Wednesday, June 22, 2016

UT Southwestern Medical Center Rookery: June 2016

It had been about a month since I'd last visited the UT Southwestern Medical Center rookery, which meant it was time once again to visit my favorite target-rich environment for bird shots!

Great Egret Chicks, UT Southwestern Medical Center Rookery
You've got all stages of young birds there now, including this trio of Great Egret chicks.

Cattle Egret, UT Southwestern Medical Center Rookery
The Cattle Egrets are mostly nesting tantalizingly close to the perimeter trail, but still obscured by branches.  Tricky to get an unobscured view of one.

Great Egret Feather, UT Southwestern Medical Center Rookery
This lone Great Egret feather certainly looks better hanging from a branch than adorning a ladies' hat.

Snowy Egret, UT Southwestern Medical Center Rookery
Mama Snowy Egret watching over a young chick.

Juvenile Great Egret, UT Southwestern Medical Center Rookery
I brought my teenage son to give him a change of pace from sitting around the house asking for food.  We watched other juveniles sit around their homes and ask for food.

Nesting Cattle Egret, UT Southwestern Medical Center Rookery
Mama Cattle Egret likely incubating some eggs.

Cattle Egret, UT Southwestern Medical Center Rookery
Cattle Egret auditioning for the next Mad Max movie.

The Texas heat and high concentration of residents has the rookery particularly ripe right now.  But if you can stand the stench, the visit is always worth it!

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