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Another bird with yellow underparts. This Couch's kingbird was learning how to catch flying insects. These flycatchers are similar in size to the scissortail flycatchers and I sometimes see both species in mixed groups.
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.
A pipevine swallowtail and a gulf fritillary enjoy the zinnias in my mother's garden.
Montell, Uvalde County, Texas
Unexpected visitor at the time of year - I usually only see them during spring migration at our place. This one paused just long enough for me to snap 2 quick shots and then I never saw it again or any others.
Early September, 2017 in Montell, Uvalde County, Texas.
A small warbler of the upper canopy, the Northern Parula flutters at the edges of branches plucking insects. This bluish gray warbler with yellow highlights breeds in forests laden with Spanish moss or beard lichens, from Florida to the boreal forest, and it's sure to give you "warbler neck." It hops through branches bursting with a rising buzzy trill that pinches off at the end. The mature male will show a brownish band across the breast. I think this one is a female. We have had some nesting on our place for at least the past two years. I do not remember seeing them in prior years. Always a joy to see these tiny birds.
Montell, Uvalde County, Texas in April 2022
We usually just call them "whitewings" all one word in pronunciation and they are very common in our area. Once found mainly in the Southwest US (Arizona, New Mexico, SW Texas and down into Mexico, the range has expanded significantly with reported sightings as far north as Canada. They are large compared to other dove species, mostly gray with a white edge on the wings that expands to a large stripe in flight, They have red eyes ringed in blue and pink legs.
I can't say I'm always happy to see them in my yard because they intimidate the smaller birds and eat all the birdseed.
Montell, Uvalde County, Texas in April 2022
If you look closely you can see tiny rainbows created by light on the water droplets. A ladybug making her way up the dew-covered prairie verbena was an added bonus.
Montell, Uvalde County, Texas.
Perched on a mesquite tree limb, giving me some nice opportunities to get a few shots. Nature at it's best in Montell, Uvalde County, Texas.
One of the resident green kingfishers. It seems to have gotten adjusted to me and will pose for photographs. In Montell, Uvalde County, Texas
don't know the species of spider, but super happy about all the gnats it caught. In Montell, Uvalde County, Texas
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)
These are common around our property. This male was checking out the seed variety in my feeders. I have also seen them eat citrus fruit or grape jelly that I put out for orioles and woodpeckers.
Montell, Uvalde County, Texas in July 2021
Small, bold patterned butterfly. I only saw a few of these and they seemed to have a preference for the yellow flowers. I believe the yellow flowers are commonly known as huisache daisy (aka butterfly daisy or honey daisy)
Montell, Uvalde County, Texas
In Montell, Uvalde County, Texas. We are thankful to have many flycatcher species since there are lots of flying insects there.
This is a young male, in the process of changing from the brown streaked plumage of a juvenile to the sleek and shiny black of an adult male. He was very confident looking perched on the S hook.
Montell, Uvalde County, Texas during February 2019.
She struck a pretty pose on this driftwood tree stump in my yard.
Montell, Uvalde County, Texas in April 2022
This squirrel got into some crazy positions, including hanging upside down at one point! Bat-squirrel! Lol.
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.
This species arrives in spring and stays through the summer in our area, nesting in trees near our home. I had put out plenty of sugar water feeders this year because many of our nectar bearing flowers were late to start blooming due to the severe winter weather in February. They also love to come play in the water spray when I turn on a sprinkler to water the garden.
Montell, Uvalde County, Texas in April 2021
Seasons came and changed the time...
When I grew up, I called him mine...
He would always laugh and say:
Remember when we used to play
Bang bang
I shot you down, bang bang
Bang bang
He shot me down, bang bang
My mother and my aunt have planted zinnias the past two years. Butterflies and other garden critters love them and so do I. This painted lady butterfly was really partaking of the nectar in the zinnia patch and gave me some good shots.
In Montell, Uvalde County, Texas
This butterfly is very small. That little yellow daisy is probably less than an inch in diameter. I waited for it to open the wings and show off the beautiful blue color on top, but it was not cooperative. Still pretty on the ventral side of the wings, in my opinion.
Montell, Uvalde County, Texas
Very young male northern cardinal, molting and getting his red color. He was so sweet to post on this curved fence post for me.
Montell, Uvalde County, Texas during July 2018
Mother olive with her hungry little ones. They were begging her for food and I think she was trying to teach them to find their own food. This species of sparrow is a year-round resident. Shy birds that tend to forage on the ground in the undergrowth.
