View allAll Photos Tagged naturebokeh
Explored 2/26/25 - It's an honor to be recognized by my peers for my hobby. Thanks for the views, favs, and comments!
Extremely common (to the point of being overly so) and mostly nuisance birds, they are entertaining to watch and when in breeding season, the males put on a wonderful display that shows off iridescent black feathers and amazing tail. In Port Aransas, Texas at the Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center. (But could be anywhere in South Texas)
Wild olive is tree that blooms with beautiful white flowers in spring, and then develops fruit that birds and other wildlife enjoy. The fruit is reportedly safe for humans to eat in small quantities but is not very tasty. Also known as Texas olive, they only found truly wild in the very deep southern part of the state and in northern Mexico. Many people cultivate them because that are beautiful, hardy trees. My grandparents had a very large one in their backyard for all of my childhood. This particular tree was on private property near Rockport, Aransas County, Texas in June 2020.
A cardinal with a little extra flare. Her head is almost all white due to a condition called leucism which means a lack of pigmentation. It differs from albinism in that the eyes are not affected. She has been showing up to the feeders and birdbaths in my yard and the surrounding property since this past summer.
Montell, Uvalde County, Texas
Brilliant orange/golden dragonfly. I'm not sure of the ID, but it seems right for wandering glider. Near Rockport, Aransas County, Texas in June 2020
In April 2022, I accidentally came upon a hummingbird that was nesting. I was careful not to disturb her and she allowed me to take a few pictures. This was my first one that I got of her. She is a black-chinned hummingbird. Her nest is a work of art.
Montell, Uvalde County, Texas
This rufous hummingbird had an itch to scratch. That tiny little foot was stretched to its limit to reach that spot on his head.
Montell, Uvalde County, Texas
Finally! We had a little rain - about 8/10 of one inch between 6am and 5pm on this day. We need much more for this to be a drought-ender but it was a start. I sat on my covered back porched and watched nature through my lens as the rain drops accumulated.
Pride of Barbados flowers and seed pods.
Painted buntings tend to be a bit shy, feeding among thick grass and undergrowth around our property. But they will show up for running or spraying water, in my experience. The little female put on quite a show as she showered and preened her feathers. One of the few US native songbirds that are truly green. Only females and immature birds are green - a darker olive green up top and a greenish yellow below. Males are boldly marked in primary shades of red, blue, green and yellow.
Montell, Uvalde County, Texas in May 2021
This butterfly is not very big but the checkered pattern of yellow, brown and black help it stand out. The pattern below the wings is also very pretty with a bit of red and white thrown in for extra pizzazz.
Montell, Uvalde County, Texas
His dewlap was especially eyecatching with the morning sun shining through. It was resting atop a birdhouse in Montell, Uvalde County, Texas.
Another wren commonly seen on our property. Carolina wrens are slightly bigger than Bewick's wrens, have a orange/buff tint on the belly. They sing and call very loudly. This one was puffed up on a chilly day in December.
Montell, Uvalde County, Texas
This male summer tanager was kind enough to perch and pose for me. Such a bright pop of red-orange color!
Montell, Uvalde County, Texas
After a short rain and the water beading up on the leaves of wood sorrel (aka oxalis drumondii) made an interesting patter. The flowers on this plant will be a pretty pink and I enjoy having them in my yard.
Montell, Uvalde County, Texas during March 2020
Sometimes the background is more important than the foreground. So if you don't want to be in the spotlight, know that you are still important. Hope you have a wonderful Wednesday!
A sweet moment (so it seems) of a mother bird feeding a fledgling. Sadly this mother vermilion flycatcher is feeding a brown-headed cowbird fledgling. Her own eggs were probably destroyed by the female cowbird who then left her own eggs to be fostered by the flycatcher. The act of leaving eggs in the nests of other birds is an adaptation that came about because the cowbirds followed herds of buffalo and cattle and could not hang around long enough to raise their own. Unfortunately, the cowbirds have adjusted to living without having to follow the herds (who don't exist or roam as they once did) but they still love the free-living lifestyle of not having to raise their own kids. It is to the detriment of many songbirds.
Montell, Uvalde County, Texas in July 2021
Yet another variation of the Mexican hat or sombrero flower blooms. I love them in any color.
Montell, Uvalde County, Texas during May 2021
Prickly pear cactus thorns draped in spider web and sparkling with drops of morning dew.
Near George West, Texas in December 2019
A pattern and design that really captured my eye. The unique markings on this spider made for a beautiful piece of art with his body as the canvas. Truly, our world is brimming with original beauty everywhere you care to look.
Green jays are a tropical species,. In the past their range was restricted to deep south Texas and downward to Mexico and Central America. Over the past 15 or so years, we have seen an expansion of the range into the central regions and coastal bend regions of south Texas - i.e. San Antonio to Corpus Christi and westward to Kinney County and Uvalde County. I'm lucky to have a group that lives and breeds on our property. This one seemed quite happy to find some suet nuggets in my tray feeder.
Montell, Uvalde County, Texas in February 2022
I'm not sure I have the right name for this wild daisy, but it is similar to the photos I have seen of the huisache daisy. A bright pop of yellow on a drizzly gray day. Always nice to find drops of water on anything in an area prone to drought and extreme heat.
Montell, Uvalde County, Texas during March 2020
The blooms on this plant are a pretty pink and white cluster but the berries are beautiful red. The birds enjoy them and I'm happy to have any plants that attract birds and butterflies in the yard.
October 2020 in Montell, Uvalde County, Texas
Visited the family ranch in Dimmit County, near Asherton, Texas and saw the local nature. Enjoyed the memories evoked by the nature and landscape where I spent much of my youth visiting grandparents and other family. The male is the one with the dark and white markings on the head. The female is more subtle with tan and beige head. I think this pair is looking for a nesting place.