THIS CLOSEUP SHOT OF THE HERON SHOWS DETAILS THAT GIVES ME THE IMPRESSION THAT THIS IS A PRETTY OLD BIRD. I WATCHED IT ALONG THE NORTHERN EDGE OF THE LARGE POND.

A Walk In The Park and MBY Hummers


I rolled into July, 2024, starting to feel much better after the procedure I had on April 1, 2024 to deal with my prostate cancer.  Although I had been walking some indoors at the track at Das Rec in New Braufels, I decided it was time to get out and walk some outdoors.  So I  prepared my D500 with my 500mm Prime F5.6 lens and set out for Fischer Park at Countyline Road.  Although it was muggy and hot, I enjoyed my walk.  I covered about 2.5 miles, walking the main loop with several side trails added on.  While I saw only the usual suspects, I got some very good looks at a grizzled Night Heron and was able to get a pretty good shot of a House Sparrow who had just caught a grasshopper for breakfast.  Fischer Park looked to be in fine form, and the work they have done these last few years to restore the natural areas of the park are paying handsome dividends.  Toward the end of my walk I encountered several very nice butterflys.  Hope you enjoy a few of the photos I took this morning!

A FULL BODY SHOT OF THE YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON I WATCHED AT FISCHER PARK.
THERE WERE LOTS OF HOUSE SPARROWS IN THE PARK. I WATCHED THIS ONE WHO HAD JUST CAUGHT BREAKFAST.
A WHITE-WINGED DOVE, ENJOYING THE MORNING SUN AT FISCHER PARK.
MY BUDDY FROM WISCONSIN IDENTIFIED THIS BUTTERFLY AS A "QUEEN", WHICH IS A SOUTHERN VERSION OF THE MONARCH. HE ALSO SAID THIS BUTTERFLY IS ALSO VERY DISTASTEFUL TO BIRDS.
ANOTHER SHOT OF A "QUEEN".
FROM THE GENUS PHYCIODES, A PEARL CRESCENT. MY FRIEND RICHARD SAID THIS BUTTERFLY PROBABLY JUST "ECLOSED", OR EMERGED AS AN ADULT FROM THE PUPA. THIS BUTTERLY WAS QUITE SMALL!
I GREW UP CALLING CREATURES LIKE THIS "MOSQUITO HAWKS", THAT IS NOT CORRECT. THIS IS A "WIDOW SKIMMER", A DRAGONFLY FROM THE ORDER ODONATA.

With the lake dry, and Summer in full swing, I am doing my best to keep my beautiful Bald Cypress trees and the rest of my yard alive.  This involves a lot of early morning watering.  Early Tuesday morning, July 2, 2024, I noticed a couple of hummingbirds buzzing around near the Red Yucca Cactus and the Chicklet Orange Bush, both of which have some beautiful blooms on them and are located just off my back porch.  So  I prepared my camera and spent about 20 minutes on the back porch taking some photos.  Turns out, the hummingbirds spent very little time at the blooms of the Chicklet Orange Bush, as they definitely seemed to prefer the Red Yucca.  Below are some of the results of my efforts that morning.  Good light sure makes a difference!

THIS WAS ONE OF MY FAVORITE PHOTOS FROM THAT MORNING!