Spider - probably a wolf spider - minus a leg on the trail around Old Horseshoe Lake in Brazos Bend State Park

One more shot of this fellow. Brazos Bend State Park in SE Texas

There wasn't much light. Shot at ISO 3200 to get 1/125 wide open (f5.6). I probably wouldn't have even considered this shot with film or my early digital cameras.

Copyright 2010 Rhonda Holcomb

The mother has a nasty-looking wound on her side.

Brazos Bend State Park in SE Texas

A pair of alligators in Elm Lake at Brazos Bend State Park. The larger one (top) is bellowing at the other, and I have no idea why.

The larger one is about ten feet (3 m) long. At that size, it is almost certainly a male. If the other is female, he may have been showing off and trying to mate with her, though it would surprise me that they'd do that this late in the year.

American Alligators

Brazos Bend State Park, Texas.

Young alligator - probably about two ears old - in Creekfield Lake in Brazos Bend State Park

Each year I look forward to this holiday decorated windmill.

Brazos Bend State Park in SE Texas. - 11/2022.

Little blue heron forages in the shallows beside the bank of Creekfield Lake in Brazos Bend State Park. It is surrounded by water lettuce, a floating plant that resembles a head of lettuce and has become invasive in many parts of the park.

Snowy egret perches on the hand rail of the spillway bridge in Brazos Bend State Park

And with the girls be handy.....

While walking the trail around Creekfield Lake at Brazos Bend State Park, I was scanning the waters of the lake to see if there was anything worth shooting a picture of, and almost stepped on this bad boy. It briefly opened its eyes then went back to snoozing in the January sun.

Orchard spider and its web beside the trail around 40 Acre Lake in Brazos Bend State Park

Golden silk spider, a.k.a. banana spider, a.k.a. golden orb weaver, beside the trail around Creekfield Lake at Brazos Bend State Park. The term 'orb weaver' comes from the pattern of the web they spin. The pattern consists of strands of concentric circles with spokes radiating out of the center. The park has several species of orb weavers, and they all construct basically the same kind of web.

Brazos Bend State Park

Many cattle egrets were happily gathering sticks today to build their nests near Forty-Acre Lake.

Snowy egret patrols the spillway at Brazos Bend State Park

Great blue heron works its way through the undergrowth in the shallows of Pilant Lake in Brazos Bend State Park

Tricolored heron wading in Elm Lake at Brazos Bend State Park

Brazos Bend State Park, Texas

The waters of Elm Lake in Brazos Bend State Park look tranquil, but they contain plenty of alligators.

Looking from the south end toward the north end of Creekfield Lake, Brazos Bend State Park

Brazos Bend State Park

Brazos Bend State Park, Texas

Snacking on a very small crawfish.

Brazos Bend State Park, Texas.

In Brazos Bend State Park

Looks like a crabby old professor to me :)

SE Texas

Large alligator - about 11 ft. (3.3 m) long - lounging beside the trail around Elm Lake in Brazos Bend State Park

Passion flower growing beside the nature center at Brazos Bend State Park

Vermilion flycatcher in a tree beside 40 Acre Lake at Brazos Bend State Park

It wouldn't be summer if I didn't post a YCNH with a crawfish. Brazos Bend State Park in SE Texas

40 Acre Lake at Brazos Bend State Park, early in the morning before the wind has set up ripples on the water

Plain but delicate-looking wildflower beside the Pilant Slough Trail

Red-bellied woodpecker building a nest in a dead tree at Brazos Bend State Park

Golden silk spider, a.k.a. banana spider, and its web at Brazos Bend State Park

Monarch butterfly feeding on a Texas lantana at Brazos Bend State Park on New Year's Day

Alligator in Elm Lake on a sunny January day, Brazos Bend State Park

This bird seemed half asleep. Perhaps night herons don't wake up until the sun is a little lower in the sky.........

A great egret stretches out its wings alongside the Spillway Trail in Brazos Bend State Park

Brazos Bend State Park, SE Texas

Brazos Bend State Park in SE Texas - 11/2020

Alligator in Elm Lake at Brazos Bend State Park

Nutria in the midst of several birds, including common gallinules and a blue-winged teal

Beautiful New Years Day in SE Texas!

My best to all of you in this new year.

Growing near the nature center in Brazos Bend State Park

It was foggy when I left the house and the fog got denser as I drove to the Park. I decided to leave the big lens in the car and go out with a tripod-mounted short zoom. I was so peaceful out there!

Brazos Bend State Park, SE Texas

Photo taken in Brazos Bend State Park

This yellow-crowned night heron looks a little worse for wear beside Elm Lake, Brazos Bend State Park

Somewhat easy to mistake for a monarch butterfly, particularly if you don't see it up close

Taken during the annual butterfly count at Brazos Bend State Park, Texas