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The prickly poppies locally come in three colors that I know of (yellow, white or pink) - this yellow one got my attention, as well as that of the little bug. Added interest is the blur of prairie verbena behind.
Some of our spring wildflowers, Montell, Uvalde County, Texas in April 2021
A pop of red on the purple and white blooms of a mealy sage (salvia) plant growing wild in the yard.
Montell, Uvalde County, Texas in April 2021
Male hooded oriole that started visiting my yard regularly this spring. He approved of the selection of fruit and grape jelly I put out in various feeders. He posed for several shots for me, showing off his vivid colors.
Montell, Uvalde County, Texas during April 2020
In my yard during October 2017 in Portland, San Patricio, Texas. Ironically, it was not on the lantana plant that was blooming, but on the Mexican honeysuckle that didn't yet have flowers.
Blue salvia, a variety that I believe is commonly known as blue sage or cemetery sage, is a great plant for butterflies. This one has a type of skipper butterfly (not sure of the ID) and a lyside sulphur adorning it.
In Montell, Uvalde County, Texas.
It's difficult to tell but I think this species is a goatweed leafwing. The worn wings have tattered edges and part the lower rear wings are missing. But the orange color stood out against the green background as it perched on a bare branch.
Montell, Uvalde County, Texas in August 2021
This is a pretty blue dragonfly that I can recognize readily by the yellowish white face and the bright yellowish white spots on front edge of the wings. So many of them are not that easy for me to identify in the field. This one posed nicely on a blade of grass so I could get two separate angles on it.
Montell, Uvalde County, Texas in August 2021
A baby bird in that awkward adolescent stage. I had to ask for some expert confirmation on the ID of this bird. Poor thing was kind of homely but eventually will be a pretty little house finch. It was learning to enjoy the bird bath.
Montell, Uvalde County, Texas in August 2021
Rare snow in our area of Texas (first time since December 2004) and some of the critters were not sure what to make of it. I'm not a fan of cold wet weather (one of the reasons I love living in South Texas is that we don't have much of it) but had to take the opportunity to experiment photographing this unusual weather.
Golden fronted woodpecker on a mesquite tree in my front yard.
Portland, Texas.
A pretty shade of red (almost more of a purplish red, maybe) this one was seen at our property near the Nueces River.
Montell, Uvalde County, Texas in August 2021
Texas bluebonnets up close. These shots were made in March 2019 along a county road near Uvalde, Texas. You can see the seed pods to the left in this shot. We should have bluebonnets next year as well!
Two different daisies here. A yellow huisache daisy and a white one that may be a type of fleabane. Anyway I watched this ladybug struggle to get into the center of the flower and it made some nice shots.
Montell, Uvalde County, Texas in April 2021
Small finch found primarily in the western part of the US south into Mexico. Males are black above and bright yellow below with some prominent white marks on the wings. Females are duller yellow with olive gray upper parts. They reside year round at our property in Montell, Uvalde County, Texas.
Ladder-backed woodpecker perched on a fence post, cooling off with the spray from a lawn sprinkler. Montell, Uvalde County, Texas.
Common buckeye butterfly on fogfruit (aka frogfruit) flower. Wings were tattered but still getting the job done. Montell, Uvalde County, Texas
Lots of chipping sparrow fledglings this year. The streaking on the breast goes away as they mature and the crown becomes a rich russet color. In Montell, Uvalde County, Texas.
Rare snow in our area of Texas (first time since December 2004) and some of the critters were not sure what to make of it. I'm not a fan of cold wet weather (one of the reasons I love living in South Texas is that we don't have much of it) but had to take the opportunity to experiment photographing this unusual weather.
The house sparrows posed nicely for some photos.
Portland, Texas.
Flashy male perched on a fence post. This small migratory flycatchers arrive at our property each spring and generally leave when the weather turns cool in autumn. The males are distinctive with the red head and underside, black wings and black "bandit" mask.
Montell, Uvalde County, Texas in April 2022
Long, but aptly descriptive name for such a tiny moth. It was resting on a leaf of a shrub called coastal indigo (I think). If you see it from a distance it does look like a little bit of bird dropping.
Montell, Uvalde County, Texas in June 2022
Elle nous aura donné du fil à retordre pour l'identification cette demoiselle, une première rencontre pour moi.
Et oui...Elle aimait se tenir dans les branches :-)
This little Lady was a tough one to ID, a first encounter for me.
And yes, she loved her spot in the branches :-)
In various stages of ripeness. Birds and other wildlife will usually eat them as soon as they are ripe. One of these managed to escape being eaten up until I got this shot. All were gone the next day. In May 2022
Montell, Uvalde County, Texas
The verdin is a small bird, about the size of a Carolina chickadee, and mostly pale beige and white. Yellow face and red wing patches add a pop of color, if you happen to catch the red since they are often nearly completely hidden when the bird is perched. They prefer to forage in the thorny brush and undergrowth commonly found in South Texas. This one was kind enough to perch for several shots and even give me a nice flight shot showing off the red wing patches very well. In Montell, Uvalde County, during October 2018.
Butterfly seen in Montell, Uvalde County, Texas during November 2017. White peacock butterfly. Not sure of the wildflower - something in the daisy/sunflower family.
Along the shores at Sunset Lake Park in Portland, Texas I spotted this tiny little sedge wren, a winter visitor. It posed for a couple of shots.
Lamium amplexicaule - a wild herbacious plant that is often considered a weed. It is one of the first little plants to have bloomed with nectar bearing flowers during March of 2021, thus an important source of food for hummingbirds and butterflies.
I don't mind it growing in my yard and just read that the leaves and flowers are not only safe, but nutritious, for humans to eat. Reportedly tastes like kale or spinach. Good to know in case I get a craving for spinach or kale and can't get to the store. I let is grow as ground cover and an attraction for birds and butterflies.
Montell, Uvalde County, Texas during March 2021
Not a technically great photo but I thought the bokeh effect of the water in the background was nice. Also, unsure of the ID of these red damsels.
Montell, Uvalde County, Texas
This is a common little bird at our property along the Nueces River. They are closely related to the tufted titmouse and are known to interbreed with that species. They seem to be friendly and if I have been away for a while and return, they are the first to follow me around until I add seeds to the bird feeders.
Montell, Uvalde County, Texas.
This male summer tanager peered around the trunk of that mesquite tree as if afraid of being found out. Maybe a raptor had just flown overhead or maybe his wife found out where he had been the night before. Anyway, he is a beautiful bird.
Montell, Uvalde County, Texas in April 2022
Female green kingfisher, still seems to be pretty accepting and willing to pause in her activities so I can photograph her. She poses so nicely. This is the smallest of the kingfisher species native to Texas and the US.
Montell, Uvalde County, Texas.
Perched on a stick and looking straight into the camera with those striking green eyes!
Montell, Uvalde County, Texas in September 2021
"Hey, waiter! This feeder is empty and I would like a refill." Male painted bunting in my backyard.
Montell, Uvalde County in May 2022
Immature white-eyed vireo wet from a recent shower in the water sprinkler. I just love these curious, happy seeming little birds. Always singing very loudly for such a tiny bird.
Montell, Uvalde County, Texas.
Black vultures differ from turkey vultures by the color of their head, shorter tails and dull black feathers overall. They are just as good at their job of cleaning up dead animals from the area. This one posed on top of a dead and broken tree trunk.
Montell, Uvalde County, Texas.