Hummers & Bats - (Concan, TX)

We were up early since we had to be at our first Nature Quest function at 7:30.

This morning, we were attending a hummingbird banding session with Bob & Martha Sargent of the Hummer/Bird Study Group.

These folks are experts on hummingbirds, and we have attended their migratory bird bandings in Gulf Shores, Alamaba numerous times.

Today, they were just capturing and banding hummers using a cage around feeders and a remote line to close the door when a hummer entered.

The folks watching the banding process ask lots of questions, and they are allowed to release the tiny birds.  It's a thrill for many.  :)

Check out this handsome male Black-chinned Hummingbird.

The Black-chinned hummers were the most prevalent, but we did have a few Ruby-throated Hummingbirds as well.

If the light hits their gorget feathers just right, it is easy to tell the male Black-chinned from the male Ruby-throated.  But often these feathers appear all black on both birds when the light does not hit them directly.

The females of the two species are almost impossible to distinguish unless you have them in hand.

Here's Linda with Bob as he displays the two different males.

It didn't take long before Linda was in the "Recorder's" seat.  :)

In my typical fashion, I wandered off.  More pictures.  This one is a beautiful Hooded Oriole on top of a Yucca bloom stalk.

This good looking dude is a Lark Sparrow.

I actually went home to return some emails, while Linda stuck around until I picked her up around noon.  She said they banded over fifty hummingbirds and not one of them was a recapture from today.  Unbelievable.

I then went to an afternoon nature photography workshop.  The good news is that a lot of my instincts are right on target.  The bad news is that professional photography is a lot more complicated than I want to get into - and expensive as well.

Our instructor, Larry Ditto, is a professional.  He says he spends 90% of his time in front of a computer.  Yikes!  I don't want to work that hard.  :)

He showed us his main camera, lens, tripod, etc.  Total cost- somewhere around $15,000!  Nope.  That ain't happenin' either.  :)

Eventually we went outside to take some shots.

All the photography functions are taking place in the town of Utopia on the Sabinal River.  The location is "Utopia On The River" bed & breakfast.

We went out into a field to practice.  I didn't find anything I was interested in shooting.  Until, however, this lovely butterfly came along.

Later, we went behind the B & B to the Sabinal River.

This has to be the biggest Bald Cypress tree I have ever seen.

Larry took a few of us out into the river to get some shots of this little waterfall.  Of course, the others had water shoes with them.  Not me.  I waded across the river, across the rocks, and back into the river barefoot.  Ouch!

I would have loved to have stayed out there longer, but my feet were killing me and I just knew I was going to fall and ruin my camera.  :)

I got a few quick shots and gingerly stepped back to my shoes.  This one was my favorite.

With that, we called it quits for the day, and I drove home.  Back home Linda had taken a three hour nap and was busy watching the birds as some clouds rolled in.

Our Summer Tanager returned for a look around.

And a House Finch took part in our seed feeder on the window.

So we had hummers on both hummingbird window feeders and the finch on the window seed feeder.  Of course you can also see two more feeders and a bird bath in the yard.  :)

Then, suddenly, a pair of Hooded Orioles decided to try one of the hummingbird feeders.

The male jumped on while the female looked on peeking in our window.  :)

Finally, we ate a quick meal of leftover crockpot roast before we had to be at the evening event - a tour of a local bat cave.

We arrived at the bat cave to the most amazing site.  Thousands upon thousands of Mexican Free-tail Bats were pouring out of the cave.

There was just a steady stream of bats and bat clouds all around.

We were surprised that we could get right up to the edge of the cave.

Another view from above the cave opening.

One of the guides found an injured bat on the ground, so she displayed it for everyone.

Now, once the bats arrive in early spring, this mass exodus from the cave happens every night throughout the summer.  And guess what, the hawks know it. 

Hawks gathered around the spectacle and they would dive into the stream of bats and pick off dinner.

Red-tail Hawks were extremely adept at this feeding technique.  Once they picked off a bat, they would find a tree to eat and then go back for more.  The Swainson's Hawk was not quite as good at catching the bats, but when they did, they ate them in mid-air.

This was one of the coolest things we have ever witnessed.  Linda kept thinking to herself "I can't believe we get to do this kind of thing!.  :)

The bats kept coming.  The waves go on for two, three, sometimes five hours each night.  They fly many, many miles and feed before returning each morning.

It really was a site to behold.  Here we have bats as specks against the Hill Country evening sky.

What an experience!  We finally pulled ourselves away and went home.

Another amazing day!  :)

Comments

[anita]

Hey what happened to the guy that headed to the house as soon as the first bat appeared over the pond?
You were right, I am loving your stay there. Just keep the pictures coming.
Ieven got Dad to read the Journal and look at the pictures on the computer.
Talk aboutprogress.

[Gary Watts]

Howard,

We stayed at Parkview Riverside Feb 11-15, on the site immediately adjacent to the site that you are on now. We loved it there. We are not big on birding, but we do very much enjoy the deer of which there was an abundance in the area.

We went directly to Big Bend from Parkview, intending to stop one night on the way, but ended-up making a one-day trip.

Don't underestimate the "Big" part of Big Bend.....it is FIFTY MILES from the park entrance to the campground.

In a ocuple more days, we complete our fourth month out here full-timing it. We enjoy the traveling, & I enjoy writing about it @ www.mytripjournal.com/werewinginit.

Enjoy Parkview & the Bend!!!!!

Gary

[Kathy Salsbury]

Beautiful photos as always. To my eye, and I am sure, your legion of followers, your photos are professional quality.

Coincidentally, we were at Carlsbad Caverns today. We missed the bat flight. Wished we had stayed!

[Jim & Pat]

Great pictures Howard!! Love the shots of the hummers in the fingers, just like holding a peanut!

I see how the hummers are confined in the wire cages for banding, but can you explain how they are actually picked up without hurting them? They look so delicate. Jim

[MARILYN]

Wow that's awesome. Sure enjoying your pictures. Can't wait to get to Mo. where I'll put out our hummer feeder and bird feeders. Looking forward to that. Have a great day you two. Miss you.

[Sue]

Howard,

I love ALMOST all of the photos you've taken for the journal so far...the deer, bobcat, butterflies, snakes, birds, plants, sunsets, campgrounds... but I have to draw the line at...gulp...the bats... cringe...!! Baaddd personal experience... For the first time EVER, I had to skip over (oh the horror!!) some of your entry! Looking forward though, as always, to the next entry! :))