Happy Halloween from a Scruffy Black American Vulture

Halloween Dance of the Vultures Rehearsal

Resident colony of American Black Vultures in Bear Creek Pioneers Park on rehearsal for Halloween spook night, or so it seems. Seen a couple of weeks before the big event. The imposing and eminently useful creatures can be observed there regularly in and near the pen that houses the pot-bellied pigs -- and on light posts, trees, and roof tops -- but they rarely strike this kind of pose.

Flooded Bear Creek Park proves popular with ibises

Sections of Bear Creek Pioneers Park are currently closed because of high water. 

The ibises, which unlike the black vultures are not seen as commonly in the reservoir, seem to like it.

American White Ibis (Eudocimus albus)

Two American white ibises foraging for food, which consists
 of small aquatic prey, such as insects, crayfish, and small fishes.

Colony of ibises foraging for food in flooded meadow

Dragonflies come in many colors - Houston area wetlands

Little blue dragonflies out in force in George Bush Park after heavy rains (11/1/2013 pic)

This dragonfly  is special, featuring two colors: green and blue. Monochromatic ones are more common.
Spotted in Bear Creek Pioneers Park, which is currently partially flooded as a result of heavy rains in the watershed, is heavily frequented by dragonflies (and ibises).

The pics below show a variety of dragonflies, in different colors, that are common in the West Houston area.

 

 

Ibis sighting on Buffalo Bayou (updated)

Ibis on Buffalo Bayou - They are abundant in 2014

and present in many locations, including flooded fields after rain.

Ibis with its characteristic curved bill on Buffalo Bayou
between Barker Dam floodgate and SH6
October 2013 photo

Highway 6 Buffalo Bayou Bridge - Point of confluence of Buffalo Bayou
 (spillway downstream from the flood gate) and drainage channels outside the dam
(which bring in water from North and South) is a good birding spot.
Great whit egrets, night herons, and blue herons are more commonly seen there. Ibises are exceptional.

Snake swimming in Barker Reservoir ditch

Snake swimming in water-filled ditch alongside North-South trail in George Bush Park after rain
October 2013

Unofficial Public Bayou Art: Graffiti on Public Works Structures (updated)

Dam Shack at Buffalo Bayou Gate on Barker Dam (Feb 2014)

Graffiti on flood gate at Barker Dam / Buffalo Bayou gate

Grafitti on Highway 6 retaining wall at Addicks Dam

Landscape in October

Barker Reservoir behind the Dam

Butterflies in October and November

Buckeye in George Bush Park (11/1/2013)

Gulf Fritillary (profile view)

Admiral butterfly

Gulf Fritillary (top view)

Common Buckeye on the ground with wings spread

Gulf fritillary with wings folded

Red Dragonfly

Birdwatching on Buffalo Bayou in the Fall