Some 2013 Favorites

The Fantastic Level and the Realistic Level are the two levels upon which we live.—Tennessee Williams

2013 was another great year in the field. Major early trips included northern Wisconsin and Minnesota and a desert road trip through West Texas, New Mexico, and southeast Arizona. Elisa took a family trip to Colorado, mainly for hiking, but she snapped a few photos along the way. Later in the year we took another road trip along the Gulf Coast from Houston to the west coast of Florida with the goal of seeing a few target species. Throughout the year we continued to explore local haunts like Brazos Bend State Park, Galveston Island, and the Coastal Bend—while trying to maintain a sense of humor about the weather, traffic (and maniac drivers), and the general condition of the roads in Texas. Lafitte’s Cove has especially productive during spring migration 2013. During the low-diversity summer, we often focused on botanicals and dragonfly photography and familiarized ourselves with many of the common Gulf Coast species. Now, we eagerly await spring migration 2014!

Snowy Egret blowing bubbles at Elm Lake, Brazos Bend State Park, Texas
Snowy Egret Blowing Bubbles at Elm Lake, Brazos Bend State Park, Texas. Canon EOS 7D/600 mm f/4L IS (+1.4x TC). Natural light.
Yellow-bellied Marmots at Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
Yellow-bellied Marmots at Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. Canon EOS 7D/100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS. Natural light.
Alligator with Bowfin near Pilant Slough, Brazos Bend State Park, Texas
Alligator with Bowfin near Pilant Slough, Brazos Bend State Park, Texas. Canon EOS 7D/600mm f/4L IS (+1.4x TC). High-speed synchronized fill-flash.
Red-eyed Vireo at Lafitte's Cove, Galveston Island, Texas
Bathing Red-eyed Vireo at Lafitte’s Cove, Galveston Island, Texas. Canon EOS 7D/500mm f/4L IS (+1.4x TC). High-speed synchronized fill-flash.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird at Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary, west Houston.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird at Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary, west Houston. Canon EOS 7D/600mm f/4L IS (+1.4x TC). Natural light.
Purple Gallinule with Aquatic Leaf Beetle at Elm Lake, Brazos Bend State Park, Texas
Purple Gallinule with Aquatic Leaf Beetle at Elm Lake, Brazos Bend State Park, Texas. Canon EOS 7D/500mm f/4L IS (+1.4x TC). Natural light.
Great Egret in flight with fish at Hans and Pat Suter City Wildlife Park, Corpus Christi, Texas
Great Egret in Flight with Fish at Twilight at Hans and Pat Suter City Wildlife Park, Corpus Christi, Texas. Canon EOS 7D/600mm f/4L IS (+1.4x TC). Natural light.
Eastern Screech Owl at the Sims Urban Bayou Nature Center.
Eastern Screech Owl at the Sims Bayou Urban Nature Center, Houston. Captive bird. Canon EOS 7D/100mm f/2.8L IS macro. Natural light.
Black and White Warbler at Lafitte's Cove, Galveston Island, Texas
Black and White Warbler at Lafitte’s Cove, Galveston Island, Texas during spring migration 2013. Canon EOS 7D/600mm f/4L IS (+1/4x TC). High-speed synchronized fill-flash.
Pensive Carolina Wren.
Pensive Carolina Wren at Brazos Bend State Park, Texas. Canon EOS 7D/500mm f/4L IS (+1.4x TC). Natural light.

Humans are amphibians – half spirit and half animal. As spirits they belong to the eternal world, but as animals they inhabit time.–C. S. Lewis

 ©2013 Christopher R. Cunningham and Elisa D. Lewis. All rights reserved. No text or images may be duplicated or distributed without permission.

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