches had the heartiest appetites.  I don't know why they throw so many good seeds on the ground, though.

"Room for one more?"

"NO!  We're full!"

"All right, but four is the absolute maximum.  Everybody keep a sharp eye out for intruders!"

I also saw Northern Cardinals, Eastern Bluebirds, Carolina Chickadees, Dark-eyed Juncos and a Pileated Woodpecker during my initial visit to the Bob Jones Nature Center.  A nice place that I look forward to coming back to!