parks – Living, Loving, Laughing….

I scoured through my photos looking over my silhouette images. Many, I have blogged about before. Most notably, the Sunset of Fire post, and San Diego’s Ocean Beach post. The pictures of silhouettes in those truly make me swoon.

But I wanted to feature something different. Something I haven’t displayed before, and not a typical set of sunset, or beach photos (although I love those).

That’s when I remembered a time I took photos of some interesting silhouettes at the local park.

There is a nugget of a nature walk nestled on the West side of Fort Worth, Texas. It’s a place known as Trinity Trails. They go all over Fort Worth, but one of my favorite spots is off I-30 and around the University area. I have trained for two half-marathons here and know the markers, and sights, pretty well. But of course, there is always something different to see depending on the season, and time of year. And most especially, when you go with camera in hand, and not a water bottle, and Garmin strapped on.

It is a very picturesque park. I was adoring this view when I turned to see a crazy display of birds flying overhead.

Not just one or two, but a HUGE flock.

Then, I noticed something else. These are not just “birds”. These are ducks.

A swarm, a flock……a multitude of water fowl.

More ducks than I have ever seen at one time. And they were in the trees too. All OVER the trees in fact.

It was peculiar, and magical at the same time.

I am not absolutely certain, but I believe they could be wood ducks on a migration from Canada. The photos were taken in January during our Texas winter (which is similar to Canada’s summertime).

They were mostly brown in color with yellow/orange beaks. According to Texas wildlife, they could be whistling ducks (if they are native). Or it is possible they are mallards in the midst of molting. The mallard males can look like females when molting. I’m not a hunter of ducks, although I have Labrador Retriever (ha!), but per the powers of Google, this was as close as I could guess.

I might be completely wrong and they are some sort of brown Geese.

It doesn’t really matter to me what they are, I just love nature. I love seeing unique opportunities like this against this beautiful Texas background.

I am sure there is some reason why they chose this place to rest. Or Maybe, they were just exploring too.

There is a way that nature speaks, that land speaks. Most of the time we are simply not patient enough, quiet enough, to pay attention to the story. -Linda Hogan

Check out other entries for silhouette here: The Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge.

Edit: The wonderful and talented Wildlife Photographer Phil Lanoue has helped me identify these wonderful creatures. They are Cormorants, particularly double-crested Cormorants that winter in Texas from November to May. They are a water fowl that eats fish. I am thinking the fisherman of the Trinity were coming up short because of these fellas. Big thanks to Phil!

The third weekend in April is not just Palm Sunday, but the peak of the Texas Bluebonnets. A Texas staple in our land.

I think my mom’s words to me went something like….. Dig some of those up and bring them to me to plant. I love the bluebonnets………. And most people who have seen them feel the same way, but in Texas, I’m pretty sure that’s illegal (plus, she lives in Oklahoma, heh!).

I wouldn’t want to pick them anyway. With their sea of blue, they are just too pretty to touch.

Before my injury we took the girls to Cedar Hill State Park. They have a place called Penn Farm. It was a working farm until the 1980’s. It is now a place to explore and read about Texas farming and equipment. There are several barns, houses, a windmill, and yes, even a bluebonnet field. It’s a photographer’s dream place.

Don’t leave home without your Dad’s old iPhone. You might need it in the bluebonnet field. I don’t think she wanted to miss her iPod music. LOL!

A stunning place with beautiful subjects. If you live in Texas, I urge to get a look at these gorgeous fields. NOT THE ROADSIDE BLUEBONNETS, but the REAL fields of them. They can be found in most of the state parks. There is also a Bluebonnet Festival in Ennis this weekend. In addition, many flowers and activities are on display at Clark Gardens. It is a must-see for the Texas Bluebonnets and worth the drive from the metroplex.

Wherever you are, I hope the weather is nice and you can get out and enjoy it. I can’t believe this is our peak spring season in Texas. That means the brutal summer heat is pushing at our backs, ready to knock us down, and fry our grass blades to a crispy brown. I may have a sprained ankle, but I am armed with a walking boot and I know how to use it. I will hobble along to one of these gorgeous sites before the flowers of Texas fade for another year.

The State Flower of Texas – the bluebonnet.