Birds you don't see everyday

[FDCPR]

After a night of insomnia I went to the lake at sunrise to see the different wildlife available at this time. These birds may be normal to some people, but this is the first time I have seen them.

This first one I almost stepped on in tall grass and at first I thought it was a chicken.

Here he is basically running up the face of the dam. and by the way it is not a chicken but is called a Moorhen.



Here he stopped in a less elevated area of the dam and gave me a little view.



This guy and his buddies were resting in the trees beside the lake. Smooth-billed Ani



A different look at another Smooth-billed Ani, this shows off the bill very well. Doesn't look smooth to me. Sometimes insomnia has it benefit.

[pjflan7]

Love that bird scrambling up the dam. Just frightened out of its wits....keep getting up early, you're getting great shots

[A-O]

now these are very interesting captures...
you're right... it's not an everyday birds...
great find and thanks for sharing...

[Chip]

The early photographer catches the bird?

I like the abstractness of the first shot. And the smooth billed ani is sure something I've never seen before. Nice work.

[Fred flyfisher]

Hey Fred, tell me about insomnia... I'm finally off graveyard for awhile now adjusting to normalcy...LOL. You got a really great set here. I love the first one. I had to read your description. I never would have guessed it was running up the face of the dam. Wow. You got an outstanding panned shot buddy.

[sparda79]

It took me quite a while to get the 1st pic, even after reading ur description. ha ha...

[praline3001]

That first shot is really cool! It has a real artistic feel to it!

[FDCPR]

Originally Posted by pjflan7

Love that bird scrambling up the dam. Just frightened out of its wits....keep getting up early, you're getting great shots

haha, I don't know who was frightened the most, me or the bird. My foot only missed him by a few inches, I was stalking a Blue Heron at the time and not really paying attention to what was close to hand. He jumped, I jumped and the Heron flew away.

Originally Posted by A-O

now these are very interesting captures...
you're right... it's not an everyday birds...
great find and thanks for sharing...

Thanks, I had never seen these before and showed the pictures to several locals and they asked if I took the photos here. I just laughed and told them yes.

Originally Posted by Chip

The early photographer catches the bird?
I like the abstractness of the first shot. And the smooth billed ani is sure something I've never seen before. Nice work.

Chip, yep, you got that right. Chasing the birds here is fun, I can go to this area at different times and see way different birds. Morning has some strange ones, mid day a different group and evening a totally different set. I want to try going at night if I can get a few other people to join me. PR is not the safest place I have ever lived.
Fred

Originally Posted by Fred flyfisher

Hey Fred, tell me about insomnia... I'm finally off graveyard for awhile now adjusting to normalcy...LOL. You got a really great set here. I love the first one. I had to read your description. I never would have guessed it was running up the face of the dam. Wow. You got an outstanding panned shot buddy.

Fred, insomnia is a tough problem, I've lived with it for several years. After a few weeks of one or two hours of sleep for about every three days awake I will collapse for a full day. Anyway this little guy was hauling up the dam face and more of a run than flying.
Fred

Originally Posted by sparda79

It took me quite a while to get the 1st pic, even after reading ur description. ha ha...

hahaha, it is kind of abstract and most people don't expect to see a bird run straight up a wall

Originally Posted by praline3001

That first shot is really cool! It has a real artistic feel to it!

Thanks, cool or weird I can't figure out which but I like it.
Fred