All the dark streaks, dots, etc., in the water here are alligators. Because southeast Texas has had so little rain in 2022, lakes, marshes, ponds, etc., are drying up and forcing the gators to share a shrinking habitat. This is in Pilant Lake in Brazos Bend State Park.

Part of the pollen about to be released in copious amounts by a live oak tree

Black swallowtail butterfly at Brazos Bend State Park

Native bee working on a plant in the butterfly garden beside the nature center in Brazos Bend State Park

8-ft long alligator in Pilant Lake in Brazos Bend State Park

Brazos Bend

Wild mustang grapes growing beside the parking lot at the nature center in Brazos Bend State Park

This seems to be a good year for these grapes, as they seem more numerous than usual.

Early morning at Brazos Bend State Park in SE Texas

A red-eared slider tries to soak up some sun on a cloudy day in Brazos Bend State Park.

SE Texas

Yellow-crowned night heron wading in Creekfield Lake. The tall grass is southern wild rice.

Brazos Bend State Park

Wildflower beside Elm Lake in Brazos Bend State Park

Love these new signs. Anyone who follows my photo stream or visits Brazos Bend knows they aren't kidding. I've seen Park visitors being very careless with their dogs and their kids. I've probably been careless with myself a few times while trying to get a picture :) I actually worry more about stepping or crawling onto a snake.

Brazos Bend State Park in SE Texas

Various grasses in the early morning at Brazos Bend State Park.

Brazos Bend Park in SE Texas

Hundreds of coots cross the 40 acre trail at Brazos Bend State Park, SE Texas

This really was quite a scene (at least I thought so:) Click on the image to see one taken a few seconds earlier and focused on the distant line of birds.

A pair of white ibises fly across the trail around 40 Acre Lake, Brazos Bend State Park

Photo taken in Brazos Bend State Park

Eastern gray squirrel alongside the trail around Elm Lake, Brazos Bend State Park

Black swallowtail butterfly at Brazos Bend State Park

Gulf fritillary on one of the hiking paths at Brazos Bend State Park

This is a bit of a strange pose. The ibis was looking back over his/her shoulder.

SE Texas

Great egret at Brazos Bend State Park

Argiope spider beside the trail around Creekfield Lake at Brazos Bend State Park. Gardeners like to see these spiders, as they help keep down the population of damaging insects.

You can get really close to the wildlife at Brazos Bend.

I watched this big guy stare into the muck for about a half hour when suddenly something caught his eye (or do they use sound to sense prey in such muck?)

f5.6, 1/800, 1600 ISO with a 400 mm f5.6 Canon lens. Back when I used 200 ISO slide film I would have just had to watch in such light.

But Grandmother's house isn't there. This is at Brazos Bend State Park at a time when we were getting some occasional rain.

A reprocessed photo from the archives

SE Texas

I had finished my morning shooting, packed up most of my gear and was doing a little reconnaissance for my next trip, when I came across this bird. I'm glad I still had a camera and an intermediate zoom lens with me.

Fog rising off the water of Elm Lake in Brazos Bend State Park

Gulf fritillary feeding on some Texas lantana near the nature center at Brazos Bend State Park

I've been having a great time watching these little birds!

Brazos Bend State Park, SE Texas

Brazos Bend State Park in SE TExas

Golden orb weaver and a male spider, possibly her mate

Brazos Bend State Park

An anhinga stretches its wings out to dry beside 40 Acre Lake, Brazos Bend State Park

Brazos Bend State Park

Young red-eared slider in Creekfield Lake, Brazos Bend State Park