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Copyright 2010 Rhonda Holcomb
Didn't see too much wildlife yesterday on our hike but these were everywhere at this park.
This owl was a surprise visitor and even better that it was out in daylight so I could get decent shots. Barred owls are large and this is the first time I have seen one. I have to give credit to my husband who spotted it first as it swooped down to snag a dove from the backyard feeding area. Luckily it waited around for me to go grab my camera. This was in January 2019.
Montell, Uvalde County, Texas.
This little lark sparrow was very curious, but a bit nervous. I back away and he (or she) would perch on the fence and hop to different spots trying to figure out what I was up to. Really cute. I have seen quite a few of these before, but had not observed one raise the crown feathers into a crest. Montell, Uvalde County, Texas during September 2018.
Went around with the camera to find interesting subjects covered with morning dew. Flowers just seem to look very pretty all decked out in sparkling drops of water. These are all wildflowers growing on our property during March 2019. In Montell, Uvalde County, Texas.
Not sure, I think these might be female or immature ruby throated hummingbird. Always fun to try and get these speedy little birds in flight.
Montell, Uvalde County, Texas during July 2018.
Gray hairstreak butterfly seen in my yard during during October 2017. Portland, San Patricio County, Texas.
Two sulphur butterflies on a pink zinnia. October 2018 in Montell, Uvalde County, Texas. I think there is a cloudless sulpher and a southern dogface.
Northern cardinal male in early stages of molt. He seemed to have an issue with his hairdo but was happy anyway. In Montell, Uvalde County, Texas during September 2018.
First time I have observed this species at our Montell property beyond the period of migration. It seems we had some that nested and produced babies this year. I hope they decide to make a habit of this. In Montell, Uvalde County, Texas.
Pine siskins are winter visitors in Montell, Uvalde County, Texas. They tend to flock with the migratory American goldfinches and resident lesser goldfinches.
Both brown anoles and green anoles reside in my yard. I can't say that they coexist because the brown ones only started showing up a few years ago, while the green ones have lived in the area as long as I can remember. The brown ones in my yard have become more numerous and the green have been reduced to a very small area among the greenery of some tropical shrubs. Here I have several different brown anoles and one green anole. Green anoles can change color ranging from pale green to dark brown, almost black. They have pale cream colored bellies and mostly solid color (unpatterend) upper and longer snouts than the brown anole. Brown anoles can change color to blend, except only with the range of brown shades. Portland, Texas October 2017
Little brown bird with a big voice. They sing loudly and call out danger warnings anytime they perceive a threat.
Montell, Uvalde County, Texas
Interesting moth, fluttering among the flowers. I was not able to find an ID for it.
Montell, Uvalde County, Texas
--Patricia Briggs
Ahhh... I was beginning to miss some random bokeh shots of grass... I feel at peace again. :)
This chipping sparrow was posing so nicely on the barbed wire. Showed both sides of the head to ensure I got the best! In Montell, Uvalde County, Texas.
This brilliant dragonfly is likely a red rock skimmer. I spent a lot of time looking at images on-line to settle on this ID. It would not let me get any closer to get a better shot, but I think the texture of the rock made for some interesting leading lines.
Big Bend National Park in June 2019
I believe this is the smallest butterfly I have ever seen. Luckily the bright orange color pops against the low growing foliage and grass that this species seems to prefer. I bet two or more would fit inside the diameter of a US dime.
Montell, Uvalde County, Texas.
I'm not sure of the species and have an image that I plan to submit to bugguide.net in order to find out. I think maybe it is called autumn skimmer. The bright orange-red color caught my eye as it alternately darted about, then perched above the the spring waters on our property. Montell, Uvalde County, Texas.
Several species of vireo can be found on our property in Montell, Uvalde County. The white-eyed seems to be a year-round resident. Gray vireos just showed up for the first time this spring but likely will be year-round. Yellow throated and red-eyed generally seem to be sumer visitors, but this is the first year that I have seen a red-eyed on our property. Still hoping to find a black-capped and a Hutton's. Happy birding to everyone!