Montell, Uvalde County, Texas in June 2022
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)
A little snow/ice on surfaces on a chilly February day. This little chipping sparrow did not appear happy about it. But finding seeds and suet in my yard probably helped improve its mood.
Montell, Uvalde County, Texas in February 2022
I had a tough time deciding what to focus on here. I eventually settled on the seeds flying off on the breeze.
Montell, Uvalde County, Texas during April 2021. This male (determined by the pink dewlap being displayed) was showing off while sunning on a branch of the big live oak tree in my back yard. His colors really stood out.
One of the resident green jays appeared to be trying to decide which of my feeders it wanted to go to first. They like peanuts (and other nuts), corn, sunflower seeds, fruit, grape jelly, peanut butter... well, they seem to eat just about anything. Bold, loud and colorful birds.
Montell, Uvalde County, Texas during April 2021
This guy (I'm thinking it's a guy due to the rose coloring on the belly, females are reportedly less colorful) seems to be trying to claim the bird bath as his own. He isn't as big as he seems to think he is.
Montell, Uvalde County, Texas
One of the skipper butterflies, this is tiny and colorful. Perched on a pink zinnia.
Montell, Uvalde County, Texas
Tiny orange butterfly standing out against the white flowers of a blooming frostweed plant. Frostweed is attractive to nectar seekers and pollinators. The name is not descriptive of the white flowers, but instead refers to the fact that during freezing weather, the stem dispels water into icy "blooms" that make interesting formations.
In Montell, Uvalde County, Texas.
Common little chipping sparrows are cute little birds with a sound that reminds me of an old electric sewing machine. They come in big flocks to the feeders and forage among the grasses in our meadow.
Montell, Uvalde County, Texas.
This butterfly favours grassy areas, where foodplants grow in sheltered, often damp, situations and remain tall and uncut. It is found in a wide variety of habitats where there are shrubs, tall herbs, and grasses, for example woodland rides and clearings, pastures, roadside verges, hedgerows, and wet heathland. It is also a species of urban habitats, occurring in parks, churchyards, and other places with long grasses.
Male Large Skippers are most often found perching in a prominent, sunny position, usually on a large leaf at a boundary between taller and shorter vegetation, awaiting passing females. Females are less conspicuous, though both sexes may be seen feeding on flowers, Bramble being a favourite.
The Large Skipper is widespread in southern Britain and its range has extended northwards in north-east England since the 1960s.
- Butterfly Conservation
The American rubyspot (Hetaerina americana) is a damselfly of the family Calopterygidae. Males have a lustrous red head and thorax. The abdomen of both genders is brilliant green. The female may have either green or copper colored marks on the thorax.
I was lucky to have found some that were willing to perch in place for photos.
Montell, Uvalde County, in September 2021
These American robins were walking along the rocks next to the Nueces River. This shot reminded of an older sibling looking over a shoulder shouting "Quit following me!"
Montell, Uvalde County, Texas during February 2019.
The Coppery Dancer (Argia cuprea) is essentially a Mexican and Central American damselfly of rivers and streams occurring in the U.S. only in the western portion of the Texas Hill Country. The males are quite striking with red eyes and reddish/coppery upper thorax. I found quite a few in mating posture along the Nueces River near our property. The blue fellow in the foreground was just enjoying the show, I think. I believe it is a Comanche dancer or Aztec dancer.
Montell, Uvalde County, Texas in September 2021
American goldfinches are strictly winter visitors in my area. While they are here the males are in duller plumage. In early spring, they start to get the beautiful gold/yellow and bold black coloring that will help attract breeding partners. They always leave Montell before the full breeding plumage comes in. They are slightly larger than our local full-time residents, the lesser goldfinch.
Montell, Uvalde County, Texas during February 2020.
One of the butterflies that frequently flutter around our property. This one was on blooms of a button bush. Beautiful black wings with accents of blue, white and sometimes yellow dots.
Montell, Uvalde County, Texas in June 2022
One of the cutest little songbirds that people often don't see. They tend to stay in the underbrush, thornier the better, and move quickly. They do love fruit and suet so I have found them coming into my yard where the feeders are available and the pomegranate tree provide easy foraging. Rather plain looking at first glance, the mature ones have a pretty yellow face and tiny bright red shoulder patches.
Montell, Uvalde County, Texas.