Great Egret spends time in self reflection

A Great Egret, Ardea Albus, finds that fishing is a great time for self-reflection.  The shot is at Shangri La Botanical Gardens in Orange, TX

--steve buser

Great Egret, Ardea Albus, Texas, nature

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Part wagon, part future.

If you remember the wheels on this car, you've enjoyed a long life. I bet you have some real stories to tell.

Notice the wood spokes in the wheels. I guess I had seen that before but never paid much attention.

Things have come a long way, haven't they?

I guess the bullet hole decals are someone's idea of authenticity. I would have preferred a 1924 newspaper sitting on the running board or something. Maybe a gramophone in the back seat.

None the less, it is two works of art: the original machine and the hundreds of hours I am sure it took to restore it. The car was at the classic show at Crockett Street in Beaumont this weekend.

--steve buser

Crockett Street, Beaumont, Texas, antique, classic, car

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Egret chicks get first world view

Take a gander down at the bottom in the middle of the pictures. That's where the little chicks are just starting to peek out of the nest. They are just starting to get a glimpse at the wide world out there. Well, at least,they are getting a look around the small lake that acts as their heronry at the Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Preserve.
--steve buser

Orange, Texas Heronry
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Latch nest chicks

Where's Mom? She said she was just running to the store for a few minutes. She should be back by now.

A couple egret chicks wait for food -- they seemed to stay in a state of hunger -- not realizing how long it takes mom how long it takes to get the food they need.

The photo is from Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center in Orange, TX.

--steve buser

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Glowing glory

Another lily from our recent visit to Shangri La a couple weeks ago.   One of these days I am going to start bringing a notebook along to capture notes,  like the name of the flower and other important details like that.  Meanwhile, just enjoy the beauty.
--steve buser

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Scratch my neck and I will scratch yours

Your job, should you decide to accept it, is to figure out how this Roseate Spoonbill scratches that long neck. Or is this one of the fairy tale stories where the birds have to figure out that the only way to scratch their necks with that large spoonbill is to let another spoonbill do it.

I bet it makes for a better marriage anyway. This shot is at the Shangri La Botanical Gardens in Orange, Texas.
--steve buser

Roseate Spoonbill, Orange, Texas, Shangri La Botanical Gardens

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Stick built house for Cattle Egrets

A Cattle Egret, (Bubulcus ibis), has found a real treasure just below his nest -- a stick. The stick will make a fine addition to his tree-branch home at the heronry here at Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center in Orange Texas.

This the breeding season for the birds and all their egret and heron cousins -- their nests are branch to branch with each other through out the several acres of trees lining the small lake - the safety and plentiful food attract them.
-steve buser

Cattle Egret, Shangri La Botanical Gardens, Orange, Texas
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Baby Egrets play mom

"Do you want to practice this eating thing again so that when Mom gets home we don't look so awkward?"

"Okay, but this time I get to play Mom. Open up."

Two baby egrets, feathers not yet fully formed, while away the time playing what is probably the only game they know. They are waiting until Mom or Dad get back to feed them, with whatever they have eaten.

The two are resting in a nest about 10 to 15 feet above the water in the lake at the Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center in Orange, TX - a favorite tourist destination.
--steve buser

Egrets, Shangri La Botanical Gardens, Orange, Texas

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Shangri OOOOh La La ---

This purple Water Lily greets the visitor on the way to the back gardens in Shangri La Boganical Gardens and Nature Center in Orange, Texas. It is at the front of a small clear pool. The dragon fly is apparently a fixture too. As I walked up to take a picture, he flew away. As I stood there preparing for the shot, he flew back and took the same position. Then I moved to adjust my angle. He flew away again. After about 10 seconds, he figured I was no threat -- anyone who carries their third eye around in their hand can be much of a menace. He came back and landed in the same place-- almost opposite the flower from me. I quickly took my shots and moseyed on, leaving him guarding his flower.

I had 252 acres of intense eye candy to take in - a gathering storm was starting to rumble off in the distance.

--steve buser

Shangri La Boganical Gardens and Nature Center, Lily, Orange, Texas

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