Texas purple sage, aka cenizo among other common names, is not (to my knowledge) related to the herb known as sage. These shrubs are beautiful, evergreen and break out in lovely flowers shortly after a rain. Flowers range from a pale pink (occasional rare white ones are seen) to a deep reddish-purple. It is a very beautiful sight to come upon a pasture filled with these in bloom. Pollinators flock to them. If you look closely you may find a butterfly on these pictures. In Montell, Uvalde County, Texas.
This turkey vulture was perched high up in a tree when I spotted it. It seemed to pose patiently while I took shots, but the last photo it was starting to act a bit nervous so I moved on.
In Montell, Uvalde County, Texas.
The green jays have been much more willing to come into my yard and pose for photos while browsing the variety of goodies in the bird feeders. I have found they love peanuts, peanut butter and grape jelly. It's amazing to me that such a brightly colored bird can blend in to the surrounding foliage so well. The subtle variations in green shades, along with yellow match leaves, while the blue and blue markings on the head seem to help hide against sky and shadows.
Montell, Uvalde County, Texas in April 2020
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
One of my favorite sparrows, these are shy little sparrows that generally forage on the ground. This is one of the year-round residents at our place in Montell, Uvalde County, Texas.
I'm still not completely sure that I have made a correct ID on this one, but another birder has given me some tips to help me pin it down. Anyway, it was the first and only time I saw this bird and to my knowledge the first time I have seen this species. It posed nicely on some rusted barbed wire. In Montell, Uvalde County, during September 2018.
At the time I took these, we had had a recent brief rain but were still essentially in drought conditions. Rain lilies bloom after a rain, and last a short while, until the next rain. The water droplets on these were caused by the water sprinkler I had to run to keep our young trees alive.
In Montell, Uvalde County, Texas
This black and white warbler was enjoying the sprinkler as I watered the garden. He really soaked it up.
Montell, Uvalde County, Texas in June 2022
Record rains through parts of Texas during late summer and early fall of 2018 created ideal opportunities for fungi to develop. I don't know the correct species names but gave them descriptive titles, when possible. Some of them are beyond describing but are just weird and fascinating.
Various places in South and Southwest Texas during 2018.
These cute little birds are curious and friendly. They are year-round residents. Closely related to tufted titmouse and I have read that the two species will interbreed in areas where the range overlaps.
Montell, Uvalde County, Texas.
I had the pleasure of observing a family of ladder-backed woodpeckers. Adults teaching the youngsters how to forage for food on the tree bark. They didn't pay much attention to me as they worked away. In Montell, Uvalde County, Texas.
Gray hairstreak butterfly seen in my yard during during October 2017. Portland, San Patricio County, Texas.
Pine siskins are winter visitors to our place in Montell, Uvalde County, Texas. They can be seen flocking with the other finch species such as house finch and goldfinch.
During September 2018 in Montell, Uvalde County, Texas. This Monarch took time to feed on and lay eggs on the milkweed plants in my mom's garden.
Zinnias are very attractive to pollinators. I observed and photographed both honey bees and American bumble bees on these zinnias.
In Montell, Uvalde County, Texas.
My little chickadee - fluttering on a vertical branch. They are often seen congregating with the titmice. Montell, Uvalde County, Texas.
Texas purple sage blossoms attract butterflies, like this Monarch, seen in September 2017 while in Montell, Uvalde County, Texas.
Classified as a warbler, this species is larger than most of the other North American warbler species. It has behaviors similar to a Northern mockingbird, I think, in that it sometimes mimics other bird calls and makes a variety of calls, squawks and musical whistles in a sequence that is repeated. Also catches insect in flight or eats fruit (think my poor fig tree and our peaches). They have a special place in my heart, because when my (then) 9-year-old niece wanted to go birding with me, this was one of the first birds we saw and that she learned to recognize in the field. Seen in Montell, Uvalde County, Texas